Travel Recommendations: Do's & Don'ts

Many of you have asked me questions about how I plan for travel and few other questions related to safety. Here are some suggestions:

Travel Style: Personal or Group:

I prefer to travel with a group as it has many advantages:

• They take care of all planning and logistics, good hotels
• Offer English speaking guide
• In a small group (20 or less), you get to have meals with everyone, get to know / meet interesting people and develop friendships.
• Most cover key points of interest and offer immersive experience like lunch at a Host family, work in a farm, etc.

My first trip after retirement was to Australia and New Zealand in 2018, where a high-end tour company arranged personal itinerary for 6 weeks for us. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, however we were missing company/interaction.

I was referred to Odysseys Unlimited tour company by a friend some 10 years ago, so, I booked a trip to Provence, south of France in 2022. Later from fellow travelers found out about other travel companies. Now a days you can use ChatGPT for recommendations.

Now I have shortlisted few travel companies that are good and enjoy group companionship where we meet fellow travelers, eat Breakfast, lunch, dinner etc. and share life stories:

Travel/Tour Companies in USA:

• Odysseys Unlimited: Upper-mid price range, reliable, small group guided tours, Quality accommodations and well-designed itineraries.

• Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T.): Based in Boston and they focus on small-group tours (10–16 on land) and cultural immersion with "Trip Experience Leaders" who are local to the destination. Recognized by Travel + Leisure and USA Today for educational and philanthropic leadership.

• Gate-1-Travel: Value for money, budget travel, yet compressive itineraries and nice hotel accommodations. Join their mailing list and they offer 10 to 20% off every few months. Use Discovery small group trips, that are limited to 20.

• Adventures Abroad: Canadian-based small-group tour operator—perfectly tailored for travelers seeking experiential, mid-range guided tours worldwide

• Road Scholar: A non-profit focusing on educational tours for adults, especially seniors and multigenerational groups. Offers moderate-price programs with knowledgeable instruction and thoughtfully curated experiences.

• Collette Tours: A century-old family-run company delivering classic guided tours (small group "Explorations" around ~18–24 travelers) with quality accommodations, meals, optional excursions, and solid travel protection. 

• G Adventure: A Canadian company, and they offer a wide variety of travel styles to suit different preferences and budgets, including trips for youth in 20s and 30s.

Here are my next 4 trips:

• Oct 29 - Dec 05, 2025: Nepal & Bhutan. With pre-trip to Delhi and post trip to Chennai, Nasik and Mumbai.

with Gate-1 Travel

• Jan 14 - Jan 31, 2026: Costa Rica: Pura Vida & Rainforest Discoveries with Post-trip Extension to Tortuguero

  With oattravel.com

• May 07 - May 23, 2026: Canada: Rocky Mountaineer Train (Jasper -> Vancouver) with visit to Calgary and Jasper & Banff National Parks. Post trip 7 days at Vancouver Island.

with Gate-1 Travel

• Oct 15 - Nov 15, 2026: 20 Day Japan by Rail Tour (Tokyo to Fukuoka) with 7 day pre-trip to North Japan (Sendai, Matsushima, Yamadera and Amori City; Hot Springs) and 4 day post trip to Osaka.

With Adventures Abroad, A Canadian Company

Travel/Tour Companies in India (from ChatGPT):

• Thomas Cook India: With roots dating back to 1881, they offer comprehensive international tours—covering Europe, USA, Australia, and New Zealand—with the backing of strong global partnerships.

• Cox & Kings: One of the world’s oldest tour operators (since 1758), it provides elegant, customized international and corporate travel experiences with attention to detail and heritage. 

• SOTC Travel: Established in 1949, SOTC delivers well-crafted, value-conscious group and customized tours across the globe. Known for reliable planning and excellent service, it's a trusted choice for mid-level travelers. 

• Travel Triangle: An innovative platform connecting travelers to local agents globally, enabling highly customized, flexible itineraries—suitable for romantic, adventure, and luxury vacations 

• TUI India: Branch of global TUI Group offering beach holidays, cruises, and luxury vacation packages across Europe, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. 

• Adventures Overland: Specializes in epic overland and road-trip adventures—such as multi-country bus journeys from India to London or touring Europe in supercars—ideal for thrill-seeking travelers. 

