As the monsoon sets in, travellers are gearing up to plan their rain-soaked getaways. A recent survey by leading travel planning platforms reveals a growing interest in monsoon travel among Gen Z and Millennials. So, where are holidaymakers heading this year to make the most of the season?Rainy retreats are in high demand– According to PeekABoo, Cleartrip’s travel trends tracker, there has been a 46% surge in bookings to popular monsoon destinations such as Goa, Coorg, Ooty, and Meghalaya– “Other top spots like Kerala, Mumbai, Udaipur, and Pondicherry continue to attract visitors,” says a Cleartrip spokesperson. “Meanwhile, emerging favourites such as Visakhapatnam, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Thiruvananthapuram, Dwarka, and Dharamshala reflect India’s diverse monsoon appeal”Young travellers lead the trendAmong Gen Z and younger millennials under 30, most monsoon travellers are in their mid-20s and typically book for two—be it a romantic escape or a trip with a close friend. “Group holidays with 3–6 people are also quite common, particularly to destinations like Bali, Vietnam, and Dubai, reflecting a clear preference for shared travel experiences within this age group,” says Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder of Pickyourtrail.Weekday wanderlust and work-life flexibilityExperts attribute this shift in travel trends to the growing culture of flexible work lifestyles, which are now allowing more people to travel during the week. “The flexible work lifestyle is driving a noticeable shift towards weekday departures, while most travellers opt for short two-night hotel stays,” adds the spokesperson.– Tier 1 cities contribute a remarkable 78% of total travellers, as per PeekABoo– The 24–30 age group is setting the pace with quick three-day escapes to relax and rejuvenate– For most Southeast Asian destinations – and increasingly for Dubai – the average trip spend for two people typically ranges between ₹1 lakh and ₹3 lakh, as per EaseMyTrip– Travellers from Chennai, Bengaluru, and Mumbai dominate outbound bookings to Bali, Maldives, Vietnam, and Dubai this monsoon, highlights Pickyourtrail dataFlight anxiety fuels rise in bus bookingsAccording to data from a travel platform, there has been a 10–12% increase in intercity bus travel demand over the past month alone. “One reason could be the fear of air travel due to turbulence and safety incidents, particularly during the monsoon season. Additionally, we have observed that road travel for shorter distances has become the preferred mode, especially for regional and religious travel during this time,” says Rikant Pittie, Co-founder and CEO of EaseMyTrip.Spending patterns reflect conscious international travel“Young travellers today aren’t overly frugal or lavish. Their spending reflects a thoughtful approach, with a focus on value,” says Hari Ganapathy, adding, “For most Southeast Asian destinations — and increasingly Dubai — average trip spends for two people range from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh.”He adds that places like Bali, Thailand, and Dubai strike a strong balance between cost and experience, offering diverse activities across budgets. This makes them particularly attractive to younger, value-conscious travellers.