Is it safe to eat street food?

As a first-time business visitor, avoid street food entirely to prevent illness that could derail your meetings. Stick to established restaurants or your hotel.

How do I deal with the traffic?

Accept that travel will take twice as long as Google Maps predicts. Build a 'buffer' of 45 minutes into every appointment.

Planning your first business trip to Mumbai

To survive your first business trip to Mumbai, book a hotel in the business districts of BKC or Lower Parel to minimize commute times. Use a pre-paid car service or ride-hailing apps like Uber for all transit, and rely exclusively on bottled water to keep your stomach stable.

Choose your accommodation based on location. Mumbai traffic is severe. If your meetings are in BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex), stay in BKC. If your meetings are in South Mumbai, stay in Colaba or Nariman Point. Do not rely on cross-town transit during business hours.
Secure your transport. Download the Uber or Ola app immediately upon arrival. For airport transfers, use the official pre-paid taxi counters or book a private car through your hotel's concierge to avoid airport congestion stress.
Prepare for the climate and office attire. Mumbai is hot and humid year-round. Pack lightweight, breathable fabrics (cotton/linen) for travel, but ensure you have a blazer for meetings, as offices are typically heavily air-conditioned.
Set up your communication. Buy a local Airtel or Jio SIM card at the Mumbai airport arrival hall. You will need a physical passport and a digital copy of your e-visa to activate it, but it provides significantly faster data for video calls than hotel Wi-Fi.

Is it safe to eat street food?: As a first-time business visitor, avoid street food entirely to prevent illness that could derail your meetings. Stick to established restaurants or your hotel.
How do I deal with the traffic?: Accept that travel will take twice as long as Google Maps predicts. Build a 'buffer' of 45 minutes into every appointment.