JAIPUR, 19 November 2025: Thrillophilia, an India-wide multi-day tours platform, has released its Women & Travel Decisions 2025 report, revealing a quiet yet powerful shift within Indian households.
The country’s real travel decision-makers are not travel agents, the algorithms, or the loudest voice in the room. Family travel planning is clearly in the hands of women who take the lead in planning and shaping the family’s entire travel experience.
Based on an analysis of 212,000 itineraries and 8.9 million planning signals, the report finds that women now influence or directly design 72% of India’s leisure trips, taking ownership of everything from budgeting and safety to emotional comfort and experience curation.
Women tend to book earlier, compare more carefully, and stress-test their choices before confirming a trip. On average, they book nine days in advance, which helps avoid price spikes, keeps itineraries stable, and reduces cancellations by 18%. They also read more reviews, open more photos, and circulate itineraries among family and friends more often, ensuring every detail is checked before a plan is finalised. Interestingly, even though women choose the destination, stay, experiences, and pricing, 62% of payments on ‘women-planned’ couple trips are still made by men.
According to Thrillophilia’s data, women also have a signature vibe: the smart luxury aesthetic. Not flashy, just thoughtful indulgence, boutique stays, spa time and wellness walks. Women’s shopping carts contain 28% more of these quality upgrades, yet overall spend stays within 6% of male travel costs. Unarguably, women aren’t splurging more; they are splurging smarter.
Women also apply over three times as many safety filters, which results in fewer trip emergencies and a 23% drop in SOS calls, indicating that women research and read about what they book.
Thrillophilia, Co-founder Chitra Gurnani Daga said: “Indian leisure is increasingly a She-Planner economy. Women are curating smarter itineraries, making earlier bookings, opting for safety-first choices, and enjoying meaningful upgrades without overspending. As women continue to lead India’s travel decisions, the industry is shifting toward more thoughtful planning, better value choices, and deeply curated experiences.”
For domestic vacations, women tend to lean towards slow yet value destinations like Rajasthan and Kerala, with Goa coming in third on the list. Internationally, women tend to lean towards destinations that offer a balance of value and luxury, including Bali, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Travelling with young children, Thrillophilia’s data shows that women tend to choose slow mornings, one main activity, and early dinners, resulting in 7% fewer reschedules on planned itineraries. For families, this approach isn’t just a preference; it is a practical strategy that keeps trips smoother and more predictable.
The most dramatic rise is coming from tier 2 cities in India. Indore, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Jaipur are emerging as the fastest-growing geographies for women planners, with Indore alone showing 31% YoY growth. As India’s She-Planner Economy grows, the implications extend far beyond destinations and itineraries; they will increasingly be shaped by a growing women-led travel ecosystem.
About Thrillophilia
Thrillophilia is an AI-powered travel platform for discovering and personalising multi-day trips. It lets couples discover, customise, and book in minutes through verified on-ground partners across 1,000-plus locations. Headquartered in Jaipur, the platform also operates in the UAE and the US.
(Source: Thrillophilia)
