Some important points to be kept in mind while planning a domestic trip

 Some important points to be kept in mind while  planning a domestic trip

Budgeting: :  Prepare a budget taking into account transportation, stay, food, refreshments etc.  Also include cost on purchase of cloths, handicrafts, artifacts and other items of interest. Provision to be made for guide fee, tips and cost of tickets/entry passes of sights/monuments. The budget will of course vary from solo to a group.  Twenty-five per cent more of the budget to be kept as reserves to take care of unforeseen expenses while on tour. 

Contacts: Address and mobile numbers of two or more readily accessible persons to be kept for use on emergency situations. Personal ID cards, business cards, Aadhar copy etc may be kept on pockets while on travel.

Things to carry: Minimum dresses as far as possible to be carried along. Do not forget to keep warm clothes/dresses if your trip is for cold locations.  A torch, knife, regular medicines, charged mobiles, mobile charger, power banks, water bottles and other personal belongings are to be carried.

Choosing destination& duration:  Do some study on proposed destinations. You can check opinions of people already visited those destinations on internet, travel and tour portals and collect information from relatives/friends.  Googling can also be done to identify favored locations.  You can gather reliable information on short, safe and convenient routes, stay, food and other relevant details of proposed destinations from above sources.  You can chalk out a time table for touring each planned location prior to start of the trip.  This will enable you to make use of the entire time of the tour program judiciously.

 Advance booking of accommodation:  It is advisable to book your stay in different locations of the itinerary in advance.  Early planning of the trip will enable you to have the accommodation booked early and cheaply.   Your valuable time can be saved from searching accommodation after you reach a destination.

Precaution:  Beware of unauthorized guides, pimps, agents, brokers and unknown people offering various services and assistance.    Always take the help of Government department personnel, approved travel & tour operators, police  etc  for  taking guidance and assistance.  If you plan a boating, please ensure that the boat service is operated by approved persons.  Always insist for life jackets/vests when you set out for a boating.  If you come across overcrowding on boats, please insist for regulating passengers to the capacity of the boat.   Many locations will have unauthorized boating facilities.  Hiring their services will be dangerous to lives. And finally take care of self and companions from risky moves across water, shores, hills and gorges.  Wishing the tourists a very happy and joyous trip.