Discussions Cshoots took part in

Hi fellow travelers, I need some info. Landing in Mumbai on the 16th at 11:55 PM, so immigration will be on the 17th. On the e-arrival card form, which date should I put—16th or 17th? Thanks for your answers.

Hi there, I’m planning a winter trip across India. Departing in early December and returning to France in mid-April. My main concern is finding an airline that offers this round-trip with the fewest hassles regarding cancellations or flight schedule changes. The unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East isn’t making this search any easier—recent reviews online about airlines from Gulf states describe quite a few struggles over the past few months. The direct Paris-Delhi round-trip flights offered by Air France or Air India are probably the safest options, but not the cheapest! Given this uncertainty, I’m still holding off on finalizing my ticket purchase... Maybe some of you India lovers on VoyageForum have tips or experiences to share? Thanks, and happy travels to all.

Hi there, I’m heading to Pondicherry, India for two months—July and August. I have a house and can offer free accommodation while I’m away. I speak Tamil fluently, which really helps me travel without any hassle. If you’re interested, send me a private message. Thanks

I’m arriving in Chennai on January 16, then heading to Auroville for a week. If you’re in the area, we could meet up, explore together, and share...?

Hi there,

We’re a group of 7 people heading to SRI LANKA in March.

We’re transiting through Mumbai (Air India flight), then after a few hours, we’ll take a SriLankan Airlines flight to Colombo.

The return trip follows the same route 26 days later.

The issue is about the Indian visa.

1- Do we need an Indian visa since we’ll only be at Mumbai Airport for a few hours (no checked baggage)?

2- Do we need a double-entry visa?

Thanks for your help—everything I’ve read online is pretty unclear.

Hi everyone, we’re heading to Tamil Nadu and Kerala at the start of the year for 30 days. We did Rajasthan 12 years ago, but things change fast. I’ve read that to get a SIM card, you have to buy it at a shop and then go to the operator to get a number; you’d also need an Indian mobile number. Has anyone here had recent experience with this? For buses and trains, do you need to book them well in advance? Any tips are welcome—thanks in advance! Happy holidays to all, Philippe

For those planning a trip to Kerala, here’s a quick, practical summary. For the most part: the stunning landscapes, the natural kindness of the locals, their cuisine, and their culture—you’ll get to enjoy all of that once you’re there... Flight (arrival and departure to/from Cochin) Avoid Air India and opt for flights via the Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, etc. Price: between 500 € and 600 € Accommodations Average price: 20 € per night for a couple (max: 40 €, min: 10 €, often including breakfast), via the usual booking sites. Homestays (staying in the owner’s house) are of a higher standard. Only 2 nights were spent in questionable cleanliness. The rest were good, even very good, or even *very* very good. Car with Driver All-inclusive daily price: tolls, fuel, driver’s lodging and meals... and of course, we often shared our meals with our driver too. Toyota sedan (e.g., Corolla) for 4 travelers (1 in front, 3 in the back): 50 € / day, Toyota SUV (e.g., Innova) for up to 6 travelers: 60 € / day DM me if you’d like more details.

Overall budget (excluding flights and shopping) Around 1500 € for 1 couple for the 3 weeks... in "2-couple mode"! (i.e., sharing the driver’s cost). Itinerary

Night 1: Arrival in Cochin in the morning, departure for Attirappily Beautiful waterfalls

Night 2: Thrissur Via Vallachira, not much tourist interest, a stop to ease into the trip and shorten the journey to Wayanad

Nights 3, 4, 5: Wayanad, staying in Sultan Battery Coffee and tea plantations, dam lake, URAVU (bamboo craft workshop), ...

Night 6: Ooty Botanical garden, then a really fun tourist train the next afternoon to Metupalaiyam

Night 7: Toward Coimbatore

Nights 8, 9, 10: Munnar City visit, stunning tea plantations

Nights 11, 12: Thekkady/Kumilly Amazing tea plantations, sightseeing, Jeep ride, not-so-interesting boat tour on Periyar Lake, trekking options

Night 13: Marari Beach (near Alleppey) 4-hour backwaters tour, then beach (swimming, dinner)

Nights 14, 15, 16: Munroe Island Super chill, walks around the island (small coir rope factory), sunrise by boat or canoe, sunset

Night 17: Varkala Gorgeous beaches, shopping

Night 18: Trivandrum City center visit, then train back to Cochin the next day in 3 hours.

