Cathy Whitlock’s new book, “On Location: Cinematic Journeys to the World’s Most Iconic Film Locales,” pairs film and television settings with travel itineraries as Expedia reports rising interest in trips inspired by what people watch. Released Oct. 6, the book brings together production history, travel guidance and stories about locations around the world.
Stories That Send Travelers Out
Expedia’s Unpack ’26 report, released in October 2025, found that 53% of travelers said their desire to take this kind of trip had increased in the previous year. Among Millennial and Gen Z travelers, 81% said they planned trips inspired by what they had watched. Those figures track reported interest and plans, not completed journeys.
The report names Dubrovnik, Croatia, and Thailand as destinations that have drawn fans of “Game of Thrones” and “The White Lotus.” Expedia identified the set-jetting trend in 2022. Melanie Fish, Vice President of Global Public Relations at Expedia Group, said it “has evolved from a niche curiosity into a mainstream way people discover destinations.”
Viewers spend time with stories and characters through on-demand streaming, Fish said, and then carry that connection into social conversation, fan communities and trip planning. “They aren't just visiting a place; they're stepping into a story that already means something to them,” she said in an email. Fish described set-jetting as giving travelers an emotional reason to go somewhere.
Locations, Production and Travel Advice
Whitlock recounts the production of “Roman Holiday,” the 1953 film starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck. She describes crowds of onlookers and narrow alleys, along with a prank that stayed in the film: Peck pretends to lose his hand to a decorative facial mask at the Mouth of Truth.
The book also traces locations linked to Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant’s “Notting Hill,” including Westbourne Grove, Portobello Road Market and the bookstore that inspired the one in the 1999 movie. Whitlock explains how Sofia Coppola and her production and costume designers created the look of “Marie Antoinette,” the 2006 film starring Kirsten Dunst. Travelers will find information on visiting Versailles and staying at the Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grand Contrôle hotel.
Other films and series in the book include “Under the Tuscan Sun,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “Bridgerton,” “Frida” and “When Harry Met Sally...” The volume features more than 200 photographs across 256 pages.
Fish advised travelers to check whether a scene was filmed at a destination or merely set there, then decide which parts of a film or show they want to recreate. She also recommended exploring beyond the famous backdrop, experiencing the wider destination and supporting local businesses. Travelers should check opening hours and reservation requirements, she said, and book well ahead when a release or newly disclosed filming location draws attention.
A Commercial Route Into Real Places
Whitlock’s interest in cinema and travel grew as she watched movies at a local theater in her hometown of Nashville. “Locations are all about the character of a place, and I think when we go to movies, we get kind of emotionally attached to the settings – at least I do, anyway,” she told USA TODAY.
She calls the book “not only a history of film locations but a love letter to the way cinema and television make us feel – and to the real places that keep those feelings alive.” Whitlock said she hopes the book will help people appreciate traveling and “kind of enlarging their space.” The USA Today Network may earn a commission from purchases through its links; prices were accurate at publication but may change.