To woo a greater number of foreign tourists and business visitors, the government of India has considered plans to extend the validity of e-visa for tourists and business travellers from 2 months with double entry to 12 months with multiple entries. Several plans for further liberalization of e-visa to India have been taken into consideration in view of the increasing popularity of Indian e-visas among foreigners and foreign nationals of Indian origin.

In the last week of August 2019 was held a national-level tourism conference in New Delhi, where India’s tourism minister Prahlad Singh announced to introduce a 5-year e-tourist visa, with several relaxations in the policy, for a minimal fee of $80. The five-year e-tourist visa is intended to make cheap travel to India from USA and other countries eligible for visa on arrival, reality during the off-season (April-July).

A one-month e-visa to India for foreign tourists and India-origin foreign nationals is also under consideration. It would come for a fee of $25 per person throughout the year except the off-tourism season when the one-month e-tourist visa fee would be reduced to $10. Initially, the nationals of the US, the UK, Singapore, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, Mozambique and Sri Lanka will be able to avail the one-month e-visa to India at the reduced fee during the off season.

Earlier, a visit to India cost foreign tourists more than US$ 1500 for two, including the high fee for e-tourist visa to India, for a 14-day trip. The latest revision of the Indian e-tourist visa fees reduced by as much as $75 is expected to double the number of foreign tourist arrivals to India in the next three years. It will literally make cheap travel to India a trending phenomenon.

Apart from a five-year e-tourist visa for USD 80, India is all set to introduce a one-year e-visa for US$40. While the Home Ministry of India has already given its nod to the revision of the Indian e-tourist visa policy, the Ministry of External Affairs is yet to give its approval.

The revised e-tourist visa program permits continuous stay for 90 days during each entry to India. But, the nationals of Japan, Canada, the UK and US are allowed a maximum of 180-day continuous stay per visit to India. Travellers on e-business visa to India are eligible for maximum 180 days of continuous stay during each visit from the countries which are within the ambit of India’s e-visa policy.

The statistics from India’s tourism ministry website depicts a growth of 41.5% from 14, 56,615 foreign tourist arrivals in the January-November 2017 to 20, 61,511 foreign visitors during the same period in 2018.

Brought to you by IndianEagle.com, this article is part of the continued series of news about travel to and from India. Travel Beats, an overseas Indian community portal, is a subsidiary of Indian Eagle, a most trusted air-ticketing portal for guaranteed cheap flights to India, low cancellation charges, 24-hr customer support and assistance on itinerary selection.  

The post India to Introduce Flexible e-Visa Fees for Different Periods of Validity during Peak and Lean Seasons appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

India’s loss-making national carrier, Air India does not cease to surprise us. In spite of reeling under a heavy debt of Rs 55,000 crore as of 2018, Air India is much liberal in allowing travelers to upgrade from economy to business, and from business to first class for a little extra amount of fare. No other airline seems to be as generous as the Indian airline.

After having introduced a liberal bidding system for its international passengers to upgrade their cheap economy flights to business class for a negligible fraction of actual business class fares, Air India is all set to pamper domestic flyers in luxury and comfort. Recently, Air India launched its new domestic airport upgrade scheme – ‘Get Up Front’ making it irresistible for travelers to fly business class or first class across its domestic network.

Get Up Front: Air India’s Domestic Airport Upgrade Offer 

Air India’s Get Up Front scheme for domestic flights consists of two payment slabs for upgrading from economy to business class, and from business to first class. One of the payment slabs is Rs 4500 for an upgrade on domestic flights up to 750km and the other is Rs 6000 for an upgrade on longer domestic routes. Either of the payment slabs applies to an upgrade per traveler.

Only those holding valid Air India tickets can avail the ‘Get Up Front’ offer. Air India’s domestic airport upgrades scheme is equally applicable for all travelers, irrespective of age. The USP of the Get Up Front is that the scheme can be availed on Air India’s discounted fares, concessional tickets and award flights.

Air India’s Get Up Front Scheme for Overseas Indians 

Overseas Indians can avail the Get Up Front offer for a travel class upgrade in the domestic leg of their Air India flights from the US, the UK, the UAE, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Whether the offer can be availed in the Air India-operated domestic leg of an international itinerary from some other airline, is not yet known.

However, one thing for sure is that Air India’s Get Up Front offer is a welcome relief after the jet lag of a long, international flight through several different time zones. You can soak in luxuries of the business travel class without burning a hole in your pocket for actual Air India business class fares or breaking the bank for first class travel experience.

The airline makes clear that the domestic airport upgrades scheme cannot be availed for a switch from economy to first class. An additional 12% GST will apply to an upgrade under the scheme, according to Air India. Not all of Air India’s domestic flights will come under the ambit of the Get Up Front scheme. The offer can be availed on only those operated by aircraft having business class and first class configuration. As of March 2018, Air India flies to 55 domestic destinations across India.

