Along with real travel, savvy seniors always enjoy movies about places in the world they’ve visited or would someday like to see. Choices range from classics dating back more than 75 years to one that debuted in 2011. Many you can watch free on YouTube.

The Wizard of Oz (1939): This great children’s classic is still the absolute all-time favorite of  travelers of every age. The annual TV showing at holiday time keeps the story fresh for this and future generations.

While the colorful travels of Dorothy and her friends are all imaginary, they represent every senior’s hopes. We all seek to find that perfect destination over the rainbow where dreams come true.

Around The World In 80 Days (1956): There were several filmed versions of this story, including at least one before talkies and a 2004 fantasy starring Jackie Chan. However, this vintage Technicolor hot-air balloon journey based on the Jules Verne novel is a favorite of many seniors. This one earned five Oscars and many still consider it the very best.

There are exciting landings by Phineas Fogg (David Niven) and assistant Passpartout (Cantinflas) in London, Paris, Madrid, India, China, San Francisco and many more exotic locations. Famous actors show up in cameo roles, including Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, George Raft, Ronald Coleman, Charles Boyer, Joe E. Brown, Buster Keaton, Beatrice Lilly and Red Skelton.

It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963): This hilarious comedy is another favorite that’s full of familiar Hollywood faces. It opens with Jimmy Durante in a death scene where he literally kicks the bucket, and ends with Spencer Tracy in hospital traction and bandages. Seeing the usually serious Tracy do slapstick comedy is worth the price of admission.

It’s about a cross-country chase from the Nevada desert to Santa Monica seashore to find buried treasure. All the misadventures that happen to the hapless travelers along the way bring constant laughter.

Along with Tracy are Milton Berle, Ethel Merman, Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, Mickey Rooney and Sid Caesar, there’s just about every other comedy star of the era. Jack Benny, Joe E. Brown, Don Knotts, the Three Stooges and Buster Keaton show up in cameo bits.

Murder On The Orient Express (1974): This travel movie is based on an Agatha Cristie classic featuring her famous detective, Hercule Poirot, portrayed by British actor Albert Finney. He investigates the usual suspects in the killing and kidnapping aboard the exotic train journey.

With such a distinguished cast of suspects, the wily detective and the audience have an delightfully puzzling time sorting them out. There’s Ingrid Bergman, Anthony Perkins, Sir John Gielgud, Lauren Bacall, Sean Connery, Vanessa Redgrave and other famous movie stars.  

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011): Seven British retirees with limited income are enticed into buying into a retirement hotel in Jaipur, India. When their long airline and dusty road journey ends, they find a broken-down building in an overcrowded part of town.

The energetic young Indian manager, who enticed them with his broken English advertisements, offers excuses and predictions of immediate improvements. Judi Dench and Maggie Smith are great in their elderly British lady roles. Their feisty characters eventually solve personal and financial problems, and make the hotel actually livable.