Travel guides

Passports, visas and ID

REAL ID: do you need one to fly in the US?

What REAL ID is, which IDs TSA accepts instead, and what happens at the airport if you don't have one, including the $45 TSA ConfirmID fee.

How to renew a US passport (and how long it takes)

Who can renew by mail or online, the forms and fees, how long routine and expedited service take, and when you need to apply in person.

ESTA and the Visa Waiver Program: who needs it and what it costs

What ESTA is, who can use the Visa Waiver Program, the current fee, how long approval lasts and when you need a visa instead.

US visitor visa (B-1/B-2): steps, fees and the interview

How Indian, Bangladeshi and other travelers apply for a US visitor visa: the DS-160, the fee, the interview and what officers look for.

India e-Visa: types, fees and how to apply

How the India e-Tourist visa works: the 30-day, 1-year and 5-year options, passport rules, when to apply and how to avoid fake visa websites.

Traveling with children: consent letters and documents

When a child travels abroad with one parent or another adult, a consent letter helps. What to include, notarization, and other documents to carry.

At the airport

TSA liquids rule (3-1-1): what you can bring in your carry-on

The 3-1-1 rule explained: container size, the one-quart bag, exceptions for medicine and baby formula, and what to pack in checked bags instead.

Power banks and batteries on planes: the rules

Why power banks must go in your carry-on, the 100 Wh and 160 Wh limits, the new limits many airlines set in 2026, and how to work out watt-hours.

TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry: which should you get?

What each program does, who can apply, the fees and five-year validity, and a simple way to choose between PreCheck and Global Entry.

Arriving in the US: what you must declare at customs

What to declare when entering the United States: food and plant items, cash over $10,000, goods over your duty-free allowance, and what happens if you don't.

Money, phone and insurance

Plug adapters and voltage: US, India and Bangladesh

Which plugs and voltage the US, India and Bangladesh use, when you need just an adapter and when you also need a converter.

Travel insurance: what it covers and do you need it?

What travel insurance usually covers, why medical cover matters abroad, what evacuation costs, and what to check before you buy a policy.

Using your phone abroad: roaming, eSIM and local SIM cards

The three ways to stay connected abroad, how eSIMs work, how to avoid surprise roaming bills, and tips for Bangladesh, India and the US.

Money abroad: cards, ATMs and avoiding extra fees

How to pay abroad without losing money to fees: foreign transaction fees, ATM fees, why you should pay in local currency, and how much cash to carry.

Health on the road

Jet lag: how to beat it between South Asia and the US

Why jet lag happens, why flying east is harder, and simple steps with light, sleep and meals to adjust faster after a long flight.

Travel vaccines: what to know before you go

When to see a doctor before an international trip, routine vs recommended vs required vaccines, yellow fever certificates and where to check your destination.

Traveling with medicines: what to pack and what to check

How to carry prescription medicines on a trip abroad: original containers, carry-on, prescriptions, doctor's letters and checking the rules in each country.