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International Visitor's Travel Tips for Dental Tourism
Before Arrival in Chandigarh, India
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Complete your visa requirements.
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Click here for List of international airlines flying to Delhi from USA & UK
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You can check out the following web site for some good deals
on the air fare to India http://makemytrip.com or
http://www.airgorilla.com/ogeo/india.html
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Travellers from UK can contact the following British travel agents
for travel reservations.
2. Book your air-tickets to New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (airport code DEL), New Delhi,
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You can then take a 40 minute domestic flight from Delhi to Chandigarh airport (airport code IXC). Here is a list of domestic Indian airlines that fly to Chandigarh.
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Arrange for your accommodation, so that you do not loose valuable time hunting for a place to stay. Here is a list of some nice hotels that are close to our clinic in Chandigarh. We do assist patients in finding a place to stay. Please let us know if you need help with your hotel reservations and arrangements.
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Confirm and book your dental appointment with us via e-mail, phone, or through this website, so that we know when to expect you.
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Let us know your travel plans and dental treatment needs via e-mail/phone so that your dental treatment plan can be customized in a way not to disturb your travel plans.
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Get your immunizations as advised by the travel advisory in your own country before departing. Click here for the travel advisory for US citizens by US state department.
After Arrival in Chandigarh, India
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Check-in at your accommodation of choice- If your travel agent does not provides you with pick and drop facility, prefer to have a pre-paid taxi. We can also help you in arranging a pre-paid taxi for travel from Delhi to Chandigarh for you.
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Relax and get over the jet lag. It may take you a while to get accustomed to the climate, time-zone and the population explosion.
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Inform or register yourself with your country's embassy/high commission.
4. Inform us of your arrival and re-confirm your dental appointment.
5. You can use this local taxi (cab) company (City Radio Cab) for your local travel. They provide reliable service with metered fares.
6. We can provide a prepaid cell phone with local call facility for your temporary use at your request. Please let us know in advance if you would like to have the cell phone for your use.
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Please check our other specials available for new patients right now
Money Tips
Currency
The currency used in India is the rupee, which is divided into 100 paise. Rupees are available in the following denominations: Notes: Rs 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. Coins: 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 paise and Rs 1,2 and 5. One lakh is Rs 100,000, written 1,00,000. One crore is Rs 10,000,000, written 1,00,00,000. You are unlikely to come across paise, but conversely you will find that many people will have difficulty giving change for notes larger than Rs 100. Strictly speaking,you can neither import nor export Indian currency, but you can get some at the airport straight away to at least get you transport to your accommodation. There are Authorized Foreign Exchange dealers in most big cities, and Banks will also change your currency at a fair rate if you have time for the paperwork. A good way of getting your travelers currency is via an ATM but beware of hidden bank charges, both from the bank providing the ATM and the card-issuing bank - you also don't know what exchange rate you're getting. As with any country, it's not a good idea to rely solely on taking your bank card as, if this gets lost or stolen, you could be stuck without funds far from home. Travel insurance tends to insure you only for £200-worth of lost currency so it is safer to take the rest in Travelers Cheques, as these are insured (certainly American Express ones) and will be replaced (usually) in 24 hours of reporting the loss.
Cash
Major currencies such as US dollars, UK pounds and euros are easy to change throughout India, though some bank branches insist on travelers cheques only. A few banks also accept Australian, New Zealand and Canadian dollars, and Swiss francs. Private moneychangers accept a wider range of currencies, but Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi currency can be harder to change away from the border. When traveling off the beaten track, always carry a decent stock of rupees.
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Whenever changing money, check every note. Banks staple bills together into bricks, which puts a lot of wear on tear on the currency. Do not accept any filthy, ripped or disintegrating notes, as these may not be accepted as payment. If you get lumbered with such notes, change them to new bills at branches of the Reserve Bank of India in major cities.
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Nobody in India ever seems to have change, so it’s a good idea to maintain a stock of smaller currency. Try to stockpile Rs 10, 20 and 50 notes; change bigger bills into these denominations every time you change money.
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Officially, you cannot take rupees out India, but this is laxly enforced. However, you can change any leftover rupees back into foreign currency, most easily at the airport (some banks have a Rs 1000 minimum). Note that some airport banks will only change a minimum of Rs 1000. You may require encashment certificates or a credit-card receipt, and you may also have to show your passport and airline ticket.
