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Travel Tips

This section provides information for those travelling to India for the first time.

Vaccinations

Students visiting India from or through yellow fever infected areas are required to hold an anti-yellow fever vaccination certificate. As per Government of India regulations, no other vaccinations are required to enter India.

Tickets

During the issue of an offer letter, the InStep team requests the travel desk to initiate preparations for student air travel. The desk will contact the student directly via email to confirm the itinerary. If no contact is made one week prior to the scheduled start date, the student must contact their respective student mentor immediately. Tickets once confirmed cannot be altered.

If the student is already in possession of a ticket to India, and a travel itinerary is not required, the same must be communicated to the student mentor. Upon arrival at the Infosys campus, student mentors will help claim reimbursement for travel. Please note that the reimbursement is limited to the budget allocated by the InStep Program to the sector of travel.

Reimbursement for excess baggage bills cannot be claimed. Please make sure to collect baggage at the international airport before proceeding to the domestic airport terminal in India.

Travel Checklists

Packing Checklist:

	Passport/ Visa		Foreign Currency
	Insurance		Emergency Phone Numbers (including your student mentor!)
	Airline tickets		Adequate clothing
	Travelers checks/ cash		Credit card(s)
	Medication		Copies of essential travel documents
	Wallet/ purse		Your travel itinerary

Although not all-inclusive, this list is a good starting point for the journey. Don't forget to bring a sense of humor.

Handy Packing Tips:

• Pack in advance. Waiting until the last minute increases the chance of forgetting something
• Don't over-pack. Most people tend to take far more items than are necessary
• If possible, pack one or two changes of clothes in a carry-on bag, should the checked baggage be delayed or lost
• If traveling with two bags, split luggage in such a way that in case one piece of baggage is lost, the other will come in handy
• Pack clothing that requires little care and is suitable for Indian climate (wrinkle free, cotton-knit etc.)
• Bring mini-bottles or sample size toiletries to conserve weight and space
• Wrap toiletries and breakable items in Ziploc bags or use leak-proof plastic containers
• Pack heavy items such as shoes at the bottom of the case. Limit to no more than two pair of shoes. Put shoes in bags to prevent soiling. Pack small items such as socks inside the shoes
• Pack a collapsible bag in the case to carry purchased items or souvenirs
• Bring a copy of eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions in the event of obtaining a replacement
• Pack small breakable items between soft clothing and away for the outside of the case
• If traveling between multiple points, pack the next change of clothing on the top of your suitcase so there is no need to dig through the entire case
• Use luggage tags on every piece including carry-ons. A bright ribbon or sticker will help (and others) distinguish your bags from similar ones

Security Tips:

• Always use common sense when traveling. Listen to your instincts
• Never leave bags or belongings unattended
• Keep suitcases locked except when checking baggage on the airlines (New regulations recommend not to lock bags as they may be screened by security)
• Always keep valuables with you (Cash, passport, traveler's checks etc.). Use a money belt hidden under clothing to deter pick pockets
• When making large purchases, use a credit card. The credit card company can work on your behalf should a problem arise later
• Don't put anything in checked baggage that would easily get lost (Valuables, films, photos)
• Be careful if travelling with a laptop
• When going through security checkpoints at airports, be sure to keep one eye on the bags. It is easy to get distracted at this time
• Carry a copy of the itinerary in the luggage, as well as a form of identification. This increases the likelihood of the bag being returned if it gets lost
• Always carry a photocopy of the passport including any visa pages. This makes the re-issue process much easier
• Know the value of your money in foreign currencies. Double check when paying for an item and receiving change
• Come early and be patient. Heavy travel volumes and enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints
• List down all items in the bags and have a fair idea of their approximate value. In case of loss of baggage, the airline's reimbursement limit is stated on the ticket. Additionally insure luggage if it contains more valuable items
• Always carry valuable jewelry and medicines with you, not in the checked baggage
• Learn more about permissible and non-permissible travel items during air travel.

Airline Carry-on Restrictions

Most airlines only allow one carry-on bag in addition to one personal item.

* Length + width + height = linear inches

• Most bags within the 24 x 14 x 9 size restriction will be considered legal carry-on size
• Many airlines have sizing boxes at check-in or gates within which your bag must fit
• No knives or cutting instruments are allowed in carry-on baggage

NOTE: International travel may have different baggage allowances and restrictions depending on the destination. Check with the specific airline. Infosys travel agents cannot be held responsible for providing information on baggage allowances.

Lost Baggage:

• In case of late arrival of luggage, contact the concerned Airlines counter and lodge a complaint. Fill up the 'Unaccompanied Baggage' form, provide a contact address and phone number. Collect a counterfoil of the same from the airport counter and provide the address of the Infosys campus where you will be located
• Note the contact number of the airline to follow up on the status of missing baggage. Our travel desk will help in locating lost baggage
• When the baggage is found, it will be delivered to the address mentioned on the form
• In case the baggage is not found in three to five weeks, the airline will reimburse you for the lost baggage in accordance with their policies

Unlocking Cell Phone

We recommend that you unlock your cell phone so that it can work with any GSM network, in your home country, or anywhere else in the world.