Every once in a while, who wouldn’t want a break from the nitty gritty of daily life and embark on a vacation to far-flung locations? Alas, it’s not a choice readily available to everyone. For you who are still stuck at home, let’s take virtual trips through these selections of vacation movies. Wherever you wanna go, we’ve got it covered!
The Holiday
Premise: Two women - one in Los Angeles, one in Surrey - agree to swap houses for Christmas in order to get over their respective heartbreaks. There, both ladies encounter unexpected romances with local men.
From the jaw-dropping mansion of sunny California to the idyllic English cottage of snowy Surrey, this romcom wraps you up in its warm comfort like the most relaxing holiday you’ll ever have. Not only does the movie showcase two of the most gorgeous houses ever, the film also beautifully captures what it feels like to be in a completely foreign locale, and then falls in love with it.
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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
Premise: Life magazine employee Walter Mitty is perpetually dreaming but never really lives. That changes when his work requires him to pursue elusive photojournalist Sean O’Connell to obtain a picture for the cover of the magazine’s final print edition. The journey ends up taking him through the secluded town of Greenland, the volcanic trail in Iceland, and the snowy terrain of Afghan Himalaya.
Aside from being inspirational AF, the film offers an endless parade of lush landscapes all around the world. Have you ever imagined skateboarding through the evergreen rolling hills of Iceland? Just watch this movie and feel the rush.
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Mamma Mia
Premise: Sophie’s getting married and like most girls, she wants to walk down the aisle with her father. The problem is, she doesn’t know who he is. So, unbeknownst to her frenetic hotel-owner mother Donna, Sophie invites Donna's three exes to her wedding in sunny Greece to find out which one is her biological father.
A jukebox musical of ABBA’s greatest hits set against the stunning backdrop of the Greek coastline, the film is a tropical travelling haven. If your idea of the perfect vacation involves frolicking by sea bluer than sapphire and traipsing around a quaint beachside hotel, this is the movie for you!
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Eat Pray Love
Premise: After her divorce, a woman goes on a yearlong trip to, well, eat, pray, love. She goes to Italy to relish on the best gourmets the country has to offer, then on to India to deepen her spirituality, and lastly arrives in Bali, Indonesia to discover love.
The film has a simple premise that thrives on Julia Robert’s charming performance and of course, the depiction of her character’s year-long vacation to the three countries. It’s light on plot, high on heartwarming scenes. I mean, the idea of a year off just to travel is already sumptuous enough, isn’t it?
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Crazy Rich Asians
Premise: Rachel, a Chinese-American professor is whisked away by her boyfriend to his hometown of Singapore. There, she discovers that she’s been dating an heir to one of the richest families in Asia after all. In the run-up to a wedding of the year they’re there to attend, Rachel will find out what it really means to date a billionaire, set against the stunning backdrop of Singapore’s tropical megapolitan.
Singapore, with its dichotomy of robust Peranakan culture and state-of-the-art architecture, is well represented in the movie. Be it hunting for the best hawker food or dancing around a high-tech botanical garden, this film represents all the best Singapore has to offer travelers.
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Girls Trip
Premise: Four best friends embark on a girls trip to New Orleans to reconnect after a long time. It doesn’t take long until this getaway turns raunchy.
While most films on this list depict relaxing vacations, this R-rated movie is on the opposite end. New Orleans is home to a thriving party culture, so it’s a must to feature that in a vacation film set in the city. One needs a wild weekend every once in a while, and this one definitely captures that.
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Call Me By Your Name
Premise: In the summer of 1983, Elio falls in love for the first time while on holiday to countryside Italy.
Through its dreamy cinematography, masterful use of music and gorgeous mise-en-scène, this film truly captures what it’s like to enjoy lazy summer days in a quaint Italian cottage, all while your crush traipses around in alluringly laid-back outfits.
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Ticket to Paradise
Premise: Bitterly divorced exes travel to Bali in order to stop their daughter from marrying young like they did.
Bali, Indonesia’s so-called Land of the Gods, is a longtime vacation favorite for a reason. If you can’t immediately fly there, watching Julia Robert and George Clooney bicker their way to second-chance romance around the island might be the second best option.
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