India, Oct. 17 -- Hotels are no longer the automatic first choice for Indian travellers. Homestays, holiday rentals and apartments are moving firmly into the mainstream, and the numbers suggest this shift has plenty of room to grow.

Booking.com and travel research firm VIDEC Consultants have released the fourth edition of How India Travels 2026, The Homes Edit, looking at how Indians are choosing alternative accommodation and what is driving the change.

A hotel room may offer convenience, but many travellers now want their accommodation to feel connected to the destination itself.

According to the research, 87% of travellers surveyed said alternative stays can help create more meaningful holiday memories. Around 85% associated them wit...