New travel trends reveal Indians are opting for luxury stays and meaningful experiences over budget getaways this summer.

Summer in India means taking a break from the daily hustle and bustle and heading to scenic destinations for a relaxing vacation. Unlike past trends, new data shows that Indians are shifting away from affordability-focused travel and quick getaways, choosing instead comfort, curated experiences, and premium stays.

According to new data released by Cleartrip, bookings for 5-star hotels increased by 108.2% this summer, highlighting the growing demand for luxury travel.

Among all categories, hotel bookings saw the biggest growth, rising by more than 80%. Flight bookings also increased by over 20%, while bus bookings grew by more than 35%. Family travel played a major role in this trend, with family hotel bookings jumping by 124.9%. The data suggests that more families are planning vacations to spend quality time together.

The trend also revealed that people are increasingly choosing to travel within the country, especially to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow, Udaipur, Rishikesh, and Varanasi. At the same time, Northeast India is emerging as another preferred holiday destination. Cities such as Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Imphal, and Agartala recorded strong growth in bookings.

The report also showed a rise in the number of female solo travellers. According to the data, female travellers increasingly preferred Northeast destinations, which saw a 31.9% increase in bookings, while overall female solo travel within India grew by 21.1%. Live events have also influenced travel plans this summer. Indian Premier League matches in Guwahati led to a rise in flight bookings.

Internationally, Bali emerged as the most preferred destination among young Indian travellers, followed by Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Singapore.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru has become the top domestic destination for both Gen Z and Millennials, largely because it serves as a starting point for road trips and nearby getaways. As for air travel, new routes and airports have been gaining popularity, with airports in Navi Mumbai, Darbhanga, Leh, and Gorakhpur recording strong demand. International destinations such as Nairobi, Frankfurt, Guangzhou, Riyadh, Lisbon, Milan, and Tokyo also saw increased interest from Indian travellers.