🇮🇳 Safety Tips for French Travelers Visiting India for the First Time 🇫🇷

India is a rich, vibrant, and fascinating destination—but like any country, smart travel habits are key. If you’re visiting India from France for the first time, here are practical safety tips to ensure a smooth, enjoyable journey.

🧳 1. Prepare Before You Go

✅ Essential Travel Preparations:

• Get travel insurance that covers health, theft, and trip cancellations.

• Apply for your Indian e-Visa well in advance via the official website.

• Carry photocopies of your passport, visa, and ID, stored separately from the originals.

• Register your travel plans with the French Embassy in India (Ariane Portal).

🛬 2. Airport Arrival & Transport Safety

• Use official airport taxis or pre-booked car rentals (Ola, Uber, Meru).

• Avoid engaging with touts or "guides" offering unsolicited help.

• Keep your valuables and wallet hidden or in a money belt while moving through crowds.

🏨 3. Accommodation Safety

• Book well-reviewed hotels or guesthouses via trusted platforms like Booking.com or Airbnb.

• Avoid isolated areas, especially when traveling solo or at night.

• Lock your luggage and use the room safe for passports and cash.

🌐 4. Stay Connected

• Buy a local SIM card with data (Airtel, Jio, or VI) for maps and emergency access.

• Use Google Translate, offline maps, and French Embassy contact info.

• Share your location with a family member or friend regularly.

🧼 5. Food & Water Hygiene

• Eat at clean, busy restaurants—avoid street food unless it’s freshly cooked.

• Drink only bottled or filtered water—avoid ice in drinks.

• Carry hand sanitizer, anti-diarrheal tablets, and basic medication.

🚨 6. Watch Out for Common Tourist Scams

• Be cautious of:

  • Fake tour guides outside stations/monuments

  • Taxis overcharging—use meters or booking apps

  • Gem shops, travel offices, or “closed hotel” lies (a common scam near Delhi Railway Station)

• Always verify with your hotel or official tourism desks.

👗 7. Dress & Cultural Sensitivity

• Dress modestly, especially in rural areas and temples.

• Remove shoes and cover your head when entering religious places.

• Public displays of affection are uncommon—be discreet.

🙋‍♀️ 8. For Solo Female Travelers

• Book women-friendly stays or hostels (Zostel, Hosteller, etc.).

• Avoid walking alone after dark; prefer group tours or shared travel.

• Carry a whistle or safety alarm; India also has a 112 emergency helpline.

🆘 9. Emergency Contacts

• Police: 100

• Ambulance: 102 or 108

• Women’s Helpline: 1091

• French Embassy in India:
  📍 New Delhi – +91 11 4319 6100
  📍 Mumbai, Bangalore, Puducherry – Local consulates also available

📌 Final Tips

• Be confident, polite but assertive.

• Keep cash and cards in separate places.

• Download travel safety apps like Safetipin, bSafe, or MySafetipin.