Sure, you won’t need much motivation to get excited about a holiday or backpacking around the
world, but sometimes getting buried into an inspirational movie set half way around the world can
really get you enthusiastic for that big trip.
Below are some of my favourite movies for feeling the ‘itchy feet’ and wanting to book my next
flight abroad.
Beach
This is easily my favourite travel movie, as it really pierces into that concept of finding a true hidden gem and a beach paradise. If you plan on backpacking around South East Asia then you can’t look further than Leonardo Di Caprio’s blockbuster ‘The Beach’.
I first read the book during my teenage years, which is leaps and bounds better than the film, however the movie has grown on me, especially when I really got into travelling.
The idea of escaping it all to a tropical paradise, and to forget the 9-5 and the cost of living crisis was something that will have the mind floating away.
I actually visited Maya Bay, the beach from the movie, however to say it was disappointing is an understatement. If you are heading to Thailand, you’re better off going to Koh Tao or Koh Samui.
Cast Away
We all have that dream, or nightmare depending on which way you look at it, of ending up on a desert island. No movie depicts this better than Cast Away.
I do wonder how long it would take before I started calling a ball Wilson, but I would be impressed if my fishing skills got to his level.
This unbelievable masterpiece starring Tom Hanks came out all the way back in the year 2000, while those beautiful beach views are set in the Mamanuca islands of Fiji. The Modriki island has also been used for other shows and movies due to its beauty, while tours are focused around this angle, booking you a ‘castaway experience’.
Also, if these films aren’t available in your country, you can utilise a VPN server location to set yourself to a different country that can stream this movie. I cheekily did this to watch the Wolf of Wall Street when they were only showing it in Argentina on Netflix at the time, gamechanger!
Into The Wild
For the majority of Brits looking for their first backpacking experience, they’ll flood over to Thailand, but not everyone wants to walk the same well trodden path.
Well Into The Wild is a true story, following the story of Christopher McCandless, who graduated and wanted a very different experience, heading off to the wild area of Alaska, a long way from civilisation, to see how he would cope.
Needless to say, things do go a bit wrong, otherwise it wouldn’t be a very interesting movie. This isn’t one to inspire you necessarily, but the first half is fascinating, before it all deteriorates, but I won’t give any spoilers.
The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty
This is one of those comedies that is a bit cheesy, so don’t expect a mind-blowing life-altering movie experience, yet it is a great story following that similar concept of someone letting life slip by until they suddenly take on a number of challenges.
His adventure is a brilliant, light hearted story which will leave a smile on your face. Top of my bucket list is Iceland, which is where much of this movie is shot. In fact, scenes where it was meant to look like he was in other areas of the world were also shot in Iceland, as the scenery is so diverse that you can easily depict is as being anywhere.
If you’re looking to head to Iceland then this might be one for you. Or in fact if you simply are considering a travel experience a bit later in life then this will also be a nice motivator.
The Motorcycle Diaries
This film is a popular option for anyone looking to visit South America. The quote “let the world change you, and you can change the world” says everything you need to know about Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo De La Serna’s adventures.
This movie is based on the memoirs of Ernesto Che Guevara, a hugely influential figure in South America, while there are plenty of books to read on the subject while here.
We’re talking about a biking trip that starts in Buenos Aires, through the Andes in Chile, into Peru and then Venezuela. I did much of this journey in reverse, starting in Peru and ending in Buenos Aires and it was such a good experience, I would recommend it to anyone.
Also, if you’ve heard ridiculous stories that South America is dangerous, no more than anywhere else, obviously you always need your wits about you, but I hate the fear mongering that prevents people from living these experiences.
In Bruges
OK, this one might only be relevant if you’re thinking of visiting Belgium, but it did make me want to head over. I mean, as long as you ignore all of Colin Farrell’s hilarious insults of Bruges, it does actually look quite magical.
Even if you’re not heading to Bruges, I’d recommend giving this film a watch. If you do decide to visit, make sure to have a read of my article on things to do in Belgium.
You’ll see some famous landmarks, from the Groeninge museum to the Grote markt, all of which are worth a visit if you’re heading over. Considering you can catch a Eurostar over from London, this is quite tempting!
