चलो, सफ़र पर चलते हैं

travel details

For many of you, India is a brand new place. If you're feeling brave, you're welcome to find your own way - but we've put together a guide for getting there, getting around, and not falling sick. Most importantly: a list of necessary pre-trip tasks.

getting to mumbai

It's a long flight from anywhere in the US — usually 16–20+ hours of total travel. Some major US cities (NYC, SFO, etc) have direct flights to Mumbai but you'll likely get a flight with a layover (Doha, Dubai, London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, etc) - helpful for stretching your legs out before the wedding chaos!

visa

US passport holders need a visa to enter India. The easiest option is the e-Tourist Visa, which you can apply for online at indianvisaonline.gov.in.

Apply at least 4 weeks before you fly (we recommend applying as soon as you have flight tickets). Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months past your travel dates and has 2+ blank pages.

Make sure to print the actual e-Visa (ETA) document itself, not the confirmation email. You'll need to bring the printout along with your passport to present at check-in.

where to stay

hotel block

We'll have a hotel block in Mumbai, close to the venue. We recommend booking through our block, as it gets you the negotiated rate and puts you near most of the other guests. As soon as we've locked down a hotel, we'll update details here, and a message will be sent out on the WhatsApp group (please join if you haven't yet!).

when to book

Book as early as you can — ideally 3–6 months out. February is still peak wedding season in India and Mumbai hotels fill up fast. The block has a deadline (date TBD); after that, rooms release back to the public and rates jump.

getting around mumbai

uber

Uber works well in Mumbai (and it's very cheap compared to America). Please set up the app before you arrive, it might be hard to do so at the airport.

staying healthy

India is wonderful, intense, and totally worth the trip but, like with many other foreign countries, your body may take time to acclimate. A few things will help you stay comfortable and out of the bathroom the day of the wedding

vaccinations & health

Vaccines are a great way to make sure you're at your best (and not stuck in the bathroom while Natasha's reading her vows). We recommend looking into them 4–6 weeks before you fly. Generally, the CDC recommends:

Hepatitis A & Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Malaria prevention medication (antimalarial pills)

We recommend that you're up to date on your routine vaccines (MMR, Tdap, flu, COVID-19), and that you bring any prescriptions you'd hate to be without. Mumbai pharmacies are excellent (Natasha still relies almost exclusively on them), but it's nice to not need them.

water & street food

Stick to bottled or filtered water. Don't drink tap water and avoid ice.

Street food is one of the best parts of Mumbai, but the bacterial profile is different from what most American stomachs are used to. If you only have a few days before the wedding, we'd save the bold street-food experiments for after. Restaurants and our hotel are a safe bet. Similarly, avoid raw or uncooked food (e.g., salads), until after the wedding.

staying connected

wifi and general connectivity

Cell service is reliable across Mumbai, like any metro city. While WiFi is common in cafes, hotels, and some public spaces, it's not as widely available in India as it is in the US. We recommend you either get a local SIM card, turn data roaming on for your existing number, or use an international phone plan. Check with your cell provider, they usually have specific recommendations based on your phone plan.

the bare necessities

The TLDR ("too long, didn't read", for the old folks in the room). If you forget everything else, please at least remember to do the following:

Make sure you bring a valid passport, and that it expires at least 6 months past your travel dates
Get your e-Visa — and bring the printout. Apply online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, then print the actual e-Visa (ETA) document to present at check-in
Get vaccinated — Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid
Join the WhatsApp group, where we'll post any updates, day of logistics, and any other need-to-knows
Book your flights and hotel — ya can't walk to India, and we need you well rested

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