The Taj Mahal and its reflection in Agra, India

Plan the trip

Destination Guides - India, Asia and Beyond from Australia

Written by people who book these routes every week, not by a content farm. Each guide covers when to go, what to expect and what to organise before you fly, with honest local knowledge.

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How to use these guides

Every guide follows the same promise: tell you what a first-time visitor actually needs, in the order they need it. When to go and when not to. How long to stay. Which areas to sleep in. What to book before departure because it sells out. And the practical bits nobody glamorous mentions, like visas, SIM cards and how much cash to carry.

The flight is the expensive part, so sort it first: get a free fare quote while you read, and the rest of the trip can take shape around real dates.

City and country guides

Delhi

Delhi for Australians: the best months, the areas to stay in, getting around by Metro, the sights to book before you...

Mumbai

Mumbai for Australians: the best months, Colaba to Bandra, the local trains, the street food, two days that work, and...

Singapore

The world's easiest city break: how long to stay in Singapore, where to sleep, the hawker centres worth the queue, and a...

Bali

Bali travel tips for Australians: which area suits your trip, Ubud or the coast, when to go month by month, and what to...

Amritsar

Visiting the Golden Temple properly, the Wagah border ceremony, the food of Amritsar and a two-day plan, for visitors...

Bangkok

Bangkok for first-timers and regulars: the neighbourhood to sleep in, the river and rail that beat the traffic, what to...

Bengaluru

Bengaluru, India's garden city, for a weekend or a week: cafes, markets and craft beer, the best year-round climate in...

Chennai

Chennai for Australians: Mylapore's temples, Marina Beach, Chettinad food, the December music season and the...

Colombo

Colombo deserves two proper days: Fort and Pettah, Galle Face at sunset, crab and hoppers, then the two-monsoon rule for...

Goa

Goa is several holidays in one: the lively north, the quiet south, Old Goa, fish thali and feni. Which Goa suits you,...

Hyderabad

Hyderabad for Australians: Charminar and Golconda, Nizami palaces, the pearl bazaars, where to eat biryani, and a...

Kochi & Kerala

Kerala for first-timers: Fort Kochi's history, an honest take on houseboats, Munnar tea country, Ayurveda in the rain...

Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, India's first World Heritage City: the pols of the walled city, Gandhi's ashram, the stepwells, the kite...

Auckland

Auckland sits on about fifty volcanoes between two seas. What to see in a day or two, Waiheke by ferry, and the NZeTA...

Dubai

Dubai beyond the malls: cross the creek to the souks, an evening in the desert, planning around the heat, and why three...

Fiji

Fiji is about a dozen destinations. Pick the island group before booking a night, budget for the transfer from Nadi, and...

Hanoi

Pack a jacket: Hanoi gets cold. The Old Quarter, crossing the road, egg coffee, and why Ha Long Bay deserves a night...

Ho Chi Minh City

Everyone still calls it Saigon. Which district to stay in, the Cu Chi tunnels and War Remnants Museum done honestly, and...

Kathmandu

The Kathmandu valley holds three Durbar Squares within an hour, plus Boudhanath. The Lukla baggage rule, and why...

Kolkata

India's last trams, the Indian Coffee House, Bengali food that rivals any city's, and Durga Puja, when Kolkata becomes a...

Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur for Australians: three cuisines for a fraction of Singapore's prices, the Batu Caves, the Petronas Towers...

London

Travel to London from Australia, done properly: which airport to land at, the jet lag going west, the free museums, and...

Manila

Manila is the gateway to the Philippines. The terminal problem that ruins connections, the traffic, Intramuros, Filipino...

Phuket

Phuket is much more than Patong. Which beach suits your trip, what the red flags mean, the two monsoons, and day trips...

Tokyo

In Tokyo the neighbourhoods are the sights. The rail pass mistake, the depachika food halls, when you still need cash,...

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these guides just adverts for flights?

No. They exist so our clients land prepared, and they earn their keep by being genuinely useful. Where we link to hotels or tours through partners, we say so plainly and it never costs you extra.

Can A1 Travels book the hotels and tours mentioned in the guides?

The flights we book directly. For hotels and experiences we point you to trusted partners, Agoda for stays and Viator and Klook for tours, tickets and transport, through our links, and to our VIP Hub which collects them in one place.

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