From Dublin to the south of France

My earliest road‑trip memories are from long drives from Dublin to the south of France as the eldest of five children. This was before sat navs and Google Maps, so instead of following a phone, I was in charge of the giant road atlas, helping my dad navigate while my mum entertained four small children in the back.

Those journeys felt like feats of endurance at times, with long stretches of motorway and the usual “are we nearly there yet?” But they were also full of small moments: picnic lunches at French service stations, the first glimpse of vineyards as we headed south, and the feeling of really travelling across countries rather than just arriving by plane. They taught me very early that the road itself can be part of the holiday.

Why I still love road trips

That lesson has stayed with me. I love the freedom to detour to a place you spot on a sign, to stop in a town you had never heard of, and to see the landscape and culture change gradually as you drive. You notice the little things: roadside cafés full of locals, different radio stations as you move through regions, and unexpected viewpoints where you can just pull over and take it all in.

Some of my favourite routes

Over the years a few drives have really stood out.

San Francisco to San Diego

Driving from San Francisco down to San Diego along the coast is one of the classic American trips. Leaving the city behind, the route takes you past coastal towns such as Monterey and San Luis Obispo, with plenty of places to stop for a night or two. It is easy to break the journey into shorter days so it never feels like a slog, just a relaxed way to enjoy the West Coast.

Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Another memorable journey was the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. It is a great example of how a few hours on the road can feel like a real adventure. You leave the sprawl of LA, head out through the desert, and gradually the city fades into open space and big skies. By the time the Las Vegas skyline appears on the horizon, you feel like you have earned the buzz of the Strip instead of just stepping off a plane into it.

Florida’s Overseas Highway

In Florida, the famous Overseas Highway from the mainland down to Key West is all about the water. The road links the islands of the Keys with 42 bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge, with views where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico. It is a simple route, but incredibly memorable: little keys for lunch stops, roadside shacks for key lime pie, and that sense of heading right to the end of the line.

A deep south music road trip

One of my favourite road trips was a music‑themed journey through the American South, travelling from New Orleans up towards Memphis and around that wider region. It was less about dramatic scenery and more about atmosphere: jazz clubs, blues history, small towns and legendary studios. Driving between them gave a real feeling for the places that shaped the music, and it took me into a side of America I had not experienced on previous visits.

Why America works so well

Many of my most memorable road trips have been in the United States, and that is no coincidence. The wide roads, straightforward driving, comfortable cars and plenty of places to stop make it easy, even over longer distances. It is a country that really lends itself to covering ground by car.

Closer to home: Europe’s great drives

You do not need to go long‑haul for a brilliant road trip.

The Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast in Italy is a stunning but challenging drive, with a narrow, winding road clinging to the cliffs and villages like Positano and Amalfi perched above the sea. It is not for nervous drivers, but if you are confident, the views and the sense of occasion are hard to beat. You can keep the driving sections short and build in plenty of time for long lunches, boat trips and simply enjoying the scenery.

Alpine roads in Germany, Switzerland and Austria

Germany, Switzerland and Austria offer some fantastic alpine routes for anyone who loves mountains. My father, a keen motorcyclist, still takes annual trips there with friends. One of their favourites is the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria, near Zell am See, with its series of sweeping curves and hairpin bends. Whether you are on a bike or in a car, it is a satisfying mix of driving and scenery, with plenty of places to stop for viewpoints and coffee breaks.

What kind of road trip suits you?

That is the real appeal of road trips: they can be shaped around you.

You might want to:

• Rent a motorhome in New Zealand and wake up to a different view every few days.
• Cruise the American highways in a Cadillac, calling into diners and small towns along the way.
• Drift through the south of France in a convertible, visiting markets, hilltop villages and vineyards.

You can travel as a couple, with friends, solo or with the whole family. You can focus on coastal views, city stops, countryside, or a mix of everything. The structure is flexible, and the pace is entirely up to you.

Let me help you plan your route

If this has sparked ideas for your own road trip, I would love to help you bring it to life. Together we can choose the right destination, work out sensible driving days, plan overnight stops that feel special, and build in the little experiences that turn a simple drive into a holiday you will talk about for years.

There really is a road trip out there for everyone. The key is planning it in a way that feels enjoyable, not exhausting, so you can relax and enjoy every mile.