Discover The Latest Travel Trend: “Set-Jetting”

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Many of us love to travel, and we also love a good television show or movie. Set-jetting combines those two to create an unforgettable vacation experience. It’s all about visiting a destination primarily to see for yourself the locations your favorite scenes were filmed in. Not only does it make you feel more connected to the characters, but it also gives you a great excuse to check off a new city or country from your bucket list.

A current hit television show that’s causing numerous passports to get stamped is HBO’s “White Lotus.” Season 1 of the murder-mystery show was filmed in Hawaii at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, a 5-star beach resort that pampers all guests, whether you’re a fan of the show or not. Sicily set the scene for Season 2, particularly at the San Domenico Palace, Cefalù Beach and the Villa Elena. Season 3’s locations — being filmed across Thailand in Bangkok, Phuket and Ko Samui — will surely be equally stunning.

Numerous filming locations of “Game of Thrones” are accessible for those willing to hopscotch around Europe. Scenes in Kings Landing were filmed in Dubrovnik, Croatia, home to a massive stone wall, dramatic cliffs and gorgeous views of the Adriatic Sea. The 14th-century medieval Doune Castle in Northern Ireland served as the Stark stronghold of Winterfell, while Iceland’s Vatnajökull National Park became the “Land of Always Winter,” a.k.a. North of the Wall. 

However, when it comes to fantasy film sites, New Zealand is the one location to rule them all. More than 150 locations across both the North and South islands were used to create “The Lord of the Rings” masterpieces, many of which you can explore to follow in Frodo’s own footsteps. Hobbiton, better known as Matamata by the locals, is the most popular site and for good reason. Just a few hours from Auckland, the town offers daily tours of the set, which include 44 individual hobbit holes.

If you’re keener about music than movies, then set-jetting’s stage-setting cousin — concert tourism — might strike the right chord. From traveling to England to catch the Glastonbury Festival to following Taylor Swift around South America (where the tickets are much cheaper than her stateside shows), you’ll be able to make new memories both at the performances and the destinations.