20 ULTIMATE FEEL-GOOD TRAVEL FILMS

This could possibly be my favourite film ever. The basic premise is that Shirley Valentine has a pretty crappy husband who does everything he can to be a total asshat, and as such, she decides to up and leave for a grand Greek adventure. The location is beautiful, Pauline Collins is a legend, and it’s a film that I force literally everyone I meet to watch.

Mamma Mia

You know how it goes: Mamma Mia is an ABBA-inspired musical set in Greece with a beautiful storyline, and as such, is another travel movie classic. It beats the stage show by miles (like seriously, who thought that only three stage changes was a good idea?), and is generally just a much-adored film that makes every single watcher feel good.

Walking on Sunshine

Another musical – and I usually hate musicals – but I just love the location of Puglia in this one. It’s seriously underrated as a location, and this film really does do it justice. The love interest kind of sucks, but don’t they all?

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This mention includes both the first film and the second film, because I adore them equally. They feature British actors Judi Dench, Bill Nighy and my personal all-time favourite Dev Patel (I’m sure you guys hear me mention him a lot on this site, but he’s easily my favourite actor in the world ever), and a lovely little desolate hotel smack-bang in the middle of the most colourful and vibrant country on the planet – India. Retirement chaos ensues.

Featuring everyone’s favourite Audrey Hepburn, I first fell in love with this film when I was about 15 and on the verge of my first ever adventure around Rome. I adore this movie due to the fact that you get to see the Eternal City in all its glory – with a hundredth of the amount of tourists you’ll see today. It’s one of those timeless films you simply can’t miss.

The Ramen Girl

A film which truly captures how it feels to find yourself in a completely new culture that you don’t understand at all, but one which you try your very best to fit in with. Abandoned by her boyfriend, the protagonist – played by Brittany Murphy – is completely alone in the Japanese capital, and does a great job of fending for herself and learning how to become a ramen chef.

Yes Man

Starring Jim Carrey, the basic takeaway from this movie is to get out of your comfort zone, try new things, and attempt to say yes to every single opportunity that comes about. The meaning is a little skewed, and it’s not entirely travel-related, but it’s a great way to inspire you to take new chances.

Blended

A true family film featuring the one-and-only Adam Sandler. The premise is that whilst following a blind date, our dear Adam and said date end up on a vacation package in South Africa. Don’t ask me how it happens, but it does, and it’s a pretty sick movie.

Couples Retreat

I watched this film when I was last in London hours after an eight-hour flight home, and it was just what I needed to regret getting on that return flight. It made me ache for the warm climate and adventure, so I’d recommend you only watch this if you want severe (and I mean, severe) wanderlust to hit.

I honestly don’t mean to keep suggesting Adam Sandler films, but alas. In this one, he goes away with Jennifer Aniston and some kids to Hawaii, and whilst there, they have one of those classic luxury family holidays that Americans always seem to be having. A whole load of chaos ensues, and even if you don’t fall in love with the location, you’ll still have a great time pointing out how indifferent Adam’s nose is in the beginning.

Hector and the Search for Happiness

Literally one of the best films in the world ever. We all adore British actor Simon Pegg, and in this movie he plays a slightly rundown therapist. In order to understand happiness and how to obtain it, he goes on all of these crazy adventures around the world. He jots it all down in his little notebook, and if you only learn one thing from all these movies, it’s how to be happy.