As our trips approach, I love watching travel-themed movies to get even more energized and excited about our getaway. From tropical vacation romps to journeys across Europe, these are some of our favorite movies to inspire travel.
10 best movies to inspire travel
Under the Tuscan Sun
While I’m rooting for Frances to get her life together, I’m more enamored by the beautiful shots of Tuscany and other nearby Italian regions. The surrounding families welcome Frances into their fold easily and teach her about the food and culture of Italy as she works on her house and finding herself. From Tuscany to visiting her boyfriend in Positano, there are so many amazing settings in this movie that make me want to move to Italy next weekend.
A Good Year
While Russell Crowe’s transformation from ass to a man worthy of Marion Cotillard isn’t exactly set up well, the movie is still fun, engaging, and has a wonderful setting in Provence – with some neat shots in London. I love seeing him fix up the place and let out his inner child while learning not to take life too seriously. It helps that he has a beautiful estate, a great vineyard, and a good group of family friends to help him in his journey.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Another post-breakup adventure but this time staying in the US. The movie is funny and a bit quirky, but still has a great adventurous feeling to it. Jason Segel is lovable in everything he does and seeing him come out of his depression on a magical island and learning to be his normal self again and embracing new things and letting go of the old is motivating. Again, the setting of Hawaii just adds to this film being great.
Couples Retreat
In a similar vein to ridiculous situational comedy, this movie focuses on a group of friends going to a Sandals-esque resort with a stunning backdrop. I could just watch the movie for the establishing shots of the island alone. Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman’s characters are the best of the bunch and the most relatable, but I’m not really watching the movie for the plot’s believability. It’s still a fun movie and a great watch before going to a tropical resort.
Captain Ron
This ‘90s classic makes me want to move out of the big city and live on a boat sailing in the Caribbean for a while. Following Martin Short and his Midwest family learning how to sail and clean up an old boat with eccentric Kurt Russell at the helm, this movie is pure ‘90s fun. Between visiting tropical islands, getting chased by pirates, and getting stuck in Cuba, the family learns how to be more spontaneous and self-reliant along the way and is one of my favorites to watch before any cruise.
Little Miss Sunshine
Watching this dysfunctional family come together and learn how to accept their flaws and go after their dreams while hitting the road always puts me in a good mood. It’s an emotional ride with a good message and amazing acting from everyone in it. Not that my family car rides were that long or had that many crazy characters, but the movie still reminds me of childhood and being “stuck” with your family in the car for long periods of time and avoiding tricky conversations that need to happen.
The Lizzie McGuire Movie
As someone who grew up with Lizzie McGuire, you bet this made the cut. While I’d take a pass on having to sing to an audience in the Coliseum, who doesn’t dream of being whisked around by a cute Italian as you go sightseeing? While my high school trips weren’t anything like this, the movie makes me feel young again and inspires me to go on each new trip with a fresh mind and willingness to accept whatever happens on a vacation.
In Bruges
A bit different than other movies on our list, this dark comedy features hitmen and unwilling sightseeing through Bruges. Both characters go through some growth as they explore the charming city and let the experience of exploring the city change them. While I can’t relate to the hitmen aspect of the movie, it’s a fun yet different take on a travel-themed film.
Eurotrip
I’m well aware it’s a stupid movie, but it’s so classically early 2000s stupid funny that it earns a spot on the list. It’s fun seeing all the different places they go, the insane situations they get themselves into, and always puts me in a good mood to go on a European vacation. They travel through London, Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin, and Rome and have one crazy road trip while Scotty proves how unpredictable he can be.
The Bucket List
I’m a sucker for feel-good movies and especially ones that remind us to live our lives to the fullest every single day instead of waiting for that one perfect day, or summer, or vacation, or time in our lives that may never come. It reminds us to book our trips now, while we can and discover the world and ourselves.
What’s your favorite travel movie? Tell us in the comments below or on Twitter!
