Honest answers to the most common questions Indian travellers ask about international travel budgeting, visas, currency, and trip planning.
This includes return flights from a major Indian city, 7 nights accommodation in 2-3 star hotels, daily food, 2–3 paid activities, and local transport.
Use the Paisa Route calculator to get a more precise estimate based on your travel style, number of travellers, and duration. Always add a personal 15–20% buffer on top of any estimate.
Vietnam is generally the cheapest of the three — food, accommodation, and local transport are all very affordable. Bali comes next. Thailand is slightly more expensive but offers more variety of experiences.
That said, flight costs from India vary significantly by destination and booking time — and can flip the equation. Use the Compare Countries tool to see a side-by-side cost breakdown for any pair of destinations.
Europe is significantly more expensive than Southeast Asia. Key costs:
Western Europe (France, UK, Switzerland) is most expensive. Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland) can cost 40–50% less for similar experiences.
Generally, book separately for better deals. Flight prices and hotel prices have different optimal booking windows.
Holiday packages can seem cheaper but often include overpriced hotels or inconvenient flight timings. Booking independently gives you more control.
No budget estimate is perfect. Unexpected costs always come up — a taxi that costs more than expected, a tour that's too good to skip, a meal that turns into a longer evening. 15–20% buffer covers most surprises without being excessive.
For first-time international travellers, we'd go to 25% extra — the first trip always has a few learning-curve costs.
Indian passport holders currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to several popular destinations. Some examples:
Always verify current visa rules at the official embassy website before booking — policies change.
You need to carry:
Processing time varies by country and season, but typically 15–30 working days. Apply at least 6–8 weeks before your travel date — earlier during peak season (June–August).
Key requirements include bank statements showing sufficient funds, travel insurance, hotel bookings, and detailed itinerary. Requirements differ slightly by which Schengen country's embassy you apply through.
Two popular options for Indian travellers:
Both are better than using a regular Indian debit card which typically charges 2–4% forex markup on every transaction. Load the card with your estimated budget before you fly.
It depends on the destination:
Avoid exchanging money at airports — rates are almost always the worst there. Airport counters count on the fact that you're desperate for local currency on arrival.
For Southeast Asian destinations like Thailand:
For Europe, cash is less essential — most places accept cards. Keep 100–200 EUR for tipping, markets, and emergencies.
UPI and Google Pay linked to Indian bank accounts generally don't work for payments abroad. Some countries are slowly adopting UPI (UAE, Singapore have limited acceptance), but it's not reliable enough to depend on for your main payment method.
Always carry a Visa/Mastercard — either a forex card or an international-enabled debit/credit card — as your primary payment method abroad.
The calculator gives you a realistic planning estimate based on typical costs for Indian travellers at your chosen travel style. It factors in accommodation, food, activities, and local transport.
It does not include:
Most Indian first-time international travellers fall in the Mid-Range category.
Yes! Use the Compare Countries tool to see up to 4 destinations side by side. It shows you a cost breakdown for each destination at the same travel style and duration, making it easy to decide which fits your budget better.
We review and update destination costs periodically based on current travel data, exchange rates, and feedback from travellers. Costs can fluctuate due to currency movements, seasons, and inflation — which is why we always recommend adding a 15–20% personal buffer.
If you notice a cost that seems significantly off for a destination you've recently visited, feel free to let us know.
These destinations are ideal because:
Dubai is also popular for first-timers due to its proximity and Indian community, though it's significantly more expensive than Southeast Asia.
Yes — always get travel insurance. It's one of the most underrated and underused tools in travel planning.
A good travel insurance policy covers:
For some destinations like the Schengen zone, travel insurance is mandatory for visa approval. For others it's optional but strongly recommended. A week-long policy typically costs ₹500–1,500 — well worth it.
Essential documents to carry on every international trip:
Three options:
For most travellers, eSIM is the most convenient option — no queues, no SIM swapping, and you have data the moment you land.
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