Hi guys,

I recently went on a 10days trip to KL+ SIN along with my husband. Here is the cost and detailed itinerary along with some tips

KL - 2Nights
SIN - 6Nights
KL to SIN - Bus journey 1N

All bookings were done just a month prior to the trip. Booked entirely using HSBC CC. Scored some points as well through bookings.

VISA - Got it done from VISATRAVELXPERTS jayanagar bangalore, costed us 7k for 2pax

Flights to KUL from BLR, Batikair - 25k for 2pax
KUL to SIN, transtarxtras - 4k for 2pax
SIN to BLR , Indigo - 38K for 2pax

Hotel -
KL, Sleepinglionsuites - 10k for 2nights
SIN, Hotel v lavendar - 62k for 6nights

Major attractions -
Universal studios- 11k for 2pax
KL tower - 7k for 2pax
Genting - bus+ cable car - 4.4k for 2pax
Wings of fire symphony sentosa - 3k for 2pax

With mastercard world -
Marina bay sands observation deck - free
ArtScience museum - free

Transfer from KL to SIN -
Crossed via tuas checkpoint. Have to unload bags on malaysia side and load again after SIN immigration. Very straightforward, fill the SDAC prior to arrival and just scan the passport. Took about 5mins if all the details entered correctly.

Places covered-
KUALA LUMPUR - Jalan alor, Amman temple, Petalling street, central market, Batu caves, KLCC park, petronas towers, KL tower, Thean hou temple, Genting highlands, Merdaka square, kwai chai hong.

SINGAPORE - Little india, Bugis, Haji lane, Marina bay sands, Gardens by the bay, universal studios, sentosa, Chinatown, Changi, IMM mall for shopping, orchard street.

Transportation-
KL - 95% public transport and couple grab rides.
SIN - entirely travelled on metro and bus. Used HSBC card as it had Forex charges waiver and scapia for husband.

We did walk 17k steps on average through the 10days. So expect to walk atleast 12-14k steps normally. I had extra because i was also collecting stamps as souvenirs.

Overall cost for the entire trip without shopping - 2.5L for 2pax.

This is one of the islands at Andaman & Nicobar.

Tastes real good after watching the sunset.

Pro tip - book your fish before heading to beach.

So do i require a visa for transit in Kuwait. Also is 2.35 hours a good time for transit or is it less?

This is my hometown,Jhajha, a small town in Bihar. For years, all I wanted was to leave. After finishing 10th grade in 2014, I barely looked back. I've spent the last four years in Bangalore, chasing opportunities and building a life.

Recently, I got the chance to work remotely, so I came home for a few weeks. Somewhere along the way, the place I once couldn't wait to escape started feeling like peace. Now, instead of counting the days until I leave, I'm quietly wondering if I even want to go back to Bangalore.

Magnificent India series of videos showcasing rich diversity of India & it's landscapes. From Himalaya to deserts, rainy forests to long coastline, wonderful national parks India has it all. Royal palaces, majestic forts, medieval architectures it is truly a land worth visit

Recently spent 22 days in one of the most beautiful countries on this planet. AMA.

[OC]

Before my 8-day family trip to Thailand, my very “Indian” mental image of the country was pretty much limited to Phuket’s Bangla Road—neon lights, loud music, and endless parties.But after actually being there, I realised how unfair that picture is.

Thailand is so much more than its nightlife. Over eight days, I got to experience peaceful temples, beautiful islands, incredible food, local markets, sunsets that didn’t need a filter, and some of the kindest people. We even stepped into the party scene for a bit—purely for research and it confirmed that it’s just not my vibe but my brother enjoyed it.

I tried to plan this trip in a way that let me experience every side of the country, and I’m so glad I did. The only things I couldn’t fit in were watching a Muay Thai fight and going diving/snorkelling at Koh Tao. I guess every good trip should leave you with a reason to come back.

