Travelling to the USA is a coveted dream that many possess. The country is full of beautiful places, filled with history and has some of the best known national parks. It’s one of those few places that is best for a solo trip, a family vacation or even a honeymoon. The United State of America has it all!
However, travelling to the United States does not come cheap. This is an expensive as well as a rather time-consuming dream to fulfill.
Planning a holiday to the US will take a lot of time. This is especially true when it comes to planning the trip itself. Now, you must be wondering why we are not talking about the financial aspect of your travel to the United States. Well, that’s because you can avail a travel loan for that.
Your travel loan is your personal loan for the purpose of sponsoring your travel and stay. Availing a holiday loan is rather easy, actually. NBFC’s like Tata Capital are known for their personal loans for travel. The entire process is extremely easy and hassle-free.
You don’t even need tons of documents to apply for this kind of a Travel Loan at Tata Capital. All you need is your basic KYC documents and passport size photographs to apply, and your personal loan will be disbursed in less than 72 hours. It’s faster than getting a visa approval!
If you are worried about the EMI, then before applying for the loan, check a personal loan EMI calculator to get an idea about how much you might be needed to repay per month once your loan is sanctioned. A travel to the US could be a costly affair so take into account all kinds of foreseeable situations and expenses before you arrive at the final figure which you want to take as a personal loan for the purpose of your vacation.
Like we said, getting your finances in order will be the easy aspect of your trip. Now let’s take a look at how you should go about planning the trip:
Visa matters
Getting a US visa is not easy, and requires a lot of effort in terms of documentation, formalities, fixing an appointment and giving the visa interview.
An Indian travelling to the United States for tourism needs a visitor visa or B-2 visa. The maximum duration of stay on a B2 visa is six months. The application fee is around 160 dollars or Rs 11,803 approximately. You can log on to the US Travel docs website to check the detailed procedure. You can then fill the DS-1600 application form, submit it and pay the visa fee online. Next, you have to schedule an appointment at your desired consulate, and once you are given the date you have to visit there for your biometrics on one day, and finally the visa interview on another day.
Booking the tickets
The next step is to book a ticket. If saving cost is your idea, you can book cheaper tickets starting Rs 35,000 to Rs 40,000, but be prepared for multiple layovers and a total travel time of more than 55 hours. But why be so tight-fisted when you have already taken a travel loan? A 55-hour journey is no easy feat, and by the end of it you will be tired beyond imagination and will end up sleeping and wasting two more days at your hotel in the bargain.
So be a little generous and take a direct flight or one with a single layover and a total duration of 15-17 hours. It will cost you between Rs 60,000 to 70,000. Your two-way travel will be sorted in less than Rs 1.5 lakh.
Finding accommodation
Research well and look around for good deals. These days’ homestays and shared apartments are a hit compared to high-end hotels. You can either book one of them or simply go the tried and tested way and book a plush hotel.
Read up reviews of the place, look for safety, convenience, proximity to bus stops and train stations, closeness to city centers. If central regions are costing you a bomb, find a quaint place in the downtown, if you don’t mind the travel. Research, research and research until you seal the deal. Once you have a fair idea about the per night charges, you can then add up your nights to come to a tentative figure about your accommodation cost.
Take this into account when you apply for the personal loan for your holiday because right after airfare, what takes up the maximum amount of your expenditure is hotel accommodation. Considering it is the US, it’s safe to assume that it is not going to be a cheap deal unless you have discovered a couch surfing arrangement.
Crafting the itinerary
If you have taken a holiday loan, then the sky is the limit as far as your travel destinations are concerned because you don’t have to bother about the expenses at every step. However, before you start, make a rough plan about the cities you want to stop by and what all you want to do there. Research by reading through various blogs, reviews and guides. Book tickets in advance online for art galleries, museums, studios and parks wherever possible so that you don’t have to stand in queues. Read up on the dos and don’ts of every place you wish to visit. Enroll in online forums on social media, and take tips from fellow travelers.
If it is your dream to visit this coveted country, then you should not let anything, especially your finances, stop you. A simple check on the internet will give you an idea about travel loans and with institutions like Tata Capital, it becomes easy to apply and avail the loan.