Ten Travel Romance Books and Ten Romantic Travel Movies

A Blistered Kind of Love: One Couple’s Trial by Trail

Author: Angela Ballard and Duffy Ballard

Genre: Nonfiction, Action/Adventure, Romance, Health & Fitness/Sports & Recreation

Places Featured: Pacific Crest Trail, United States

In alternating chapters, Angela and Duffy Ballard (a married couple) share their story of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail together from beginning to end–it includes funny mishaps, challenging realizations (sometimes about each other, sometimes about the world around them), and beautiful landscapes. It’s a travel romance book that delves into the truth of romance while on the road.

Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour

Author: Morgan Matson

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Romance

Places Featured: Several (United States)

Amy Curry is a junior in high school when her life turns upside down–her father passes away in a car crash and her mother decides they should leave California and move to Connecticut. It then becomes Amy’s duty to drive their car across the country (even though she hasn’t driven a car since her father’s death). So her mother recruits Roger, a family friend and boy Amy doesn’t know, to help Amy with the drive. And while exploring many states with several unexpected detours, Amy learns about a lot more than just the United States.

*Jens Note: I loved this young adult romance travel book. Amy and Roger’s road trip romance is sweet, but authentic. I’m also usually a big fan of a romance book that has more than just the love story–and this one definitely has a lot of other meaningful themes.

A Room With a View

Author: E.M. Forster

Genre: Fiction, Classic, Romance

Places Featured: Florence, Italy and Surrey, England

If you’re one who enjoys the classics, there are several that could be on this list because they’re a romance book with a great sense of place (hello, Jane Austen!), but I included this one because of Forster’s brilliant descriptions of life in Italy and England in the early 1900s. It’s about Lucy Honeychurch (who is done with life in England) and George Emerson (a man who rejects traditional social norms) who meet while on holiday in Italy. (You’ll also find this one on my list of Books Set in Italy.)

From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home

Author: Tembi Locke

Genre: Nonfiction, Biography/Memoir, Food & Wine, Romance

Places Featured: Sicily, Italy

We recently included this one on our list of Ten Travel Books for Black History Month and we wanted to include it here, too, because it truly is a love story…actually, it’s a whole love letter. A letter from the author to her husband who died much too soon, a letter to their adopted daughter trying to navigate her father’s death, a letter to her in-laws and their culture that didn’t fully accept her at first, and it’s a letter to her husband’s homeland, Sicily, and it’s beautiful food and sights. This one definitely isn’t a romantic comedy, but It is full of love on every page.

*Jen’s Note: This is another powerful travel romance that’s a true story! There is some sadness (I definitely cried!), but the love is so strong. And, of course, I just love stories set in Italy. And in case you missed it, the book was made into a Netflix miniseries by the author and her sister–be ready for more (bittersweet) tears.

Love in the City

Author: Jen Morris

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Places Featured: New York City, New York, United States

Love in the City is definitely one of the rom-com books that uses more than one of the travel romance tropes mentioned above–and of course it is heart-warming and fun and has a happy ending. It’s the story of Alex whose boyfriend dumps her on her 30th birthday prompting her to have a few too many drinks, quit her job in New Zealand, and move to New York City, where, of course, she has a neighbor who is good-looking, funny, and might be a little mean at first, but underneath that gruff exterior…it’s sweet and funny and rom-com at its finest.

Love With a Chance of Drowning: A Memoir

Author: Torre DeRoche

Genre: Nonfiction, Action/Adventure, Biography/Memoir, Romance, Self-Discovery/Change

Places Featured: Several (mostly in the Pacific Ocean)

Torre DeRoche’s life takes an unexpected detour when she meets a beautiful man from Argentina and agrees to sail around the world with him on a small sailboat. The sun, the ocean, tropical islands, new love…dreamy, right? Not when you have to figure out how to navigate the ocean and a new relationship while maneuvering in a very small (and sometimes lonely) space. But, with humor and honesty and care, they figure it out.

*Jen’s Note: Be sure to check out my book review for Love With a Chance of Drowning (there’s also a Love With a Chance of Drowning book club guide) to learn more. There is also a sequel, which is also a travel book, but not really a travel romance: The Worrier’s Guide to the End of the World: Love, Loss, and Other Catastrophes–through Italy, India, and Beyond.

