15 of the best travel movies to cure your travel bug

While you’re working your way through streaming services, add these movies to your list for a little bit of an escape!
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Are you starting to feel restless with wanderlust deep in your bones? You are not alone! Self-isolation is difficult, but these 15 movies are here to help you get lost in a different country from the comfort of your own home. While you’re working your way through streaming services, add these movies to your list for a little bit of an escape!

1. PS I Love You

Ireland

Alright be warned! When you watch this movie, there is a high chance that you may cry, but the shots of Ireland will take your breath away. After the death of her husband, Holly receives letters from him and follows them to his homeland, Ireland. This film embodies all that Ireland is with scenes of rolling green hills, lively Irish pubs filled with local music, and incredible shots of the Irish countryside.

2. The Lizzie McGuire Movie

Rome, Italy

This movie is a blast from the past that will give you all the nostalgia mixed with jaw-dropping images of Rome. The perfect end to the Lizzie McGuire show, this full-length feature film follows Lizzie as she hits up all of the sights in Rome like the Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and Spanish Steps. Lizzie also experiences a true Italian ride on the back of a Vespa! It’s a fun watch that is perfectly accompanied by pizza and Italian wine. 

3. Amelie

Paris, France

There’s nothing like the romantic scenery in Paris, when you can’t get there to see it in real life, Amelie is the perfect movie for you. This movie follows the heroine around Montmartre in Paris and gives you all the dreamy romance that you’d expect from this enchanting city. This movie will give you all the feels and leave you smiling throughout its entirety.

4. Under the Tuscan Sun

Italy

If you haven’t dreamed about running away to the romantic countryside of Italy to open a B&B, you’ve never seen this movie and need to right now!  Following a writer who’s just recent gotten divorced, this movie features all the beautiful scenery that Tuscany has to offer as well as a look into what it would be like to have an Italian B&B!

5. Hostel

The Netherlands & Slovenia

This one might not exactly inspire you to travel, but if you’re looking for a great horror film based in another country, this is one of the best out there. While a group of college students are travelling around Amsterdam, they are suggested to stay at this hostel in Slovakia. While things go extremely wrong for these students, you still get to see some incredible scenery from Amsterdam and beautiful small towns in Slovenia.

6. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

India

The stunning colours and scenery in this movie will have you planning a trip to India as soon as it’s safe to travel again! A group of retirees travel to India to help operate a luxury hotel. Watch them learn a lot about life, love, and a new culture in this incredibly heartwarming film.

7. The Lord of The Rings

New Zealand

While most of the things in this movie aren’t real, the beautiful shots of New Zealand are far from fiction. Dive into this series head first and experience not only an incredible story but see the heart-stopping wonders of New Zealand. While we follow Frodo on his journey to Middle-Earth, you will see beautiful New Zealand’s breathtaking countryside. The best part is when we’re able to travel again, you can plan a trip to Frodo’s homeland, the Shire, as it’s been turned into a Hobbiton village in real life!

8. Little Miss Sunshine

USA

This quirky independent film was a huge hit upon its release in 2006. A family travels across the United States so a young girl can fulfill her dreams of winning a pageant. Starting in New Mexico, the family travels 800 miles to Southern California, giving you beautiful road trip scenery. These vibes that will inspire you to take a roadie with your crew as soon as self-isolation is over! 

9. Crazy Rich Asians

Singapore & Malaysia 

The food. The scenes. The love. This movie will have you hooked from the very beginning. Travel to South East Asia from the comforts of your own home and see the luxury that Asia’s rich culture gets to experience. You’ll get to see the hawker night markets in Singapore and the incredible street food they have to offer. Not only that, but this movie also features the stunning beaches in Malaysia and ends in Singapore’s iconic Gardens by the Bay.

10. Lost in Translation 

Tokyo, Japan

This movie does an amazing job showcasing what it’s like to travel and even live in Japan. While in your living room, you’ll be able to soak up Japan’s culture from subway systems and streets to historical shrines. This movie also touches on loneliness, something we can all relate to right now. It shows the friendship between an actor and a lonely college graduate in a Tokyo hotel. 

11. Up in the Air

Airport

While the airport might not be the most exciting place when you think about travel, it’s where every adventure begins! This movie embodies what it’s like to be in multiple airports frequently. It shows George Clooney’s character teaching his young coworker about life on the road as a human resource consultant. This incredibly well written and touching rom-com will have you laughing and thinking about your next airport visit. 

12. Wild

USA

This movie will have you starting to train for your next backpacking trip! Reese Witherspoon stars in this incredible true story of writer Cheryl Strayed as she hikes 1,100 miles across the Pacific Crest Trail. While at times this movie will have you reaching for tissues, your eyes will also be rewarded with landscape views of mountains, picturesque forests, and lakes. The Pacific Northwest is incredibly jaw-dropping and this movie represents this beautiful area fully.

13. Eat, Pray, Love

Italy, India, Indonesia

Based on the best-selling memoir, this movie stars Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert. After leaving her husband, she goes on an inspiring journey of self-discovery for an entire year. You will get to join her eating endless pasta in Italy, and experiencing the amazing culture of India with a final stopover in Indonesia. This movie is the perfect escape from reality!

14. Eurotrip

Europe

If you’re looking for a laugh, Eurotrip is the perfect film to pop on! Filled with all of the travel stereotypes, this movie follows a group of teenagers on their trip through London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bratislava, Rome, and Vatican City. This will fulfill your Europe wanderlust while you laugh out loud at the incredibly quirky characters. 

15. The Bucket List

Worldwide

This movie will give you the inspo to start planning a bucket list trip of your own with your BFF or partner! This movie stars two of the greatest actors, Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. They have been men diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and become close friends while sharing a hospital room. They decide to create a list and check off everything that they can before their cancer gets too severe. As the viewer, you’ll be able to live vicariously through them as they see the pyramids of Egypt, the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, safaris in Africa and finally Mount Everest. It’s one of the best travel adventure movies that shows you some of the world’s wonders.

While there’s nothing quite like getting out into the world and experiencing a new culture, these movies will tie you over until you can get your suitcase out and buy a ticket. For more travel articles, Contiki has got you covered by clicking here! Also, keep an eye on Contiki’s socials for their Movie Club every other Thursday!

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