Shelter in Place and already dreaming of warm beaches, and suffering from Severe Wanderlust? Stir Crazy? Add these movies to your Netflix Binge List.

Whenever a client requests a Journey, they receive a bag of Travel books and a suggested reading list for their destination…Since Journey planning is on a bit of a hold, may we suggest a few travel related films?

Lawrence of Arabia Due to his knowledge of the native Bedouin tribes, British Lieutenant T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole) is sent to Arabia to find Prince Faisal (Alec Guinness) and serve as a liaison between the Arabs and the British in their fight against the Turks. With the aid of native Sherif Ali (Omar Sharif), Lawrence rebels against the orders of his superior officer and strikes out on a daring camel journey across the harsh desert to attack a well-guarded Turkish port. The autobiography of the English officer retells his Arabian adventure and his experience uniting and leading the nomadic Arab tribes during World War I. Gathering intelligence about the Arab revolt against the Turks, Lawrence reminds us that one of the greatest parts about traveling is learning about other cultures. I’ve watched this countless time and love it.  I just spent a few hours in Wadi Rum in Jordan, where it was filmed. Peter O’Toole and Omar Sherif are swoon worthy!

The Spy Who Loved Me A British and a Soviet ballistic-missile submarine suddenly disappear. James Bond — MI6 agent 007 — is summoned to investigate. On the way to his briefing, Bond escapes an ambush by a squad of Soviet agents in Austria, killing one during a downhill ski chase and evading the others. The plans for a highly advanced submarine tracking system are being offered in Egypt. There, Bond encounters Major Anya Amasova—KGB agent Triple X—his rival to recover the microfilm plans. They travel across Egypt together, encountering Jaws – a tall assassin with razor-sharp steel teeth – along the way. Bond and Amasova reluctantly join forces after a truce is agreed by their respective British and Soviet superiors. They identify the person responsible for the thefts as the shipping tycoon and scientist Karl Stromberg. The film takes its title from Ian Fleming’s novel The Spy Who Loved Me, the tenth book in the James Bond series, though it does not contain any elements of the novel’s plot. The storyline involves a reclusive megalomaniac named Karl Stromberg, who plans to destroy the world and create a new civilization under the sea. Bond teams up with a Russian agent, Anya Amasova, to stop Stromberg. It was shot on location in Egypt (Cairo and Luxor) and Italy (Costa Smeralda, Sardinia), with underwater scenes filmed at the Bahamas (Nassau), Scenery & escapism, we need a double dose now!

A Good Year Russell Crowe stars in this movie as a high-powered London stockbroker who learns there is more to life than money. Inheriting a chateau and vineyard in Provence that he prepares to sell, Crowe falls in love with the simple life of the French countryside and a local beauty. This light-hearted comedy will make you want to book your ticket to the South of France

Out of Africa One of my favorites for several reasons: Seven Oscars, Meryl Streep and Robert Redford and sweeping scenes of Africa wildlife. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford star in this tragic love story about a married baroness who falls for a big-game hunter, based on the autobiographical novel by Isak Dinesen. Filmed on location in the UK and Kenya, including the Shaba National Game Reserve, Out of Africa feels about as epic as the doomed love affair between two very different people.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel A few British retirees (Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy) decide to outsource their retirement to exotic — and less expensive — India. Lured by advertisements for the newly restored Marigold Hotel and imagining a life of leisure in lush surroundings, they arrive and find that the Marigold is actually a shell of its former self. Though their new home is not quite what they had imagined, the retirees find that life and love can begin again when they let go of their pasts

The Way The Way is a beautiful and inspiring tale about a father walking Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail to honor his recently dead son. The experience is an eye-opening an emotional one for him, as he’s forced to make friends with complete strangers and examine his life during the 800km journey. It features a very eclectic mix of characters, all walking the path for their own personal reasons.

Under The Tuscan Sun With all the delightful wines, mouthwatering food, remote cottages and scenic rolling hills shown in the film, this romantic flick will inspire to you to travel to this Italian paradise, as well as urge you to scrap your urban life, for a chance to harvest an awesome dream of living a life Under the Tuscan Sun.

Lost in Translation A faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo. Lost In Translation is based on two separate travelers, Bob & Charlotte, visiting Tokyo at the same time. They meet each other and form a friendship as they experience confusion and hilarity in a strange and curious city. Bob is an aging actor starring in commercials, while Charlotte is the bored wife of a photographer there on business. They are an unlikely pair, experiencing a degree of loneliness in a foreign city filled with millions of people. This is another beautifully shot film that also shows how funny and interesting traveling in a new country can be.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty When Walter’s job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined. This is a lighthearted look at the adventurous spirit with some awesome travel mixed in.

