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Couples Retreat  movie cover Movie Locations Guide

Where was Couples Retreat filmed?

2009

City Locations

Los Angeles (USA), Buffalo Grove (USA), Universal City (USA), Bora Bora (French Polynesia)

Location Types

Hotel, Film Studio

Location Styles

Beachfront, Beach House, Hotel Style, Luxury Hotel, Resort

About Couples Retreat

Couple Retreat tells the story of four loved-up pairings who find themselves at a tropical-island resort. The couples include Dave (Vince Vaughn) and Ronnie(Malin Akerman) who are a happily married couple with two children, Jason (Jason Bateman) and Cynthia (Kristen Bell), a childless pair of high achievers, Joey (Jon Favreau) and Lucy Tanzini (Kristin Davis) who have been married since high school, and Shane (Faizon Love) with his brand-new 20-year-old girlfriend, Trudy (Kali Hawk).

Jason and Cynthia, after years of marital bliss, are now experiencing issues in their marriage. To work on them, they invite the other couples to join them on vacation at the Eden Resort, taking advantage of a package rate. While there, Jason and Cynthia plan to attend marriage counseling with the island’s psychologist, while their friends can enjoy their time in the sun.

In order to be eligible for the couples package, though, all the couples must participate in counseling exercises. This shakes up the foundations of all the couples and causes some of them to realize they may not have as strong a connection as they thought.

Overall, Couple Retreat is an incredibly funny movie, thanks to stellar comedic performances from the star-studded cast, who make it feel like we're watching real friends embarking on an actual couple’s retreat.

In order to understand what made the Romcom such a success, let's explore the filming locations of Couples Retreat that made the movie even more special.

Couples Retreat Locations

Couples Retreat was filmed in some of the world's most beautiful destinations. St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, with its breathtaking views of Mount Otemanu and the lagoon, served as the main film site – an ideal location for capturing all those enchanting moments!

The resort is also close to a variety of attractions, such as coral gardens and stunning crystal-clear beaches. Other locations used for filming included Los Angeles, Universal Studios, and O'Hare International Airport.

From mountain vistas to azure waters and peaceful havens to thrill-filled cities, the scenery of these regions provides stunning visuals for any observer. A trip to any one of these locations would be a worthwhile experience for any huge movie fan or travel enthusiast.

From exploring the magnificent underwater life around Bora Bora to enjoying a day at Universal Studios, there are plenty of activities that will make your Couple’s Retreat filming location-inspired vacation memorable. Whether it's going on a quiet stroll by the beach or an exciting visit to a theme park, you can rest assured that you will never run out of things to do regardless of where you go.

Dave and Ronnie's car scene in Couples Retreat

Buffalo Grove, Illinois

Dave, a Guitar Hero dealer, and Ronnie, a stay-at-home parent, are just like any other couple attempting to raise two children in the Chicago suburbs. From redecorating their home to parenting duties, these distractions have them weighed down with responsibilities.

While driving their children to hockey, they are caught up in making a mundane decision about which door handle to choose. At the same time, Shane calls Dave asking him to be his guarantor for a loan he wants to take for a bike.

The scenes featuring the couples before they set off to the resort were filmed in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. This village resting on the edge of Lake and Cook County is a tranquil suburb located 50 kilometers northwest of Chicago's bustling downtown.

Whether traveling by plane or car, the journey to Buffalo Grove requires a bit of planning and patience. Flying into the Chicago O'Hare International Airport is the most direct way of getting to Buffalo Grove. From there it's only about an hour's drive on I-294 North. Alternatively, you can make your way up I-90 West directly towards Buffalo Grove as well.

Home improvement shop scene in Couples Retreat

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

While Dave and Ronnie are figuring out which furniture to buy, Joey ( calls Dave to ask if Jason got in touch with him because he wants to invite all four couples for a presentation.

Universal Studios, located at 100 Universal Plaza in Universal City, CA is the birthplace of a long list of movie and television productions. It's virtually impossible not to find a film or show you love that hasn't utilized this classic lot for at least one scene.

Located conveniently close to the 101 freeway and public transportation, 100 Universal City Plaza is an easy ride away, no matter how you decide to get there. There's plenty of parking onsite too if you're driving so you don't even have to worry about finding on-street parking or using a shuttle service! From the Valley to Hollywood and universal studios, 100 Universal City Plaza will take the hassle out of commuting.

Arriving at the resort scene in Couples Retreat

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, 98730, French Polynesia

Sctanley (Peter Serafinowicz), the English manager of the resort, meets the couples upon their arrival. The couples are all assigned villas, and during dinner, they are informed that they must all attend a mandatory couples' therapy session at 6 am. Missing the session would be taken as a sign of wanting to leave Eden, and a refund for the resort would be issued, though airfare is not included.

