Below is a curated list of movies to inspire the destination of your next trip. Enjoy!

Mamma Mia

Aside from the song inducing ABBA soundtrack, Mamma Mia will have you dreaming of a Greek island escape. Think the bluest waters, charming seaside towns, and cliffs calling you to dive into the calm seas below.  

Also available for rent on YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Free with Hulu subscription.

Eat Pray Love

Even if you aren’t ready to quit your day job and travel the world, Julia Roberts will inspire you to Eat, Pray, Love on your next vacation. Inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-selling book, this movie teaches you what life is really about. Enjoy the best pastas in Italy, find your inner Zen at an Ashram in India, and fall in love in Bali. 

Also available for rent on YouTube, iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Free on Vudu

Under the Tuscan Sun

he charming tale of Frances starting her life over on a whim in Tuscany, is what dreams are made of. With a group of quirky home renovators, warm neighbors, and old friends, this movie will have you packing your bags for your next trip. 

Also available for rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, iTunes, and Free with Hulu subscription

Midnight in Paris 

Have you ever dreamt of discussing literature with F. Scott Fitzgerald, or talking art with Salvador Dali? Let Midnight in Paris show you the heyday of the literati that made Paris their playground, all through the eyes of a modern American writer looking to find inspiration. Paris is a true character in this movie, as the scenery steels the show.  

Also available for rent on Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, and iTunes 

Lord of the Rings Series

Looking for a full blow binge watching session? The Lord of the Rings series will give you hours upon hours of dreaming of lush New Zealand landscapes. Plan your next vacation to visit the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, New Zealand, seek adventure on the North Island at Mt. Ngauruhoe AKA Mt. Doom, and even visit the Weta Workshop where some of the props were created for the show in Wellington. 

Also available for rent on Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube, and iTunes 

Into the Wild

If your ideal vacation is the remote wilderness of Alaska, then Into the Wild is your type of travel inspiration. Instead of taking a prestigious job, Christopher donates his savings to charity and sets off on a life changing trek in Alaska. Even if you don’t dream of this arduous journey, the Alaskan backdrop will have you considering your next vacation spot in the last frontier. 

Also available for rent on: Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu, and iTunes 

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

As Walter daydreams himself into a fascinating world outside his mundane life, so too can you daydream about your next vacation. See Greenland and Iceland, climb the Himalayas, have adventures in helicopters, swim with sharks, and so much more on this awesome excursion inducing film.  

Also available for rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube, Vudu, and Free with Hulu subscription

Out of Africa

You have seen breathtaking photos of Africa, but this film makes its viewers fall in love with Kenya. The film is shot in parts of the Mara Triangle, part of Maasai Mara. This Oscar winning movie follows Danish aristocrat Karen Blixen on a discover of love for a country and her new laid-back life. Gorgeous golden sunsets over picturesque valleys, and the exotic, yet normalcy of having the Big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo) as neighbors, captivate audiences in a dreamily longing way to see it for yourself. 

Also available for rent on Amazon Prime, iTunes, YouTube, Vudu and Free with Hulu subscription

The Motorcycle Diaries

Follow a young Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Grandado as they make their way across South America on an epic adventure of self-discovery and realization. This film will bring the beauty of Peru and Brazil to life. Guevara and Grandado see the epic divide between their continent’s poor and wealthy, in doing so find their place in the world. All while highlighting the beauty of two of South America’s most popular travel destinations. 

Also available for rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, and Vudu

The Beach

Set in Thailand, Richard and his two friends discover a map that leads them to the beach, that turns out to be less than idyllic situation. Even though this thriller may not be the relaxing vacation Richard had hoped for, locations like Bangkok and the Phi Phi Islands will have you planning your next Asian escape. 

Also available for rent on YouTube, iTunes, and Vudu 

National Lampoon’s European Vacation

Explore the continent with the Griswolds. This good-for-the-family film is a classic that shows off France, Germany, Italy and more of the best Europe has to offer. Great for a night on the couch with the kids. And a great way to discuss Europe’s greatest attractions, all under the guise of a family comedy. 

Also available for rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Free with Hulu subscription

Roman Holiday

Let Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck captivate and inspire you in this classic film from the 1950s. Set in Rome, Hepburn plays a European Princess who as fate may have it runs into American reporter Joe Bradley played by Peck. Bradley, determined to get a story on the Princess, finds himself falling for his famous houseguest. See the eternal city shine as the romantic setting of this must-see classic.  

Also available for rent on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Vudu and Free on Tubi and Crackle

The Darjeeling Limited

Three brothers set out in India on a train trip after not speaking since their father passed away, over a year earlier. Each coming with their own problems, they reunite as family with an epic setting in some of India’s most beautiful locations throughout Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Udaipur. What’s better than a film that brings family together in an epic setting? 

 Also available for rent on YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Free with Hulu subscription

Before Sunrise

Spend a day in Vienna with strangers Jesse and Celine, who met on a train headed for Paris. See the sites that Vienna has to offer, while experiencing one of the best days of these two characters’ lives. With Jesse leaving the next day back to America, the two indulge in Viennese culture in their short time together. A great look at an even better travel location.  

Also available for rent on YouTube, iTunes, and Vudu

Finding Nemo

A Disney Pixar film for the whole family set in the ocean, still highlights adventure and the great city of Sydney, Australia. Follow Marlin and Dory as they search for his son, Nemo and meets a slew of hilarious sea creatures and adventure in this heart-warming tale that only Disney can tell. 

Also available for rent on YouTube, iTunes, Vudu, and Free with Disney+ subscription

We may receive affiliate commissions from the links on this page. These help us provide more great content at no charge to you.

Amber Zakem

Amber Zakem has worked in the travel industry since 2014. Although, her love of travel began far before that. Amber grew up visiting cousins stationed throughout Europe and worked as an Au Pair in Germany for a year between High School and College. She started working at a local travel agency in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, after graduating from Central Michigan University. Amber began working for MAST Travel Network in 2016 and is the Social Media Specialist. She runs the MAST Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and Snapchat and she teaches twice monthly webinars to travel agents on using social media to promote travel. Amber has continued her passion for travel and social media by also teaching a course at Moraine Valley Community College in their Hospitality program.