Night 19: Cochin Fort Kochi is a lovely way to wrap up the trip

Have a great trip in this incredible region, so unique in India!

Just arrived in southern Gokarna, India—I know the area well if any forum members are there or about to head that way. Maybe a meet-up to share tips, swap stories, or just have a good time talking about India? Leaving on 21/2/26. Namaste 😊🇮🇳🇮🇳🙏

Hi there

I’ve received my e-visa for India. Now, if I understand correctly, I need to confirm the status of my ETA. Is the ETA the same as the e-visa? Do I need to print the document? Thanks

Hello my fellow globetrotters, could anyone tell me how to find the French colonial cemetery in Pondicherry? It seems tricky to locate.

Thanks so much for your help! Take care, pace yourselves, and travel far.

Cheers, Régine

Hello all my fellow globetrotters, I’m heading to Kerala this coming January. I was wondering if any of you have ever managed to visit the inside of the famous Padmanabhapuram Temple, which is off-limits to non-Hindus? I know there’s a way to request special permission to enter, but I could really use your insights.

Thanks so much in advance. Take care and enjoy exploring our beautiful planet.

Best regards, Régine

Hi there, I’m spending about ten days in Kerala, and of course, I’d love to see the backwaters (I’m open to all possible tips—I don’t want to sleep on a houseboat). My question is:

Is it doable to spend a good half-day in the backwaters while staying at Marari Beach?

Thanks!

Marsyork

Hello Everybody,

I already have my flight ticket—departing from Nice on December 2 at 12:30 PM and returning on December 26 at midnight—for southern India... (gorgeous!)

I’ve been creating my travel journals for 15 years, and this one is ready too. The guesthouse and hotel (few) reservations are made... The itinerary is super nice...

And the Christmas festivities to see as well!

Unfortunately, due to health issues, my travel companion had to cancel this trip.

So, I’m looking for someone just like her... and like me. Fun, easygoing, friendly, and funny.

Someone who loves to laugh, who’s okay with transportation (buses, trains, rickshaws (tuk-tuks), bikes (very little... just on an island))...

Who’ll leave their worries at home, has no health issues, and enjoys going out during the day and in the evening for a drink.

I’ll get my visa this month... If someone is interested and decides quickly, we could definitely be on the same flight... I’ll obviously show you my itinerary...

No need to reach out if you’re indecisive or just curious—thanks for understanding... With less than three months until departure, we need to move fast...

The trip is all set...

23 nights on-site, flight ticket, visa, excursions, food, etc.—budget around 2600 €. Not bad, right?

On the agenda: various visits, endless rice fields and tea plantations, beaches, markets, chilling sometimes—in short, pure happiness.

People with difficult personalities or who are easily annoyed (lol) are excluded... Just someone nice who loves to have fun and live peacefully!

I work on my travel journals for 4 months, so this is about making the trip a success and being happy... I’ve been creating my own itineraries for 15 years...

My itinerary is ready... If you’re sure you can be free for the entire stay from December 2 to 26 (I’m not ruling out a travel companion), everyone will have their own room for the whole trip—I’ve booked everything accordingly...

A passport valid for at least 6 months after the return date is mandatory!

I managed to get a round-trip flight ticket for 580 € with very little waiting time (1.5 and 2.5-hour layovers... (Iberia operated by Qatar... With a bit of luck, we could be on the same flight).... I’ll apply for my visa online by the end of September... So, be sure of yourself so we can meet up quickly and possibly validate our visas together and book your flight ticket...

