The Stay is the Destination
For a growing number of Indian travellers, the hotel, villa, or homestay is no longer just a base for exploring a city; it is the main attraction. According to Booking.com's 'How India Travels 2026 – The Homes Edit' report, this trend of 'accommodation-led'
travel is becoming mainstream. The findings reveal that travellers are increasingly choosing their destination based on the unique properties available, planning entire trips around the experience a particular stay offers. Nearly 87% of travellers surveyed said that alternative stays, such as villas and homestays, help create more meaningful holiday memories, and 85% choose them for authentic local experiences. This marks a significant move away from checkbox tourism towards more immersive and experience-led exploration.
The Rise of Alternative Accommodations
This shift is fuelling a boom in the alternative accommodation sector, which includes everything from vacation rentals and apartments to houseboats and farm stays. This segment is projected to reach a gross booking value of ?415 billion by the 2029 financial year, a testament to its growing importance. The supply of these unique stays has more than doubled in recent years, with listings growing from around 102,200 in FY23 to 215,000 in FY26. This growth isn't just happening in traditional tourist hotspots. While major cities and vacation spots still hold a large share of the inventory, listings in Tier-2 cities like Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Indore have also more than doubled, bringing new destinations into the travel conversation.
What's Driving the Change?
Several factors are behind this evolution in travel preferences. The desire for authenticity is a major driver, with travellers seeking a deeper connection to local culture and food. For families and groups, alternative accommodations offer practicality and privacy that multiple hotel rooms often cannot. The report notes that multi-generational families increasingly prefer to stay together in one large property like a villa. Value for money is another key consideration for 83% of travellers. Furthermore, the rise of 'workations' and flexible work policies has made apartments and villas with separate workspaces highly appealing for business travellers, who now account for nearly one in five bookings in this segment.
Beyond the Weekend Getaway
The trend also reflects a broader change in the motivations for travel itself. Indians are no longer waiting for a major life event or a long holiday to take a break. Research shows a move from 'milestone-led' to 'lifestyle-led' travel, where spontaneous trips are becoming the new normal. Over 60% of travellers have booked trips to celebrate small wins, like finishing a tough work week, while 55% have booked a staycation simply to indulge in hotel luxuries. This desire for quick, accessible escapes has made unique, drivable properties feel like a destination in themselves, transforming the simple weekend getaway into a memorable event.
