So long, vacation! Time for summer of staycations: Indians dive into shorter, curated experiences closer to home
Befitting his daughter's achievement, he zeroed in on Landour in Uttarakhand—often called the tiara of the Queen of Hills—a safe, scenic retreat that allowed the family to escape without venturing too far, lest the situation deteriorate.
This Sunday, they return home after what many are now calling the trend defining summer vacations: a staycation.
And he's not alone.
As summer sets in, a growing number of Indian travellers are opting for short, hyper-local, and experiential getaways.
'The appeal lies in convenience, rising disposable incomes, geopolitical caution, and the desire for instant gratification, with cost savings on flights and logistics making frequent local escapes more achievable,' said Rajeev Kale, president, Thomas Cook (India).
According to Kale, 'This summer marks a clear evolution in leisure travel—from traditional vacations to deeply experiential staycations. Curated experiences like heritage walks, rooftop glamping, culinary staycations, spa retreats, and work-from-hotel escapes are driving this shift, offering a seamless blend of leisure and productivity.'
Micro-Destinations Major Attractions
Micro-destinations such as Alibaug, Coorg, and Mashobra remain top picks for clients of Thomas Cook (India), alongside emerging favourites like Karjat and Panchgani. Staycation bookings surged early in March 2025, typically ranging from ₹6,000-15,000 per night.
At SOTC Travel, the trend is similar. SD Nandakumar, president, SOTC Travel, noted, 'This summer, we're seeing Indians prioritise hyper-local experiences that offer rejuvenation and discovery, giving an uptick to the trend of Staycations.'
'Our data highlights strong traction across micro-destinations—Lonavala, Igatpuri, Kabini, and Lansdowne—with rising interest in boutique homestays, private villas, and experience-led itineraries like vineyard brunches or riverside yoga,' he said. In addition to families, solo travellers and corporate teams are jumping on the bandwagon, said experts.
Rikant Pittie, chief executive of EaseMyTrip, said, 'About half of urban holidaymakers are now opting for quick breaks instead of extended vacations.'
Sleep Tourism
He observed, 'Interestingly, 'sleep tourism' is also catching on — nearly one in five travellers now cite rest as their main holiday goal, leading hospitality brands to offer amenities like herbal teas and wellness therapies.'
Pittie pointed out that even a resort-heavy location like Manesar near Delhi NCR is drawing interest. 'A noticeable uptick of 20% in staycation bookings for summer 2025 began around March 2025, with peak demand expected in May-June.'
Travel choices are being shaped more than ever by viral content and social media chatter.
Manjari Singhal, chief growth and business officer, Cleartrip, said, 'What's interesting is how much social media and trending content are influencing these choices. They're shaped by what's viral, what's been shared, or what feels culturally relevant. People are actively seeking, sharing them, and turning them into plans.'
During their annual summer sale, customers of Cleartrip showed high interest in staycationing in Manali, Solan, Mussoorie, Chail, Jim Corbett, Wayanad, and Goa, as well as within-city homestays.
For those craving nature and adventure, staycations are the go-to gateway.
Aviral Gupta, chief strategy officer, Zostel, Zo World, said, 'With our offbeat offerings ranging from homely stays to jungle walks and starry nights catering to all kinds of travellers, most staycations this year have been more nature-focused, attracting adventure lovers.'
According to Gupta, 'Around 73% of our staycation bookings are made within 2–3 days of travel, reflecting a last-minute, impulse-driven pattern.' Packages are priced 15–20% lower than the daily rate by bundling stay and food.
As school holidays kick in and border unease continues to simmer just below the surface, the staycation is stepping into the spotlight—not as a compromise, but as the modern traveller's first choice.
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