From the silver screen to the white sandy beaches, make your summer travels have some star power.
The trend, dubbed by Expedia as “Set-Jetting” is a fun one for movie buffs and binge-watchers as well as travel lovers. It is all about watching for iconic settings from popular shows and then following your favorite characters in your own travels.
Think “Emily in Paris” and then traveling to take selfies at the Eiffel Tower, or binging “Yellowstone” and then bringing the whole family to a ranch in Wyoming.
We wanted to learn more about this trend, so we asked travel expert, Melanie Fish, at Expedia to help compile a TV guide of sorts, but with travel destinations, hotel bookings and rental homes that all correspond to popular TV shows and movies from the past few years.
“Expedia coined the term set-jetting when research showed people weren’t just dreaming about the places they saw on streaming shows, they were actually booking trips to the places they saw on screen,” Fish explained.
“More than two-thirds of travelers in the U.S. considered visiting a destination after seeing it in a show or movie on a streaming platform, while a whopping 61% actually booked the trip — we call those people set-jetters. Expedia’s research revealed the small screen is now considered on par with recommendations from friends and family for travel inspiration.”
Based off Fish’s recommendations and our findings from streaming, read on for the best travel TV guide around, jumping from show to show using the links below.
1. “Emily in Paris”
Say “oui oui” to Paris. And we hope you read that as “Pair-ree” as Emily would do.
If you loved following Emily through Paris on the hit Netflix show, then you’d probably love to visit the city yourself.
“Expedia searches to Paris rose 25% in the first two weeks after the release of season 3 and searches to Paris grew 155% from season 1 to season 2 as the show attracted more devoted viewers,” said Fish, according to Expedia data.
For the same luxurious experience as Emily in season 1, episode 7, stay at the five-star Hôtel Plaza Athénée, available to book now. Otherwise, stay in the city center at the Hôtel Monsieur Aristide, which is conveniently located near other filming sites like La Maison Rose restaurant and popular museums.
2. “Yellowstone”
Get out of dodge and head to the real life Dutton Ranch from the hit Paramount+ and Peacock show, “Yellowstone.”
“Following the midseason finale of ‘Yellowstone’ in January, spring Expedia flight searches are up 90% compared to last year. The Twilight Moon Ranch, featured on the third season of the popular television series, is available on Vrbo, but it’s in Utah (not Wyoming) so make sure TV magic doesn’t fool you,” said Fish.
We already fully reported on this ranch back in February, but bookings are still open for this year, so we advise you to hurry up and book the Vrbo property, that sleeps a whopping 22 people, or 32 should you add on the second house on the property.
3. “The White Lotus”
Wondering where “The White Lotus” was filmed? We got you covered. This show is all about travel, given that both seasons (and soon to be all three seasons) take place at a luxury hotel.
“White Lotus season 2 drove a 171% increase in Expedia flight searches to Sicily,” said Fish. “The Emmy-nominated series shut down San Domenico Palace for filming of the second season from January to April last year. Hotels.com reports that searches for the resort increased over 300% in 2022 as interest in the show continues to grow.”
Good news for you — the San Domenico Palace, Taormina is indeed back open and ready to accept guests. Book your stay now, or take a look at the location from season 1 of the show, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. And while the third season is still not yet released, you can read all about the proposed filming location in Thailand here.
4. “Succession”
No spoilers, here, we promise.
Fans of the hit HBO show “Succession” may recognize the Villa La Cassinella as Lukas Matsson’s estate from season three, housing the billionaire CEO of GoJo, played by Alexander Skarsgård.
“Live like the Roy family and rent out the villa located on the shores of Lake Como,” said Fish. “Villa La Cassinella is only accessible by boat and offers a fairy-tale experience complete with world-class amenities and classic Italian design.”
You can now book this property on Vrbo, making it your very own private residence to live out your “Succession” fantasies while you stream the last season.
5. “Glass Onion”
No murder here, just mystique and an amazing vacation.
“Greece is always a popular vacation destination but then ‘Glass Onion’ came out, the Expedia app saw a spike of 110% in flight searches,” said Fish.
To stay in the actual and exclusive resort, head to the Amanzoe Resort in Porto Heli, Greece, one of the luxury Aman Resorts. The Villa 20 is where many scenes were shot, so be sure to inquire with the hotel should you be looking to stay directly in the center on the Onion.
6. “Stranger Things”
No, this is not a booking in The Upsidedown. However, it is pretty close to what you’ve seen in the Netflix show.
“‘Stranger Things’ fans can book a stay in the house used as the set of the Byer’s family home from the fourth season of the hit show, available on Vrbo,” said Fish. “Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this tri-level home has five bedrooms and four bathrooms and sleeps up to 10 guests. The house is also full of ‘70s and ‘80s décor, the basement is stocked with arcade games, and there’s even a show-inspired alphabet wall.”
7. “Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”
While there are no direct flights to Middle Earth, you can stay at a hobbit-inspired home.
We asked our travel expert to round up a bunch of stays on Vrbo, many of which are right here in the United States, which wouldn’t require a journey across the land with hobbits or giants.
8. “Bridgerton”
Gather your ladies in waiting and all of your suitors — it’s time to head to the castle of your dreams.
“While filming reportedly just wrapped for season 3 of ‘Bridgerton,’ fans that can’t get enough of the show can book a stay in stunning castles and estates, available on Vrbo,” said Fish. “These homes will let you live out your Regency-era dreams while waiting for the new season to premiere.”
Check out New York Post Shopping for more content.