ATMs
Modern 24-hour ATMs are found in most large towns and cities, though the ATM may not be in the same place as the bank branch. The most commonly accepted cards are Visa, Master Card, Cirrus, Maestro and Plus. Banks in India that reliably accept foreign cards include Citibank, HSBC. Away from major towns, always carry cash or travelers cheques as backup. Bank impose higher charges on international transactions, but this may be cancelled out by the favourable exchange rates between banks. Reduce charges by making larger transactions less often. Always check in advance whether your card can access banking networks in India and ask for details of charges.
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Note that several travelers have reported ATMs snatching back money if you don’t remove it within around 30 seconds. Conversely, other machines can take more than 30 seconds to actually release cash, so don’t panic if the money doesn't’t appear instantaneously.
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Always keep the emergency lost-and-stolen numbers for your credit cards in a safe place, separate from your cards, and report any loss or theft immediately.
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The average daily limit for withdrawal of money from an ATM is Rs 15,000 (about US$ 300). For UK travellers the Nationwide's FlexAccount is one of the few whose debit card allows free foreign transactions. Many others charge a hefty fee and/or load the exchange rate to their benefit. It is far more convenient and safer than cash and cheaper than travellers' cheques.
Western Union
Another option is Western Union. You can receive money this way via any Western Union office.
International transfers
​Having money transferred through the banking system can be time consuming. It's usually straightforward if you use a foreign/private banks elsewhere it may take a fortnight and will be a hassle.
Travellers Cheques
Traveller's Cheques issued by reputable companies (e.g. Thomas Cook, American Express) are accepted without difficulty. Traveler's Cheques exchanged in banks or hotels, and can only very rarely be used directly for Payment. You need identification documents like a passport to be shown. Except in hotels, encashing Traveler's Cheques nearly always takes up to 30 minutes or longer, So it is worth taking larger denomination Traveler's Cheques and changing enough to last for some days. Banks accept both Dollar and sterling. Other major currency Traveler's Cheques are also accepted in some larger cities. If you are traveling to remote areas it is advised that you buy Indian Rupee Traveler's Cheques from a major bank, as these are more widely accepted than foreign currency ones. It is advisable to carry a mix of cash and travellers cheques to guard against any situation. Most of the businesses in India will only accept cash. You can learn more about the traveller cheque options for India using the following links.
Credit cards
Visa, Master Card and American Express are usually accepted in tourist hotels and larger shops, though many may insist on cash.
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Remember to call your credit card company before you leave and tell them that you are going to be in India for a few days. Otherwise your credit cards may not work in India because of the the security policies used by most of the credit card companies.
Using Cellphone in India
Click here to learn more about how to use your home country cell phone in India.
Embassy Assistance
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In addition most embassies now have online registration available for travellers where you can log your passport, itinerary and emergency contact details. Should there be a natural or political disaster in the area the embassy has your details and approximate whereabouts to make contact with you to check that you are OK.
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For Australians - http://www.smarttraveller.gov.au
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For Americans - https://travelregistration.state.gov/
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For the British - https://www.britishhighcommission.gov
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For other countries check your embassy website and usually on the front page somewhere there will a link or information on registering with your embassy in the country you are visiting.
General guidelines
Tips for safe travel in India
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Do not buy travel tickets or book transportation with unauthorized dealers and persons. The safest way to having peace of mind and an enjoyable trip that is memorable for the right reasons is to ask your Travelers Hub tour operator to arrange for transportation.
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Do remember to check your travel documents before starting the journey and update all important telephone numbers in your diary, apart from storing emergency numbers (Police assistance, Ambulance service, local contact person etc.) in your cell-phone, if you choose to carry one.
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If you are on prescription medication, please ensure you have adequate supply of both prescriptions and pills for the entire duration of your India tour and perhaps a little extra to cover unforeseen delay periods during travel etc. Do remember to carry a doctor's certificate along with you to avoid possible problems with any customs checking procedures in India.
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First-time travelers to India may well be fascinated by the exotic array of spices, cuisines and affordability of street and hotel food, but it is inadvisable to eat spicy Indian food without sampling a bit first or affirming the extent of spice-blends used with the chef/service attendant.
