Rs 20k to Dubai? Indians still jet off in style as high-end holidays heat up winter travel

Dubai Desert Safari.

A late-December Dubai trip may cost twice as much as it does now, but soaring airfares aren’t stopping Indians from packing their bags for desert safaris and luxe winter breaks.

More Indians are holidaying in style with travellers choosing alpine cabins, glass igloos, snow lodges, heritage havelis, and cosy European inns.

Private islands, gala dinners in demand

Travel platforms like Adotrip have recorded close to 40 percent increase in private island bookings this year, and people are opting for places like Maldives for private and personalised experiences.

• Heritage ryokans in Japan, palace stays in Rajasthan, vineyard villas in Italy, lakeside estates in Como are preferred by the millennials/ C-suite executives this year, he added.

• High floor suits in Dubai, Singapore, Monaco with private butler premium rooms are also seeing demand from consumers for year-end holidays.

Even Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings, is seeing more inclination towards experience-led and premium stays this winter.

• A big chunk of winter bookings now include New Year gala dinners, desert safaris, treks, houseboat cruises or spa packages bundled with the room, instead of pure-room-only reservations, noted Abhishek Daga, Co-founder of Thrillophilia.

How much will flying in December cost?

Average fares on popular metro-to-leisure routes are up about 20 percent versus October.

• For Christmas and New Year holiday bookings, air fares for Dehradun, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram routes are 20-35 percent higher than in October, Daga observed.

"November is still negotiable; the last 10 days of December are not. Once you’re in that window, almost every leisure route prices like a peak product," he said.

Jet fuel and overall cost pressures are fuelling air fares, Gaur said.

• The tightest sectors are short-haul international destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Phuket.

• Domestic leisure routes include Mumbai/Delhi-Goa, Bengaluru-Goa, Delhi-Bagdogra, Delhi-Dehradun, Daga said.

Are more Indians going for winter breaks?

Demand for winter, Christmas, and New Year holidays is rising strongly this year, said EaseMyTrip's CEO and Co-Founder, Rikant Pittie.

• Overall there is a 20-30 percent increase in demand for year end travel versus last year, Katoch said.

What are  the top winter escapes?

European trips remain popular, with Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom attracting travellers for ski holidays and festive Christmas markets, Pittie said.

Domestic hotspots

Indians are heading predominantly to North India, gravitating towards high-demand hill destinations such as Manali, Sangla, Shangarh, Nainital, Kareri, Dharamshala, Srinagar, and Kalpa, said Aviral Gupta, CEO, Zostel. From October through December, we’ve observed a price increase of 40–45 percent. He added that they are seeing a 10–15 percent uplift in occupancy beginning mid-December, compared to the same period last year.

• Goa, Gokarna: Still the default New Year’s Eve playground for young India, friends’ groups and couples, Thrillophilia's Daga said.

• Himachal, Uttarakhand (Manali, Shimla, Dharamshala, Auli, Mussoorie, Rishikesh): Classic winter escapes for shorter trips and long weekends.

• Rajasthan (Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur): Big spike in demand for palace stays, desert camps and boutique havelis around Christmas–New Year.

• South India (Coorg, Ooty, Munnar, Wayanad): Popular with families looking for milder weather, greenery and slower holidays.

International hotspots

• Dubai, Abu Dhabi: Has emerged as top short-haul pick for families, for theme parks, desert safaris and New Year fireworks.

• Thailand (Phuket, Krabi, Bangkok, Pattaya): The biggest volume driver for groups and young travellers.

• Vietnam and Bali: Very strong momentum among couples and millennials looking for ‘Instagrammable’ itineraries, Daga said.

• Singapore and Malaysia: Preferred by families with kids, especially when clubbed with cruises.