10 holidays for Tarantino-obsessed travellers
As ‘Pulp Fiction’ marks its 25th birthday, Chris Leadbeater double-dares you to seek out some classic locations in LA and beyond
Fiction facts
As anniversaries go, 25 is a nice chunky number. Specifically, it’s the nice chunky number of candles on the birthday cake belonging to “Pulp Fiction”, the Quentin Tarantino classic that was released in the UK a quarter-century ago this week (on Oct 21 1994). You remember – Uma Thurman with a black bob, Samuel L Jackson as a fiery hitman, swearing galore. A good reason for travel? Absolutely. And if any of you readers move from this page, I’ll… sorry, got distracted there. Firstly, you need a trip to LA, where the film is set. A week’s stay at the five-star Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, flying from Heathrow on Nov 16, starts at £2,519pp through Virgin Holidays (virginholidays.co.uk).
Fear my Roth
You have to work to find “Pulp Fiction” sites. Jack Rabbit Slims, the retro diner where Uma Thurman and John Travolta dance? A set. The Hawthorne Grill, robbed by Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer at the start? Demolished. Still, you can spot gangster Marsellus Wallace’s palatial pad at 1541 Summitridge Drive in Beverly Hills – and the home of Tarantino’s cameo character Jimmie Dimmick at 4149 Kraft Avenue in Studio City. Viator offers a “Downtown Los Angeles Filming Locations Walking Tour” (viator.com; ref: 7304P4) for £18.
Royale flush
The scene where Jackson and Travolta discuss the alternative French name for a certain global-brand burger has made “Royale with Cheese” part of cinematic lore. Keen to try an LA version? You can order one at The Oinkster (theoinkster.com) – a “slow fast food” specialist in Eagle Rock. Technically, it packs a third of a pound of beef (not a quarter) for its $13 (£10) cost, but you don’t want to argue with Samuel on this one.
Pink pound
If you want coffee in a Tarantino-linked diner, you’re better to switch your attention to 1992’s “Reservoir Dogs” – minus the ear-severing torture. Pat & Lorraine’s, where the robbers chunter about everything from Madonna to tipping etiquette, is alive and serving at 4720 Eagle Rock Boulevard. Please do leave a tip – whatever Mr Pink may say.
Bride on time
Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Volume 1” (2003) – a lush tribute to martial arts movies – has Thurman as The Bride, an assassin hunting the colleagues who tried to kill her. Her mission takes her to Japan in search of a suitable sword. She finds it in Okinawa, the country’s most gorgeous archipelago. Want to see it sub-aqua style? Try Inside Japan Tours’s 13-night “Diving Subtropical Japan” break – from £4,000pp, flights extra (insidejapantours.com).
Bill of wrongs
The most evocative scene in the first “Kill Bill” is the showdown at The House of Blue Leaves, the Tokyo restaurant where The Bride defeats her former ally O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) and her henchmen. If massacre isn’t your thing, but Japanese food is, the 13-day “Experience Japan” break sold by Ampersand Travel, from £4,590pp, flights extra (ampersandtravel.com), which tips a hat to Kyoto, Osaka and the capital, will tickle your taste buds.
Once bitten
If you’re visiting LA on a Tarantino trip, you may as well keep things up to date by imbibing his latest – this summer’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”, which thrusts Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie and a stellar cast into the city in the sunset year of 1969. The tourist board site – discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/the-ultimate-guide-to-once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-locations – details settings aplenty.
Jackie races
Can you merge Tarantino, Los Angeles and shopping? Of course. The rather overlooked “Jackie Brown” (1997) – with career-revival performances from Pam Grier and Robert Forster, who sadly died last week – took the title character to Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance. You can go too, for retail therapy (simon.com/mall/del-amo-fashion-center), rather than a sly double-crossing deal.
Unchained melody
“Django Unchained” (2012) was a brutal – but often very funny – dissection of the American South in the time of slavery, with Jamie Foxx superb as the star. Audley Travel’s 14-day “Discovering the Deep South” holiday, from £2,995pp, with flights (audleytravel.com), can call at Louisiana’s Laura Plantation – which is honest about its dark past.
Park it...
Deliciously nasty, but also thoroughly watchable, Tarantino’s 2015 western “The Hateful Eight” tied itself to blizzard-choked Wyoming in the winter of 1877. Better to see this spectacular state in summer – perhaps via the 15-day escorted “Scenic Parks Explorer” that Trafalgar has planned for June 3 – from £3,578pp, flights extra (trafalgar.com).
