I am a huge sucker for Christmas movies. November 1st hits and I am on the couch with my blanket and hot cocoa watching big-city protagonist go to a far off destination to rediscover the magic of Christmas. Yes, I can typically predict how it’s going to end – but it’s the most magical time of the year – so don’t judge! Since we can’t actually travel in 2020, I wanted to put together the 10 best Christmas Travel Movies that will make you want to book your next trip! (These are in no particular order!)
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The 8 Best Christmas Travel Movies!
8. Polar Express
Who wouldn’t love a magical train ride to the North Pole? Bonus for Tom Hanks! Even if you’re not a fan of train travel, this movie will make you want to try it out at least once. It’s an eco-friendly way to get around. In some places, like Japan, it’s even faster than driving.
7. Christmas in Vienna
A traditional “Hallmark Christmas movie” with all the feel-good holiday cheer you can think of. A violinist loses her motivation and travels to Vienna for a performance. While there, she finds her inspiration and true love. If this movie doesn’t make you want to visit Europe, I don’t know what will!
6. Christmas Yule Blog
A modern take on a Hallmark movie (and a new one for 2020). A well-known travel blogger is asked to cover a tradition in a small town in New Mexico. It reminds us of the wonders of traveling – learning about new customs and cultures.
5. Home Alone & Home Alone 2
The ultimate classic holiday movies. Home Alone 2 is really the one that makes me want to explore New York City – but I couldn’t in good faith have Home Alone 2 on this list without including the original.
4. Love Actually
The ultimate Christmas love movie which I would definitely consider a Christmas travel movie. An icon of the early 2000s and a tradition in my household. It always reminds me to be kind to each other as we don’t know what someone else is going through. It also reminds us of the magic of airports – magic I am so ready to experience once it’s safe.
3. Operation Christmas Drop
A new movie on Netflix this year – and one that took me by surprise. A Washington DC political assistant travels to a military base in the South Pacific to determine whether or not it should be shut down. Watching armed forces spread holiday cheer with a rom-com plot will get you aching to visit islands in the South Pacific.
2. Holiday in the Wild
A 2019 Netflix movie that takes place in Zambia (though limited in showing Zambian culture) had me aching to go back to Africa. Kristin Davis goes on an African safari where she ends up staying for a few months and working at an elephant orphanage. One of the things I love about this movie is that it took four years to complete filming because Kristin didn’t want to use trained elephants. She thanked Netflix for agreeing to her terms for ensuring the ethical treatment of the elephants. Feel-good movie and feel good real-life = awesome! It also helped that it reminded me of my time in Kenya, visiting the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
1. The Holiday
Okay, this one is number one because it’s my absolute favorite Christmas travel movie – but I promise the rest are in no specific order. The Holiday is about two women dealing with the hecticness that is love swap houses for the Christmas holiday. They discover a new place, new friends, and new loves. It has sparked so much interest in house swapping around the world!
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The Holiday is one of my favourites! And of course Love actually is a classic. I haven’t seen Christmas in Vienna or Holiday in the Wild so will be watching them in the next few weeks 🙂
I ‘m a sucker for the elephant one on Netflix! Those little guys are too cute!
Good compilation for Christmas feels! Home Alone is a classic, Christmas in Vienna sounds like a movie I would like to watch😃