The 16 Best Comedy Movies to Inspire Travel

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In these crazy quarantine times, I’ve been watching a ton of movies! I mean what else to do since I’m not traveling? Since the news is so heavy, and life at home can be hard, we have been leaning towards comedic, lighthearted, fun movies to escape the weight of our everyday quarantine lives. So, I decided to share with you all a list of my favorite comedy movies that inspire travel.

The 16 Best Comedy Movies to Inspire Travel

Normally, our family does not watch too much TV.  We do have cable, and in normal life, we go old school by taking DVDs out from the library.  But since the stay at home orders, we bought a subscription to Disney+, and now have a Netflix password thanks to my friend. We also have finally started using Amazon Prime for streaming!

 

With our increased access to movies,  we have been watching a mix of new movies (Onward and Trolls World Tour), new to the kids’ movies (Gremlins, Troop Beverly Hills and Star Wars) and mixing in some of our favorites listed below!

 

Comedy Movies to Inspire Travel

I have seen every single one of these (some multiple times). As you can see, I like off the beaten path movies, and I hope you find something new both to enjoy at home, and to inspire your next trip!

My favorite travel inspiring comedy movies – in alphabetical order

Blue Crush – Hawaii

This 2002 surfer girl movie was filmed on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, with the hotel scenes shot at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa, which is now the Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina. I love the feel good, girl power aspect of this story, plus the gorgeous Hawaii scenery. Blue Crush is more drama than comedy, there are some funny one-liners here and this movie is pretty light and up lifting. Perfect for quarantine!

KEEP READING: HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO HAWAII

Couples Retreat – Bora Bora

I just watched Couple Retreat the other night – it seems to be in E!’s regular rotation! This movie follows four couples heading to an all-inclusive resort to have fun, and participate in couples’ therapy! This movie is totally hilarious and I do love that Vince Vaughn. If you have not been to Tahiti/Bora Bora, this movie will make you want to jump on a plane ASAP.

Hubby and I went to Moorea and Bora Bora for our honeymoon in 2007, and the over water bungalow we stayed in was almost the same as what you see Vince Vaughn’s character in! This movie was filmed at the St. Regis in Bora Bora, we stayed at the Bora Bora Pearl.

Worth noting – There is no all-inclusive resort in Tahiti (as they say in the movie). Part of the premise of this movie is that the couples are staying at the fictional Eden West, the couples therapy resort, where the sister property, Eden East, is the party resort. However, there are no party resorts in Tahiti!

 

Forgetting Sarah Marshall – Oahu, Hawaii

I am literally planning to go to Hawaii next year, to stay at the Turtle Bay Resort, just because of this film! Well, also because its hubby’s sabbatical year and the last time he had one, we did Maui and The Big Island. I have been to Oahu – twice, but not the north shore where Turtle Bay is located.

Anyway, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a hilarious rom com which begins with the breakup of lead character, Kristen Bell and Jason Segal.  To try to get his now ex, Sarah Marshall, out of his mind, Segal’s character decides to take a solo trip to Hawaii. Where who does he run into? Bell with her new boyfriend, played by Russell Brand. As pathetic as this sounds, this is a romantic comedy and romance, comedy and beautiful Hawaiian scenery ensues!

KEEP READING: HOW TO VISIT HAWAII ON A BUDGET

Hangover 1, 2, 3 – Las Vegas and Thailand

The Hangover is a HILARIOUS movie with great Vegas scenes. We always watch this movie (and Vegas Vacation see below) before a Las Vegas trip!

The trilogy continues in Hangover Part II when the “wolf pack” travels to Thailand for Stu’s wedding, which you know does NOT go seamlessly! But beautiful Thailand scenery – the hotel part was filmed at the Phulay Bay Ritz Carlton in Krabi, and the more I learn about Thailand, the more interested I am in visiting!

The finale in the three-movie saga, The Hangover Part III sees the guys travel down to a fabulous villa in Mexico and then return back to Las Vegas! The scene at the penthouse at Caesar’s Palace is great!

Hunkering down with Stu, Doug, Alan and Phil would be a great way to pass time this quarantine and have some great wanderlust-inducing laughs!

 

Home Alone 2 – Lost in New York – New York

Technically a Christmas movie, my kids can (and do) watch Home Alone movies all year! Home Alone 1 and 3 (yes there is a third installment, minus Macaulay Caulkin) take place, well at home, but in the second movie in this trilogy, we find Kevin McAllister lost in New York City. He stays at the The Plaza Hotel, and this film shows iconic New York locations like Central Park and the top of the Twin Towers.

My kids also love the Donald Trump cameo – you can’t get more iconic early 90s New York than that!