Wild
From the director of Dallas Buyers Club and starring Academy Award Winner Reese Witherspoon, Wild shares the true story of one woman’s adventure into the wild.
The concept of the story is very similar to Into The Wild, while I thought both movies were ok but didn’t actually inspire me to travel, despite their subject areas. With a rating of 7.1 out of 10 on IMDB, that basically tells you what you need to know, it’s an alright flick, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it.
I will say Reese did some great acting in this, it was all believable, while the movie was set in Oregon and California, filmed in the Pacific Crest Trail. So expect rivers in front of snowy mountains and plenty of trees, an absolutely beautiful setting.
The Bucket List
Lying in a hospital bed, pondering how life has drifted you by, wondering what moments you missed out on. This is what Morgan Freeman’s character is going through, before he happens to share the hospital room with a billionaire played by Jack Nicholson.
Obviously, we don’t all get the chance to have a billionaire fly us around the world and take on every experience possible, but we maybe have more time on our hands, so this is a good story to push you off the sofa and get you planning your summer adventures.
While I don’t want to give away too much, they take on experiences like skydiving, seeing the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China. Of course, having a neverending budget would make these landmarks quite easy to tick off. But if you try to tick one off every year then you will have lived a very fulfilling and action packed life!
Airplane
Just about to jump on a plane? Not too scared of flights? Why not tuck into ‘Airplane’, easily one of the greatest comedies of all time, if not the greatest.
As the entire plane falls ill with food poisoning, including the pilots, the passengers must work out how to land the plane, with painfully funny scenes.
You could be really evil and play at full volume ‘snakes on a plane’ while taking your flight, I know that’s what I would do!
Halloween
Ok, hear me out…If you happen to be travelling during late October, then you might want to get in the Halloween mood.
I’m not a huge horror fan, however you always feel inclined to jump out of your skin once a year when October draws to a close.
Watching Scream (1,2 or 3) is a good bet, while the first Resident Evil is normally enough to freak me out. However, I still love to end a night of horror films with ‘Scary Movie’, completely taking the mick out of every production we have just viewed.
By the way, if you do love a horror, I would recommend visiting Prague, as the city felt oddly focused around a horror theme, from a horror escape room to the David Cerny creepy crawling babies with no face climbing walls of buildings and dotted all over Prague. There were even a few horror themed bars.
Winter holidays
If you’re hoping to pick a classic to watch while snuggled up on the sofa with hot chocolate in hand, Tom Hanks really delivered with the Polar Express.
Don’t get me wrong, this film is not by far the best animation film, with Finding Nemo, Ice Age and Shrek eclipsing this film into the shadows. However, there is something about Polar Express that makes you feel warm inside when it’s cold outdoors.
Another film around Christmas time which seems to be able to do this is ‘Father Christmas’ by Raymond Briggs, leaving you laughing throughout at his ‘bloomin Christmas’.
While in the Christmas spirit, no winter holiday is complete without watching ‘Home Alone’. It’s sad to see he hasn’t really continued his acting career, however Home Alone has become a Bourlet family ritual in our household. It is worth mentioning that after the first one they really do go downhill!
Everyone who knows me well knows what a big fan of Will Ferrell I am, from the moment I watched Anchor Man. Elf is one of my favourite Christmas movies and works for all ages!
I will end with one more Christmas film, the relatively new ‘Bad Santa’ is a great one for the slightly older audience (don’t show the kids), offering a very different perception to what Christmas films are normally based on.
But my favourite of them all, Klaus, telling the sweet and hilarious story, as Jesper becomes a postman and makes friends with Klaus, as they starting making gifts for kids, it sounds like an odd concept but it’s simply superb.
The Odd Choices
If you are going on a long hike and you feel like going alone, have a quick watch of 127 hours to creep yourself out. Ironically, this film did actually inspire me to go out and try hiking somewhere, as the sense of freedom he had (before his arm was torn to shreds) was unbelievable.
Eurotrip is another bizarre option, which might not appeal to everyone, but it does have a strong travel angle as they take on bizarre experiences while seeing all of Europe.
What is your favourite film to watch before travelling or going on a holiday?
