Skyscanner released its 'Wanderlost' report, revealing that 94% of Indian travelers overthink their vacation plans, which makes travel a commitment for them. The report offers a closer look at how Indian travelers plan for the coming year, with nearly half (49%) already planning their next trip. It also highlights the factors that shape their travel decisions and what often deters them from booking their next adventure.
January is the perfect time for new beginnings and mapping out 2025 adventures, with 89% of Indians using this month to make important decisions for the year ahead. However, for 75% of Indian travelers, the process of planning a trip can feel overwhelming – almost like figuring out their relationship goals! Key stressors such as fear of making less-than-perfect choices (96%), cost concerns (95%), and overthinking (94%) keep many from booking their vacation. Travelers tend to be extra cautious about their travel plans, reviewing their options multiple times—be it flights (41%), hotels (35%), or activities (30%)—to make sure everything is perfect before they 'book'. '
Skyscanner's Wanderlost report uncovers this growing travel planning stress experienced by Indian travelers. Mohit Joshi, travel and destination expert shares: “Planning a trip should be exciting, but to many it can seem like a daunting task. Our Wanderlust report highlights that more than 1 in 5 (22%) Indian travelers take up to a month to finalize their vacation plans – a timeframe like deciding on higher education! Nevertheless, nearly half (45%) of Indians took more vacations than they originally planned in 2024.
At Skyscanner, we want to enhance this passion for travel and make the planning experience hassle-free. Whether searching for great deals or new destinations, our money-saving tools and features are designed to simplify every step of the travel planning process. Be flexible with dates, our Cheapest Months feature reveals the most budget-friendly times to fly and helps you discover the cheapest months to fly to any destination. Meanwhile, our ubiquitous search engine inspires travelers to uncover incredible destinations within their budgets, at all price points. With plenty of travel hacks and tips available, we want to make sure 2025 is the year when travel dreams take flight.”
To further explore the stress behind this phenomenon, Skyscanner collaborated with neurology doctor and neuroscientist Dr. Faye Begeti, neurology doctor and neuroscientist who explains: Wanderlust, 'a state of indecision when planning a trip, stems from mental fatigue. Planning a vacation can seem overwhelming, especially when every decision—whether it's choosing a destination or booking flights, hotels, and activities—requires significant mental effort. When making a choice is difficult, it is often because we need to shift our attention between different options, compare them, and analyze the pros and cons. The constant mental juggling of information, especially when it's scattered across multiple online sources, relies heavily on our prefrontal cortex and can drain our cognitive resources, exacerbated by the pressure to make the 'perfect' choice. It can turn the normal excitement of 'wanderlust' into exhaustion of 'travel energy'. I am delighted to be working with Skyscanner to help travelers overcome this challenge.”
Brain hacks to overcome “Wanderlost”.
Skyscanner is tackling 'Wanderlost' with five neuroscience-backed exercises, developed with Dr Faye Begety, to help travelers make decisions easier and plan for 2025 with confidence. These are:
- Battle decision fatigue:
Decision fatigue can overwhelm your brain, making even simple choices feel exhausting. It's important to narrow down your options. - Prioritize early decisions:
Make big decisions when your mental energy is at its peak – like choosing a flight or accommodation. For less important choices, adopt a “good enough” approach. If a choice meets your criteria, select it and move on to avoid overthinking and decision fatigue. - Balancing mental energy with the right vacation:
Choose a vacation that suits your mood. If you feel emotionally overloaded, choose a nature-centered retreat to reduce sensory input and recharge. If you're feeling inspired, consider a city break or an adventure holiday for novelty and excitement. - Anticipatory dopamine leverage:
Our brain thrives on anticipation, making planning a vacation just as exciting as the trip itself, so use this to your advantage. Bookmark your dream destinations in a saved list and revisit them as you refine your plans, making planning a less stressful and more exciting experience. - Break from routine:
As we age, time can seem to fly by, often as we get stuck in familiar routines. Overcome the status quo bias that keeps you stuck in these patterns. Try to get out of your comfort zone and explore unexpected destinations when planning your vacation; It can be a more memorable experience.
Skyscanner's cheapest destinations for 2025
One in three Indian travelers (31%) are motivated by affordable travel destinations, while nearly one in four (23%) are motivated by visiting the cheapest places. In 2024, high costs were a key barrier for Indian travelers, with 32% citing it as a reason for taking fewer vacations.
Skyscanner has compiled a list of the best value for money destinations for 2025 that Indian travelers can look forward to, with prices as low as ₹8,390.
| no | Cheapest destination for 2025 | Flight prices in 2025 |
| 1 | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | From ₹8,390 |
| 2 | Kochi, Kerala | From ₹9,898 |
| 3 | Jaisalmer, Rajasthan | From ₹9,898 |
| 4 | New Delhi, India | From ₹10,220 |
| 5 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | From ₹12,262 |
| 6 | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir | From ₹12,370 |
| 7 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | From ₹17,425 |
| 8 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | From ₹22,588 |
| 9 | Muscat, Oman | From ₹22,588 |
| 10 | Davao, Philippines | From ₹23,557 |
Combined with Skyscanner's features such as savings generators and price alerts, Indian travelers can effortlessly uncover incredible deals, optimize their budgets and plan the most memorable trips without compromising on the experience.