Visiting Home — The Practical Side Nobody Talks About
Every NRI trip to India involves more logistics than a simple holiday. Flights, SIM cards, currency, customs rules, insurance, and the eternal question of what to pack. This guide covers the practical details that make your trips smoother.
Flights to India
Finding the best deals
- Google Flights — best for comparing prices across airlines and dates. Use the calendar view to spot cheap travel days.
- Skyscanner — good for flexible date searches and price alerts.
- Direct airline sites — Air India, Vistara, British Airways, and Emirates sometimes offer deals not shown on aggregators.
Peak vs off-peak pricing
| Season | Months | Typical London-Delhi return |
|---|
| Off-peak | Feb-Mar, Sep-Oct | £400-550 |
| Shoulder | Jan, Apr, Jun | £500-700 |
| Peak | Jul-Aug, Nov-Dec | £700-1200+ |
Diwali weeks and Christmas/New Year are the most expensive. If your dates are flexible, flying mid-week (Tue-Thu) is usually cheaper than weekends.
Direct vs connecting flights
- Direct (Air India, British Airways, Vistara): ~8.5 hours London-Delhi, worth the premium if time matters
- One-stop (Emirates via Dubai, Qatar via Doha, Etihad via Abu Dhabi): often £100-200 cheaper, adds 3-5 hours
Staying Connected
SIM cards and data
Your UK phone will work in India on roaming, but data charges add up fast. Better options:
- Local SIM on arrival — Jio and Airtel sell tourist SIMs at major airports. You need your passport and a photo. Costs around Rs 500-800 for a month of data + calls.
- eSIM (before you fly) — Airalo and other providers let you activate an India data plan on your phone before landing. No physical SIM needed, works the moment you turn off airplane mode.
- WhatsApp calling — most NRIs rely on WiFi or data for calls back to the UK via WhatsApp. Free and reliable in most Indian cities.
Staying on UK number
If you need to receive UK calls/texts (bank OTPs, etc.), keep your UK SIM active. Most UK networks offer India roaming — Three and Vodafone include some Indian coverage in their roaming add-ons.
Money and Currency
How to pay in India
- UPI — if you have it set up on your NRE/NRO account, this is the easiest way to pay everywhere in India.
Learn about UPI for NRIs
.
- Debit/credit cards — Visa and Mastercard work at most shops and restaurants. Inform your UK bank before travel to avoid blocks. Watch for DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion) — always choose to pay in INR.
- Cash — still essential for auto-rickshaws, small shops, street food, and tips. Withdraw from ATMs in India using your UK card, or carry some GBP/USD to exchange on arrival. Compare rates with our
INR converter
before you go.
Customs declaration
- Declare foreign currency if carrying over USD 5,000 cash or USD 10,000 total
- Duty-free allowance: goods up to Rs 50,000 (arrivals from countries other than neighbouring states)
- Alcohol: 2 litres duty-free
- Gold: limited allowance — check current rules before buying gold abroad to bring back
Travel Insurance
Don’t skip this — even a short trip should have medical cover. Indian private hospitals are good but expensive, and repatriation costs can be enormous.
What to look for:
- Medical cover: minimum £2 million
- Repatriation/emergency evacuation
- Baggage and personal belongings
- Trip cancellation and curtailment
- Pre-existing conditions cover if applicable
Annual multi-trip policies are the best value if you visit India (or travel anywhere) more than once a year. Compare on MoneySuperMarket or GoCompare.
Packing and Practical Tips
- Adaptor plugs — India uses Type C/D/M sockets (round pins). UK plugs won’t fit without an adaptor.
- Medications — carry prescription medicines in original packaging with a doctor’s letter. Basic over-the-counter medicines are cheap and widely available in India.
- Photocopies — keep copies of your passport, OCI card, visa, and insurance policy separately from the originals.
- Gifts and duty — if bringing electronics or expensive gifts, keep receipts. Customs may ask.
- Water — stick to bottled water, even in cities. Use it for brushing teeth too if your stomach is sensitive.
Before You Fly — Checklist
