More travel trends: How to plan a "set jetting" summer vacation
The Amphitheatre of Catania, narrow streets, and luxury resorts of Sicily were almost their own characters in the second season of The White Lotus.
What's increasingly driving our travel decision-making is the media our eyeballs are endlessly stuck on. Social media in particular has led to "gig tripping" to see pop stars in person as well as seeking out "travel dupes", more authentic (or at least less crowded) alternatives to famous destinations. But one of the recent travel trends we haven't yet covered stems from Netflix and the other streaming services. It’s not the traditional jet setting but rather "set jetting": taking a "location vacation" to places where popular TV shows and movies were filmed. And with the likes of Emily in Paris, The White Lotus, and Game of Thrones routinely showing off tantalizing real-world surroundings, fans are bound to want to see these breathtaking places in person. We'll show you how incorporating set jetting into your 2024 summer vacation ideas may be easier than you think.
What is set jetting?
“Set jetting” is travel inspired by TV and film to see the set locations. Get it? You jet to the set. It's not actually all that new: 68% of participants in a 2022 survey said they were “considering a trip to a certain destination after seeing it on television or in a movie”, and 61% had already taken the next step and booked a trip. These figures are only predicted to grow.
Better still, as more and more pieces of media are filmed on location rather than on some studio backlot, there will only be more places to check out. Whether you're a fan of Harry Potter, James Bond, Mission: Impossible, or Star Wars, it can be surprising just how many series and franchises make breathtaking real-world sets part of their identity. We’ve got you covered with some of the most popular set jetting destinations for visually stunning shows that have been popular of late, plus tips on how to navigate the logistics.
Emily in Paris: Paris (obviously)
With the vast amount of French scenery and fashion in this immensely popular show, you can rest assured that even making your way from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Paris will get you started on the Parisian vibe you’re searching for.
In Paris, it’s more about finding the specific buildings, cafes, and parks that our vivacious American protagonist takes us along to. Gabriel’s Restaurant, for example, is a real Italian restaurant at 18 Rue des Fosses Saint-Jacques. The Place de Valois, where Emily and her boss Sylvie go head-to-head at the offices of marketing firm Savoir, is also a real place. And with Emily in Paris season 4 releasing this August, this summer season is the perfect opportunity to plan your Europe trip and explore the titular city in advance—who knows how you might be surprised in the episodes to come!
The White Lotus: Sicily and Thailand
The White Lotus is another show that's currently prepping its next season, as well as one that has become well-known for its captivating settings and luxury travel vibes. In fact, there are so many White Lotus-inspired vacation destinations that they deserve their own blog entry!
For a quick overview, though, the gorgeous beachside communities and crumbling remains of Sicily, for example, the Teatro Antico di Taormina, featured prominently in The White Lotus season 2. These and many other recognizable sights are just a short jaunt from Catania, eastern Sicily's main transportation hub.
Excitingly, we already know many of The White Lotus season 3 filming locations, even if we won't see the eps themselves until 2025. Whatever the storyline might be about, beautiful people in beautiful tropical locations like Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui—all in Thailand—should make for travel-worthy TV.
House of the Dragon: Spain and Britain
The original HBO phenomenon inspired thousands of travelers to seek out real-life Game of Thrones locations well before the term “set jetting” was even coined, and the prequel series House of the Dragon has already done the same with a slew of new locations. Most notably, King’s Landing comes to life among the cobbled streets and red-capped roofs of the quaint Spanish towns Cáceres and Trujillo.
The series also continues the long-established tradition of franchises filmed in the United Kingdom by shooting at Leavesden Studios, Cornwall, and other locations in central and southern England.
Wednesday: Bucharest, Romania
Drawing on the spooky history of Dracula, Transylvania, and Bran Castle, it’s no wonder the break-out Netflix series Wednesday chose to film in Romania.
The angsty teenage daughter of the Addams Family traipses through the halls of Nevermore Academy, filmed inside the Monteoru House in the heart of Bucharest. The Botanical Garden of Bucharest has also played host to several scenes in the series.
That sounds cool, but how do I plan a set jetting itinerary?
Aiming to reach specific locations can throw a spanner in the works of your otherwise well-planned itinerary. Here are some quick tips for making sure you see the sets you set out to see:
First things first: ensure all the locations are accessible, safe, open to the public, and check their opening hours and admission fees. Super popular locations such as Gabriel’s Restaurant may require a booking in advance, or may have peak times you’ll want to avoid.
Next, determine how you’re jumping from place to place. Are you relying on public transport in the country? Are you flying between destinations? Are you renting a car?
Daytrip’s door-to-door private car service makes it especially easy to reach those out-of-the-way TV and movie locations, and offers you plenty of flexibility when films have been shot in several locations within one region. Daytrip's trip planner, with options to leave when you like and add plenty of sightseeing stops like film sets, makes it particularly easy to craft a personalized itinerary around set-jetting .
You can also use Google Maps Trip Planner to pre-plan your trip, estimate travel times, and review the various modes of transportation available. Similarly, Rome2Rio and Kiwi offer cheap travel options if you’re booking on a budget.
Photo op!
@steppingthroughfilm uncovers where famous movie scenes were filmed. This still of Timothée Chalamet from Call Me by Your Name, for example, was recreated in Crema, Italy (great inspiration for a Gaytrip, no?).
If you take the time to plan a set jetting trip, you'll want to commemorate it too, of course! As a final tip, here's how a little preparation will bless you with some perfect set photos—er, vacation snapshots. In fact, influencer @steppingthroughfilm has dedicated his entire Instagram account to this, making for some stunning shots.
Search for iconic film scenes you can easily recreate—ones in publicly accessible places, ones that aren't likely to be overly busy, and ones that set during the time of year you'll be visiting (this last is optional, of course, but it certainly helps!).
Travel with a friend, family member, or partner—not only is this one of our sustainable travel tips and a way to have more fun on the road, they'll have no choice but to be your personal photographer!
Go the extra mile and print out film stills, then have your photographer hold them up in front of the camera to make sure you get just the right angle.
Try, try, again. Coming away with the perfect recreation will be the perfect souvenir, so don't be afraid to try a few times to make sure you get the right angle, pose, and lighting.
Next time that urge to jump through your television screen gets just a little too strong, join the hundreds of thousands of fellow travelers who are scratching that itch by set jetting. With this and other travel trends only predicted to blow up even more in the coming years, start booking those stunning destinations while you can!