Peter Mountain / Sony Pictures Entertainment / GK LLC
"The Tourist" throws Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp into a twisted skein of intrigue set in, and around, an equally twisted skein of Venetian canals.
ARTHUR FROMMER'S BUDGET TRAVEL 
We love the Oscars as much as the next guy, but there’s no adventure in watching movies from your couch. That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 films that will make you want to get out of the house, hop a flight and see the world.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences may have winnowed all the films of 2010 down to the 10 best, but our own Academy of Trips and Bargains has put together a list of its own. These 10 movies showcase some of the most travel-worthy spots around the globe, from the hustle and bustle of New York City to the natural tranquility of Bali. And should these films sufficiently inspire you, we've made planning a vacation easier by including flight prices (for June and July—an ideal time to visit these places) and suggestions for each destination's best hotel, inn or villa. So get ready for some of 2010's best silver-screen sightseeing.Slideshow: 10 most travel-inspiring films
Ireland: 'Leap Year' The flick: A bit like a gender-switched version of 1952's "The Quiet Man," an American, Anna (Amy Adams), takes a trip to Dublin, Ireland, but when inclement weather waylays her in the countryside, she ends up falling for the roguish charms of a local man named Declan (Matthew Goode).
Key scene: The film's happy ending doesn't take place at the end of a rainbow, but it's still gold: The rugged Declan proposes to Anna on a cliff overlooking the crashing Atlantic. And right at the magic hour, no less.
- Why it's an inspiration: Anna travels from the southwestern Dingle Peninsula all the way to Dublin on the northeast coast — a four- to five-hour drive—which allows you to take in everything from Eire's rolling glens to the country's lovely capital city, with its Victorian pubs, flowering gardens, Georgian architecture and the striking Dublin Castle (included in the film).
Where to stay: The three-star Clarence Hotel, owned by Bono and the Edge of U2 (how much more Irish can you get?), is perfectly situated in the Temple Bar area, the city's cultural quarter. Theclarence.ie, doubles from $147
New York: 'Date Night' The flick: Beleaguered parents Phil and Claire Foster (NBC sitcom brethren Steve Carell and Tina Fey) find adventure even in a post-Giuliani Manhattan, as their quiet, romantic night out goes awry, starting with a case of mistaken identity that turns into a zany after-hours escapade that includes a frantic car chase in a taxi and a massive political cover-up.
Key scene: OK, the Fosters' trip to a boathouse in Central Park is not under the best conditions—at gunpoint, actually—but it is a good reminder that the park's real-life Loeb Boathouse, with its open-air seating right on the edge of the lake, is an ideal place to rent a rowboat or enjoy a relaxing round of drinks.
Why it's an inspiration: From the trip through Central Park to a frantic discussion in Times Square to the hilarious cabbie (played by comedian J.B. Smoove) during the chase sequence, the film provides a whirlwind, action-packed tour of some of the most unique sites across New York City. In addition, there's the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, not to mention all the museums, Broadway shows and fine dining. If you do decide to visit, don't worry — crime in New York is on the decline (and has been for two decades). So chances are, you won't end up in the same predicament as these two.
Price check: Going round-trip in the summer without any layovers will run you about $359 if you're coming from San Francisco (JetBlue) or $243 if you're coming from Chicago (American Airlines).
Where to stay: You can't leave New York without visiting Bloomingdale's, Central Park or the Museum of Modern Art, and The Pod Hotel, in East Midtown, is close to all three (it's also not far from Rockefeller Plaza). The fact that it's young and hip — with funky murals, asymmetrical couches and retro light fixtures — is just a bonus. Thepodhotel.com, doubles from $139
Related: Top 10 Best Beaches from the Movies
Verona and the Italian countryside: 'Letters to Juliet' The flick: While traveling with her fiance in Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," a fact-checker for The New Yorker(Amanda Seyfried) discovers a decades-old letter from a would-be Juliet to her own Romeo and sets off on an adventure to find its author. Along the way she finds love and a much happier ending than Juliet ever got.
Key scene: The pivotal portrayal of the wall at the Casa di Giulietta, where people the world over come to post their amorous requests (and where the leading lady discovers the letter that changes her life). It's is an open invitation to all hopeless romantics.
- Why it's an inspiration: The whole movie is practically a gilded postcard from the most beautiful places in northern and central Italy, including the regions of Siena, Soave and Lake Garda. These regions are packed with Tuscan vineyards, rustic villas, marble cathedrals and, of course, glorious Italian cuisine. It's enough to make you realize, come the end of your trip, that parting really is such sweet sorrow.
Where to stay: Where else but the two-star Hotel Giulietta e Romeo? Named after the star-crossed pair, the 30-room hotel even has two balconies as a nod to their late-night wooing. Giuliettaeromeo.com, doubles from $132
Beijing: 'The Karate Kid' The flick: So karate is technically Japanese—but this remake of the 1984 teen classic relocates the bullied-kid-learns-martial-arts story from L.A. to Beijing. Jayden Smith (son of Will) plays Dre Parker, the awkward 12-year-old who learns the tenets of self-defense from Mr. Han, played by Jackie Chan.
Key scene: Real training takes too long—that's why we have montages! The aerial shots of Dre running up and down the Great Wall of China as part of his regimen will make you want to see the enormous world wonder yourself, but likely at a more leisurely pace.
Why it's an inspiration: The film is a breathtaking ode to one of the most populous (and historically fascinating) countries on Earth. Dre visits the Forbidden City while on a field trip, trains along the Great Wall and strolls the labyrinthine streets of Beijing. Tantalizing shots of the city skyline and the famous Bird's Nest stadium remind us that the city has a modern side as well. "The Karate Kid"also showcases the mist-enshrouded Wudang Mountains in southern central China, where Han takes Dre to learn about the origins of kung fu at one of the region's many Taoist temples. The cheapest and most direct way to follow in their footsteps is to take a train from Beijing, but it's far—20 hours one way ($25 round trip).
Price check: A search for tickets in June reveals that Air China will take you to and from Beijing nonstop for $1,454, if you're starting in Los Angeles, and $1,514, if you're starting in New York.
Where to stay: In another life, Beijing's two-star Lu Song Yuan Hotel, with its tea room and 19th-century stone architecture, was the residence of a Qing dynasty general. Today, it's a 59-room hotel that places you firmly in China's storied cultural past while providing easy access to sights such as the National Museum of China and Tian'anmen Square. The-silk-road.com, doubles from $88
I really enjoyed this article and the beautiful photos. I've seen four of the movies and have been to eight of the destinations out of the 10 films. Sure is awesome when you watch a movie and you can relate to the destination from your own experiences. My top pick would be Italy where they filmed three of the films and then London where the #1 movie "Kings Speech" was filmed! Not to forget Ireland where they filmed "Leap Year"!
ReplyDeleteHow many have you watched and how many destinations have you visited! What was your favorite? Where you inspired by the awesome pictures? Where is your next trip destination?
ReplyDelete