Things to know before visiting India

While cards work at hotels and some restaurants, street food, local markets, auto-rickshaws, and smaller vendors overwhelmingly prefer cash. ATMs are available but creators recommend having rupees on hand before venturing out.

Goa's status as a former Portuguese territory means alcohol taxes are lower than elsewhere in India. Beer and spirits are described as very cheap and easy to find, unlike many other Indian states where alcohol is heavily taxed or restricted.

Multiple Goa-focused creators confirm that budget travel in Goa is genuinely accessible. Hostel beds, cheap local food, and affordable transport keep costs low, with the main variable being accommodation style.

Navigating Old Delhi, the Taj Mahal complex, and Agra Fort is significantly easier with a hired driver for the day. Creators recommend this for both logistics and context — guides explain history and help avoid being mobbed by touts.

Mumbai's suburban rail network is described as an authentic, affordable, and genuinely exciting way to move around the city. Flora and Note ride the local train on their first full day and call navigating it part of the real Mumbai experience.

On arrival at Mumbai airport, the cheapest way into the city centre is an air-conditioned public bus that runs directly to the Gateway of India. Rhett and Claire used it and describe it as working perfectly fine.

For reaching Himachal Pradesh hill destinations from Delhi, the overnight Volvo bus is the widely used, affordable option. Ashu Travel Guide documents the full journey and recommends booking through apps like Zingbus.

Goa's beaches and villages are spread out and poorly connected by public transport. Creators consistently recommend renting a scooter or hiring a car as the practical way to move between North and South Goa's highlights.

The Goa-focused videos mention that scams exist around water activities, overcharging, and tourist-oriented services. Nanda's Journey specifically flags Goa scams as a dedicated topic in their complete Goa tour breakdown.

Creators with on-the-ground local knowledge consistently describe Mumbai as one of India's safest cities. A local guide in the Rhett and Claire video specifically says women feel comfortable traveling alone late at night there.

Multiple creators who arrived in Mumbai or other cities recommend doing a guided food tour within the first day or two. It provides safe introductions to street food, explains what you're eating, and weaves in local history.

First-time visitors, especially those arriving in Delhi or Mumbai, describe an immediate wall of noise, traffic, crowds, and stimulation. Creators who pushed through the initial shock universally say the country won win you over quickly.

First-time visitors across multiple videos are struck by how warm and welcoming Indians are despite the apparent chaos. Thomas Heaton notes that in busy street scenes nobody seems to care or hassle you, and several creators highlight unsolicited kindness from strangers.

Creators consistently focus on single regions or city clusters rather than trying to cover India broadly. The country's sheer size means Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and the Northeast are effectively different travel universes requiring separate planning.

The Taj Mahal at sunrise is consistently cited as one of the most memorable travel moments creators have had. Crowds are thinner, the light is magical, and the experience is dramatically different from a midday visit.

Multiple creators note that visiting during Diwali delivers an unmatched sensory experience as cities light up and festivities fill the streets. Rhett and Claire specifically call it the peak of Mumbai's cultural calendar.