🛬 Tips for First-Time Travelers: Staying Safe at Delhi Airport & Beyond 🇮🇳
Landing at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) for the first time can feel overwhelming—especially with the crowds, unfamiliar systems, and pushy touts. Here’s a practical guide to staying safe, confident, and scam-free at the airport and as you begin your journey in India.
✈️ At Delhi Airport: Stay Sharp from Arrival
1. Avoid “Helpers” at Baggage Claim
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People offering to help with luggage often demand high tips.
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Tip: Use official porters in uniform or handle your own bags.
2. Use Official Transport Only
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Skip the touts outside claiming “cheap taxi” or “best hotel.”
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Tip: Book through:
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Official prepaid taxi counter inside the terminal
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India Taxi Online/Uber/Zomato Ride via app with GPS tracking
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Your hotel’s verified airport pickup
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3. Ignore Fake Tourist Desks
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Desks outside the terminal claiming to be "Government Tourist Office" often overcharge.
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Tip: Pre-book tours or use in-terminal information desks only.
🏨 Hotel & Travel Safety
4. Verify All Hotel Communication
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Scammers may call pretending to be from your hotel, saying it’s canceled.
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Tip: Use the hotel’s official website or verified contact info to confirm.
5. Don’t Share Personal Details
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Never hand over your passport, visa, or phone for “checking” unless at official counters.
🚕 Moving Around the City
6. Avoid Cash-Only Taxis or Auto Rickshaws
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They might overcharge or take longer routes.
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Tip: Use metered rides or app-based taxis only.
7. Use a Local SIM with Data
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Having mobile data helps verify locations, bookings, and prices instantly.
🧾 Extra Travel Safety Tips
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📍 Keep digital & printed copies of passport, visa, hotel address.
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🛑 If pressured, politely say no and walk away.
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🧘♀️ Stay calm. India is friendly, but scammers target confusion.
✅ Safe Alternatives
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🌐 Use Indiatourism.gov.in or reputable platforms like MakeMyTrip, India Taxi Online, Yatra, etc.
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📲 Download trusted apps: Google Maps, Ola, Uber, Paytm, Zomato, Swiggy