How to Avail Air India’s Get Up Front Upgrade Scheme

Air India’s Get Up Front scheme is available for purchase on the airline’s website, at the airline’s designated booking offices and airport counters, and through call centers. Even after buying cheap Air India flight tickets from a reputed travel agency like IndianEagle.com, You can seek to avail the upgrade offer.

The post Air India’s Get Up Front Scheme Offers to Upgrade from Economy to Business, Business to First Class for Less appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Indian Eagle, a leading US-based international travel organization in the air ticketing industry, is up with another campaign around the Mother’s Day 2018. Trusted by Indians in the United States for booking cheap economy flights to India and cheap business class tickets to major Indian cities, Indian Eagle is all set to give a special discount of $15 on booking of flights for mothers in the segment of adult female travelers. Indian Eagle’s Mother’s Day 2018 Campaign is open to all, including the existing customers, subscribers and prospects.

The Mother’s Day 2018 falls on May 13 in the United States. Inspired by the phenomenal success of the Women’s Day 2017 Campaign, Indian Eagle Travel is offering discounted booking* for its valued customers to gift a flight to their mothers this Mother’s Day. The offer has been extended to potential customers, too. Indian Eagle’s Mother’s Day 2018 campaign is not merely a discounted online travel booking program but is focused on a feel-good message:

“Mothers used to make paper flights for us when we were kids. Let’s recreate the moment for them by booking their flights this Mother’s Day.”

Conceptualized around this heart-warming message, Indian Eagle Travel’s discount coupon is primarily intended to make the customers and their mothers cheer this Mother’s Day. The airfare discount coupon for flights to India from USA or for flights to USA from India is applicable only for online booking at Indian Eagle.

Booking of flights between the US and India for the summer travel season 2018 is in full swing now. With the summer vacation very near, cheap last-minute airline tickets to India are in high demand. Those looking for discounted airfares to book cheap flights for their mothers this summer should not miss Indian Eagle’s Mother’s Day 2018 campaign.

“These days we celebrate most of the occasions and festivals through gifting to our dear and near ones. Usually we gift material things to our mothers on the occasion of Mother’s Day. Why not go unconventional and gift a flight to your mother this year! Ours is a win-win campaign for both customers and their mothers,” the chief travel economist of Indian Eagle said.

Using Indian Eagle’s discount coupon for online travel booking is simple and easy. Just log on to IndianEagle.com and register yourself providing the requested details about you. Based on the travel plan for your mother, do use the flight search engine to access the range of itineraries and fares from different airlines. Do select an itinerary of your choice and apply the coupon code ‘MOM15’ for a $15 discount on the fare at the time of booking online.

Direct or indirect redemption of Indian Eagle’s travel discount coupon for Mother’s Day depends on the avialable itineraries. The coupon is directly applicable for redemption at the time of booking online in the case of select itineraries. The coupon may not be redeemed at the time of booking for a few other select itineraries. The coupon value will be refunded to you in a separate transaction post booking confirmation. The other terms and conditions of Indian Eagle’s Mother’s Day campaign include:

• The coupon is valid for a new booking from May 9 until May 15, 2018 and can be used only once.
• The coupon is non-transferable and holds no cash value.
• The coupon is applicable to online travel booking for mothers.
• The coupon is not applicable for already discounted itineraries.
• The coupon cannot be combined with other coupons, discounts, or Eagle Rewards.
• The coupon is not applicable for other services including but not limited to travel insurance, booking cancellation and itinerary modification.
• The coupon is void if restricted or prohibited by law.

For any query regarding the campaign and the discount coupon, please reach out to Indian Eagle at 1-800-615-3969.

The post Indian Eagle Offers Exclusive Discount on Booking Flights for Mothers This Mother’s Day appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Undeniably, women are good at saving money in everyday life. Indian women bargaining with roadside hawkers, vegetable sellers, cobblers, carpenters, plumbers, maid servants, coolies, jewelers and likes, is a common sight to behold. Bargaining is a typical Indian trait. Mostly women possess it and leverage it as much as possible to save even a few pennies for the family. In Indian households, toothpaste is squeezed to its maximum limit.

Having the ‘I know it’ attitude, women tend to walk away from stores unless storekeepers call them from behind and offer the merchandise at the negotiated price. Undisputed queens of bargaining, they trick hawkers and shopkeepers into selling the things at lower prices by referring to some hawker or shop on the other end of the street or market where the same things are supposed to be reasonably priced.

Image Credit: CNBC.com

According to economists, those who spend money with care are the real backbone of any economy in tough times. It’s very true about Indian women in particular, who are finicky and conscious shoppers. They don’t loosen the strings of their purse until a product irresistibly appeals to them or a service fits into their budget.

If the monthly budget exceeds the preset limit, Indian women stop at nothing to save on household expenses. They explore all possible opportunities to cut unnecessary costs. They are always a few steps ahead of men in controlling expenses and maintaining the budget for economic welfare of the family.

