The Best Films to Hold Your Travel Bug Over

We’re coming up on almost a year of pandemic life—yeah, I know—a milestone that’s sure to make us all pause and reflect on the world we’ve adapted to while remembering the one we once knew. If there’s one thing that’s been a constant in a time ridden with uncertainty, it’s been the familiar patterns of scrolling. First, it was the news; our frantic scrounging for answers turned to aimlessly searching for any thread of optimism (results definitely varied). From there, we graduated to TikTok; mindlessly glued to dance challenges and role-plays that captured the cultural zeitgeist in a way that only TikTok could, as we ushered in this new frontier for bite-sized media. Now, a little older, a little wiser, and a lot more restless, you may be finding yourself scrolling through that old camera roll of yours--the one that may have dried up these days minus a few selfies and some keepsakes from socially distanced outings. But go further into the archives and you’ll soon be haunted by the ghost of travel past, reminding you of the joy we once shared in those family vacations, semesters abroad, friend weekends, and solo excursions foreign and domestic. Ah, the good ole days.

While March 2021 is nothing compared to what March 2020 had in store for us, we’re far from being in the clear. Improvements made in vaccine rollouts hold the key to unlocking a more normal ‘New Normal’ and we can finally begin to see the light at the end of that tunnel, but coming out on the other side likely won’t include travel as we once knew— at least not for a while. Those bucket list destinations are just going to have to stay in our Notes apps for a little while longer as we all do our part and play the long game.

So the next time you find yourself torture-diving into Spring Break memories or study abroad photo albums, we’ve got you covered with a little escapism. Check out our picks for some of the best travel films, ranging from the exotic to the familiar, from the heartbreaking to the heartwarming, from the inspiring to the downright ridiculous. Tales of love lost and love found, of endlessly searching and chance finding, of people simply trying to make their way. All a nice two-hour window into the world we love and the world we know we’ll find again one day. Until then, get those creative juices flowing.

Eat, Pray, Love

Source: The Sun.

Three countries, two hours, and one knockout performance from Julia Roberts at her most Julia Roberts. Perhaps the magnum opus of the white-woman-finding-herself trope you get pretty much what you’d expect from Eat, Pray, Love: lots of food, lots of love, lots of soul-searching. With no shortage of beautiful shots scanning the hearts of Italy, India, and Indonesia, it’s a feast for the eyes that’ll always give you something to chew on. For those just looking to escape, consider this your buffet sampling of a little bit of everything.

Roman Holiday

Oh to be exploring Rome from the back of a Vespa. *Sigh* Photo can be found on Cinapse.

In a kind of reverse Cinderella effect, Roman Holiday finds a beautiful princess running away from the ball in search of her own pumpkin patch, desperately craving a day to live among regular people. Princess Ann, played by a young Audrey Hepburn, finds her prince uncharming in journalist Joe Bradley, played by Gregory Peck. Two unlikely people crossing paths in one of the most picturesque cities in the world, spending a day roaming the streets, wreaking havoc, and discovering more about themselves. Set against the backdrop of a stunning 1950s Rome in cool black and white, it’s a quaint look at a bygone era that stands the test of time.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Photo found on Seldon News.

Struggling to hit their stride past their prime, a group of British retirees takes their chances after seeing advertisements for a top-line retirement complex in the heart of India. Arriving in Jaipur, it becomes clear that they may not be getting quite what they paid for, their promise of luxury hollowed by the sight of a run-down hotel. Such begins the journey of a lifetime amidst breathtaking sights of Jaipur’s inner-city world and the outer landscapes, filled with color, love, and life as far as the eye can see.

Call Me by Your Name

Don’t worry, you’re not the only one crying… we’re sobbing. Photo found on Vogue Paris.

For those in need of a tear-jerker: 1. I don’t blame you; 2. Look no further. In walks Call Me by Your Name--set in the summer of 1983 with peak Timothée Chalamet and a killer Sufjan Stevens soundtrack, all against the breathtaking backdrop of Northern Italy. Yeah, sign me up. After 24-year-old graduate student, Oliver, comes to work with a local professor and stays with his family, it's his 17-year-old son Elio who catches his eye. The two embark on a whirlwind romance, drifting through cafes and racing through fields in a summer of love and lust and eventual loss, all centered in the heart of a true coming of age film. If you can get past the Armie Hammer of it all (unfortunate, I know), it’s the perfect amalgamation of sadness wrapped in all things aesthetically pleasing.

Last Holiday

Photo found on Rotten Tomatoes.

Georgia Byrd lived a decent, quiet life going through the motions. But when an accidental bump in the head results in a CAT scan that gives her only a few weeks to live, she heads down to the bank to withdraw all her savings with one M.O.; “I’m just gonna blow it”. From the hustle of New Orleans to the glamour of the Grandhotel Pupp in the snowy Czech Republic, Georgia Byrd’s mission to live life to the fullest lands her right in the crossfire of some big names. The upper echelon is snobby, the tabs are high, the views are unmatched, and Queen Latifah is at her best. An underrated but deserving pick for a night in and a glass of wine.

Under the Tuscan Sun

Is the Tuscan Sun another name for heaven? Photo found from The Guardian.

A kind of precursor to the Eat, Pray, Love craze, Diane Lane plays a recently divorced woman scorned into accepting a friend’s ticket to Tuscany-- a last-ditch effort to pull her out of perpetual doom and gloom. After quickly falling head over heels, the San Francisco writer looks around and decides, “Yeah, I could live here.” In what can only be described as a beautiful delusion, Frances Mayes—with no friends, no job, not even a lick of Italian—buys a quaint, run-down villa for her own kind of Fixer Upper. What comes from this is a journey of new love, new friends, and new life, all while taking in the unbeatable charm of the Italian countryside. It also features a pre-Grey’s Anatomy Sandra Oh, who was simply born to steal every scene she’s ever been in. A definite go-to for some ridiculous yet rewarding escapism—and who doesn’t need that?

If you find your wanderlust to be consuming but would rather not take a trip down memory lane and deal with the heartache that accompanies that, treat yourself to some of the most alluring travel films and a drink of your choosing.