Honeymooners are hitting the road in full force this wedding season, with travel bookings surging and couples willing to spend more on their first trip together.
But even as wallets open wider, the trend is shifting—this year’s newlyweds are choosing shorter, sharper getaways over long, leisurely escapes.
Travel platform Thrillophilia has observed a 24 percent increase in honeymoon trips this year. Within this, short, experience-driven trips (3–5 nights) are up 18 percent year-on-year (YoY), while international honeymoons have grown faster -- around 41 percent YoY.
The classic two-week escape is giving way to a two-phase format: a quick, experience-rich 'minimoon' right after the wedding, followed months later by a longer, more immersive 'big-moon', said Abhishek Daga, Co-Founder, Thrillophilia, adding that the short, experience-driven trips are one of the most significant shifts in how couples are celebrating their first year together.
Does the two-phase honeymoon work? The minimoon allows couples to take a break immediately after wedding festivities without taking long leave or managing complex logistics, Daga said.
"The later big-moon, planned months after, becomes a deeper, more experiential journey, often international, offbeat, or nature-focused, that allows time to personalise, budget, and truly unwind."
How much are Indian couples spending on honeymoon trips?
Couples are spending more for their honeymoon trips this year, with average spend at Rs 1.05 lakh per couple for trips within India and Rs 2.45 lakh for international trips.
The average honeymoon spend is up around 12 percent year-on-year (YoY). Domestic honeymoon trips have grown by 9 percent in average spend per couple, while international honeymoons have seen a sharper rise, of around 14 percent, led by premium island stays, villas, and experience-heavy itineraries.
Maldives leads the premium destinations, with average spend of Rs 2.8 lakh.
Who is booking more honeymoon trips?
There is a rise of travellers from India’s smaller cities, the platform has noticed.
Tier-2 and 3 cities now account for 46 percent of honeymoon bookings, up from 38 percent last year.
Jaipur, Indore, Lucknow, Surat, and Kochi are among the top contributors, while destinations such as Meghalaya and Andaman have seen domestic booking spikes of over 40 percent. Internationally, Vietnam, Georgia, and Sri Lanka are emerging as the newest favourites, reflecting how aspiration and access are spreading far beyond the metros.
Where are Indians headed for honeymoon?
Within India, Kerala, Andaman, Goa, and Rajasthan continue to dominate honeymoon bookings, while quieter destinations such as Meghalaya, Coorg, and Himachal Pradesh are emerging as preferred alternatives for couples seeking privacy and nature.
Internationally, Bali, Maldives, Thailand, and Vietnam lead the charts, with Vietnam emerging as the breakout favourite, recording nearly a 90 percent surge in honeymoon bookings YoY.
Other destinations such as Dubai–Abu Dhabi, Turkey, and Sri Lanka are also seeing strong growth.
Visa ease, affordable mid-haul airfares, and privacy-led itineraries have collectively driven a significant jump in international honeymoons, compared to last year, signalling a growing appetite for short-haul yet premium experiences, Daga noted.
What are couples spending on their honeymoon?
Around 64 percent of couples have opted for romantic or private upgrades such as beach dinners, sunset cruises, villa stays, and private transfers on the travel platform. Meanwhile, 42 percent of itineraries include adventure-light activities like snorkeling, ziplining, or snow play, while wellness and nature-led escapes, including Ayurveda retreats and desert stargazing, are rapidly gaining traction.
Where are Indian honeymooners staying?
This year, total honeymoon room night bookings are up by around 21 percent YoY, driven by multi-stop, experience-led itineraries.
Hotels and resorts still account for the largest share, around 50-55 percent of honeymoon stays, especially in beach and island destinations.
Private and pool villas are the fastest-growing segment, now accounting for around 20-22 percent of stays, with strong demand in Bali, Maldives, Rajasthan, Goa, and Tuscany/Europe.
Boutique/ heritage and luxury courtyard stays contribute around 15-18 percent, growing steadily as couples choose heritage havelis, courtyard hotels, and slow-luxury retreats in destinations like Rajasthan, Kerala, Coorg, and Europe.
Homestays roughly account for 8-10 percent of total stay bookings and are more popular among younger couples across hill destinations and offbeat nature escapes like Meghalaya, Himachal, and parts of Vietnam/Georgia.
Private villas, heritage courtyards, and boutique luxury stays are growing faster than standard hotels, Daga said.
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