A Walk in the Woods Author Bill Bryson , (Robert Redford ) after living for ten years in the UK, returned to New Hampshire. Now in his 60s, he had been living there peacefully for the past twenty years. A television interview reports that he has published several popular books and there is speculation he will be writing more. Bryson, however, has no such plans.Bryson and his wife Catherine, (Emma Thompson) attend a funeral. Not being an outgoing person, he takes a stroll up to the nearby Appalachian Trail. He suddenly decides he will hike its entire length. Catherine objects, presenting all kinds of accounts about accidents and murders on the trail. She relents on condition that he not travel alone. He agrees and searches for a friend willing to join him. Everyone declines his invitation; some declare him insane. Finally, he is contacted by Stephen Katz, (Nick Nolte) an old friend who offers to be a hiking companion. Within less than a mile of their departure point, as groups of hikers overtake and pass them, they begin to grasp the difficulty of their ambition. Shortly after, a group of young children effortlessly runs by them up the trail, laughing and calling out to each other. Seeing others pass by so easily motivates them to carry on. And they move on, day by day, making more or less pleasant acquaintances, having more or less pleasant experiences

Midnight in Paris While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée’s family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight. In this romantic comedy, Owen Wilson plays Gil, an unfulfilled Hollywood screenwriter who heads to Paris with his fiancee Inez, played by Rachel McAdams. Dealing with the divergent goals between he and Inez, Gil mysteriously transports back to the 1920’s every evening at midnight. Mainly taking place in the Jazz Age of Paris, themes of modernism and nostalgia permeate throughout the film as Gil meets some of the greats from that era. If you need to be encouraged to follow your dreams, Midnight in Paris should be the next movie you watch.

Encounters at the End of the World Encounters At The End Of The World is an incredibly beautiful and funny movie about the people and animals who live in Antarctica. The film by Werner Herzog, one of my favorite directors. The individuals that work at the National Science Foundation research station are full of character, and most are permanent world travelers.

The Motorcycle Diaries This awe-inspiring film is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara, from a time before he became an iconic Latin American revolutionary. Guevara (Gael Bernal) and his friend Alberto “Mial” Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna, Guevara’s real-life second cousin) climb atop a motorcycle and ride across South America for eight months and over 14,000 kilometers. The trip inspired the rest of Guevara’s incredible life. The movie will inspire you to learn more about the incredibly beautiful continent.

In Bruges Ralph Fiennes and Colin Farrell. Guilt-stricken after a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be. They live like tourists and have several bizarre encounters as they wait for the call from Ralph Fiennes, their crime lord boss. The more Farrell complains about the city, the more you’re going to see this beautiful city.

Amelie Amélie is a fanciful comedy about a young woman who discretely orchestrates the lives of the people around her, creating a world exclusively of her own making. Shot in over 80 Parisian locations, acclaimed director Jean-Pierre Jeunet (“Delicatessen”; “The City of Lost Children”) invokes his incomparable visionary style to capture the exquisite charm and mystery of modern-day Paris through the eyes of a beautiful ingenue.

The Bucket List Two iconic actors: Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die. The Bucket List is a tearjerker, and more importantly, a heart-warming film that will inspire you to do all the things that you want to do before you kick the bucket, including traveling.

Monsoon Wedding With family coming in from across the globe for a traditional Punjabi Hindu wedding in Delhi, this film gives a great look at the Indian culture. Just like any family and a huge event, we get to experience the chaos that arises from the issues of different characters as Vasundhara Das prepares for her arranged marriage. The beautiful scenery and the fascinating family members make this romantic comedy a great addition to your list.

Up Fulfilling a promise to his dead wife, 78-year-old balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to explore the South American wilderness. Accidentally stowed away as the house takes flight is an excitable eight-year-old wilderness explorer named Russell. The Pixar-produced film follows their hilarious once-in-a-lifetime adventure and the encounters they have with others along the way.

Wild China This six-part nature documentary series gives an in-depth look at China’s greatest natural wonders. The animals and wildlife really come to life in a way that most people don’t experience when they explore China. The natural history is put together beautifully and makes for an interesting documentary that everyone should see.

Be Well, make a list of Where to Go Next! We are plotting fall Journeys and Summer 2021 Safaris!