Monsoon travel tips you must remember

A rainy-day trip for some means looking out the car window and imagining themselves in an emotional Bollywood scene, and for some it’s the petrichor, must-inhale-the-vibe kind. The bottomline is, it is fun. Everything around you looks fresh and vibrant, you witness nature refresh itself and you in the process.

The sky may be overcast, the sound of distant thunder coming at regular intervals, and you are looking forward to reaching the destination of your choice. It's a different kind of fun travelling during the monsoon season.

But, if you are not well-prepared for the season, this could easily be one of the worst experiences as well. We don’t want you to go through that so we have curated a list of travel tips, do’s and don’ts for the monsoon travel.

Probably the most important thing in the list, the weather forecast. Always check the weather forecast for the day and the following day, depending on the nature of your trip. If the forecast says extreme weather conditions like heavy rainfall, hailstones, or storms, it’s best to stay put. Keep in mind, no destination is worth taking this kind of risk. If you are travelling to the hills, it is imperative that you check the weather forecast first, as there might be chances of landslides and cloudbursts in hilly areas.

The weather has cleared and you can see that it’s the perfect time to pitch a tent, make sure that you have packed insect repellants. Monsoon is when a lot of pesky bugs come out, especially mosquitoes and leeches (depending on where you are). Also, make sure you have your first-aid kit fully stocked for any emergencies like cuts and scrapes. You do not want infection when you are out and about. Always carry ONLY physician-prescribed medicines.

It’s best to keep away from street-food during the monsoon season. There is a high chance of contaminated water during this season, and that could land you in some serious trouble. Avoid eating uncovered food, we have talked about unwanted insects coming out in large numbers during this season. If you are out hiking or camping, make sure you drink ONLY boiled or purified water. Think portable purifiers!

We cannot stress enough on the importance of proper footwear for any occasion. Since we are talking about monsoon, two things to keep in mind: waterproof shoes with good grip and sturdy sandals. Both are very important for the season. Things can get slippery very soon on a rainy day and you want to have reliable waterproof shoes with a good grip. Of course, sturdy sandals over flipflops any day. For walking short distances, sturdy sandals are good and they will have better support than a flip flop and will dry faster too.

Nothing worse than having to pack wet clothes that will not only add to the weight of the bag, but also is a stinky business. Nobody likes the smell of a damp cloth. Synthetic clothes are a good choice for they are lighter in weight and are quick-drying too.

Yes, you need to waterproof everything. From your luggage to backpack to your devices, everything needs to have a waterproof cover. If you can’t find a waterproof cover for your bags, make sure you at least waterproof your belongings. Zip-lock bags, normal polybags or special waterproof pouches are easily available for your belongings.

It’s the monsoon season and you don’t know when it will start to rain; to be on the safer side, avoid stepping out during the peak rush hour. There is nothing fun about being stuck in traffic for a long time when it is raining outside. Also, when it rains, especially in cities and big towns, traffic will come to a standstill because of waterlogging problems. The normal traffic time will get extended and you do not want to be stuck in traffic when that happens.

We prefer raincoats over umbrellas just for the fact that it’s travel we are talking about and luggage space is always limited. A raincoat will not take a lot of space, it is super light, can be folded easily and tucked into any kind of space. Whereas, an umbrella, no matter how dry it can keep you, is a bit of a hassle to carry around. Though there are umbrellas that can be folded and tucked inside your bag easily, they will still not fully protect you and your backpack (if you are carrying one) like a raincoat will.