We started from Jaipur at night 11 PM
Some rest in the car and then Chandigarh breakfast at 7 AM
Drove all day to reach Kinnaur before evening and stayed at Bhabnagar, amazing place.
Next morning departed for Chitkul, took bath in chilled water fall and spent a night at Chitkul
Next day drove back to kalpa, stayed at rekong peo and had fun here n there.
Next day early morning, went to kalpa to see Kinnaur Kailash sunrise but clouds failed us.
Then drove to Kaza, amazing experience. Stayed there for 2 days, great place, cooked our food and had fun.
Then we drove to Manali, pathetic road (no road) and dangerous road but fun.
Reached Manali, encountered crowd and just chilled in woods.
Next day drove to Jaipur back and reached in the evening.
8-9 days, amazing trip ✌️

An Indian restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, has alleged that an Indian family damaged its property and threatened staff after being asked to prevent their children from throwing items around the dining area. The incident reportedly occurred at Bombay Bites HCM, a well-known Indian restaurant located in the city's District 1 tourist district. The restaurant later shared details of the incident on Instagram, stating that the situation escalated after staff politely requested the parents to stop their child from scattering tissues across the dining area.

According to the restaurant's owner, Manmeet, the children began throwing tissues shortly after entering the restaurant. Despite being asked by the staff to stop, they allegedly continued, with the parents reportedly giving them additional tissues. He claimed that when staff intervened once more, the family became upset and went on to damage the restaurant's property. His wife, Aishwarya Khanna Singh, further alleged that the staff were verbally abused, property was vandalized, and the family attempted to evade responsibility by identifying themselves as influencers.

In an Instagram post, Singh wrote, "Let us be very clear: A restaurant is not a playground. Our staff are not targets for anger or entitlement. And influencer does not place anyone above basic manners. Civic sense means teaching children accountability, respecting public property, and understanding that rules exist so everyone can enjoy the space safely and comfortably. When these values are ignored, it affects workers, other guests, and the business as a whole."

I spent a week here and it was surreal.

A few days ago, I shared the detailed post on Japan Trip Cost from India

and one question kept coming up:

>"Can you share your itinerary?"

This is not a itinerary that may fit everyone. It was designing the trip so that every city offered a different experience and it was for our taste and preferences.

• Tokyo for modern Japan, shopping and technology.
• Kyoto for history and traditional Japan.
• Hiroshima for reflection and resilience.
• Miyajima for nature.
• Osaka for food, shopping and a relaxed finish.

Every Itinerary Has Trade-offs

Ours was shaped by a few practical constraints:

• First week of June travel after our kids' exams, June mid rains start in Japan
• Comfort over rushing - We don't wake up early and are not willing to run all day during vacations
• A balance of cities, history, nature and shopping

Instead of trying to optimise every hour, we built the itinerary that worked best for our family.

A Small Request

Japan's biggest attraction isn't just the trains or temples.

It's the people.

Everyone queues patiently, speaks softly on public transport, keeps public spaces clean and is incredibly considerate of others. No eating while walking, no finger pointing, screaming or loud laughs in public. They don't smile or socialize much, just busy with their life.

We also saw a lot of noisy people, all were tourists 😄

We tried our best to follow those same norms, and I'd encourage every visitor to do the same. It makes the experience better for everyone.

10-Night Itinerary at a Glance

Day	Theme	Highlights
Day 1	Arrival & Recovery	Arrive in Tokyo, pick up Welcome Suica cards, settle into the hotel and enjoy a relaxed first evening.
Day 2	Modern Tokyo	teamLab Borderless, Azabudai Hills, Ginza shopping, department stores and cafés.
Day 3	Tokyo Icons	Meiji Shrine, Harajuku, Shibuya Crossing, Shibuya Sky, Don Quijote.
Day 4	Old Tokyo & Tech	Senso-ji, Nakamise Street, Akihabara, Yodobashi Camera.
Day 5	Transition to Kyoto	Shinkansen, Nishiki Market and evening walk through Gion.
Day 6	Slow Kyoto	Shopping, Gion, Yasaka Shrine and a relaxed day instead of rushing between temples.
Day 7	Classic Kyoto	Kiyomizu area, Sannenzaka and an evening visit to Fushimi Inari.
Day 8	Hiroshima -Reflection	Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum, shopping and Okonomiyaki.
Day 9	Miyajima- Nature	Miyajima, ferry, Ropeway, Mt. Misen and the floating Torii gate.
Day 10	Osaka	Dotonbori, Namba, shopping and food.
Day 11	Departure	Osaka Castle grounds, final shopping and late-night flight home.

