Summer is quickly approaching, and you know what that means? Road trips! Here are a few awesome road trip movies you can watch to get yourself pumped for your summer adventures while you are waiting for that last bit of cold to fade away.

Easy Rider – Mexico and the United States
This 1969 classic stars Peter Fonda and the late, great Dennis Hopper as two hippie bikers who smuggle contraband across the Mexican border and into the United States. Along the way they bump into all sorts of interesting characters portrayed by an all star cast including Jack Nicholson, Phil Spector, and even Toni Basil (as in “Hey Mickey, you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind. Hey, Mickey!”) Wyatt, aka Captain America (played by Fonda) and Billy (Hopper) face a variety of obstacles on their way to Louisiana, and are judged as good-for-nothing long-hairs wherever they go. This leads to some surprisingly meaningful dialogue, much of which was improvised by the actors. Despite its tragic ending, you cannot help but be overcome by wanderlust after viewing this film. Plus, it offers up a spectacular road trip soundtrack which includes The Band, Steppenwolf, The Byrds, Jimi Hendrix, The Moody Blues, Jefferson Airplane and Bob Dylan, just to name a few. Book a cheap car rental in Mexico for the first part of your journey, but please refrain from transporting illegal substances.

The Motorcycle Diaries – South America

This film based on Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s memoirs catapulted the dreamy Gael Garcia Bernal into international stardom. The Motorcycle Diaries tells the story of the young revolutionary’s trek across South America in what was part adventure and part coming of age. While still enrolled in medical school, Che and his friend Alberto Granado, the biochemist, head toward Peru to work in a leper colony. During their journey, they travel through Buenos Aries, Chile, Argentina, Ecuador, Columbia, Venezuela, and even Miami, discovering the Andes, the Amazon and the desert. The people they meet along the way greatly influence the story. The men meet miners forced to work in poor conditions, a couple who has lost everything they owned due solely to the fact that they were communists, and rural peoples living in extreme poverty. The world’s injustices ignite a spark in the young doctor, thus creating the Che Guevara the world would later come to know. Watching this film (or reading the book) may inspire you to explore the ever growing world of “voluntourism” and do some good while you’re abroad.

Lord of the Rings – New Zealand
Okay, so maybe this isn’t exactly a “road trip” movie, but they sure do embark on a mighty journey! Really, I look for any excuse to bring up Lord of the Rings, and New Zealand might possibly be the most beautiful place on the planet, so let me have this one, eh? With a cheap car rental in New Zealand, you will be able to follow in the steps of Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pip along both the north and south islands. A trek through the Waikato area is a must. These lush, rolling hills were transformed into the Shire, and as they are currently filming part two of The Hobbit, if you visit this year you will be able to see Hobbiton in full swing. While you are on the north island, you will also want to drive through Tongariro National Park, home to “Mount Doom.” Don’t worry, the park is not guarded by nasty Orcs, and as far as we know, they’re not forging any evil rings in the fires of Mount Ruapehu, the parks’ active volcano.

Pee Wee’s Big Adventure – United States
I must have watched this movie a million times or more growing up. Super team Tim Burton and Danny Elfman directed and scored this cult classic respectively. When Pee Wee’s bicycle is stolen, he seeks the help of Madame Ruby, a local psychic. She informs him that his bike is being kept in the basement of the Alamo. Thus begins his big adventure. When his bike doesn’t turn up in San Antonio, he seeks refuge in a local biker bar. Chances are, even if you haven’t seen this film, you know all about this scene, where Pee Wee’s dance to Tequila wins over the bar’s patrons. His new friends give him a motorcycle, which ends him up in the hospital pretty promptly. While he is there, he catches a glimpse of his bike on the television. Apparently it’s being used in a big Hollywood production, so off to California he goes. You will find yourself repeating some of the film’s best lines for the duration of your road trip. “And knitting… and knitting… and knitting.” “I know you are, but what am I?!” “Au Revoir, Simone!” and of course, “Tell ‘em Large Marge sent ya!” Oh, and don’t forget to throw The Champs’ Tequila on your road mix.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Australia
Hugo Weaving (Lord of the Rings, V for Vendetta), Guy Pearce (Momento, The King’s Speech) and Terence Stamp (Star Wars, Valkyrie) star as three drag queens who travel across the Outback in Priscilla (their tour bus) after Mitzi Del Bra (Weaving) is offered a show in the remote town of Alice Springs. Taking off from Sydney, the trio embarks on a journey that is both hilarious and heartbreaking. Of course, summer in the United States means its winter Down Under, but don’t let that keep you from booking your cheap car rental in Australia. Winter in Sydney isn’t nearly as chilly as say, the American northeast. You will still be able to comfortably travel by rental car or on foot and enjoy the desert, national parks, botanical gardens, and even harbor cruises.

These are just a few of the movies that are certain to give you the travel bug, so call Kemwel or book your cheap car rental online today!

On this day in 2004, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won the Oscar for Best Picture. It doesn’t seem like that much time has passed since the last installment of the epic trilogy, does it? The 2012 Oscars have come and gone, and while some choice films received awards, the world has yet to experience anything quite like Peter Jackson’s adaptation of Tolkien’s masterpiece since.

Fear not, movie goers! This year will bring us The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of Jackson’s two-part adaptation of the story that started it all. As if that is not amazing enough on its own, the film features Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug. This is particularly exciting for us here at the Kemwel offices, as we are huge fans of BBC’s Sherlock. Lee Pace (aka the Pie Maker) from the unfortunately cancelled Pushing Daisies will also make an appearance as the elven king, Thranduil. This phenomenal cast will be joined by the characters we know and love from the Lord of the Rings, including Sir Ian McKellen reprising his role as Gandalf, Christopher Lee as Saruman, and the beautiful Kate Blanchett as Galadriel.

