Booking.com has launched its latest ‘Taste of Home’ research, unveiling insights on how food is playing a central role in shaping the holiday home experience for travellers. Indian travellers are increasingly choosing holiday homes for the privacy and relaxed setting to enjoy meals, the flexibility to cook, the home-like environment that enriches culinary experiences and easier access to authentic local authentic dining. These culinary moments are becoming more than just mealtime, they are opportunities for connection, cultural immersion and creating lasting memories that transform food into cultural gateways rather than just travel highlights.
The research reveals how food-driven experiences profoundly influence travel decisions. As travellers seek more meaningful and personalised stays, holiday homes have emerged as a key part of this evolving trend.
Holiday Homes – The Secret Ingredient for Foodie Stays
The diversity of food trends and preferences profoundly influences how travellers explore the world, with holiday homes emerging as the accommodation of choice for culinary exploration. Holiday homes are a chosen accommodation type for this culinary exploration in India, with 97% of foodies altering their cooking and eating habits whilst travelling. They frequent local markets (84%), experiment with new recipes (38%), cook local dishes (37%), try new appliances (34%).
For Indians, food significantly shapes travel, with 88% influenced by it and 82% selecting destinations for specific food spots. Holiday homes offer privacy (39%), flexibility (34%), kitchen access (33%) and freedom to eat at any time (33%), supporting fresh, communal meals.
Dining out is also a holiday highlight for all Indian foodie travellers, with more than half (59%) regularly eating at local restaurants whilst abroad. Additionally, 36% book holiday homes for bette)r access to local dining experiences. Ultimately, 82% of Indians have chosen a destination solely to visit a particular restaurant or food establishment.
Blending Tradition with Modern Tastes
There are four standout trends shaping the culinary holiday home travel experience across Asia Pacific. From who’s taking charge in the kitchen to how travellers shop, dine, and define their foodie identities, these trends reveal new insights behind the region’s growing appetite for holiday home stays.
The New Head Chef in the Holiday Home
The “chef” role in holiday homes is shifting. Only 29% of Indian travellers default to their mum as cook. Younger generations are now confidently taking the lead, blending family recipes with new ideas. Gen X (48%) and millennials (42%) most often cook family recipes, compared to Gen Z (40%) , , and Boomers (34%). Millennials (26%) also most frequently cook their own food, versus Gen Z (22%) Gen X (21%), and Boomers (9%). Notably, more than one out of four (28%) of Indians cook to host at their holiday homes, rising to 30% for Gen Z.
Holiday Kitchen Personas
- Holiday homes are transforming more than just where we eat; they’re revealing who we are when we step into the kitchen. Four distinct holiday kitchen personalities among Indians are emerging:
- The comfort-driven Traditionalist who favours family recipes (43%) and comfort foods (37%).
- The bold Experimenter who makes up a third (38%) of those that enjoy trying new recipes and cooking methods.
- The laid-back Minimalist who shifts to cooking simpler and quicker meals when staying in a holiday home (42%)
- The ever-entertaining Socialite, known for their kitchen flair and lean towards communal or group cooking (32%)
- Together, these personas show that the holiday home kitchen is no longer merely functional for Indians; it’s a stage for flavor, creativity and connection.
Trolley Tourism
Forget souvenirs; today’s travellers are filling their shopping baskets with fresh produce and pantry staples. Across Asia Pacific, holiday homes are fueling a rise in “trolley tourism,” where visits to local food markets, foodie festivals, and trendy or cult-favorite supermarkets are becoming part of the travel experience. Indian travellers, in particular, are embracing this trend, choosing to support local businesses and cook with fresh, seasonal or regional ingredients during their stays. It’s not just about eating well; it’s about shopping smart and connecting with the local food scene. Notably, 84% of Indian travellers enjoy visiting local supermarkets or food markets on holiday, a figure that rises to 87% among frequent holiday-home bookers.
Portable Pantry
Travellers across Asia Pacific are bringing their kitchens with them. They pack favorite spices and appliances, creating a “portable pantry” for comfort, tradition, and convenience. This makes holiday kitchens familiar while allowing destination exploration.
- Interestingly, a majority 95% of Indians bring food or cooking items. Their favourites include: Dry fruits or favourite snacks (41%), favourite pickles (37%), own spices (36%), instant noodles (36%), favourite chutney (30%), cooking oils/ghee/butter (28%), digestive mouth fresheners (27%) and ready-made curry sauce or paste (26%).
- For utensils and kitchenware, popular choices are electric kettle (31%), knives and peelers (30%), tiffin boxes or stainless steel containers (28%), thermos flask (27%), tea strainer, pressure cookers and cooking pots (25%) and portable grill pan (22%).
Indians also choose types of homes that allow them to cook, dine and connect, from beachside barbecues to city kitchens. 37% of foodie travellers prefer beach houses for food-focused stays. Other popular options include private villas (33%), city apartments (28%), country cottages (25%) or lakeside cabins (20%).
Holiday homes are also ideal for both relaxed getaways and major celebrations, offering guests the flexibility to cook nourishing meals, host lavish feasts, or balance both with exploring local food scenes.
In India, celebrating friendships and meaningful connections are among the main reasons for booking holiday homes, highlighted by 25% travelling with friends, followed by 21% booking for birthdays or anniversaries. Moreover, many prioritise self-care and mental rejuvenation as 24% book for wellness escapes and 21% purely to unwind.
Santosh Kumar, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com said, “Our ‘Taste of Home’ research shows that food is no longer just a part of the itinerary for Indians, it’s the heart of the holiday home experience. These accommodations offer travellers the freedom to cook, connect and celebrate food on their own terms, whether it’s experimenting with local ingredients, recreating family favourites or discovering authentic dining spots nearby. What we’re seeing is a fusion 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 savour, flows seamlessly into one meaningful experience. With over 8.4 million holiday homes amongst 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.”
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
