The Age of Experience: Cleartrip’s Data Reveals 108% Surge in Luxury Stays as Indian Travellers Pivot to High-Value Summer 'Coolcations'

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Key findings from Cleartrip's PeekABoo - Exclusive Travel Trends Tracker:

  • Gen Z and Solo women lead a significant shift in India's travel landscape, as the rise of Tier 2 hubs and Northeast destinations outpaces traditional favourites (Solo women bookings up 31.9%)

  • Air bookings grew by over 20%, Bus by over 35%, and Hotels by over 80%, with Family hotel bookings jumped 124.9%

  • Payment trends show a strong preference for credit cards - 63.1% of domestic bookings and 48.9% of international bookings

  • Bengaluru emerged as the popular choice among Gen Z and Millennials, and Bali led internationally.

  • Overall, Solo female travel within India grew by 21.1%, and international solo male travel rose by 35.8%

National, May , 2026: For the Indian traveller, summer is no longer just a break; it is a carefully curated plan for relaxation and indulging in new experiences. Cleartrip, a Flipkart company and one of India’s fastest-growing online travel platforms, has captured this shift through its flagship Nation on Vacation (NoVac) event, which signals the official onset of the summer vacation planning cycle. 

Strong Growth Across Categories

  • Air bookings grew by over 20%, while Bus bookings went up by over 35%

  •  Hotels, however, stood out with an increase of over 80%

  • 5-star bookings rose by 108.2%, outpacing both premium and budget categories, suggesting that travellers are increasingly willing to spend more for higher-quality stays. 

  • Family hotel bookings jumped 124.9%, pointing to a strong return of shared travel experiences.

Rise of Domestic Travel

Domestic travel remains strong, driven by Tier 2 & 3 cities and cultural tourism

  • Jaipur

  • Lucknow

  • Udaipur

  • Rishikesh

  • Varanasi

Northeast gains traction as a preferred holiday destination

  • Dibrugarh

  • Dimapur

  • Imphal

  • Agartala

  • Solo women bookings up 31.9%

Event-led travel shapes booking patterns

  • IPL matches in Guwahati drove a surge in flight bookings

  • Highlights the growing influence of live experiences on travel decisions

Top Destinations and Emerging Travel Corridors

  • Most booked destinations: (Overall)

    • Domestic: Delhi

    • International: Bangkok

  • Gen Z’s Summer Picks - Top domestic destinations

    • Bengaluru

    • Mumbai

    • Kolkata

    • Hyderabad

  • Gen Z’s Summer Picks - Top international destinations

    • Bali

    • Phuket

    • Kuala Lumpur

    • Dubai

    • Singapore

  • Emerging travel corridors see strong growth - driven by better connectivity, rising regional demand, and more confident travellers

    • Domestic airports:

      •  Navi Mumbai

      • Darbhanga

      • Leh

      • Gorakhpur

      • Kannur

    • International airports: 

      • Nairobi

      • Frankfurt

      • Guangzhou

      • Riyadh

      • Lisbon

      • Milan

      • Haneda

Payments and Flexibility Trends

  • Payment trends show a strong preference for credit cards

    • 63.1% of domestic bookings

    • 48.9% of international bookings

  • Loyalty and flexibility are gaining importance

    • Strong usage of Flipkart SuperCoins, especially for domestic travel

    • Increased adoption of Cleartrip’s flexibility products: ClearChoice Plus and ClearChoice Max

Evolving Traveller Profiles

Both Gen Z and Millennials are showing similar preferences.

  • Bengaluru emerged as the top domestic choice for Gen Z and Millennials, largely serving as a strategic gateway for road-trip-led exploration, whereas Bali continues to define their global travel aspirations.

  • Solo female travel within India grew by 21.1%, signalling increasing confidence and independence. At the same time, international solo male travel rose by 35.8%

  • Group bookings rose by 24% and family travel by 68.6%.