Festive Travel 2025: Indians Opt For Shorter Trips, Boutique Stays And Experience-Led Getaways

Festivals offer a wonderful opportunity to not just take a break from your routine but also plan a meaningful escape or vacation. The 2025 festive travel trend report, conducted by Thrillophilia, an AI-powered travel and experiences platform in India, highlights several interesting trends and patterns around festive travel in India. According to the data, Indian tourists are leaning toward affordable leisure stays, shorter breaks, and smarter spending patterns that prioritise value and authenticity over extravagance. 

Affordable Luxury Takes The Lead

Mid-range hotel stays priced between ₹2,000 and ₹6,000 per night have surged by 22 percent year-on-year, now representing nearly half of all festive bookings. The data reflects a significant shift from lavish vacations to value-conscious getaways, influenced in part by the GST 2.0 rollout and a more pragmatic approach to festive travel, according to the report.

Also Read: 6 Best Places To Visit Under Rs 20,000 During Diwali 2025 Holidays

Rise Of Shorter, More Frequent Trips

Travellers appear to be taking more frequent mini vacations instead of longer breaks. Two to three-night getaways now make up 58 percent of all stays - up six percentage points from last year - while the average trip duration stands at just 2.6 nights.

The report also highlights an improvement in planning habits, with the average booking window extending to 21 days - three days earlier than last year - suggesting greater confidence and preparedness among travellers.

Smarter Spending Replaces Indulgent Splurges

Air travel data shows that passengers are using miles and upgrade vouchers 21 percent more than last year, while the share of premium-cabin travel has dropped by 2.8 percentage points. Rather than splurging on business class seats or luxury hotels, travellers are redirecting their budgets toward unique, premium experiences such as local tours, food trails, and adventure activities.

Bookings for treks have risen by 27 percent, local sightseeing by 24 percent, and cultural or culinary experiences by 22 percent. The average traveller now spends around ₹3,600 on activities - a reflection of this growing preference for experiential luxury.

City-Wise Festive Travel Highlights

Several Indian cities have seen distinct travel patterns this festive season:

• Jaipur has emerged as the top affordable-stay market, with bookings in the ₹2,000-₹6,000 range up by 26 percent.
• Lucknow leads the short family break segment, where 59 percent of all stays last two to three nights.
• Bhopal has recorded the highest weekend occupancy at 81 percent.
• Hyderabad is seeing travellers plan well in advance, with booking windows averaging 24 days - up from 19 last year.
• In the east, Bhubaneswar tops the charts for activity-led growth, with adventure and cultural bookings up 31 percent year-on-year.
• Chennai has recorded the largest rise in the use of miles and vouchers, up 23 percent.
• Kolkata dominates short-trip bookings, with 61 percent of travellers opting for two to three-night stays.
• Patna shows the fastest booking momentum, with Diwali-week inventory selling out three days earlier than last year.
• Panaji leads the boutique-stay wave, where boutique hotels and homestays now make up 54 percent of all nights booked.

Also Read: What's The Best Way To Beat Diwali Travel Rush? Here Are 7 Useful Tips

Average Spending On Domestic And International Trips

Across the board, domestic trips this festive season cost travellers an average of ₹25,000 to ₹45,000, while short-haul international holidays - to destinations such as Dubai, Sri Lanka, or Southeast Asia - average between ₹60,000 and ₹95,000.

The Evolving Meaning Of Luxury Travel For Indians

The data underscores a broader cultural shift in how Indians approach travel. For many, luxury no longer means opulence but thoughtful spending, comfort, and memorable experiences.