It’s hard not to be worried and carried away by all the hype that is happening around us with the Covid-19. As the daily number of reported cases rise, we continue to monitor the news. Yet, we have an escape plan ready with these travel movies.
For sure we can let go of these negative thoughts and enjoy our time spent at home. As we can use this down time to stay with our loved ones and entertain ourselves. Therefore, these travel movies can carry us to beautiful places.
These films will transport you to different time zones, with different stories and scenery. They are listed in random order. These stories will bring to our mind and soul the magic of travel. We can’t travel today but we can enjoy the scenery on TV now and prepare ourselves for the coming travel days…
Comedy, Musical, Romance Movies:
1. Mamma Mia, (2008)
This film is a musical romantic comedy, based on the ABBA songs. It is truely a remarkable travel movie especially when it comes to Greece.
The film’s cast include Pierce Brosnan, Meryl Streep and Colin Firth. Most of the movie is filmed at the small Greek island of Skopelos, in Thessaly. Additionally the seaside hamlet of Damouchari in the Pelion area of Greece served as a hot spot for filming.
The set makes you feel like you are right there on the Aegean Sea. The songs cheer you up, give you positive energy and makes you want to dance. Therefore, some travel experts state that this film further boosted the tourism industry in Greece.
2. The Sound Of Music, (1965)
A family pastime by all means! It is a musical drama film. Starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
Based on the memoir: “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” by Maria von Trapp. The film is about a young Austrian postulant in Salzburg, Austria. The year is 1938 and Maria is sent to the villa of a retired naval officer and widower to be governess to his seven children.
The film scenes where filmed in Salzburg, Austria, town of Werfen in the Salzach River valley and the town of Marktschellenberg in Bavaria. Moreover, complimentary shots took place in studios in Los Angeles, California.
When you watch the movie and go to Austria, all you will do is start singing the songs and get emotional. Therefore, if you are a fan of this film, we recommend you check this handpicked article about Salzburg next:
3. My Life In Ruins, (2009)
Is a romantic comedy set amongst the ruins of ancient Greece, starring Nia Vardalos. The star Nia Vardalos also played the main role in the famous movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”.
In My Life in Ruins, Nia is a Greek American teacher who came to Greece to teach at a local college about Classic Greece and plays a tour guide taking stereotypical tourists through the sites of Greece.
This is one of the travel movies that is fun, romantic and the setting is insanely beautiful. However, most importantly it will transport you to beautiful Greece. The film scenes where filmed in Greece and Alicante, in Spain, including Guadalest and Jávea.
4. Spy, (2015)
By far one of our favorite movies!
Is an action comedy spy film. Starring Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham, Rose Byrne, and Jude Law.
It follows the life of a secret agent, Susan Cooper. She is trying to trace a stolen portable nuclear device. Moreover, it’s worth noting that she was nominated Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.
Filming took place in Budapest, Hungary. It is one of those travel movies that you can watch over and over. Moreover, you will laugh as if it’s the first time you’ve watched it.
5. Forgetting Sarah Marshall, (2008)
This film is a romantic comedy. Starring Jason Segel, Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell. It is truly a marvel in travel movies.
This fun and entertaining film was set in the very real Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Island in Hawaii.
After a five-year relationship, Kristen Bell abruptly breaks up with Jason. Devastated by this event, he chooses to go on a vacation to Hawaii. However and for his bad luck, he runs into his ex on the island as she is vacationing with her new boyfriend.
This movie insures that sooner or later you will book a plane to Hawaii and have your own stay at Turtle Bay.
6. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, (2013)
Is an adventure comedy-drama film. Starring Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig.
Walter Mitty is a negative assets manager at Life magazine who daydreams of adventures. When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action.
Therefore, he ventures into the real world embarking on a global journey. Surprisingly, it turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined!
Much of the movie was filmed in Iceland, with locations ranging from Snaefellsnes Pensinsula in Iceland, and Höfn, a village in southeast Iceland. Consequently, this movie is one more reason to visit Iceland and see its wonderful nature and landscapes.
7. Crazy Rich Asians (2018)
Is a romantic comedy film. Starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan.
Nick Young (Henry) and his girlfriend Rachel Chu(Constance), an economics professor at New York University and New York native, travel to Singapore for the wedding of his best friend. Nick’s family is extremely wealthy and famous, and are members of high society.
The film’s shooting locations include Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang in Malaysia. Additionally some spots in Hong Kong and in Singapore add a hint of Asian magical spice to the scenery.
Action, Adventure, Drama Movies:
8. The Tourist, (2010)
This is one of the travel movies that is a romantic and thriller simultaneously. Starring Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, and Timothy Dalton.
A British woman, Elise Clifton-Ward (Angelina Jolie), is being followed by French police who are working with Scotland Yard. Elise’s husband, who owes £744 million in back taxes, and may have received plastic surgery to alter his appearance is the main character for the suspense in the movie.
Filming began in Paris and then moved to Venice, Italy. Thriller and beautiful scenery both form a perfect combination for filming this masterpiece.
9. Eat Pray Love, (2010)
Is a biographical romantic drama film starring Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem and James Franco.
Elizabeth Gilbert (Julia) had everything a modern woman dreams of, but she still finds herself searching for a new life. Gilbert steps out of her comfort zone, and decides to embark on a new journey of self exploration around the world.
Filming locations include New York City (United States), Rome and Naples (Italy), Delhi and Pataudi (India), Ubud and Padang-Padang Beach at Bali (Indonesia). So you can imagine, the beautiful change of scenery and exploration in one movie while sitting in your living room.
10. Seven Years In Tibet, (1997)
This is a movie that caused huge controversies. It is mainly a biographical war drama film. Starring Brad Pitt and David Thewlis.
In 1938, Austrian mountaineers Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt) leaves behind his pregnant wife to join Peter Aufschnaiter (David Thewlis) in a team attempting to summit Nanga Parbat in British India (present-day part of Pakistan). When World War II begins in 1939, they are arrested by British Indian authorities and imprisoned in a POW camp in Dehradun in the Himalayan foothills, present-day Indian state of Uttarakhand.
Most of the movie was filmed in Argentina, in the city of La Plata and in the Mendoza Province, in such places as the Andes mountains. Other footage was shot in Nepal, Austria and Canada.
11.The Beach, (2000)
This is a drama adventure film. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tilda Swinton, Virginie Ledoyen, Guillaume Canet, and Robert Carlyle.
Vicenarian Richard (Leonardo) travels to Thailand and finds himself in possession of a strange map. Rumours state that it leads to a solitary beach paradise, a tropical bliss. Excited and intrigued, he sets out to find it.
This Movie is also a warning of the dangers of over-tourism, as it was the excessive numbers of visitors that eventually closed Maya Bay beach on the island of Phi Phi Leh in Thailand. Unfortunately, this resulted in damage to coral reefs. Therefore, and sadly enough, your only way to check this island is through this movie.
Ecotourism comes as a great alternative to mass tourism, check this article next to best understand its practices.
