Booking.com Reveals the Inspiring Destinations Behind the Year's Most Nominated Movies

Hasan Zawaideh Camp

The 94th Academy Awards have announced some of the filmmaking industry’s highest honors. We now know which movies, actors, directors and creatives have received this year’s prestigious awards. 

This year’s films are also an incredible source of travel inspiration. From sleepy villages and bustling urban cityscapes to otherworldly desert locales, these beautiful backdrops will be fueling fans’ wanderlust to visit these stunning places in real life. In fact, according to Booking.com research, almost 4 in 10 travellers (33%)* intend to travel to a destination that was featured in a TV show or movie they like.

If the movies aren’t enough to get you out experiencing the world once again, Booking.com has shared six destinations taking the spotlight in this year's most nominated movies to further celebrate this year’s awards season.

1. Dunedin, New Zealand
One of the favorites to be crowned as this year’s best picture is a Western psychological drama set in the rugged US state of Montana in the 1920s. To authentically evoke the look and feel of the American West from the early 20th century, the film was actually mostly shot across rural Otago in New Zealand. Dunedin, also known as the ‘Edinburgh of the South’, is Otago’s capital city and is known both for its Scottish and Maori heritage. Movie goers can catch a glimpse of the city in the film as well, with several scenes being shot here.

Where to stay: Larnach Lodge & Stable Stay

2. Belfast, United Kingdom
Following the life of a working class family and their young son's childhood during the tumult of the late 1960s in the Northern Ireland capital, this semi-autobiographical, black-and-white, movie is nominated for multiple awards this year. While Belfast may have had a troubled past, the city has pulled off a remarkable transformation into a contemporary, lively capital. The city offers a broad selection of restaurants, exciting nightlife, and rich cultural heritage with historic landmarks such as the Belfast Cathedral. Belfast is also the birthplace of the world's most infamous ship, the Titanic, which struck an iceberg and sank in 1912.

Where to stay: The Merchant Hotel

3. Wadi Rum, Jordan
The science fiction epic about a gifted young man who must travel to the most dangerous place in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people, takes place on a desert planet with sandy landscapes and amazing rock formations. The real-life desert of Wadi Rum in Jordan, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, provided the ideal filming location, with rugged otherworldly beauty in spades. To explore its famous red rocks and magnificent landscapes, travellers can go hiking, rock climbing or even ride a camel. They can also join a Wadi Rum Jeep Tour that will bring them to some of the most popular sites in the desert.

Where to stay: Hasan Zawaideh Camp

4. Hiroshima, Japan
The Japanese drama about an aging, widowed actor who gets the opportunity to direct a theatre production in Hiroshima is set and shot in this modern city in the southwest of Japan. While the city was tragically destroyed at the end of the Second World war, Hiroshima has blossomed into a vibrant, modern metropolis, while managing to retain its traditional Japanese spirit and charm. After visiting the city’s museums and monuments to soak up its history and culture, including the famous Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, visitors can indulge in some of the most delicious cuisine Japan has to offer. A treat for the taste buds, the all-inclusive Food and Culture Tour in the Night will give foodies the opportunity to discover the city’s unique culture through its cuisine, including grilled delicacies, fresh seafood and tempura.

Where to stay: The Knot Hiroshima

5. Spetses, Greece
The real-life holiday destination featured in the psychological drama about a professor on holiday who becomes fascinated by a young mother staying nearby is certainly one that will make your travel dreams come true. With the ocean sparkling in the sunlight and lush green trees paving the pathway down to the beach, the movie was filmed on the Greek island of Spetses. Just two hours away by ferry from Athens, the island is all about relaxation and is home to many beautiful beaches. Its picturesque main town, with Venetian mansions scattered throughout, stands out for its architecture and elegance.

Where to stay: Armata Boutique Hotel

6. Barichara, Colombia
The popular animated musical fantasy about an extraordinary family, hidden away in a charmed place in the mountains of Colombia, was inspired by the country’s warm and welcoming beauty. The village from the movie is a mirror-image of Barichara, a perfectly preserved 18th-century hilltown in the Santander province. This picturesque town will make you feel transported back in time, with its cobblestone streets and whitewashed adobe homes with traditional red-tile roofs and wooden doors, not to mention all the historical buildings and churches dotted throughout the city.

Where to stay: Tocagua

With a mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world, Booking.com is sharing Getaway Deals for travellers to use when booking their next trip. Discounts start at 15% at participating properties indicated by the “Getaway 2022” badge, and are valid for stays with check-in from 4 April and check-out on or before 30 September 2022. Bookings must be made before 11:59 pm CET on 30 September 2022. 

Tocagua

In addition, Booking.com is bringing the great value of its Genius program to even more customers by giving all account holders access to the program’s Level 1 benefits, with no minimum number of previous bookings to qualify, including access to exclusive 10% discounts at hundreds of thousands of participating properties around the world. All travellers have to do is download the Booking.com app, log in and look for the Genius logo to identify associated benefits, discounts and perks.

*Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of 48,413 respondents across 31 markets (2,000 from USA, 1,864 from Canada, 1,999 from Mexico, 2,003 from Colombia, 2,005 from Brazil, 2,002 from Argentina, 1,020 from Chile, 1,777 from Australia, 818 from New Zealand, 1,999 from Spain, 2,002 from Italy, 1,998 from France, 1,990 from UK, 2,005 from Germany, 2,003 from Netherlands, 985 from Denmark, 999 from Sweden, 910 from Croatia, 918 from Switzerland, 1,986 from Belgium, 998 from Russia, 953 from Israel, 1,999 from India, 1,990 from China, 901 from Hong Kong, 1,775 from Thailand, 1,001 from Singapore, 975 from Taiwan, 1,800 from Vietnam, 1,757 from South Korea, 1,001 from Japan). In order to participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 years of age or older, had to have traveled at least once for business or leisure in the past 12 months, and planning to travel in 2022 and be either the primary decision maker or involved in the decision making of their travel. The survey was taken online and took place in January 2022.