Live your ‘set-jetting’ fantasies
Irecently visited New York for the first time. And the first thing I did was head to my mate Carrie’s house. Consulting Google Maps, I made my way through West Village in the rain, until I reached the leafy street of beautiful brownstone townhouses.
It wasn’t hard to find her place as she already had visitors. I joined them standing in front of her stoop, which was chained off with a ‘‘private property – no trespassing’’ sign. I held up my phone, and sheepishly took a selfie.
OK, so Carrie isn’t exactly my friend. And she doesn’t even live there. Because she is not real. I am, of course, referring to Carrie Bradshaw from Sex And The City, the television show that long had me fantasising about what it would be like to live in New York, in a beautiful apartment with a wardrobe full of designer clothes, all funded by a weekly column (this aspect of the fantasy was dispelled soon after I got my own journalism job).
I felt a bit silly as I visited the apartment used for all the exterior shots, even more so when it became obvious the current owner doesn’t appreciate the tourists on their doorstep. But in a new city, by myself, there was something oddly comforting about having a familiar place to visit.
Clearly, I am not the only one who feels that way.
TV tourism is a massive travel trend, as shows such as The White Lotus and Emily In Paris inspire ‘‘set-jetting’’ holidays. According to recent Expedia research, 61% of Kiwis have considered and 21% have booked trips to destinations after seeing them on shows or movies.
New York definitely lived up to my lofty expectations based on what I had seen on screen, although based on the number of steps I did during my week there, I would question Carrie’s choice of footwear. You can read more about my first-time visit on pages 38-39.
Or take a road trip through Scotland, including a stop in Glasgow – ‘‘scene of countless crime thrillers’’ – with Michael Visontay on pages 32-33.
Closer to home, Graeme Tuckett rediscovers Te Mataua-Ma¯ ui/Hawke’s Bay’s wonders, and you won’t believe who once slept in his hotel room. Find out on page 36.