Holi-trend

Holi Travel Surge: Long Weekends Turn into Festive Getaways

Updated: March 7

With hotel bookings up 105%, India is turning the festival into a long weekend escape. From hill stations to cultural hotspots and city breaks, travelers are making the most of the festive rush.

Mahabaleshwar is witnessing a remarkable 20X surge in bookings, making it the go-to destination for long weekend getaways. This surge is driven by its cool climate, peak strawberry season, and increasing government efforts to promote tourism. With the upcoming Mahabaleshwar Tourism Festival in April, the momentum is only set to grow, making now the perfect time to experience this scenic retreat. 

The momentum doesn’t stop there. Manor metros and mini metros like Kochi (356%), Bengaluru (340%), Kolkata (287%), and Hyderabad (247%) are seeing record-breaking demand, signaling a strong preference for destinations that blend relaxation with vibrant experiences. Mumbai (98%) and New Delhi (24%) remain top choices, while fast-rising contenders like Pune (159%) and Gurugram (141%) are gaining traveler attention. 

Destinations Showing the Highest Surge in Hotel Bookings for Holi

Source: Adara, a RateGain Company

Holi celebrations are a major draw, with hotels hosting grand festive parties, immersive cultural experiences, and staycation packages for travelers looking to celebrate in style. The mix of city escapes, festive travel, and long-weekend getaways is fueling demand across urban hotspots, signaling a shift in how travelers plan their holiday experiences. 

Beyond individual cities, Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing the highest state-wide surge, reflecting a growing interest in nature-driven escapes. March marks the transition from winter to spring in the region, offering travelers a unique blend of snow-covered landscapes and blooming valleys.  

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World on Holiday is a real-time travel insights hub, powered by Adara, sharing important worldwide travel trends, as well as real-time booking and search data. This hub is powered by hundreds of first-party data sources, and are based on observed consumer activity.

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About Adara
Adara, a RateGain company, is one of the world’s largest data exchanges, providing access to ethically-sourced consumer data. With more than 270 global partners who supply aggregated, comprehensive traveler data, Adara delivers actionable insights and predictive intelligence to drive higher marketing ROI. For more information, visit https://adara.com/
About RateGain

RateGain is a global provider of SaaS solutions for travel and hospitality that works with 2800+ customers—including the Top 23 of 30 Hotel Chains, the Top 25 of 30 Online Travel Agents, and all the top car rentals including 8 Global Fortune500 companies—and 700+ partners in 100+ countries helping them accelerate revenue generation through acquisition, retention, and wallet share expansion.

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