'Weirdest' reasons why Indians are going on holiday, as per new survey

New age Indian travellers don't need any reason to pack their bags. A new survey reveals some of the most unusual and unhinged travel triggers.

Why do you travel? To relax, for a break from the mundane, or maybe it's your birthday trip or an anniversary special weekend getaway? But guess what? Indians are travelling like never before, but the travel triggers are absolutely "weird".

In 2026, apparently, the bar is much lower. Your in-laws came over? Book a hotel. Your neighbour started drilling? Pack a bag. Had a fight with your partner? Time to check flight prices. The astrologer said so? The universe wants you to travel. So, there is no bar, basically.

A new survey commissioned by Booking.com in partnership with YouGov suggests Indian travellers are increasingly ditching milestone-led travel. In fact, 58 per cent say they have taken a trip simply because they wanted to.

But here's the interesting bit of it all. The survey enlists travel reasons that make you wonder: Wait, this counts as a holiday trigger now?

Here are some of the most "weird", a little bit unhinged, if we may, triggers that have led people to pack their bags.

Unusual travel triggers

Blame the in-laws? Or other relatives?

Nearly three in 10 (28 per cent) Indian travellers said they booked a trip because their in-laws arrived for an extended stay. Another 50 per cent travelled to dodge boring social obligations, such as a distant relative’s dinner or a family wedding.

Apparently, the RSVP can now be: Sorry, I’ll be out of town. And you should stick to your word.

One noisy neighbour counts? Counts.

The home itself is also emerging as a surprisingly effective travel agent. The survey revealed that about 30 per cent of respondents confessed to packing their bags when their nanny, house-help or driver went on leave, while 46 per cent did so just to escape drilling, renovations or noisy neighbours.

Then there are the emotional getaways

Well, this one has been there for a while. Grief travel, a change of environment post-heartbreak, or an emotional need to just let go and explore a new version of yourself have all been reasons enough to travel. Bollywood has been at it too. Remember Kangana Ranaut's Queen?

Microwins

It's often said that it's essential to celebrate small milestones. And new age travellers took it seriously. 61 per cent respondent said they booked a trip to celebrate small wins, including surviving a tough week or hitting a fitness goal.

That's not it, believe it or not. About 57 per cent simply got to a place for the vibe, especially when the weather back home is not weathering!

And if that doesn't justify a holiday, payday apparently does.

In fact, everyday nudges play a role as well. According to the survey of over 1000 respondents from across cities in India, 20 per cent of travellers booked a trip to cure post-trip blues and 16 per cent simply because it was payday.

Wait, the list is not finished.

When the astrologer says so?

Some travellers like to leave a little room for the stars when making travel plans. For 22 per cent, an astrologer saying it’s an auspicious time to travel was enough to turn the idea of a holiday into an actual booking.

So, what's your weirdest reason to travel?

- Ends