The Smart Gen Z Couple’s Guide to Honeymoon Abroad 2026

Why Vietnam, Turkey, Sri Lanka and Georgia are the new favourites for Indian honeymooners

A new kind of honeymoon is on the rise among Indian travellers, one that prioritises meaning, privacy, and experience over extravagance. According to Thrillophilia’s 2025–26 travel insights, honeymoon travel bookings have risen by 17 per cent year-on-year, with international trips up 15 per cent as couples opt for value-luxury escapes instead of exorbitantly priced European itineraries. smart luxury, Instagram-worthy moments, and stories worth retelling.

Let’s learn more about Gen Z. This generation loves travel that mirrors their values: ethical stays, locally sourced experiences, and a lighter footprint. Whether it’s choosing an eco-resort that supports reforestation or dining at a farm-to-table café in Bali, the newlywed crowd is redefining what luxury means.

Gen Z’s version of comfort is less about marble bathtubs and more about mindfulness. Perhaps, boutique villas with character, design-led spaces that celebrate local craftsmanship, and wellness escapes that focus on inner reset. So, everything needs a backstory. Wellness has become a love language, from sunrise yoga sessions to digital detox days and introspection, and subsequently learning more about oneself and each other. Even adventure has taken on a more introspective form: trekking through the woods, riding bikes in the mountains, riding a Segway through the streets, or night swims under bioluminescent skies.

Yes, content still matters, but not for vanity. For many couples, storytelling through travel content is an expression of creativity. They document their journey with a deeper meaning as storytellers and craft memories to reflect on years down the line. The rise of ‘aesthetic travel’, with its focus on minimal design, muted tones, and moody skies, shows how couples are seeking beauty that feels real and authentic.

Couples are spending smarter, opting for private villas, local guides, and personalised itineraries instead of standard all-inclusive packages. Luxury now lies in time, space, and the ability to disconnect digitally while connecting with the locals.

The rise of affordable luxury abroad

Destinations which have been the talk of the town for some time now, such as Vietnam, Turkey, Sri Lanka, and Georgia, are fast becoming popular picks for a Gen Z couple’s dream honeymoon. They are stylish yet affordable, scenic yet less crowded. These destinations combine cultural richness with easy access via e-visas or short-haul flights, making them ideal for couples seeking romance without the financial strain of traditional European holidays.

Vietnam’s coastal towns - Hoi An, Da Nang and Ninh Binh, offer Asia’s Tuscany charm with boutique stays, photo trails, and relaxed café culture. In Turkey, couples continue to flock to Cappadocia for sunrise balloon rides and Antalya for beachside wellness breaks, blending adventure with intimacy.

Nearby, Sri Lanka’s colonial bungalows in the Hill Country and heritage stays in Galle deliver the right mix of value and charm. At the same time, Georgia’s snow-covered peaks in Gudauri and the café-lined streets of Tbilisi bring Europe’s ambience closer home, minus the visa hassle.

Spending smart, travelling better

Even though Gen Zs are known to be the go-getters, Indian honeymooners are not cutting corners; they are spending smarter. Average spends range from INR 2.2–3.8 lakh for international mainstream destinations like Southeast Asia and Turkey, with medians around INR 3.1 lakh per couple. The focus is now on personalisation rather than indulgence, with an eye on private villas, curated experiences, and flexible itineraries.

Thrillophilia’s best-performing packages include private transfers, in-villa chef dinners, spa credits, and picnic hampers. For Switzerland, scenic train passes and window-seat reservations are pre-bundled, while couples heading to the Maldives or Turkey enjoy customised candlelit experiences.

“Honeymoons in 2025–26 are about intimacy and intention,” said Abhishek Daga, Co-founder, Thrillophilia. “Indian honeymooners are trading ‘checklist Europe’ for slow-luxury like private villas, heritage courtyards, and wellness resets, pushing our domestic honeymoon bookings up 19 per cent year-on-year. Couples are spending smarter, not less, and choosing experiences that feel personal over postcard-packed itineraries.”

Forget last-minute getaways, Gen Z couples are planners.

• International trips see a 46-day lead time and 6.6-night average stay.
• Tier-2 cities now make up 40% of bookings, led by Lucknow, Indore, Kochi, and Jaipur.
• INR 2.2–3.8L for international trips.

What’s driving the shift

Younger couples, especially those aged 24 to 34, are shaping this new era of post-wedding travel. Many are from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, which now account for 40 per cent of honeymoon bookings, up by seven percentage points year-on-year.

The top five factors driving destination choices include ease of obtaining a visa, social media appeal, weather certainty, and the value of all-inclusive packages. Overwater stays, private pools, and scenic backdrops dominate Instagram feeds, influencing decision-making alongside creator content and peer recommendations.

Beyond luxury: purpose, privacy, and personalisation

What truly defines this shift is an inclination towards experiential intimacy. Couples are choosing soft adventures like Cappadocia’s balloon rides, Bali’s waterfall hikes, and Vietnam’s cultural photo walks, along with wellness-first stays featuring Ayurveda treatments, yoga sessions, and hammams.

This intentional honeymoon trend blends romance with mindfulness, reflecting how Gen Z couples view travel as an extension of self-care and connection rather than a once-in-a-lifetime indulgence.

As destinations such as Georgia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam rise on the honeymoon map, one thing is clear: the new luxury is more about how deeply you connect with a destination.

Also read: Honeymoons to Remember: Top 10 Honeymoon Destinations in 2025 for Every Kind of Couple 

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