Accommodation Strategy

Instead of looking for luxury hotels, we optimised for convenience.

Our selection criteria were:

• Quadruple family rooms - all 4 of us in one room- kids are teens needed beds.
• Within a 5–10 minute walk of a major train station
• Has a front desk with real people, not a virtual or automated one

Finding rooms for four is much harder than booking double rooms, so I'd recommend booking early.

City	Hotel Name
Tokyo	Karaksa Hotel Tokyo Station
Kyoto	Hotel Monterey Kyoto
Hiroshima	Hotel Mystays Hiroshima Peace Park
Osaka	Hotel Monterey Grasmere Osaka

Looking back, I wouldn't change this strategy. We spent very little time in the hotel, but staying near stations saved us countless hours over the trip.

Transport Strategy

Our transport was almost entirely public.

• Singapore Airlines (HYD → SIN → Tokyo / Osaka → SIN → HYD)
  • The best airline and the award winning Changi airport and not to forget our own RGIA airport in Hyderabad with good staff, smooth immigration counters and comfortable spaces ❤️
• Shinkansen
  • Our first Bulllet train experience and we used it 3 times
• Tokyo Metro
• Kyoto Subway
• Bus
• Miyajima Ferry
• Occasional taxis - Very expensive

Google Maps was incredibly accurate throughout the trip.

The only thing we underestimated was the amount of walking inside stations. Tokyo Station alone feels like a small city.

Comfortable walking shoes are probably the best investment you'll make.

Shinkansen & Luggage

If your itinerary is fixed, book your Shinkansen (bullet train) tickets as soon as reservations open.

I booked ours around 21 days before travel to get discounted fares. That meant waking up around 6 AM IST on booking day because the discounted seats disappear quickly.

If you're carrying suitcases around 25–26 inches or larger, don't forget to reserve Oversized Luggage Seats. These seats are located behind the last row of specific coaches and make boarding and getting off much easier. Carrying oversized luggage without the appropriate reservation can also attract penalties.

The smartest logistical decision of the trip was using Takkyubin (Yamato luggage forwarding).

On the day we left Tokyo, we sent two large suitcases filled with shopping, laundry and everything we wouldn't need- directly to our final destination Osaka hotel. We travelled through Kyoto and Hiroshima carrying only what we needed for those four days.

The Tokyo hotel concierge handled the form filling and handing over to Yamato, and our bags were already waiting in our Osaka hotel room when we checked in.

I genuinely wish we had a service like this in India.

One thing to remember: Takkyubin works best between established hotels. If you're staying in Airbnbs or apartment hotels without a full time manned front-desk, check beforehand whether they support luggage forwarding.

Book These Early

Hotels

Family rooms near major stations sell out quickly. Room sizes are small in Japan.

Shinkansen

Book as soon as reservations open if your itinerary is fixed.

Oversized Luggage Seats

Reserve them when booking your Shinkansen tickets.

Shibuya Sky

If you want sunset or evening slots, be online 14 days before your visit. I booked through Klook, and the best slots disappeared within minutes. Treat it like booking IRCTC tickets in India.

Japan Visa

We applied through VFS. Everyone travelling must visit the VFS centre in person. Documents included ITR, bank statements, leave approval and other supporting documents for salaried employees like us. Our visas took about 10 days.

Travel Insurance

We bought Digit's international travel insurance covering medical emergencies, cancellations and delays. It cost around ₹3,500 for the family and was well worth the peace of mind.

Food

Before leaving India, we took one challenge. No Indian food for the entire trip. For 10 nights we ate only Japanese, Korean and Chinese food, and honestly, we never missed Indian food.

