Goa to Dubai: Indians are booking sooner and spending smarter this holiday season, says report

India’s holidaymakers are booking smarter, spending better, and chasing experiences — from snowy slopes in Gulmarg to beach villas in Bali.

The holiday season is calling — and this year, Indians are answering sooner than ever. As winter sets in and fairy lights begin to twinkle across cities, a different kind of sparkle is taking over travel plans. From snow-dusted escapes in Gulmarg to beachside villas in Goa and sky-high celebrations in Dubai, India’s festive wanderlust is in full swing.

According to a new report by Thrillophilia, India’s Christmas–New Year travel sentiment is not just back — it’s booming. Forward bookings for the December 20–January 5 window have jumped by nearly 28 per cent year-on-year, with travellers eager to end 2025 on a high note. The trend? A clever mix of “book early, splurge smartly, and chase experiences.” More than 60 per cent of travellers are finalising their itineraries 4–6 weeks ahead, while a second wave of spontaneous trips is expected to peak in the final 10 days of December.

Travel Durations and Budgets Rise Across Segments

Domestic trips now average 3–4 nights with spends of Rs 45,000–Rs 55,000 per booking, while short-haul international escapes last 5–6 nights, costing Rs 1–1.4 lakh on average.

Interestingly, premium stays (4 star and above) are witnessing a 3–5 per cent increase, with travellers happily “smart-splurging” on stays but deal-hunting on flights — reflecting a shift toward quality over quantity.

Where India Is Headed This Winter

Domestic favourites are a mix of classic and experiential:

• Goa for New Year’s Eve beach villas and parties.
• Rajasthan for desert glamping in Jaisalmer and palace stays in Udaipur.
• Kashmir’s Gulmarg for snow adventures.
• Andaman Islands for serene island escapes.
• Coorg–Chikmagalur for cottage retreats and coffee trails.

Who’s Travelling and Why

Families and couples dominate the Christmas week, while friends’ groups take over for New Year’s Eve getaways. Corporate teams, meanwhile, are scheduling offsites earlier in December to dodge peak prices — a 20 per cent increase over last year.

The average booking lead time has stretched to 35–40 days, while EMI and Flexi-pay options now account for nearly 16 per cent of bookings, especially for international holidays.

Travellers are also adding private experiences like desert safaris, skydiving in Dubai, ski lessons in Gulmarg, and curated Northern Lights expeditions — signalling a clear shift toward experience-first travel.

Post-Diwali: No Cool-Off in Sight

Despite the festive rush, India’s travel demand has stayed strong post-Diwali. According to the reports, a 20–26 per cent week-on-week rise in bookings for late November to mid-December, driven by 2–3 night micro-cations and team trips before the year-end rush.

Short-haul, visa-light escapes — especially to Dubai, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Bali — are seeing strong traction, while domestic winter destinations are transforming into experience-rich playgrounds:

• Snow chasers: Kashmir, Manali, Tirthan Valley, Auli.
• Desert and culture: Rann of Kutch, Jaisalmer, Udaipur.
• Nature and road trips: Coorg, Kabini, Nashik vineyards, scenic drives from Bengaluru and Pune.

Another interesting shift is the rise of Tier-2 and Tier-3 travellers from cities like Jaipur, Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi, and Lucknow, now contributing an extra 3–5 percentage points YoY to overall bookings. Improved connectivity, flexible payments, and online discovery are fuelling this wave.

Average order values are up 12 per cent, with a visible upgrade to boutique villas, private tours, and experiential add-ons — though travellers remain deal-sensitive on airfares.