Indian travel is undergoing a quiet transformation, and women are at the centre of it.
According to Thrillophilia’s newly released Women & Travel Decisions 2025 report, women now influence or design 72 percent of all leisure trips across the country. What began as subtle shifts within households has become a measurable structural change in how India travels, from budgeting and booking to selecting destinations and curating experiences.
Analysing 2.12 lakh itineraries and 80.9 lakh planning signals, the report reveals that women are planning earlier, choosing smarter, prioritising safety, and stretching budgets further than before. While the trip may be a family or couple experience, women are increasingly taking the lead in planning.
One of the strongest behavioural shifts highlighted by the report is how early and deliberately women plan their holidays. On average, women book trips nine days earlier than men, which helps avoid dynamic pricing spikes and keeps cancellation rates 18 precent lower.
Women also tend to “stress-test” a plan before committing. They read more reviews, open more photos, and circulate itineraries more often in family groups, leading to fewer last-minute changes and smoother travel.
While women drive destination and itinerary choices, 62 percent of payments on women-planned couple trips are still made by men, showing a split between financial transaction and planning authority in households.
The report challenges the perception that women are conservative spenders or overly cautious planners. Women choose 28 percent more premium upgrades, boutique stays, wellness add-ons, spa slots, curated experiences, and quality transfers. Yet they keep total spending within 6% of men’s, showing they spend smarter, not more.
Thrillophilia describes this preference as a “smart luxury aesthetic”: unhurried experiences, comfort-first choices, and meaningful indulgence without excess. For family travel, women also design smoother, child-friendly itineraries with slow mornings, one major activity a day, and early dinners, which cuts reschedules by 7 percent.
Women apply over three times more safety filters while planning, which directly correlates with a 23 percent drop in SOS calls on women-planned trips. Trusted drivers, safer neighbourhood stays, verified experience operators, and time-bound itineraries are now integral to women-led planning.
This shift is also evident in the choices women make. For domestic travel, slower and culturally rich destinations such as Rajasthan, Kerala, and Goa dominate. Internationally, the top choices combine value with accessible luxury: Dubai–Abu Dhabi, Bali, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
A noteworthy trend is the surge in female trip planners from Tier 2 cities. Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur are among the fastest-growing hubs for women-led itineraries, with Indore alone recording 31% year-on-year growth.
As women take control of the country’s leisure planning, the travel ecosystem must adapt. Thrillophilia, India’s leading AI-powered travel platform for discovering and personalising multi-day trips, notes that the rise of the woman travel planner is reshaping how itineraries are built, budgets optimised, and safety embedded at every step.
“Indian leisure is increasingly a She-Planner economy,” said Chitra Gurnani Daga, Co-founder of Thrillophilia. “Women are curating smarter itineraries, earlier bookings, safety-first choices, and meaningful upgrades without blowing the budget.”
With 7 in 10 trips now designed by women, the shift is no longer subtle; it is structural. India’s holidays are becoming safer, more thoughtful, and more value-conscious. In this new landscape, women are not just participating in travel; they are shaping how the nation moves, explores, and experiences the world.
(With inputs from various sources.)
1. How many leisure trips in India are now planned by women?
According to Thrillophilia’s 2025 report, women influence or plan 72% of all leisure trips across India.
2. Why are women booking trips earlier than men?
Women tend to research more deeply, compare options, and read reviews, leading them to book nine days earlier on average and avoid price spikes.
3. Do women spend more on travel?
Women choose more premium upgrades but keep overall trip costs within 6% of men’s spending, reflecting smarter—not higher—budgets.
4. What destinations are most popular among women travellers?
Domestically: Rajasthan, Kerala, Goa.
Internationally: Dubai–Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Bali, Thailand, and Vietnam.
5. How is safety influencing women’s travel planning?
Women apply over three times more safety filters, resulting in a 23% decline in SOS calls on women-planned itineraries.