Safety During Travel: 

• I avoid countries that have unrest, protests, political issues etc. Safety is always an issue, so, I don’t venture out myself in the nighttime. I don’t carry any valuables with me, no jewelry for women, costume jewelry is fine. Money belt under your pants, or lower front pockets with a zipper.

• I typically travel with a group tour, where they take care of all logistics as well as security.

• Choose a good airline that is profitable and reputable that maintains their planes better.

• When flying, do not remove shoes until after take-off, say at least first 10 min. Also, put your shoes on 10 minutes before landing. In case of crash landing/take-off, you will need the shoes to get out of aircraft in hazardous/fire conditions.

Airlines / Bookings:

• Initial Research for Airline Options: I look for options on Kayak or Expedia. Try mid-week, Tue/Wed/Thur, as flights are less crowded and less expensive.

• Then I go to airline webs site and book the flight. For long haul, buy premium economy. Then then do selective upgrades for overnight flights if reasonably priced. Some airlines allow you to bid for bus class upgrades and I do that.

• Try booking direct flight, they may cost more, but saves you time and avoids missing connection. In case of connection, ensure that you have at least have 3 hrs. layover, to give extra time for delays, security and terminal changes.

• Never book one way flight, more expensive. Try booking a round trip or multi-city booking. e.g. New-York -> DEL; BOM->New-York ( vs. One way ticket New-York->Del and separate ticket BOM->New York). for intercity, book separately. Expedia is good and they provide good technical support.

• I arrive one to two days before the tour starts, to relax and recover from jet lag.

• Use Viator or Trip Advisor to book a walking city tour day-2 to familiarize the city.

• Many times I extend the tour, where they book hotels or I book myself on Expedia or Airbnb and visit museums and other activities.

Miscellaneous:

• Binoculars: Vortex Optics Diamondback HD 8x32 Binoculars, HD Optical System. Just right size for safari or travel. Very good quality and just the right size.

• Photography: If you have a good Phone camera, it should be good. For wild-Life and Birds, better to buy a traditional camera with at least 20X optical zoom.

• Clothes: Except for one pair formal pants and shirt and may be a jacket, use casual wardrobe:
• informal wear, that is made with modern tech, water repellant, airy, quick dry, this way you can wash in the hotel and in 6 hrs. they would dry.  
• Shorts and T-shirts for during the day and a few long-sleeve shirts and sweaters for cooler evenings /mornings.
• Dressing in layers, as sometimes the temperature can vary widely based on seasonality and time of day. Bring long-sleeved shirts, a sweater or fleece, a lightweight waterproof windbreaker, and a rain jacket.

• Medicines: Carry medicines for all possibilities, fever, cold, upset stomach, electrocyte, diarrhea, Antibiotic for throat infection, Amoxicillin for general infection, first aid, pain relieving patches for Back pain, Wrist band, Knee and ankle support.

• Footwear: Water proof sandals & shoes

• Swimming gear: Many hotels have pool and Sauna, so bring your own gear.

• Sun Glasses and spare eye glasses 

• Coffee/Tea: Bring you own favorite instant coffee and tea bags, as you may not like coffee/tea in some hotels/countries.

• Laundry: When staying in Airbnb, I also carry 4 cloth washing pods, as many will not supply them

• Rain/Sun: Light Rain gear, hats, small light umbrella

• Power/Chargers: International power plus, chargers with long cables for Phone and other gadgets. 

• Carry Bag: Always carry critical meds, and overnight clothes, in case you checked language doesn't get there on time.

• Local Travel: Uber is almost worldwide and they are the safest. If arriving late night, ask hotel to arrange pick up, unless you are in safe cities.

• Local Guides: Before you depart, do research about the country, cities, places to see and come up with your own list of places you want to visit. Some would-be covered by the tour company, some you can do yourself during spare time or pre/post trip.

• Money: 
• Always carry at least at least $500 USD ( 5s, 10s, 20s and 50s)
• I use Debit card to withdraw in local currency at a major bank (in city) and not at the airport, where they charge high transaction fee and unreasonable exchange rate
• When paying by credit card, always charge in local currency and not USD, as your bank always provide the  best exchange rate.