Movies That Make Me Want to Travel

Some movies just make me want to find a travel buddy and travel the world. Have you ever had that feeling, too? This list contains our personal all time favorites. Many of them are favorites because of the music or cinematography or subject. They are not necessarily historically accurate or even politically correct—just good, silly, or a little of both.

Makes me want to visit India

• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011). This movie makes me think about getting an India Vacation, and also as I age and where I might want to live and how I want to live.
• Bride and Prejudice (2004). Bride and prejudice is Bollywood at its best for us! The music is fun and happy.
• Lagaan (2001). The music is powerful plus it made me want to learn more about cricket! Where’s my ticket?

Let’s go to England!

• Pride and Prejudice (1995 and 2005). The English countryside—not just Mr. Darcy–is gorgeous!
• Moll Flanders (1996). This movie makes me glad I live in this time period and not at any other time.

Let’s go to Italy!

• Italian for Beginners (2000). A group of people take an Italian conversation class and then visit Italy for the first time.
• Under the Tuscan Sun (2003).

My island adventure

• Six Days Seven Nights (1998). Although we are led to believe that the island is Tahiti, it seems from what I read online that it was really filmed in Kaua’i, Hawaii, USA. Tahiti–especially Bora Bora–is a great place to visit to get away from it all.
• The Descendants (2011) Hawaii is lovely any time of the year.
• Whale Rider (2002). New Zealand is also beautiful.

Adventures in Japan

• My Geisha (1962). Extremely dated but entertaining film with gorgeous costuming and portions of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly (part of the aria Un bel di I believe is sung in Japanese).
• The Last Samurai (2003) Although mostly filmed in New Zealand, some scenes were filmed in Kyoto and Himeiji.
• Shall We Dance? (1996). A company worker learns to social dance.
• Lost in Translation (2003).

Off to Africa

• Fool’s Gold (2008). A romp across Africa.
• The English Patient (1996). A serious romantic movie set in World War II. It starts in Egypt and ends in Italy.

Let’s see San Francisco

• Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). The setting is San Francisco with some portions filmed at the Monterey Bay Aquarium).

Let’s go to South America

• Master and Commander (2003).
• The Motorcycle Diaries (2004).
• Romancing the Stone (1984).

Makes me want to move around

• Little Miss Sunshine (2006). A funny and poignant road trip.
• Paul (2011). A silly, irreverent, sci-fi road trip.
• James Bond movies. They are all about high adventure in exotic places.
• Indiana Jones movies. Old fashioned adventure all over the globe.
• Jason Bourne movies. Suspense all over the place.

What movies make you want to travel? Tell us your favorites on the TripCompanion Facebook page.

Fly Confident!