I remember one thing from almost every trip I’ve ever taken. When I was 18 and spending a weekend in Mexico with my girlfriend’s mom, I was frustrated because I didn’t have a boyfriend. We found “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” on TV and snuggled up to watch it from a small hotel in Cozumel.
It may not be a popular option, but there’s an underrated joy to this activity. My husband and I are both movie buffs, and movies have been one of our love languages since our early days. In 2012, almost a year after we started dating, we went on our first overseas trip together. This was the first time I traveled with a man other than my boyfriend or father. However, when we arrived he felt unwell and we spent his first night in London indoors. We watched the comedy “Good Luck Chuck,” about the terrible Dane and his cook, while munching on fish and chips in a luxurious hotel room. Eleven years later, when we look back on that holiday, we talk about Buckingham Palace and London Bridge as much as the first night when we basically did nothing.
Five years later, we were on our honeymoon roaming the streets of Paris and exploring every little corner of the city. Despite each special discovery, I lovingly hold space for quiet moments. That night, we returned to our suite at 3am, warmed up with a celebratory glass of red wine, and turned on the TV for some ambient noise. Instead, we stumbled upon his 1979 German film The Tin Drum and were so hooked that we stayed up for another two hours, hooked on every word of the subtitles. Even if I tried to forget about the movie, I couldn’t.
The idea of choosing to stay within the confines of renting a room may sound incomprehensible. That’s not what traveling is for, right? It’s important to make the most of every moment while you’re away. But vacationing anywhere may be more than just exploring the great outdoors, it’s about finding luxuries you don’t have in your regular life.
There’s an underrated comfort in watching movies in an unusual way, in a bed that isn’t yours, without worrying about the day-to-day responsibilities of normal life. Probably on his premium channel, when he’s wearing a hotel robe and sunbathing on a plush white bed with fluffy pillows. It’s a unique experience that’s different from home and a movie theater, even one with dine-in options. For me, room service and movies are the perfect combination.
Tours and adventure guides aren’t the only way to immerse yourself in a new place. Disappearing into a movie can be an adventure in itself. A brief escape in the midst of a larger escape.
The need to be still, to surrender to time, to relax, and to always be busy, which we impose on ourselves, is not only a release from pure bliss. It’s also a healthy choice with real benefits, and we highly recommend you try it on your next vacation.
Blake Turck is a freelance writer based in New York City. You can follow her on X. @styleisland.