Indians plan early, chase value; 73% already planning their 2026 travel: Skyscanner report

Responding to both the excitement and anxiety surrounding travel choices and to help travellers compare options effortlessly, Skyscanner also announced the launch of its Cheapest Destination Planner. 

India’s travel appetite is entering a more deliberate, value-driven phase, with cost awareness shaping choices even as outbound demand accelerates. Presenting fresh consumer insights at a recent media meet, Skyscanner said Indian travellers are planning earlier than ever, actively trading off discretionary spending to protect travel budgets and seeking tools that simplify an increasingly complex decision-making process. Travel intent is soaring too with 84% of Indian travellers considering international travel in 2026. 

According to Skyscanner data shared by Neel Ghose, Travel Trends and Destinations Expert, Skyscanner, outbound travel growth from India continues to surge across short-haul and value-led markets. Searches to the UAE are up almost 85%, while Vietnam has recorded growth of 93.18%, underlining a strong tilt towards affordable international destinations. This clearly reflects the rise of India’s middle class and how travel is no longer an occasional indulgence but a genuine passion, both domestically and overseas, said Ghose. Sharing insights with T3, Ghose further shared that the international travel from Tier 2 and 3 cities is growing rapidly, with destinations like UAE and Oman showing significant increases.

Trade-offs for travel: 49% making personal financial sacrifices

One of the strongest signals to emerge from the data is how early Indians are planning. As many as 73% of Indian travellers have already begun planning their 2026 travel in January itself, a sharp indicator of intent-led travel behaviour. Nearly half (48%) say planning early gives them something to look forward to after an intense year, while many are using travel as a reset after packed festive and social calendars. The data also shows that there is a 25% increase in searches in the first week of January 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. 

“At the same time, travel decisions are becoming more calculated. 81% of Indians admit to feeling overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choices, particularly around where to go and when to travel. Cost remains the primary anxiety trigger, but not necessarily a deterrent. Skyscanner’s data shows travellers are increasingly willing to make personal and financial trade-offs cutting back on dining out, shopping or social spends to ringfence their travel plans,” Ghose shared, while speaking at a recent Delhi media meet. 

The data shows that 49% are ready to make personal financial sacrifices, 46% are willing to skip buying new clothes as key trade-offs to travel. 

Long weekends, luxury on roll and the “Wednesday hack”

The evolving Indian traveller is also optimising time and experience. 83% are planning trips around weekends and public holidays, a trend likely to intensify this year with eight long weekends on the calendar. 89% like to explore alternative or lesser-known holiday destinations and accommodation choices are becoming more experiential, with 77% happy to splurge on a luxury hotel for at least the final night of their trip. 

Ghose also highlighted a key data-backed insight: Wednesday is, on average, the cheapest day to fly in 2026, based on millions of price data points analysed across the year. “It’s not just about inspiration anymore; travellers want certainty around budgets and timing,” Ghose said, emphasising the role of data in demystifying travel planning.

Launch of ‘Cheapest Destination Planner’

The recent research also found that 50% Indian travellers say they would be more likely to book their holidays in January if they simply had clarity on the cheapest destinations and the cheapest day to fly. Responding to both the excitement and anxiety surrounding travel choices and to help travellers compare options effortlessly, Skyscanner also announced the launch of its Cheapest Destination Planner, now rolling out across 19 markets and 13 languages. Designed to reduce cognitive overload, the tool allows users to select a month of travel and instantly view the 10 cheapest destinations from their departure city, along with average return fares and key travel motivations.

“The idea is to take the thinking out of planning and make it intuitive, traveller-first and actionable,” Ghose explained. Users can further explore flights and hotels, check the cheapest days to travel within the selected month, and seamlessly convert inspiration into bookings.

Skyscanner also revealed its Top 10 Cheapest Destinations for 2026, combining domestic and international options where return airfares start as low as INR 10,000.

On the domestic front, cities such as Mumbai, Varanasi and Bagdogra feature prominently, with return fares typically ranging between INR 9,000 and INR 12,000. Improved infrastructure, better connectivity and their roles as cultural or gateway destinations continue to strengthen their appeal.

Internationally, affordability is bringing overseas travel within easier reach. Destinations such as Muscat and Sharjah in the Middle East, along with Phuket and Ho Chi Minh City in Southeast Asia, stand out for value. Notably, return fares to Ho Chi Minh City are available at around INR 20,000, mirroring Vietnam’s near 90% surge in search growth from India. 

Indians willing to splurge on experiences that matter

During Skyscanner’s candid fireside chat between Ghose and actor–traveller Shenaz Treasurywala, the conversation Indian travellers are highly motivated, value-conscious and often overwhelmed, when it comes to planning holidays.

Drawing from her own journeys across South America, Southeast Asia and India, Treasurywala highlighted a growing preference for slower, more meaningful travel, choosing to spend longer in one destination rather than constantly hopping cities. “The travel itself is exciting, but the planning is the stressful part,” she said, echoing Skyscanner’s finding that 81% of Indian travellers feel overwhelmed while deciding where and when to go.

The conversation mirrored Skyscanner’s core insight that January has emerged as India’s key travel-planning month. Treasurywala noted she begins planning early in the year, driven by the desire to explore places she hasn’t seen before, both within India and overseas. 

Despite being price-conscious, Indian travellers are not shy about selective indulgence. Treasurywala observed that while travellers carefully manage overall budgets, they are willing to splurge on experiences that matter, particularly hotels, concerts and events, especially towards the end of a trip or when travelling with family. 

Answering to a query by T3, Treasurywala shared that post-pandemic, there's a significant increase in travel among Indians, with many expressing a desire to quit jobs and travel the world. She also said that travellers today are both more informed due to abundant information and more confused by the sheer volume of choices available.