When India declared demonetization on November 8, 2016 banning INR 500 and 1000 currency notes, women hit the panic button wondering what to do with their savings. Even non-working women, including housewives, queued up to deposit their savings, no matter how small it was, to banks. All these incidents and instances prove that women are good at saving on expenses in day-to-day life and contribute to the economic wellbeing of their families.

Whether a woman is a daughter or sister or wife or mother, they save money by every possible means and for various reasons. Now let men do it for the women in their lives. Men should acknowledge their women’s sincere efforts to make savings for the family welfare. Indian Eagle is offering the following discount to save on flights between USA and India.

Terms and Conditions that apply to Indian Eagle’s Women’s Day Discount Offer 2023 on booking flight tickets from USA to India and back to USA: 

• The coupon is valid from 8 March through 31 March 2023.
• The coupon is redeemable only once while booking a new one-way/round trip on either route: USA or India or India to USA.
• The coupon is non-transferable and has no cash value.
• The coupon is not applicable for discounted itineraries and ‘Eagle Deals.’
• The coupon is not applicable for a change of travel dates in the existing reservations.
• The coupon cannot be combined with other coupons, discounts, or Eagle Rewards.
• The coupon cannot be redeemed for a discount on fare difference while rescheduling confirmed travel or revalidating open tickets.
• The coupon is not applicable for other services including but not limited to travel insurance, airport lounge booking, and paid on-ground/inflight service.
• The coupon can be claimed by adult women travelers flying alone or with kids/spouses/other adult travelers. The coupon can be claimed by an adult male traveler accompanying or flying with an adult woman traveler.

The post Women Save on Expenses in Everyday Life; Men Should Acknowledge It This Women’s Day appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.

Backpacking to India on a tight budget? Yes, it is possible if you book the cheapest flight and go around in India as Indians do. If you discard all thoughts of ‘luxury travel’ from your mind and think of backpacking as an adventuresome way to eat and stay with locals in India, you can become a budget traveler who saves on everything from airfare to food to accommodation to shopping. Besides, with backpacking on a tight budget, you can see a real, unforgettable, offbeat India. Indian Eagle shares money-saving tips for backpacking in India.

Eat Street Food

In India, street food is much cheaper than the food at restaurants. There is no place without street food in India. You can save a lot by having a masala dosa for 20 rupees in Hyderabad, a chicken roll for 30 rupees in Kolkata, a plate of pav bhaji for 20 rupees in Mumbai, and a plate of poha for 10 rupees in Indore. Besides, you will get to know how diverse the local food culture of the country is.

Travel Overnight 

Traveling by trains and buses is surprisingly cheaper than flying in India. Both trains and buses run between places across the country, the night over. You can travel by an overnight train or bus from Delhi to Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Amritsar, Haridwar, Shimla and other tourist destinations instead of spending money on accommodation at a place.

Save on local transport 

Local transport consists of auto-rickshaws, cycle-rickshaws, buses, taxis, cabs, metro and tram in India. In most places, shared auto-rickshaws and shared cabs are available providing cheaper service than private taxis. Buses are cheaper, too, but often crowded. You can save on local transport by taking a shared cab or auto-rickshaw to get in and around a place in India.

CLICK to CHECK Fun Rides on Auto-rickshaws in India

Stay with locals 

The bed & breakfast facility is gaining popularity all over India. Traditional houses of heritage type in historic places are being brought into the bed & breakfast hospitality network. Accommodation at such local residences is much cheaper than that at hotels. Being a paying guest at a local residence will not only help you save on accommodation but also let you enjoy traditional hospitality in India.

Visit street markets 

Walk down street markets rather than stopping by brand stores to shop for souvenirs in India. Find your way to flea markets or street bazaars at tourist destinations and explore the treasure of local handicrafts. Indian street markets sell antic items and hand-crafted artifacts at much lower prices than brick-and-mortar stores. You may need to get into bargaining with some sellers.

Book cheap flights 

Airfare is a bigger part of budget for international travel. You can save on airfare only by booking the cheapest flight to India. Few online travel agencies including IndianEagle.com book cheap flights to India from USA and Canada throughout the year. As airfare fluctuates depending on multiple factors, make sure to check flight deals in order to get the cheapest and best on your preferred travel dates.

Buy travel insurance 

Buying travel insurance is wiser than paying hospital bills just as precaution is better than cure. With travel insurance, you will get recompense for hospitalization and compensation for loss of luggage during a flight. You can buy travel insurance while booking your trip at Indian Eagle. Airline ticket and travel insurance together make the best deal for an international flight to India.

Keep up with us for more backpacking tips and budget travel tips in the next posts. Pay the lowest fare for booking flights to India on IndianEagle.com. For any queries regarding flights, airfare and check-in baggage, call our travel specialists at 1800-615-3969.  

The post Backpacking in India: 7 Money-saving Tips for Budget Travelers appeared first on Travel to India, Cheap Flights to India, Aviation News, India Travel Tips.