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If unsure of your ability to communicate in regional scenarios for the entire length of the tour or if opting for a combination of tour packages, especially to remote areas, please feel welcome to request your travel agent for a language interpreter. Do not play Lone Ranger - as adventurous as the prospect may seem - foreign tourists can be regarded as far from that by unscrupulous elements and considered easy targets for mugging and far more heinous crimes.
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Bottled water is your best companion while in India's tropical climate and is your safest bet for keeping various contaminated-water related ailments at bay and also for brushing your teeth.
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If you intend making any changes to Domestic Tickets in India, do consult your trusted travel agent for the best advice.
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All foreign nationals can use credit cards, traveler's cheques or foreign currency for the payment of all their bills, though they may use Indian rupees in case they can furnish proof of having exchanged money legally.
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Please remember that banks in India function from Monday to Friday from 1000 hours to 1230 hours (some also function post-lunch, but you may need to consult your tour operator for specific bank details) while Government and administrative offices in India function from 0930 to 1700 hours on weekdays. So, please make arrangements for bank transactions and business dealings with either group keeping these timings in mind.
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Pack smart, travel light and determine weather, region-specific culture and etiquette, available cuisine (especially for those with specific diet restrictions) and range of activities prior to setting forth on the vacation of a life-time.
General guidelines
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Ensure you have all the relevant documents necessary for the duration of your India-vacation plan before you leave home. Take time out to 'know' the tour plan details and additional activities that are included or can be accommodated upon request: pack garments, footwear and accessories appropriate for these.
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Put away adequate reading, music or video material for spending your time unwinding with; this is especially helpful to persons visiting India the first time as it is known to give a sense of the familiar when in a foreign place, making for easy adaptation to surroundings.
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If you intend to travel with jewelry or excess cash/other high-value items, please confirm with your tour operator about the availability of safety deposit boxes with the lodging site/hotel you will be putting up at.
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As any experienced tour operator will tell you, Murphy's Law about things going wrong if they can, may very well apply despite the best precautions and preparations towards making the perfect vacation travel plan. For such instances, please pack a small overnight bag with basic change of garments, emergency medication and telephone numbers, toiletries, small hair-dryer, duplicate copies of important travel documents and extra cash (credit cards do not always work in all situations) to avoid distress over luggage arrival delays and other such similar situations.
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Sensible packing of toiletries for India would include putting in hand sanitizers,(toilet rolls are not available at all transition points or in remote areas, where at times, even rest-rooms may be few and far between one major sight-seeing spot and another) your brand of sunscreen (may not be available everywhere in India), essential make-up kit, mosquito repellant of your choice, water purification tablets and bath-salts.
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If shopping is high on your priority list, please remember to add in another bag suitable for carrying your larger purchases.
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Buy/download print-outs of guides to exotic and unfamiliar destinations and consult these during your journey to stay updated about travel specific problems or hazards at the Indian location you are headed for, so you have a clear idea how to deal with something similar should it happen to you.
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Most government website's give fairly comprehensive information about current political situations in Asian countries that report large-scale conflicts and be unsafe for tourists at certain points in time; please look this information up if you intend going beyond touring India.
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Pack clothes that are made of natural fibers to allow a certain level of 'breathability' for your skin; Indian being a tropical country is never short of sunshine and sweat in most regions except the hills. Nylon fabrics are best avoided unless visiting cold regions in India or planning a winter visit, while reading up about dress-codes prevalent in places on your tour itinerary can guide you about garments best given a miss.
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Carry only those things you will need in India with you, such as enough cash to cover emergencies or occasional urge-to-splurge, traveler's checks and credit cards but exit home with extra baggage like social security cards, extra credit cards, shopping mall coupons, club memberships you won't need here.
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Do remember to carry duplicates of credit cards and ATM cards, passport, traveler's checks, tour itinerary, airline/railway tickets and hotel reservation slips, contact information of local British consulates.
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Packing for India tour destinations becomes easy if you familiarize yourself with the events and activities of the destinations you will be visiting as acculturation to customs and laws will clue you in to what is appropriate.
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A linguistic tool, such as a cassette or guide book that gives you knowledge of the native language is a handy item that can help you out of a sticky situation such as calling for the police, contacting a hospital or asking for help should you get in trouble away from your tour group.