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Planning to visit #Oman then do check the travel guide by @ankurnagpal - I never find anyone suggesting Salalah when visiting Oman but he's done it here and I recommend the same. It's called the "Kashmir of the Gulf" or "Arabia's garden" for a reason. Go during the rainy season or Khareef season. - Winter months are the best to visit the Gulf countries and so does for Oman. - If visiting Salalah and love to burn dhoop/incense or frankincense then don't forget to get some packed for your home + it also makes the best souvenir to give back home. Trust me your home will smell divine. You can buy some at the Al Haffa Souq. Al Haffa Souq is the second largest old market in Oman. Get the raw ones and not the processed and packed ones. - Rent a car and you'll love exploring the country at your pace. Within city taxis work in case you don't want to rent a car. - You can take an overnight GTC bus to commute between Muscat and Salalah. Really comfortable and cheap. - Roam around in the Muttrah Souq and explore. - Smaller towns near to Muscat and Salalah are also can be explored with rent a car. Try exploring if you have time. - 1 Omani Riyal = Rs. 230 That's how strong is the country's currency. Plan your travel well. - Hunt and look out for stay options to find those in budget. The winter months it does get costly if not booked in advance. - Flights to Oman are dirt cheap from multiple cities across India. - Food: You can get enough vegetarian food all around the country. Don't miss eating the veg shawarma with falafels. Check if they have Eagle Hot Sauce and add it. Super yummy !! + try out all the colas you get. They taste different than what we do get in India. In case you love drinking them + Oman Chips + Pofak. Halwa is another food item which if you love needs to be tried when in country. - You can also take a bus from Muscat to Dubai. Do check the border norms etc. - Oman has the option to get an e-visa if your passport has any of the active visas. Schengen visa or a valid visa to one of the following countries (USA, UK, Canada, Australia or Japan). Double check for the Japan. Website shows it in list but double check.

As promised on @ActusDei's tweet here's some pointers which would help you plan your trip to #Japan on a budget. Let's check how much would a trip cost for 2 persons to visit in September if planned today. 5 Nights - Tokyo 3 Nights - Osaka 2 Nights - Kyoto #Visa One of the countries with the cheapest visa costs for Indians. Just Rs. 450 Rs. 450 X 2 = Rs. 900 (a) Tip: Japan issues a 3 month validity visa for X number of days. You can use it for those days anytime within the validity period. Get your visa beforehand with reservation tickets and then wait it out for the sale. The ANA and JAL tickets are non-refundable hence a full risk in case of visa rejection. Also, you can apply 90 days before the trip. Also Japan now doesn't stamp your passport in case of rejection. #Flights - If you can backpack, you can get some sweet deals from 30K - 32K approx. - Also, you can cub your trip with some SE Asia country. Prices to Japan are cheap from multiple countries. Bankgkok to Tokyo usually is Rs. 10K with cabin bags. - Wait for the ANA / JAL sales which occur quite frequently. You'll get return flight tickets for 40K with check-in bags - Internal flights are free with ANA and JAL but also consider the costs to reach airport and city etc when availing this option. Couple: Rs. 40000 X 2 = Rs. 80000 (b) #Stay - You can get stays from as low as Rs. 3500 in hostels and Rs. 6000 - Rs. 8000 for double occupancy within Tokyo. - Again this depends on how early you book and which season. Booking in Cherry Blossom season is just a month away, and won't get you cheap stays. Tip: If doing Kyoto and Osaka then stay at Osaka which is comparatively cheaper than Kyoto. Both are just 30 mins apart. - APA Hotel chains are a good mid budget no frill hotels to stay across Japan Tip: Always check the distance from the stay to the nearest public transport. You'll love to walk and explore long distances in the morning at the start of the day, but on return will hate to walk till your stay. Room cost for 2 travelers per night Tokyo: - Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Tokyo-Tamachi / Rs. 7K - Premier Hotel Cabin Shinjuku / Rs. 8K 5 nights X 8K = Rs. 40000 Osaka: - GRAND HOSTEL LDK Osaka Shinsaibashi - Former The Stay OSAKA Shinsaibashi / Rs. 8K - MEANDER Osaka, Osaka (updated prices 2025) / Rs. 8K - Nisshin Namba Inn / Rs. 6K 3 nights X 8K = Rs. 24000 Kyoto: - Hotel Traveltine Kyoto Kiyamachi / Rs. 7500 - Hotel Resol Kyoto Shijo Muromachi / Rs. 7500 - Holiday Inn Kyoto Gojo / Rs. 9000 - Piece Hostel Sanjo / Rs. 4500 (Room in hostel) 2 nights X 7.5K = Rs. 15000 Total stay cost Rs. 79000 (c) #Passes Tip: Post the fees getting doubled on the JR Pass its no longer the lucarative pass it was as before. Now its more of convienece and if really travelling long distances on bullet trains that too within 7 days time frame. For the above itininery we'll buy just one pass considering we have booked a Free flight from Tokyo to Osaka with (JAL or ANA) - JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass for Rs. 10K Can check details here and buy from Klook: japan-guide.com/e/e2361_kans… This will cover your to and fro trip to Hiroshima from Osaka and also the other internal commute within the area for 5 days. Rs. 10000 X 2 = Rs. 20000 Post exploring Osaka & Kyoto take a bullet train to Tokyo which will cost approx. Rs. 8000 Rs. 8000 X 2 = Rs. 16000 Tip: Internal commute cost can be reduced by taking Overnight Willer Bus. They also sell Bus Passes for 3/5/7 day passes also. This significantly reduces your internal commute cost by almost 50%. Taking overnight buses also saves you a hotel fare. (Those on super budget can use this) Check here: willer-travel.com/st/3/en/pc… Now that Osaka and Kyoto Internal is taken care by above pass we need one pass for Tokyo You can buy a unlimited subway pass for Rs. 475 which is valid for 24 hrs. The pass comes in 24/48/72 hrs. Based on your travels etc check if all places a subway takes you. Don't want to check routes etc then just get the Tokyo Tour Ticket (Tokyo Free Kippu). Costs Rs. 950 and basically works on all modes of transportation. Simple. If you're someone who knows what and where they will visit can choose one pass from here gotokyo.org/en/plan/getting-… Tip: Use Google Maps to navigate the country's public transport. Works perfectly fine. Dont have much travel and want to pay per use then just get the Suica Card. Its same as we use GPay in India. The card liternally works everywhere. From metros, subways to supermarkets etc. Tip: Make sure to get the Welcome Suica and not the normal Suica. Welcome Suica is for tourists and has no deposit to be done for the card. Valid for 28 days. (Tokyo Free Kippu): Rs. 950 X 4 days X 2 travellers = Rs. 7600 One day we do a day trip to Mt. Fuji and hence don't need a pass for local commute at Tokyo Kansai Pass: 20000 Rs. Bullet Train: 16000 Rs. Daily Tokyo Pass: Rs. 7600 Total: Rs. 43600 (d) #Miscellaneous - Data sim / Pocket Wifi / E-Sim - To-fro airport to city and back transport - Attractions - If can eat at convienence stores or noodle joints etc the food cost will be realtively low - Others expenses etc Rs. 80000 (Lumpsum) (e) Again this depends on what and where you eat and type of attractions you visit etc. I have taken a much higher amount for calulation purpose as its subjective. #TotalCosts a+b+c+d+e = Rs. 283500 - Rs. 2.8L can get a couple to visit #Japan for 10 days - For a single person the costs would be 1.41L approx. - These costs can be reduced by taking overnight buses instead of Bullet trains etc which have mentioned above - The stay costs will vary based on the month you book so consider the same. Rest all costs will be same except the stay. - Booking early can also get the costs down drastically. Book fully refundable hotels beforehand. Can always change if getting something more cheaper. Japan has much more than just visiting the major cities. If have time can plan many other places around the country. Also depending on the months can plan the areas to visit etc. I had written 2 blogs on my trip to Japan. Some things would be outdated but still can refer them if intrested. helps much understand the country. Planning your Japan trip: outofofficedaku.com/post/pla… Japan Diaries: outofofficedaku.com/post/jap… Hope the above details help you plan your trip to Japan cheaply and on a budget. Share | RT #DakuKaGyaan