The Lotus Palace

Author: Jeannie Lin

Genre: Fiction, Historical, Romance, Crime/Mystery

Places Featured: China

The first in The Lotus Palace Mystery series, The Lotus Palace takes readers back to the Tang Dynasty in China (think 1500 years ago or so) and introduces us to Yue-ying, a maid in the famous Lotus Palace, home to very sought-after courtesans, who meets the rich playboy Bai Huang. When they start working together to solve a mysterious death, they discover more than they expected. This one is a good choice if a fan of historical fiction or if you’re looking for more than just a full-on travel romance book.

The Rosie Project

Author: Graeme Simsion

Genre: Fiction, Romance

Places Featured: Australia

This book is about professor Don Tillman who has everything “just right” in his life, but he just can’t seem to find love. With the help of some friends, he begins to look for love in the only way he knows how: through a precise plan and specific questionnaire to help him find the perfect partner. Along the way he meets Rosie, a bartender, who challenges everything he thought he knew about how to define “perfect”.

*Jen’s Note: While I admit this book doesn’t feature Australia as much as it probably should for a website about books with a strong sense of place, I read this book last year for a challenge about books set in Australia and I was genuinely surprised at just how much I enjoyed this story. It’s sweet and also part of a three-book series.

The Tourist Attraction

Author: Sarah Morgenthaler

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Comedy

Places Featured: Alaska, United States

Graham Barnett does not have time (or patience) when it comes to the tourists that traipse through his small town of Moose Springs, Alaska, but when Zoey Caldwell ends up in his small town on the first night of her dream trip, he just might change his ways… Thanks to some fun secondary characters (including a lovesick moose!), this is a sweet story and the start of a trilogy of travel romance books set in Moose Springs, Alaska.

What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding

Author: Kristin Newman

Genre: Biography/Memoir, Romance, Comedy

Places Featured: Several

I debated on including this one because it isn’t really a travel romance or love story in the way you might expect (or the way the others on this list are)–it’s actually a story that embraces the single life. Kristin Newman is a Hollywood writer (you’ll definitely know some of the shows she’s worked on like How I Met Your Mother) who, unlike her friends who are getting married and having babies, uses her spare time to travel, explore, and meet people (yes, men) from around the world.

*Jen’s Note: Kristin Newman is funny and I definitely identified with a lot of her story (though not all!) I appreciated her honesty about solo travel and a redefinition of travel romance.

Honorable Mention Travel Romance Books:

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

Jewels of the Sun by Nora Roberts

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

No Baggage: A Tale of Love and Wandering by Clara Bensen

The Simple Wild: A Novel by K.A. Tucker

The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

You Me Everything: A Novel by Catherine Isaac

Bonus Children’s Travel Books About Love:

(Don’t worry; these aren’t romances, but about a parent’s love.)

Mama, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosee

Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosee

(Looking for the list all in one place? Check out my Bookshop list of Travel Romance Books)

Roman Holiday (1953)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Romance

Places Featured: Rome, Italy

This sweet movie stars Audrey Hepburn as a European princess tired of royal life who searches for freedom on the streets of Rome and finds herself spending the day with Gregory Peck (who is a journalist looking for a story about her, but she doesn’t know that). There are some beautiful shots of Rome and while it is considered a travel romance movie, the ending might surprise you. This was also included in our list of Movies Set in Italy.

*Jen’s Note: I’m a big fan of this classic romance movie (which is also a classic travel movie)–it’s just fun and beautiful.

Romancing the Stone (1984)

Rating: PG

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Action/Adventure

Places Featured: Colombia

This movie is a true movie classic (with a definite cult following)–it’s the story of a romance writer living in New York City (played by the oh-so-talented Kathleen Turner) who flies to Colombia to search for her sister who has been kidnapped. There are several mishaps along the way which lead the writer to meeting an exotic bird smuggler (played by the oh-so-dreamy Michael Douglas) and the two begin an adventure through the jungle in search of the missing sister. It’s an exciting adventure with a thrilling love story in a beautiful setting–what more could you want in romantic travel movie?

