← LCCTRAVEL PLANNING
Travel Planning Cheat Sheet
Lead TimeWhat to BookNotes
3–6 monthsInternational flights, peak season hotels, train (Tatkal priority)Prices lowest at 6–8 weeks for international. 3 months for holiday/festival dates
1–2 monthsDomestic flights, hotel for major citiesBook early for long weekends — prices spike 2 weeks before
2–4 weeksTrains (general quota), cab/car rental, popular restaurant reservationsTrack IRCTC daily — cancellations free up seats
1–2 weeksFinal itinerary, activity/event tickets, local guidesPlan day-by-day, leave buffer time for spontaneous exploration
3–5 daysPack, currency exchange, offline maps download, SIM/data planGoogle Maps offline download for destination
Day beforeWeb check-in (opens 24–48h before flight), charge all devices, print key docsIRCTC web check-in not required but confirms your seat
★Best price days to book domestic flights (India): Tuesday/Wednesday. Avoid booking on weekends. Use Google Flights "Price Tracker" to monitor and get alerts.
Transport (flights/train)
Get 3 quotes. Budget: 30–40% of total trip cost
Accommodation
Budget guesthouse: ₹500–1,500/night. Mid: ₹2,000–5,000. Premium: ₹6,000+. Book for all nights upfront for certainty
Food per day (India)
Budget travel: ₹300–500/day. Mid: ₹800–1,500. Premium: ₹2,000+
Local transport
Budget ₹200–400/day (auto/metro). Car rental adds ₹1,500–2,500/day
Activities / entry
Budget ₹500–1,000/day for sightseeing, tours, monuments, parks
Buffer
Add 15–20% to total estimate for unplanned expenses, delays, emergencies
International: Forex
Forex card from BankBazaar/Thomas Cook < bank counter rates. Withdraw local currency at destination ATM (low fee cards)
★SPREADSHEET RULE: Track every expense category with budget vs actual. Most overspends happen in food and shopping — set daily cash limits for these.
  • Government-issued photo ID: Aadhaar card or Voter ID or Driving Licence or Passport (any one is sufficient)
  • Ticket/PNR — printed or in IRCTC/airline app (keep offline PDF backup)
  • Hotel booking confirmation (email screenshot)
  • Vehicle documents (if driving): RC book, insurance, DL, PUC certificate
  • Child travel: Birth certificate if under 5 + guardian ID for unmarried minor
  • Passport: Valid for at least 6 months beyond travel date. Some countries require 3–6 month validity beyond return
  • Visa: Applied and approved before travel. Check visa-on-arrival eligibility at destination embassy website
  • Travel insurance: Covers medical emergency + trip cancellation + lost baggage. MANDATORY for Schengen (EU)
  • International driving permit (IDP): Required if renting a car abroad. Get from RTO with ₹1,000 fee
  • Forex + USD cash: Small amount of USD/EUR for emergencies + local currency exchange at destination
  • Emergency contacts: Indian embassy in destination country (check mea.gov.in). 24h helpline number
  • Medical info card: Blood group, allergies, current medications in English — useful at foreign hospitals