India is getting ‘Hungry for Travel’: With 97% cooking on trips, holiday homes become travel’s new stage

Food increasingly shapes how Indians choose where they stay, what they do, and how they spend time together on vacation. Cooking, sharing meals and capturing local flavors have become central to the travel experience, with holiday homes emerging as a natural fit for these evolving preferences.

New research from Booking.com reveals how these habits are now having a major impact on travel decisions.

The Taste of Home report highlights how food is now important in the holiday home experience for Indian travellers. According to the findings, privacy, flexible meal times and the opportunity to cook in a home environment are attracting more Indians towards holiday homes, where meals serve as moments of connection, cultural discovery and memory-making.

The study shows that food-based experiences strongly influence travel decisions, with holiday homes emerging as a preferred choice for travelers looking for a personal and meaningful stay.

Vacation homes: the secret ingredient to a foodie staycation

Food trends are reshaping the way Indians explore destinations, with 97% of self-described foodies changing their cooking and dining habits while travelling. Many are spending time at local markets (84%), trying new recipes (38%), cooking regional dishes (37%), or trying out unfamiliar appliances (34%).

For most Indian travellers, food is a deciding factor: 88% say it influences their trips and 82% choose destinations for specific food spots. Privacy (39%), flexibility (34%), access to a kitchen (33%), and the freedom to eat at any time (33%) make vacation homes attractive for fresh, shared meals.

Eating out remains a priority too – with 59% of foodie travelers regularly eating out at local restaurants abroad, while 36% book holiday homes specifically to have better access to authentic dining options. It is worth noting that 82% chose a destination only to visit a specific restaurant or food establishment.

Blending tradition with modern tastes

Across the Asia Pacific region, there are four major trends shaping how travelers cook, eat and shop while staying in holiday homes.

New head chef at the holiday home

The role of the ‘chef’ is changing within Indian families. Only 29% now rely on their mothers to take charge of cooking. Younger generations are increasingly leading the cuisine, combining tradition with personal taste. Generation X (48%) and Millennials (42%) most often cook family recipes, followed by Generation Z (40%) and Baby Boomers (34%). Millennials (26%) also cook their own food frequently, ahead of Generation Z (22%), Generation X (21%), and Boomers (9%). Meanwhile, 28% of Indians cook to host gatherings at their holiday homes, and this rises to 30% among Gen Z.

Holiday kitchen characters

Holiday homes reveal distinct culinary personalities among Indian travellers:

• Traditionalists They prefer family recipes (43%) and comfort foods (37%).

• Experimenters-38%- They enjoy trying new recipes and cooking methods.

• minimum They prefer simple and quick meals (42%).

• Socialists32% gravitate toward group meals and group cooking.

Together, these characters reflect how a vacation home kitchen has evolved into a space for creativity, communication, and cultural expression.

Carriage tourism

Throughout the region, travelers choose markets and supermarkets rather than souvenir shops. This “rickshaw tourism” trend is strongest among Indians, who increasingly support local businesses and cook using regional, seasonal ingredients. Around 84% visit supermarkets or local markets during holidays, and this rises to 87% among people who book holiday homes frequently.

Portable storage

Travelers also carry part of their cuisine with them. 95% of Indians bring food or cooking utensils, including dry fruits or snacks (41%), pickles (37%), spices (36%), instant noodles (36%), sauces (30%), and oils or ghee (28%). Many also package digestives (27%) and ready-made curry pastes (26%).

Favorite tools and appliances include electric kettles (31%), knives and peelers (30%), lunchboxes (28%), thermos flasks (27%), strainers, pressure cookers, and utensils (25%), along with portable grilling pans (22%).

Vacation home choices also reflect a desire for shared meals and scenic cookouts – 37% prefer beach houses, followed by private villas (33%), city apartments (28%), country cottages (25%), and lakefront cabins (20%).

Celebrations and wellness also make up the bookings. Groups of friends account for 25% of holiday home stays, while 21% book for birthdays or anniversaries. Spas make up 24% of bookings, and 21% travel just to relax.

“Our ‘Taste of Home’ research shows that food is no longer just a part of the itinerary for Indians, it is the heart of the holiday home experience,” said Santosh Kumar, Regional Director, South Asia, Booking.com. “These accommodations provide travelers the freedom to cook, connect and celebrate food on their own terms, be it experimenting with local ingredients, recreating family favorites or discovering authentic dining spots nearby. What we see is a blend of tradition and travel, where cooking together becomes a shared expression of culture and lasting memories.” At Booking.com, we see this as part of the larger Connected Trip vision, where every aspect of travel, from where you stay to what you taste, flows seamlessly into one meaningful experience. With more than 8.4 million vacation homes out of our 31 million listings globally, our goal is to offer the widest possible choice of great stays, making it easier for everyone to experience the world. “