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Long weekends are the source of happiness for many, especially during the last months of the year when everything smells of festivities! And what if you
could turn your three days' long weekend into almost a week in another country? For Indian travellers, that is increasingly becoming the holiday math, and October is proving to be one of the best months to try it. Read More: Magic Or FOMO: What Is Driving India's Unmanageable Pilgrimage Crowds?
October's Festive Calendar And Long Trips
The month's festive calendar is doing some serious heavy lifting for Indian travellers. With Durga Puja celebrations running from October 16-20 and Dussehra falling on October 20, the second half of the month offers several opportunities to combine festival holidays, weekends and a few carefully placed leaves into an extended break. And the bigger trend is already visible in travel bookings. According to reports, long-weekend trips are increasingly stretching to 4 or 5 nights, with some travellers adding another day or two of leave to extend their breaks to six nights. Bengaluru and Chennai are among the strongest source markets for October international travel. And these aren't necessarily shoestring holidays.
Pickyourtrail data shows the average spend on long-weekend trips has climbed to around ₹80,000–₹1 lakh, up from approximately ₹70,000–₹80,000 last year. Travellers appear willing to spend more on better flights, stays and experiences, turning a short break into something closer to a proper international holiday.
So, where are they going? Thailand, Maldives, Singapore, Bali and Sri Lanka are among the popular choices for couples looking for relatively short international getaways. These destinations also lend themselves to customised itineraries, allowing travellers to decide whether their limited time is better spent on beaches, food, shopping, nightlife, wellness or sightseeing. The interesting part is that travellers aren't simply buying standard holiday packages either. Customisation is becoming a bigger part of the short-trip equation. Instead of squeezing into a fixed group itinerary, travellers are choosing their own flights, hotels and experiences, essentially building a holiday around the number of leaves they can spare.
Planning The Leave Calendar Is As Important As The Trip
For someone working a Monday-to-Friday schedule, a Friday or Tuesday public holiday can become the anchor. Add a few carefully chosen leave days and the weekend suddenly looks a lot longer. In some cases, 4-5 nights can become 6 without taking an entire week away from work.
There is also a shift in how Indians are travelling. Reports say Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi are among the strongest source markets for long-weekend travel, while the 26–31 age group is leading demand. Couples are particularly prominent among travellers heading to destinations such as the Maldives, Bali, Thailand and Singapore.
The message from India's October traveller is fairly simple: you don't necessarily need a long holiday to travel internationally. You just need to work the calendar, and be willing to spend for the experience.
Read More: Airfares Are Up By 68% This Festive Season And December 7 Could Be The Worst Day To Fly - Here's Why
