Whether it’s a book, movie or TV series, sometimes the destination is as essential to the plot as the chemistry between characters. If you’re one of those people who planned a trip to Croatia just to experience King’s Landing from HBO’s Game of Thrones, then your choice of a honeymoon destination may be heavily inspired by your favourite fiction.
There’s even a term for this: set-jetting. In an Expedia 2024 travel trends report, more than half of travellers surveyed said they researched or booked a trip after seeing the destination on a show. So, if you’re looking for a swoon-worthy honeymoon destination, here are a few of our favourite set-jetting picks.
Bridgerton
This steamy Netflix period drama – based on a series of romance novels – has inspired a number of Regency-era trends, from choker necklaces to puff-sleeve dresses. But the lush sets are also inspiring ‘Regencycore’ honeymoon ideas for those who want to capture Shonda Rhimes’ lavish interpretation of the Regency era.
To experience high-society London in the 1800s, head instead to Bath, England, with its Georgian architecture and Roman baths. Filming locations are dotted around Bath, and you can honeymoon like a Bridgerton at the Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa (which has a few cameos on the show). You might just spot Lady Danbury’s townhouse or the Modiste dress shop on a promenade through town. You’ll feel transported back in time in this movie-inspired honeymoon destination.
The White Lotus
While this dark comedy is all about dysfunctional relationships and bad behaviour by the ultra-wealthy, it’s hard not to fall in love with the star of each season: the destination itself. The show’s influence is so deep, it’s driving tourism in Wailea, Maui (season 1), Taormina, Sicily (season 2) and Ko Samui, Thailand (season 3) – referred to as the ‘White Lotus effect.’
At Four Seasons Resort Maui, you can even book the show’s ‘Pineapple Suite,’ where newlywed couple Rachel and Shane Patton plan to spend their honeymoon (you know what happens if you’ve watched the show). The real Pineapple Suite is the Lokelani Presidential Suite, which features season 1’s now-famous bathtub in one of its lavish marble bathrooms.
Out Of Africa
Watch this epic classic romance – based on a book written in 1937 – to swoon over the romantic tension between Meryl Streep and Robert Redford’s characters, but also to swoon over the cinematography. The sweeping shots of the African savannah (set to a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack) will make you want to go there for your honeymoon destination. And you can go there, since most of the movie was filmed on location in Kenya’s protected parks and reserves. A honeymoon at a luxury safari lodge can be combined with a game drive at the Shaba National Game Reserve, where many of the film’s savannah scenes were shot.
Pirates Of The Caribbean/ The Crown
What does a pirate movie have in common with a TV series about the British royal family? The former used several locations in St. Vincent and the Grenadines for its stunning natural Caribbean beauty, while the latter featured the ultra-glamorous private island of Mustique in the Grenadines – one of the late Princess Margaret’s favourite getaways. While Mallorca was a stand-in for Mustique in The Crown, it still put the Grenadines – 32 coral islands scattered in the azure Caribbean Sea – in the honeymoon destination limelight. So, take to the seas on your honeymoon (like your favourite pirates) and rent a private yacht or luxury yacht charter to discover the Grenadine’s hidden gems – and feel like royalty.
Emily In Paris
This list would be remiss without mentioning Emily in Paris (or should we say ‘Emily in Rome’?) The show, in many ways, is a love letter to Paris. And sure, it’s full of frivolous fashion and clichés, but many of its eye-candy scenes are shot in real-life locations. So, if you’re dreaming of a Paris honeymoon, you can easily recreate some of your favourite scenes – from a stroll down Rue de l’Abreuvoir, to buying pain au chocolat from Boulangerie Moderne by Thierry Rabineau, to cozying up at the bistro where Emily meets her Parisian crush, Gabriel. While Gabriel’s restaurant is known as Les Deux Compères in the show, the real restaurant is Terra Nera, in the 11th arrondissement, and its cozy, rustic interior is perfect for a romantic dinner pour deux.
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