New Delhi, Oct. 20 -- More travellers are opting for affordable options this festive season as the trend shifts away from pure luxury trips, to "smart luxury", according to a report by AI travel platform Thrillophilia. It added that budget-friendly weekend getaways were also top choice, among festive travellers.

The report noted that mid-range stays jumped as much as 22 per cent year-on-year (YoY), with a "clear shift from high-end vacations . catalysed by the GST 2.0 rollout and a buoyant festive season".

Travellers are not necessarily cutting back, but rather spending less on rooms and more on experiences, it added. As festive demand peaks, the Thrillophilia's data showed that Indians are travelling "smartly" and planning better.

The...