Set-jetting! The movie and TV hotspots to visit in 2024
Loved the show? Now visit the location. From White Lotus in Thailand to Ryan Reynolds in Norfolk, get in before the crowds on this year’s must-watch film and TV locations.
The shows might be fiction, but the backdrops are real. What started as a bit of travel porn in lockdown (remember dreaming of hopping on Eurostar while watching Emily in Paris?) morphed into a full-on mega trend in 2023. Expedia recently revealed TV shows and movies now inspire more than 50% of people’s travel plans. So what on the big (and small) screen is going to get us off the sofa and packing our suitcases in 2024?
The White Lotus 3: Thailand
You loved it. We loved it. Coolidge nailed it. Dry and dark, The White Lotus began in Hawaii for the first series before jetting us to the Sicilian seaside resort of Taormina in the second. And now the award-winning comedy drama’s hitting Thailand with a host of new guests – Parker Posey, Carrie Coon and Michelle Monaghan picking up where Coolidge left off. Filming’s starting in Feb, with stars flying into locations rumoured to include Bangkok, Phuket and Koh Samui. Four Seasons hotels featured heavily in the last two series, so we have a hunch the luxury chain’s hot spots in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui and Bangkok will be making an appearance.
Stay: With pool villas swank enough for Michelle Monaghan, world-class diving and a knock-out spa, it’s got to be Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui.
DUNE Part Two: Jordan & Abu Dhabi
Epic sci-fi flick Dune was released back in 2021 and became an instant box office smash. Starring doe-eyed Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, Muddy also got heart eyes for the desert setting: Jordan’s Wadi Rum (where Lawrence of Arabia and The Martian were also shot) and Abu Dhabi’s dreamy deserts in the UAE. Due to be released in March 2024, Dune: Part Two crew have been spotted in more sweeping backdrops, including Abu Dhabi’s Empty Quarter and and Jordan’s Burdah Rock Bridge.
Stay: Qasr Al Sarab lies on the edge of the world’s largest desert, The Empty Quarter, with stays offering camel rides, falconry, spa rituals and dining in the dunes at sunset.
Gladiator 2: Morocco & Malta
Remember the first Gladiator (starring Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix)? It landed in cinemas 20 YEARS AGO (seriously, where has that time gone?)! If you enjoyed watching muscular men getting sweaty with swords, you’ll be delighted to hear the long-awaited sequel is due for release in Nov 2024. Starring Pedro Pascal, Paul Mescal, and Denzel Washington. The word on the street is that filming’s taking place in Quarzazate in Morocco, south of the High Atlas Mountains, including the UNESCO village Ait Benhaddou, where houses made of clay transport tourists (and film directors) to an ancient world. It’s also being shot in Malta, with Fort Ricasoli being transformed into a Roman amphitheatre.
Stay: The restored 17th Century palazzo Domus Zamittello is our Baroque boutique hotel of dreams. Check out Muddy’s Malta review for ideas on what to see and where to stay on the island.
Squid Games: South Korea
Netflix’s thriller series had us hooked from the get go. The story of money-strapped contestants playing deadly games for the chance to win a huge cash prize was peek-behind-the-pillow addictive. And – hurrah – the next series is due to drop at the end of the year. Some scenes were shot in capital, Seoul, where lead character Gi-hun lives. It’s a buzzy place for a cultural/foodie break, meanwhile there’s hiking at nearby Bukhansan National Park as well as epic shopping and nightlife – a break is a 24 party, people! Tourism’s expected to soar once the show gets more eyeballs on the city’s cool neighbourhoods and glittering N Seoul Tower so get there before the ‘gramers.
Stay: A five-star sanctuary with impeccable service and 18 acres of landscaped gardens make Grand Hyatt Seoul’s a peachy stay.
Deadpool 3: Norfolk
Marvel fans rejoice: the third installment of the superhero film (starring Ryan Reynolds) is back! In the past, they’ve filmed all over the world, but this time there’s a shoot location we can actually reach without flying: Holkham Beach in Norfolk. Yep, our spies tell us a fight scene was filmed on the picturesque shore, which is known as one of the most beautiful stretches of sand in the county and close to Wells, with its crabbing, indie shops, and gastropub scene.
Stay: Check out Muddy’s 10 Stunning Waterside Stays in Norfolk for inspo!