Like the trilogy filmed before it, The Hobbit is being shot across the breathtaking landscape of New Zealand. The remnants of the Lord of the Rings set have been a popular attraction since the films’ wrap, but why not see magic in the making with a cheap car rental in New Zealand during the filming of the second half of the The Hobbit, There and Back Again?

Enjoy a leisurely drive through the Waikato Region on the North Island, where Matamata has once again been transformed into the Shire, or psych yourself up for a hike through the Tongariro National Park, where much of Frodo and Sam’s trek was filmed. If you are planning a trip to the South Island, you can explore Rohan, or as it is really called, Canterbury, or you can sign up for a guided tour in Queenstown or Nelson. You will feel as though you have been magically transported to Rivendell.

Book your cheap car rental in New Zealand with Kemwel today and experience Middle Earth in all its glory. And if you see Elijah Wood, get us an autograph.

Marvel fanatics have been waiting with baited breath for next year’s release of The Avengers. Written and directed by golden god of the geek world, Joss Whedon, the Avengers will see Samuel L. Jackson reprising his role as Colonel Nick Fury, director of S.H.E.I.L.D (the acronym stands for Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division in the films), as he builds an elite team of superheroes to save us all from impending doom.

Following the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor and Captain America, the Avengers will be the fifth of the nine films planned so far within the Marvel universe. The ensemble cast will include Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, Gwyneth Paltrow as his colleague and love interest Pepper Pots, sex symbol Scarlett Johannsen returning as the Black Widow, Chris Hemsworth stepping back into the roll of Thor, Mark Ruffalo taking over as Bruce Banner, and Captain America played by Chris Evans.

While The Avengers is being filmed primarily in New York and California, the past films have brought us all over the world, from Thor’s crash landing in Santa Fe and Bruce Banners escape to the slums of Rio, to glimpses of Monte Carlo in Iron Man 2. Most recently, Captain America: The First Avenger took us on a ride throughout the United Kingdom. Plan your own ultimate Marvel adventure with a trip to some of Captain America’s gorgeous filming locations and get yourself pumped for the May 2012 release of The Avengers.

Caerwent is a Welsh village that you are certain to recognize from the war scenes in Captain America. Most of them were shot at the Royal Navy Propellant Factory, a real World War II ammunition storage facility and manufacturer of explosives. Today the factory is used for military training and part of it is open to the public. Conveniently, Kemwel offers cheap car rentals in Wales.

Manchester, England played a huge role in the film, doubling as Brooklyn, home to Steve Rogers. Even if you’re not a Marvel fan, Manchester is the perfect place to plan a vacation. The city is ripe with historical landmarks and cultural diversity. And food. Lots of good food. You will definitely want to hang out in Chinatown for a while where you will have a plethora of restaurants to choose from. Another great option would be shopping the markets for fresh and imported goods to prepare your own meal. If you prefer a little more kick, Currry Mile in Rusholme offers up a half a mile of curry restaurants for the choosing. Book a cheap car rental in Manchester with Kemwel today and sample all the fare.

Next up: Scotland. Rumor has it that Paramount was gracious enough to offer the residence of Fife accommodations at nearby hotels if their filming became too bothersome. You may recall the beautiful burgh of Culross, believed to have been founded as far back as the sixth century. There is a lot to see in Fife, like Scotland’s oldest university and a former secret underground nuclear bunker. With a cheap car rental in Scotland, you can explore Fife’s variety of green spaces and parks where you will be able to spend a leisurely afternoon.

Kemwel offers cheap car rentals in the UK, so you can pick and choose your Captain America locations or see them all!

Now that the world is safe from He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, you can feel sound grabbing your marauders map and taking to the bustling streets of London in search of all your wizarding needs. Naturally, you will want to start off at King’s Cross Station where you will find an actual Platform 9¾. You won’t find a train to Hogwarts, and we don’t recommend trying to run through the wall, but it is a great place to snap a photograph!

Do you remember the first time Harry found out that he can talk to snakes? His nasty aunt and uncle, Petunia and Vernon Dursley, take the boys to the zoo for his spoiled cousin Dudley’s birthday. Not yet realizing that he is a wizard, let alone a parseltongue, Harry accidentally sets a Burmese boa free. Harry is shocked as it slithers away, hissing a grateful, “Thanksssssss.” Meanwhile, the glass on the tank has magically reappeared and Dudley is trapped inside. The scenes at the zoo in Little Whinging were filmed at the London Zoo, and if you take a stroll through the reptile house you will find a plaque commemorating the scene. The tank currently houses a black mamba, so we will thank you kindly to keep your parseltongue to yourself.

While you are still in London, you may want to stop by the Australian embassy, or as you probably know it, Gringotts Wizarding Bank. They may or may not let you inside. We don’t know of any portkeys in the area, and if floo powder doesn’t do the trick you may just have to settle with a peek in through the window. You will recognize the ornate floors, crystal chandeliers, and marble columns from the movies. We are relatively sure that the embassy is free of dragons, but we’re not making any promises.

If you are feeling up for a day trip, load the family in your rental car and head down to Alnwick. It is about a five hour drive, give or take, to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Okay, okay. So, it’s really Alnwick Castle, but you will recognize its exterior from the Harry Potter movies. This is where the first years took their flying lessons, and you can even try your hand at flying when you visit. Accio broom! This is only one of the many Harry Potter themed activities available at the Castle.

If you have the time, there are numerous other locations to be found. With a cheap car rental in London from Kemwel, you can see them all!