Arranging for a hotel room on your last night in India will be one of the smartest decisions you can make during your journey. Having the comfort to shower, change and pack your bags before departing for the long wait at the airport can make all the difference in your flying attitude. Travel agencies, in an effort to keep itinerary costs down, will schedule travelers on full day of sightseeing after the morning hotel checkout. Once this is complete, tourists are shuttled to dinner and then straight on to the airport. Whether you’re departing from Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Bengaluru, international flights departing from India all leave at the wee hours of the morning.

Instead, arrange for a “last night” hotel. Depending on individual itineraries, you may already be in your departure city a few days before the return flight, or you may arrive in the nick of time for your long journey home. Ask your travel agency to reserve a room on the last night. Nearly every hotel in major departure cities is accustomed to this request and offers reduced nightly rates. You’ll receive the same full service room as if you were staying the entire night but with the luxury of resting in comfort rather than in the airport hours before necessary.