Before Sunrise (1995)

Rating: R

Genre: Fiction, Drama, Romance

Places Featured: Vienna, Austria

Before Sunrise (a travel movie set in Vienna) is actually the first in a series of romantic travel movies (along with Before Sunset set in Paris and Before Midnight set in Greece) about a couple who first meet on a train and then develop a relationship. It can be a slow film with a lot of talking, but it is definitely a film that will make you think about love and life (and has great scenery).

The English Patient (1996)

Rating: R

Genre: Drama, Romance, War & Military

Places Featured: Egypt, Tuscany, Italy

If you’re looking for an epic love story, this is the one you want–it’s the story of an unknown man who has been burned beyond recognition during World War II who relays his story through fractured memories to a compassionate Italian nurse. Based on a novel by Michael Ondaatje, the film was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won 9, including Best Picture–it really is an epic film that will tug at all kinds of heart strings.

Hideous Kinky (1998)

Rating: R

Genre: Drama, Romanice, Historical

Places Featured: Morocco

Hideous Kinky is based on a book by Esther Freud (yes, the daughter of that Freud) and is considered semi-autobiographical as it’s about a young mother (played by Kate Winslet) who moves from London to Morocco and finds love in an exciting and different locale. (And, yes, I find the name odd, too.)

Chocolat (2000)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Romance, Food & Wine

Places Featured: Burgundy, France

It doesn’t get much better than this in a romantic travel movie–a small quaint French town, a romance, Johnny Depp, and chocolate. It’s about Vianne Rocher (played by the perfectly cast Juliette Binoche), a mysterious single mother who seemingly drifts around France and eventually moves to a small town with her daughter to open a chocolate shop. Her wares are tempting to the usually strict and rigid townspeople…which leads to lessons for her and them. Johnny Depp fans will also enjoy this love story.(We included this one in our list of Ten Movies set in France, too.)

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Drama, Romance, Self-Discovery/Change

Places Featured: Tuscany, Italy

Frances Mayes’s (played by Diane Lane) life is turned upside down when she discovers her husband is cheating on her. With the encouragement of her friends, she goes on vacation to Italy…where she spots her dream home and makes the (rash?) decision to start a new life. And, of course, starting a new life in a new country is a challenge, but with the help of some new friends (and a love interest), Frances not only discovers the beauty of Italy, but also the beauty of life. The movie is quite different than the book (note that the book doesn’t even get an honorable mention above)…find out more by reading our Under the Tuscan Sun movie review or even check out our Under the Tuscan Sun Book/Movie Club Discussion Questions.

*Jen’s Note: In case you’re not sure, this is another personal favorite travel romance movie and it’s been included on a few other lists on this site including Movies Set in Italy and Movies about Self-Discovery.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Places Featured: Barcelona, Spain

I’ll be the first to admit I have some personal issues with Woody Allen, but the man does create some beautiful movies–and this is one of them. It’s the story of two American friends (played by Scarlett Johnasson and Rebecca Hall) who both fall for a Spanish painter while on vacation in Spain…but that painter (played by Javier Bardem–one of my faves) can’t quite seem to get away from his ex- (played magnificently by Penelope Cruz). Not your typical romantic travel movie, but a good one.

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Rating: R

Genre: Romance, Drama

Places Featured: Lombardy, Italy

Both this movie and the book that it’s based on were included in our list of Movies Set in Italy, it’s the story of a forbidden love discovered during a summer in Italy between 17-year-old Elio and 24-year-old Oliver, a scholar visiting Elio’s father, an archeology professor. It’s an intense film that received many accolades, but it has some stunning Italian scenery and is a different take from a traditional love story.

Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Fiction, Romance, Comedy

Places Featured: Singapore

This is another fun movie based on a fun book–Rachel Chu is a native New Yorker who travels to Singapore for a friend’s wedding and meets her boyfriend’s family for the first time–there are some cultural differences, some judgments, and some entertaining storylines and characters.

The Holiday (2006)

The Painted Veil (2007)

Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Letters to Juliet (2010)

Midnight in Paris (2011)

The Princess and the Frog (2009)

Rio (2011)