Some favourites were:

• Sushi -Conveyor belt sushi! Raw sushi (tuna and salmon)
• Tempura
• Ramen
• Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki - had never heard about this before!
• Udon noodles
• Onigiri - from 7-eleven
• Bento meals from the super markets - Our dinner on most days
• Matcha - was not impressed in India, same in Japan- Don't know what the craze is about!
• Convenience store snacks - Anytime you are hungry

One thing we completely underestimated was how pork-centric Japanese food is. Many ramen broths, gyoza and even Hiroshima's famous okonomiyaki contain pork.

Chicken was much less common than we'd expected.

Seafood, on the other hand, is everywhere and we loved it.

We don't prefer to eat beef and the only time ate pork before was once in Goa. Avoiding beef was fairly easy, but avoiding pork was much harder than we expected.

If you're a total vegetarian or a person who eats non-veg but avoids certain meats I'd strongly recommend researching restaurants beforehand and using Google Translate's camera mode to understand menus and ingredients.

Shopping

Shopping was one of the main reasons we chose Japan. Tourists get 10% discount if the bill amount is >5000 Yen, you need to show your passport and Visa and sometimes there is a separate queue for this.

Our main targets were:

• Electronics
• Watches
• Running shoes and Onitsuka Tiger
• Uniqlo - where it originated
• MUJI - Authentic Japanese minimalist brand
• Cosmetics - Its the best quality as per the reviews in many categories
• Japanese Knife - Again worlds best knife makers are in Japan
• Souvenirs from every city

One surprise was the craze for Onitsuka Tiger. The Tokyo stores were packed, with queues and limited stock in popular sizes. I almost thought I wouldn't get my pair.

A few days later, I walked into the Hiroshima Parco store. No queue. Much quieter. Full stock. Yes the deal is good, almost 50% saving compared to Indian prices.

Don't assume Tokyo always gives the best shopping experience.

Expectations vs Reality

No trip goes exactly as planned, and a few places were very different from what social media had led us to expect.

TeamLab Borderless

The visuals were impressive, but for us it felt more like a high-tech light and projection exhibition than a must-do attraction. We enjoyed it, but if I had to cut something from the itinerary, this would probably be it.

Itoya

Social media reels had convinced me Itoya was the worlds largest stationary store and something I couldn't miss.

It's a nice stationery store with quality products, but nowhere near as spectacular as I'd imagined. We did buy pens, notes, pencils and stationary- but they were available in many other places too.

Fun fact: itoya is not worlds largest or even Japan's largest stationary store. Its 12 floors, but a narrow building - each floor may be 4000 sq feet or so, but very crowded due to the hype. I think, Sapna book house in Bangalore felt bigger than this 😄

Hiroshima

The biggest surprise of the trip.

We expected a one-night stop focused on the Peace Memorial.

Instead, it became one of our favourite cities. Relaxed, uncrowded, easy to walk around, great food and surprisingly good shopping.

Miyajima

Another pleasant surprise.

Watching the island transform between high tide and low tide, riding the rope-way and simply spending an unhurried day, friendlier deer, there made it the highlight of our trip.

Things We'd Definitely Do Again

• Stay within walking distance of major train stations.
• Book family rooms early.
• Book Shinkansen tickets as soon as reservations open with discounts
• Reserve oversized luggage seats.
• Use Takkyubin luggage forwarding.
• Book Shibuya Sky the day reservations open - 14 days before
• Spend a full day on Miyajima.
• Stay overnight in Hiroshima - Peace park is beautiful and almost empty at night
• Keep at least one relaxed day in Kyoto.
• Eat local food instead of searching for Indian restaurants (unless you have dietary restrictions).
• Don't miss the shop MUJI. The minimalist design philosophy is genuinely impressive.
• Visit 7-Eleven, FamilyMart and Lawson. They're part of the Japan experience.
• Shop beyond Tokyo.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, the itinerary balanced different sides of Japan.

Tokyo gave us energy.

Kyoto slowed us down.

Hiroshima made us reflect.

Miyajima became our favourite day.

Osaka was the perfect place to finish with great food and shopping.

If there's one thing I'd leave you with, it's this:

>Japan rewards good planning. But some of the best memories come from the moments you never planned.