In India I used a backpack that also has wheels so my straps were already secured but it would probably be a good idea to tape them. The train stations were my only problem because I had so much in my pack it was difficult to carry it on my back and you have to take stairs over the rail lines. Less is more! You can't get Indian money at American banks like you can for other countries so I went with the ATM card.

I always kept a few $20 U.S. on me because that can get you out of almost any jam. Then I had two ATM cards. One from my credit union that I used regularly because they had a lower foreign transaction fee. Then I had a second stashed away in my pack from a large bank with a higher fee. This proved super important at one point in my trip when I'd left my No. 1 ATM card in a machine in Laos and had to get a bus to get it back from the woman who kindly guarded it.

There are ATMs in all the major airports so just watch for them before you walk out. Yes, you do have to keep track of how many rupees you'll need from point a to point b before you're likely to find another ATM. It took a little extra math but I never had a problem. And don't forget to let those banks know when you'll be traveling where or they'll stop your card.