Planning swanky foreign trip? This Bengaluru founder has warning for Indians amid falling rupee

Bengaluru founder explains how rupee slide is hurting overseas travel plans

As the rupee continues to weaken against major global currencies, a Bengaluru-based startup founder has highlighted how the slide is quietly reshaping the way Indians travel abroad, especially when it comes to hotel stays, which are becoming significantly more expensive.

Weak Indian currency making foreign trips expensive?

In a LinkedIn post, Aditya Kulkarni pointed out that even well-heeled Indian travellers are beginning to feel the pinch while booking hotels in global cities like London and Tokyo. He wrote that a budget of around ₹25,000 per night now barely fetches an ibis hotel in London or a compact 15-square-metre room in Tokyo’s Ginza area, an uncomfortable proposition, particularly for those travelling with families. He added that this currency reality is one reason Southeast Asia continues to offer better value, with easier flights, stronger hospitality, and more affordable seaside stays.

The post quickly drew reactions, with users debating who is truly affected by the falling rupee. One commenter argued that it is the middle class, not the ultra-rich, that feels the real pressure, pointing out that the top fraction of Indian earners remains among the wealthiest globally and largely insulated from currency swings.

Others responded with humour and surprise. One user joked that they never realised people vacationed in London at all, assuming trips there were mostly for elite education or administrative work. Another commenter widened the lens, noting that global travel costs are often ignored in discussions around compensation and taxation. Thinking only in local spending terms, they said, fails to reflect the reality faced by frequent travellers, digital nomads, and globally mobile professionals.

The debate also comes at a time when travel costs are rising domestically. In Delhi, hotel tariffs have reportedly surged in recent weeks due to heightened demand around a major AI summit, with several properties hiking prices sharply as the city hosts international delegates and corporate visitors.