As much as I love looking at high res travel photos, I find vintage travel ads just as inspiring. Eye-catching posters were used long before travel brochures and photo websites to entice tourists to fabulous destinations all over the world. Produced by some of the best graphic artists and designers of the day, these vintage travel ads are works of art in their own right.
Via Haus Design: Vintage Travel Posters
The elephant is so cute. Who wouldn't want to visit? More great vintage travel ads to come.
Via Havana- Welcome To Cuba Masterprint ...
Doesn't she just make you want to get sashaying to sexy Cuban rhythms.
Via The Patriots of Mars: Image ...
This reminds me of my childhood holidays in Cornwall.
Via nineteenseventythreeltd: Interview: Pintachan.
A classic image for a classic city.
Via Australia: Parrots, c.1930's Posters by ...
This one doesn't seem that "Australian" to me!
Via SCN_0045
I'm ready to strap on you water skis - are you?
Via andersondesigngroupstore.com
Don't you find it interesting that the 1950's stylisation of a jet airplane looks uncannily like a space shuttle?
Via Italy Venice Rialto Bridge Vintage ...
Not much has changed in Venice in many decades.
Probably one of the most unrealistic vintage travel ads out there. Denmark is a fabulous country but that picture is not representative.
I wonder if when they designed this they would have ever imagined dog passports and dogs traveling by airplane.
Check out how much jewelry this gorgeous beach babe is
wearing.
Via The Poster Lady - Travel ...
From the days when American tourists had a love affair with Haiti. Haiti was once the most popular destination in the Caribbean.
Via Pitch Me Another!: Vintage Airline ...
Can you imagine that leg room and space on an airplane today/
Via United Airlines San Francisco c.1950 ...
This one captures everything tourists know and love about San Fran.
Via bendbungalow.com
The elk is a magnificent specimen isn't he?
Via Vintage Michigan Travel Ad - ...
What family could resist the promise of so much fun?
Via Pitch Me Another!: Vintage Airline ...
Remember those days you didn't have to pay extra for airline food?
Via Amusements at the Carnival
Can you imagine a poster for Disney these days being so muted and understated?
Am loving the use of Soviet gray to promote one of the great Russian cities.
Via Found in Mom's Basement: Vintage ...
This charming picture would certainly induce me to book a trip to Hawaii.
Via Welcome to Montana Travel Poster
What a great depiction of Montana.
Via decologue
The essence of Brittany.
Via DP Vintage Posters - Northwest ...
These days we're more likely to be seduced by the white sand beaches of Boracay.
Via Vintage Travel and Tourism Ads ...
How cool is it that they featured women fishing in the Gallatin River rather than men?
All year round advertising on one travel poster.
Via Buckingham Fountain
A fountain as the focal point promises dramatic sighs on the streets of the Windy City.
Via Hey Oscar Wilde!
Is it my imagination or is that Doctor Who's TARDIS in the bottom left?
Via Lufthansa - Tokio
Minimalist yet effective - the essence of Japan.
Via Carteles y afiches de viajes ...
The sweeping bay of Naples takes center stage.
Via The Vintage Poster - Otto ...
Sultry Spanish ladies still beckon you to sample the charms of the Iberian Peninsula.
Via Rome Italy Tourism Travel Vintage ...
I think this couild be any ancient city in Mediterranean Europe.
Via Pan American: Fly to Europe ...
A stylized skyline that is instantly recognizable as Europe.
Via Braniff Airways Poster Art
It's good to be reminded of all these once famous airlines that no longer exist.
Via Blue Mountains NSW Australia
The message couldn't be more clear.
Via Minnesota Lakes Fashion Lady Boat ...
Whatever the product beautiful women have always been at the heart of advertising.
Via King's Cross for Scotland, LNER, ...
This is one of the vintage travel ads that truly displays the classic art deco design.
Via cometofinland.fi
Travel posters are also a great source of he fashions of the day.
Via Vintage Travel Posters We Want ...
Now you know what enticed all those passengers on board the greatest ocean-going liner the world had ever seen.
Are you loving these posters? Do you have a favorite?