5 Travel Movies That Will Inspire You To Pack Your Bags

Last Updated: July 13, 2017

Great movies inspire, captivate, and for a couple of hours, immerse you in a different world. Watching movies is a temporary escape from everyday life. But what if you could actually visit the amazing locations where these movies took place? It’s not as far-fetched as you might think. Many people have been moved to travel to incredible sites around the globe after watching certain films. If you have the wanderlust bug, here are some travel movies that might inspire you to start planning your next vacation.

  1. The Man with the Golden Gun

This 1974 film places James Bond in Thailand where the British Secret Service agent searches for solar cell technology. Part of the movie takes place on the island of Khao Phing Kan, in Ao Phang Nga National Park, northeast of Phuket. Khao Phing Kan is filled with lush vegetation and natural beauty, including Ko Tapu, a 66-foot limestone rock located right off the shore. The movie has made the once-quiet island a such a popular tourist destination, Khao Phing Kan has earned the moniker, James Bond Island.

  1. Lord of the Rings

While The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is fantasy, a trip to the New Zealand locations where they were filmed can be a real-life dream come true. Your Middle Earth experience could include visiting the original Hobbiton movie set and the stunning area of Mt Sunday which was turned into Edoras, taking a Weta Cave Workshop Tour, or exploring Lord of the Rings filming locations by air or via a 4WD adventure.

  1. Lost in Translation

Tokyo is the setting for Sofia Coppola’s movie about an aging actor (Bill Murray) who befriends a lonely young wife (Sofia Coppola). Have your own Lost in Translation adventure by staying at the elegant (and expensive) 52-story Park Hyatt Tokyo where much of the Golden Globe-winning movie was filmed. Relax in swanky luxury and be sure to visit the iconic New York Bar which offers spectacular city views and entertainment by renowned jazz artists.

  1. The Sound of Music

It’s no wonder the beloved Oscar-winning musical has inspired millions of people to visit Austria and follow in the Von Trapp family’s footsteps. Over fifty years after The Sound of Music came out, people are still singing its iconic songs. There are many tours that take Sound of Music  fans to the beautiful city of Salzburg and its surrounding countryside. See famous Sound of Music locations such as Mirabell Garden where Maria and the children sang “Do-Re-Mi,” Hellbrunn Palace where Maria and Baron von Trapp’s kissing scene took place, and many more.

  1. Midnight in Paris

Woody Allen’s 2011 film Midnight in Paris was filmed in the gorgeous City of Lights. To embark on a French travel adventure that pays homage to this romantic comedy and the story of Gil Pender, be sure to visit Monet’s Garden in Giverney home of impressionist Claude Monet. Stay at the elegant and luxurious Hotel Le Bristol, one of the most distinctive hotels in Paris. Browse the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, stroll around Montmartre, and if you get hungry, make a reservation for Le Grand Véfour. This exceptional gourmet restaurant is filled with 18th century decorative art and is considered to be the “gastronomic center of Parisian political, artistic and literary life.”

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Dave D.
For PCH Creative