In the film, the couples visited two parts of the resort; “Eden East” and “Eden West.” The former is depicted as a place where couples can let loose and be intimate, while the latter offers them insight and techniques to make their relationships even better.

Both sections of the island were filmed at The St. Regis Bora Bora, a celebrated five-star resort in French Polynesia. Located off the coast of the South Pacific Ocean, French Polynesia is a stunning archipelago boasting 121 islands. This beautiful heaven is owned by France and it houses some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes.

The St. Regis Bora Bora resort is accessible from the Fa'a'ā International Airport. Located on Tahiti, the most populous French Polynesian island, board a ferry from the airport or a smaller plane and enjoy the next phase of your journey as you observe stunning views of crystal-clear waters and lush landscapes around you.

When it's time to settle in and get comfortable, sit back and be whisked away by a private boat shuttle for a unique 12-mile aquatic adventure to Zitavai dock, The St. Regis Bora Bora’s grand entrance.

Undress activity scene in Couples Retreat

Society Islands, French Polynesia

At the crack of 6 a.m., the first activity at the Eden Resort begins. The four couples meet Marcel (Jean Reno), who greets them and tells them about a special program for each pairing. The first activity involves them undressing, staring at each other, and telling the truth about what they see.

Besides the resort found on Leeward Island, the couples are seen taking part in activities around several other islands in French Polynesia’s Society Islands. This region has been featured in many films and television shows, including xXx, Beyond the Reef, Mutiny on the Bounty, Bora Bora, and The Amazing Race.

A number of airlines offer flights from international locales and other islands in the region, making it easy to reach these paradisiacal atolls. Direct flights from some countries may be available, but most will require stopovers or connecting flights along the way. Once you land in Tahiti, you can take ferries or fly via helicopter between the islands.

Finding Trudy scene in Couples Retreat

12214 Lakewood Blvd, Downey, CA 90242, United States

On the fourth night, Trudy escapes to Eden East. The other seven are motivated by Joey to go find her. During this mission, Cynthia and Jason get into an argument, prompting the men and women to split up. As they search for the resort, the group of men starts bickering and pointing out each other's marriage problems.

The majority of exterior shots, particularly those containing the resort in the evening and the lagoons, were filmed at a studio. The aptly named Downey Studios in Downey, California, located about 20 km from LA, served as the film set for these Couple’s Retreat scenes.

The total area of this studio is 320,000 sq m and it offers both indoor and outdoor production spaces, like a residential street lined up with homes and one of the largest water tanks in North America. Sadly, this studio is now closed.

If you're trying to get to the lot where Downey Studios once stood at 12214 Lakewood Blvd in Downey, then you've come to the right place! There are a few different ways you can get there, whether it’s by car, public transport, or something a bit more adventurous.

A quick drive down Interstate 5 is probably the quickest option, just hop on and be sure to exit at Alondra Blvd. While taking the bus might admittedly be a bit slower, Metro offers plenty of services directly from Downtown Los Angeles so if you're looking for an easy and affordable way to get there, this is definitely for you!

Or you could even show off your sense of adventure and embark on a thrilling ride with one of the many scooter companies that roam around town, just remember your helmet!

Conclusion

Dave and Ronnie, Jason and Cynthia, and Joey and Lucy are close friends. At one point Shane and Jennifer were also part of their group, but they have since divorced so she is no longer around.

It is with this backdrop that Jason and Cynthia announce their marital woes to the rest of the gang, plus Shane's new girlfriend, asking them to go on a couples' retreat at a discounted price on a tropical island. Although they are apprehensive, the group agrees to go along with it, thinking they can have fun while Jason and Cynthia try to fix their marriage with help from an island psychologist.

However, to everyone's surprise, the package does not allow room for any negotiation: all four couples must take part in the couples exercises given by the psychologist. This further strains each relationship as differences come to light. What lies ahead for each duo?

Combining the comedic talents of Vince Vaughn and an able cast, Couples Retreat is a movie that combines perfect comedic timing and witty remarks. The story is enriched by the group’s travel to Eden, a heavenly resort on a tropical island, in order to fix their strained relationships.

This paradise has everything one could ask for; tranquil surroundings, crystal clear waters, and stunning staff. However, it also carries a warning: whatever happens in Eden stays in Eden. If you're looking for mindless action, little suspense but lots of predictability in your holiday caper movie, then Couples Retreat provides an overdose of tedious comedy.