India 2024 - Sam's Solo Work Trip

This trip was a little different - a solo work trip to India for me (Sam), combining long-haul travel, office time, and just enough exploring (and eating) to make it memorable.

The journey started at Heathrow Airport, flying to Bangalore with Virgin Atlantic in an Economy Delight seat. And honestly… it was delightful. Still economy, but with just enough perks - priority check-in, early boarding, and extra legroom - to make it feel like a small upgrade without the premium economy class price tag.

The food onboard was… not great. But luckily, I ended up sat next to a fellow gin lover. With the middle seat empty, we made the most of the extra space, good conversation, and a gin or three - which definitely improved the overall experience.

I landed in the early hours and made my way from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 to catch a domestic flight. The transfer between terminals was surprisingly straightforward, with a regular shuttle bus running between them. After a couple of hours waiting around, I boarded an IndiGo flight from Bangalore to Pune.

I would not do this again.

Back-to-back flights with no sleep is brutal, and by the time I arrived in Pune, I was completely exhausted. My driver met me at the airport and took me to Hyatt Place Pune - a fairly basic hotel, but conveniently located close to the office.

My “rest day” involved very little actual rest. The hotel pool was unavailable due to a wedding, so I relocated to a neighbouring hotel to spend some time by the pool, followed by a trip to the mall where I met my friend and colleague Devi. It was a nice, easy way to relax after all the travel.

The next couple of days were spent in the office with the team - productive, busy, and genuinely enjoyable. We also managed a great evening out at a local Amsterdam-themed bar/restaurant, which was a fun and slightly unexpected find in Pune.

Wednesday was a public holiday, which worked perfectly as a travel day. I headed back to the airport and caught another IndiGo flight back to Bangalore.

Back in Bangalore, I stayed at The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru — a very nice 5-star hotel just a short walk from the office. A definite step up. I spent the rest of the day catching up on work, and then met my friend Kiran for more shopping and dinner in a local mall. The next two days were a mixture of hosting the client, and catching up with the team. My final night was spent with the team in the brewery next door to the hotel, Geist Brewing Co.

Then, before I knew it the week was over, and I was heading back to Bangalore airport for the very early more flight back home. 


Lessons Learned – Travelling Solo in India

A few things I picked up along the way:

  1. Pre-book your airport transfers - either through work or your hotel. You do not want to be figuring that out at 3am.
  2. Have your documents ready - you can’t enter Indian airports without showing your passport and flight details. Learn from my mistake. 
  3. Shopping malls aren’t cheap - lots of global brands, often at UK prices (or more). For bargains, head to local brands or markets.
  4. Breweries are excellent - genuinely some of the best and most fun nights out.
  5. Security queues at the airport are gender-specific - make sure you’re in the right one.
  6. Airport security is obsessed with electrical items - take out all electronics, including cables, chargers, headphones - everything.
  7. Cash - you can’t get Indian currency before arrival, but there are ATMs and exchange desks in the airport.
  8. Hotel breakfasts are incredible - loads of choice, plus made-to-order options. Definitely try a dosa.
  9. Don’t drink tap water - bottled water only, and always check the seal.


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