How Indian Travellers Shift to Personalised Holidays and What It Means for Travel Services in 2025

A Shift Toward Personalised Holidays

The landscape of Indian outbound travel is undergoing a remarkable transformation as travellers move away from rigid, fixed holiday packages and embrace personalised itineraries tailored to their preferences and emotions. This trend, which has been gaining traction, reached a milestone in 2025 and is forecast to deepen further into 2026.

Planning and Spending Patterns

Indians are showing increased confidence and deliberation in travel planning. Over half of travellers finalise holiday bookings well in advance, with 28% confirming trips 60–90 days before departure and an additional 25% booking over three months ahead. This extended planning horizon highlights a more mindful and intentional approach toward choosing destinations and experiences.

Correspondingly, average spending per trip has surged by 35–45% over four years, reflecting travel’s elevated priority in household budgets. Rather than merely cutting costs, travellers are reallocating funds to enhance value through upgraded accommodation, private transfers, and premium activities.

Value-Conscious Travellers Over Price-Sensitive Ones

Contrary to traditional views of Indian travellers being price-driven, data reveals an emphasis on value-consciousness. For example, nearly half of all travellers strategically select off-peak or shoulder travel weeks to optimise costs, achieving notable savings such as up to ₹40,000 per trip in popular destinations like the Maldives and Dubai. These savings are often reinvested into richer travel experiences rather than budget reductions.

The ‘Main Character’ Traveller: Personalisation at the Core

2025 registered the rise of what is called the “main character” traveller, for whom personalisation is not a bonus but the foundation of the travel experience. One out of five trips involved five or more customisations, including adjustments of dates, cities visited, and hotel selections. Destinations with more complex itineraries, such as Japan, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam, saw higher traveller satisfaction and reduced cancellations, underscoring the benefits of deeper engagement in trip planning.

How Emotions Shape Destination Choices

Travel selections are increasingly influenced by mood and purpose rather than geography or conventional tourist maps. For example, people from Bengaluru and Chennai tend to prefer slower-paced, scenic trips, while those from Delhi and Mumbai gravitate toward culture-rich, lively urban experiences. Food-centric travel, along with leisure pursuits like sunset cafés, spa retreats, and art walks, are gaining prominence over traditional sightseeing.

Table: Popular Travel Focus by City Group

Short Minimoons and Extended Honeymoons on the Rise

Indian couples show a tendency toward splitting honeymoon travel into two parts: short “minimoons” shortly after marriage, followed by extended “big-moon” trips later in the year. The honeymoon travel segment is shifting rapidly with international bookings up 41% year-on-year and a noteworthy 46% of honeymoon departures now coming from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Experience-driven travel, including workshops and tastings, has surged by 18%.

Changing Trip Dynamics and the Rise of Experience-Driven Travel

Trips have become more frequent but shorter, emphasizing intent and experiences over duration. Events such as concerts contribute significantly to travel decisions, often dominating trips rather than being incidental. Moreover, 20-30% of bookings now incorporate hands-on activities, reflecting a change from material souvenirs toward meaningful memories.

Luxury Travel Redesigned

Luxury travel in 2025 is less about ostentation and more about meaningful milestones and shared moments. For example, a ₹29 lakh European family holiday underlined family bonding with private dinners, balloon rides, and multi-generational stays rather than extravagant consumption. High-end travel budgets are wisely channelled into emotionally significant experiences.

Popular Destinations and Emerging Travel Circuits

Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Bali, forms a modern popular loop among Indian travellers, while Japan is increasingly chosen as a long-haul alternative to traditional European routes, blending culture, nature, and technology.

Looking Ahead to 2026 and Beyond

Travellers are expected to view personalisation as standard, not an extra. The future of Indian travel is marked by a preference for slower trips, fewer destination changes, luxury defined by value, and journeys driven by emotional connections rather than sheer location.

Why this Matters for Taxi and Transfer Services

As personalised travel rises, demands for customised ground transport follow. Travellers placing value on private transfers, comfortable, and flexible rides signal an increasing market for personalised taxi and transfer services. Platforms like GetTransfer.com offer an edge by allowing users to select vehicles by make and model, see driver ratings, and access transparent pricing. These benefits align perfectly with the needs of travellers wishing to reallocate travel budgets for comfort and convenience in transfers and local travel.

Key Takeaways and Reflection

The rise of personalised holidays highlights shifting traveller profiles – from last-minute bookings to deliberate planning, from price-cutting to value optimisation, and from group tours to itineraries tailored by mood and intent. While reviews and shared experiences guide choices, there is no substitute for personal travel encounters.

GetTransfer enables travellers to hire cars with drivers from verified providers at reasonable fares, offering unmatched convenience and affordability. With a wide range of vehicles, seat capacities, and extras, it’s easier than ever to design transfers that match your tailored itinerary. Book your ride and enjoy your journey hassle-free la GetTransfer.com.

În rezumat

The transformation in Indian travel—from rigid fixed packages to deeply customised holidays fueled by value-consciousness and emotional purpose—heralds a new era for travel services worldwide. Longer planning times, strategic date choices, and an appetite for premium, personalised experiences define modern travel behaviour. Southeast Asia and Japan offer fresh destination loops, supporting diverse travel moods, from scenic escapes to vibrant cultural immersions.

GetTransfer.com complements this evolution by providing a global, user-friendly platform to book personalised transfers, offering clear pricing, verified drivers, and a wide choice of vehicles tailored to exact needs and locations. Whether heading to the airport or between city destinations, GetTransfer ensures a seamless ride through all stages of your journey.

Începeți să vă planificați următoarea aventură și asigurați-vă transferul în întreaga lume cu GetTransfer.