 

Hotel Transylvania 3:  Summer Vacation  – Cruise Vacation

This is another family favorite! The third installment in the Hotel Transylvania franchise takes Drac, Mavis, Johnny and the fam on a fabulous cruise vacation! They travel on a ship called the Legacy, to the lost island of Atlantis! Of course, in true Hotel Transylvania fashion, there is monster/human strife and hilarious Drac scenes! I love Johnny and Mavis – she is like me, always trying to plan fun things for her extended family. Your kids will love this one (even if you haven’t seen the other Hotel Transylvania movies) and will definitely inspire your next cruise vacation.

KEEP READING:  NORWEGIAN GETAWAY TIPS AND TRICKS

My Father the Hero – Bahamas

My Father the Hero is a 1994 film features a very young Katherine Heigl, on vacation with her father, Gerard Depardieu. To prove to a crush she is old and mature (she is really 14) she pretends she is vacationing with her much older boyfriend as opposed to her dad! Yeah, that does sound a little creepy, but of course it all ends happy where this charade strengthens the child/parent bond between them, and the story is just fun.

Of course, the real star here is the fabulous resort they are staying at. Filmed in the Bahamas, at the Paradise Island Resort, which is now the Ocean Club. In fact, some of the hotel amenities needed for the film, were built just for this movie on the Ocean Club property.

KEEP READING: SWIMMING WITH PIGS IN EXUMA, BAHAMAS

Once Upon a Crime – Italy and Monaco

I remember this was one of the first movies I saw in the theatre without my parents. And my young, wander lusting, self just LOVED this film!

Once Upon a Crime is a 1992 mystery movie has a long list of famous cast members. The story revolves around returning a lost dog found in Rome, to her very rich owner in Monaco. Of course, hilarious things ensue along the way!

KEEP READING: THREE DAYS IN MILAN

Sideways – Santa Barbara Wine Country

This is one of hubby and I’s all-time favorite movies. We actually own the DVD and in 2017 took a California road trip planned around a stop at the Hitching Post. Yes, the Hitching Post II is a real restaurant in Buellton, California!

The movie Sideways taps to two of our favorite past-times, travel and wine tasting! This film is the tale of two men, on a bachelor-party trip to the wine country of Santa Barbara, California. One friend Miles, is total neurotic and very into wine, while the other, Jack, is so painfully laid back. This movie is well-written, witty, and will have you planning your next wine adventure ASAP!

KEEP READING: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SANTA CRUZ CALIFORNIA

Summer Rental – Family Beach Vacation

Summer Rental was a childhood favorite, although thinking back this movie is pretty inappropriate for younger children, but it’s so funny! This movie was released in 1985, before PG-13 ratings, so be warned of its PG rating.

This movie is the story of a family, who needs a break from the everyday. So, they decide to rent a beach house in Florida. I didn’t realize this was filmed in St. Pete Beach ( you know I love visiting Clearwater Beach and the Alden Suites in this area). Of course, nothing goes as expected, but this movie always made me want to do a summer beach rental!

KEEP READING:  VISIT THE CLEARWATER AQUARIUM

 

The Great Outdoors – Family Cabin Trip

The Great Outdoors is another movie starring John Candy! In this one, John Candy is on a rustic cabin vacation with his family (shot in Wisconsin) and in crashes his wife’s sister, and her family, headed by patriarch Dan Ackroyd. With these two actors, you know hilarity will ensue and this film will make you want to book a summer camping trip!

 

National Lampoon’s Vacation – Road Trip and Theme Park

National Lampoon’s Vacation is the ultimate travel comedy! This 1983 classic stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, the dad ready to hit the road to Wally World. The family takes on a Chicago to California road trip, heading to a fictional theme park with a beloved moose mascot. This movie is raunchy, hilarious and will inspire you to travel across the US!

We did love the 2015 reboot, also named Vacation, but if you have not seen the original, stop reading this and go watch!

KEEP READING: TIPS FOR DRIVING FROM NEW YORK TO FLORIDA

National Lampoon’s European Vacation – London, Paris and Rome

The second film in the franchise rejoins the Griswold family – complete with different actors playing children Rusty and Audrey. In this film, the Griswold family wins a game show, with a grand prize of a fabulous European vacation! The Griswold’s visit London, Germany, Paris and Rome. The movie was shot in these famous cities and this is a hilarious look at an American family’s adventure in Europe!

KEEP READING: THE BEST COOKING CLASS IN MILAN

Vegas Vacation – Las Vegas

Vegas Vacation is the fourth installment in the Griswold saga (the third being Christmas Vacation). In this movie, the family – again with different actors playing Rusty and Audrey – head to fabulous Las Vegas so Clark and Ellen can renew their wedding vows.

The movie was shot on location at The Mirage Hotel and Casino, and will have you lusting after a Vegas Vacation of your own! We always watch this movie before a Las Vegas trip.

 

I hope these movies keep your quarantine fun and will inspire your next vacation! What are your favorite comedy movies that inspire travel? What are you watching during this stay at home season?

Looking to book your next trip? Then reach out to me, I am a full-service travel planner. I do know the one good thing to come out of travel cancellations in the Spring of 2020 is folks will be more apt to use a travel planner going forward!

 

 

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