Welcome,

Caroline

Hello everyone! What a pleasure to be back on this forum after all these years… Goodness, we’re clearly far from the days of backpacking solo and carefree! Today, I’m well and truly "tied down," with two adorable little anchors—ages 3 and 5½—keeping me on my toes 😊 But here we are, finally mustering the courage to dive back into adventure, backpacks and all… this time as a family! We know traveling with young kids won’t be a walk in the park, but we’re ready to adapt. And for that, I’ll need your brilliant advice! Here’s our plan: We’ve got our tickets for Kochi, from December 28 to January 5, 2026. From my research, I’ve seen that this period is super lively in Kochi, with lots of festivities. I’ve also read that despite the crowds, it’s generally pretty "kids-friendly." Can any of you confirm this? I figure it’d be a shame to miss all the fun, especially if there are parades (with or without elephants… even if I’m not a fan of the concept, I know my kids would be amazed…). As for the itinerary, I’m still a bit unsure. Since New Year’s Eve falls right in the middle of our trip, it complicates the idea of doing a loop around Kerala. Here’s what I’m considering so far:

December 28: Arrival in Kochi, then we’d head straight to Marari Beach (or a similar beach) to settle in and let the kids get their bearings.

December 30: Houseboat cruise in Alleppey

December 31: Back to Kochi, to enjoy the New Year’s festivities

We’d stay in Kochi until January 1 or 2, then head to Munroe Island for a few more relaxing days before heading home

January 5: Flight back to France

My big question: Is spending New Year’s Eve in Kochi with kids a good idea? Or should we arrive, then leave the city quickly to avoid the crowds? Thanks in advance for your feedback, experiences, and tips. I’m all ears for any suggestions to make this first (real) family trip as smooth as possible 😊

Hello, I’m looking for people who’ve been very seriously ill or had major surgery in India (especially in Kerala). Thanks for sharing your experience.

Hi, as an NRI with a European passport and OCI, can I get a credit card or debit card that offers services and benefits? What are all the requirements, please? Thanks for your reply, best regards

Hi there, I’m planning a trip to Kerala at the end of the year. Just to clarify, I’ve been before and know India pretty well overall. I’ll be arriving either in Mumbai or Bangalore and making my way down to the far south using local transport (trains, buses…). Between cultural visits, I love enjoying the ocean and getting massages. I’m looking for independent travelers who can handle things on their own a bit (ideas for routes…). Guesthouses are my preference since they’re way more friendly than hotels, or simple and nice hotels. A chill trip, going with the flow. See you soon, Bernie

Hi there,

We’re back from our 3-week trip to South Africa in July. It was a family trip with our four grown-up kids (ages 18 to 25).

First off, I’d like to thank everyone on this forum for their great tips—they really helped us plan this trip!

The trip: We spent 15 days between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, then a week around Kruger (including Blyde River Canyon). We found South Africans to be welcoming and always ready to help. We never felt unsafe (just followed basic safety rules). The police are very visible, especially on the roads.

Logistics: We’d booked our accommodations in advance but made a few changes on the spot based on how we felt at the time. We rented two vehicles from Firefly (Hertz). No complaints—recent cars, quick returns, and the deposit wasn’t charged. We’d gotten our international driver’s permits... which stayed in France! Luckily, no one asked for them. Driving on the left wasn’t an issue (it wasn’t our first time). The roads we took were in good, even great, condition. Only a few tracks to lodges or parks were rough and required extra caution. Lots of pedestrians on the sides of roads, even highways. And plenty of very slow trucks. But they pull over to let you pass. It’s also common for cars to cross into the opposite lane to overtake, even with white lines. We took two domestic flights: one early in the morning (Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth) and one in the late afternoon (Cape Town to Johannesburg) to save time.

We had some highlights and a few disappointments—all part of the journey! More details coming soon.

Hi there,

I’m a traveler who’s really passionate about India, and I’m planning to go back for a month in December 2025. I know the country and its culture well.

I travel as a backpacker—light, staying in small guest houses, and getting around by bus and train.

This time, I’d love to explore Goa and the surrounding region, including some less touristy states nearby.

I’m looking for a female travel companion, max 45 years old (around my age), who’s used to backpacking, resourceful, and ideally already familiar with India (to avoid culture shock).

Feel free to reach out via private message.

See you soon!