Share the article
Last update
Deciding where to travel for your next trip is already overwhelming. With endless places to choose from and guides listing hundreds of top destinations to see, how do you narrow it down? Expedia dug into some of its data on upcoming travel trends and was able to spot a common global mindset… Travelers are turning to TV shows for their travel inspiration.
Called the “set effect,” 39% of global travelers have booked a trip to countries featured in a popular TV show or movie, while two-thirds have considered it. Tips from family and friends topped streaming services, but only by 2%.
Can you guess which shows are making everyone trip? We’ve picked the most popular shows based on trending TV destinations shared by Expedia, but let us know any others you think of in the comments.
New Zeland
It’s hard to imagine any other place in the world that can emulate the fantasy world of Tolkien’s fictional Middle Earth. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power debuted on Prime Video on September 1st of this year and is sure to reignite the tourism curiosity that sparked the Hobbit trilogy.
Tourism New Zealand has claimed that New Zealand has been the most successful country to benefit from film tourism in a decade. Tourism New Zealand says almost one in five visitors still cite the Lord of the Rings trilogy as the reason they travel to New Zealand, two decades after the first film was released.
Much of the filming took place in over 150 natural locations across sweeping landscapes near cities, rivers, national parks and mountains in the North and South Islands. The most popular scenes include Tongariro National Park, which was the main setting for the land of Mordor.
You can climb Mount Doom, otherwise known as Mount Ngauruhoe, in a five to six hour return hike. There is also a tour of the Hobbiton movie set, which has been recreated at one of the original filming locations near the town of Matamata in New Zealand’s North Island.
Top 5 travel insurance plans for 2023 starting at $10 per week
Great Britain
There’s one TV show that has reignited people’s love affair with the Royal Family, and that’s Netflix’s The Crown. For those who prefer more of a Jane Austen romance vibe, Bridgerton also wowed audiences with her bright and cheerful sets.
With 3,000 English estates and many of them being turned into tourist attractions, visitors can broaden their historical knowledge of aristocratic families or hope to meet a modern-day Lord. Stately homes have become a popular attraction for Great Britain and are usually very grand, with elaborate architecture and stunning landscaped gardens.
Meanwhile, Harry Potter continues to bring fans to popular TV locations, even after a decade. Recently, the National Trust Pembrokeshire in Wales issued a statement asking Potterheads to stop leaving items such as socks and other trinkets at Dobby’s fictional grave site on Freshwater West Beach. Fans still travel to this beach 12 years later, leaving behind items such as socks to honor Dobby becoming a “free elf”, but these items have started to pose a danger to wildlife as they can enter the marine environment .
Hawaii
HBO’s The White Lotus won multiple Emmys, and while you may not want to experience the same plot, you can’t help but envy its Hawaii filming location. Filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui in Wailea, this luxury resort is not for the budget conscious as rooms start at around $1,000 per night. Situated along Wailea’s stunning coastline, this resort is one of five in-town hotels and features world-class oceanfront views, luxurious service and exceptional amenities with three pools, a spa and dining under the stars, without the controversial hotel managers. .
Wailea is known for its five crescent-shaped beaches, which offer excellent snorkeling and sunsets, and its luxury resort community spans 1,500 acres of land. The city also features three pristine 18-hole golf courses, but tourism in Hawaii has come under scrutiny recently due to water shortages and the unbalanced distribution of water restrictions between locals and resorts.
Paris
Paris doesn’t need a TV show or movie to inspire new visitors, but a romantic comedy TV series with impeccable fashion and glamorous Parisian experiences comes as a free tourism campaign for the city of lights. Emily in Paris follows an optimistic Chicago marketing executive who transfers to a French agency, where the city plays the central character.
The show takes viewers on a tour of the city from places with the iconic backdrop of the Eiffel Tower to cobblestone streets and fine arts bridges like the Pont Alexandre III. Highlights include the rue des Fossés Saint-Jacques, where Emily’s apartment, her frequented bakery and her beloved restaurant are all within walking distance, the grounds of the Jardin du Luxembourg, the legendary Palais Garnier opera house and more old and oldest in Paris. the iconic restaurant, Le Grand Véfour.
New York
New York ranks as the second most popular filming city and also boasts Central Park as the most filmed location in the world, featuring in over 500 film credits. It’s hard to pinpoint a TV show or movie that draws more crowds, but you can’t beat the much-anticipated Sex and the City reboot, which aired in December 2021 and continues to feature the city as the title character and Carrie. Bradshaw’s best friend.
From the steps of Carrie’s Upper West Side apartment to the shopping streets of SoHo, ladies’ brunches at trendy restaurants like the East Pole restaurant, and trips to the Whitney Museum, this ten-episode series takes viewers on a tour of the city featuring the tastiest restaurants, high streets and nightspots. If the town wasn’t magical enough, it dazzles even more before Christmas time.
Warning for travelers: Don’t forget travel insurance for your next trip!
↓ Join our community ↓
of Travel Off Path Community FB Group has all the latest reopening news, chats and Q&As happening every day!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path travel news straight to your inbox
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
