62 Per Cent Of Hotel Bookings Shift To Premium Stays As Micro Holidays Gain Popularity

Short weekend breaks, last-minute bookings and premium accommodation are becoming defining features of travel, as more Indians opt for frequent holidays instead of one long annual trip, according to the Summer Travel Trends 2026 report by Scapia. The report has found that travellers have begun taking shorter holidays more frequently instead of waiting for a long annual vacation. 

According to the report, domestic trips have averaged 1.70 nights during the summer, while more than a third of three domestic flight bookings have been made within three days of departure, with many weekend staycation bookings having been made on the same Friday. The findings have pointed to a growing preference for short, unplanned getaways.

Premium Stays Become More Common

While trips have become shorter, spending on accommodation has increased. Nearly 62 per cent of hotel bookings have been for four- and five-star properties. Resort bookings have also grown faster than bookings for conventional hotels.

The report has found that young couples have preferred luxury staycations within their own cities, while families and groups have increasingly booked boutique farmhouses and unique properties located nearby. Demand for child-friendly and pet-friendly stays has also increased during the season.

Travellers Explore More Destinations

Hill stations, such as Manali, Shimla, Dharamshala, McLeodganj, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Munnar and Darjeeling remain the popular choices. Bookings have also been spread across coastal destinations, including Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Goa, Puducherry, Udupi, Puri and Karwar.

The report has recorded a 12-time increase in bookings to spiritual destinations, including Tirupati, Katra, Varanasi, Ayodhya and Rameswaram.

Among international destinations, Bangkok, Phuket, Dubai and Singapore have continued to attract travellers. Hanoi and Colombo have recorded the fastest growth on the platform. The report has also found that one-third of domestic flight bookings have originated from Tier-2 cities, indicating that the trend is no longer limited to metropolitan areas.

Travel Experience Extends Beyond The Destination

Interest in train and bus travel has also increased. Searches for leisure travel have risen by 30 per cent during the summer, with routes, such as Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam and the Mumbai to Ahmedabad Vande Bharat corridor emerging among the most booked.

Travel-related shopping has also increased. Bags, luggage, travel apparel, power banks, portable tyre inflators and shoes have been among the fastest-growing categories. International travellers have purchased more travel accessories, while domestic travellers have spent more on apparel.