How this is worked out
- Package: the price per person, 5% GST on it, and any experiences it doesn't include.
- Planning it yourself: flights per person, hotel rooms (people ÷ people per room, rounded up) for each night, local transport and activities.
- Costs either way (visas, meals, SIM cards, insurance, small expenses, shopping and forex charges) are added to both.
- TCS collected on an overseas package is shown separately and not counted as a cost: it's credited to your PAN and you get it back against your income tax.
Questions people ask
What is TCS on a tour package?
Tax collected at source: the agent collects a percentage of an overseas package and deposits it against your PAN. It appears in your Form 26AS, and you adjust it against your income tax or get it refunded. It ties up cash, but it isn't spent.
Is GST charged if I book flights and hotels myself?
International flights include their own taxes in the fare, and hotels abroad charge local taxes in the room rate. The 5% GST here applies to packages sold by Indian tour operators.
When is a package worth paying more for?
When it saves you real time and worry: first trips abroad, travel with elderly parents or small children, or a tight schedule. Then a small premium buys convenience.
How do I cut forex charges?
Use a zero-markup forex card or a credit card with no foreign-currency markup, and avoid exchanging cash at airports. Bank cards often charge 3.5% plus GST.
Is my data saved anywhere?
No. Everything is worked out in your browser. Your trip stays on your own device, and the page link holds it so you can share it with fellow travellers.