This year, we’re swapping first class for first gear. Picture this: the roof of your Mercedes Maybach SL rolled down, your favourite playlist turned up, and the freedom of flying down the open road. So, buckle up. Because from winding around hairpin bends to winding down in beautiful hotels, we’ve mapped out the five best road trips to take and where to rest your head when you’re not behind the wheel. Your itinerary? Drive, sleep, repeat.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Drive… Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Lemons, linen shirts, and hairpin turns – as far as Italian road trips go, few drives are quite as cinematic as the Amalfi Coast. It’s all pastel villages clinging to cliffs, sparkling Mediterranean stretches, seafood suppers with a side of Limoncello Spritz (from La Scogliera), and vintage convertibles weaving from Positano to Ravello (with a pitstop in Capri – by boat, of course).
Stay at… Le Sirenuse. This Positano icon has that rare quality that exudes effortless, old-world glamour without trying too hard. Think impeccable service, sprawling sea views, and bedrooms that feel like the inside of a Fellini film.
sirenuse.it
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Route distance: 30 miles (Sorrento to Salerno on the SS163)
Time of year to go: April–June, September–October
Pacific Coast Highway, California
Drive… California’s Pacific Coast Highway. From misty redwood forests to Malibu’s golden shores, Highway 1 is a slow, scenic stunner. It snakes along craggy cliffs and quiet coves, passing vineyards, surfers, and stretches of wild, untouched coastline. It’s best driven with the windows down and a stop at Big Sur’s Bixby Bridge for the ultimate road trip photo op.
Stay at… Post Ranch Inn. Suspended above the Pacific Ocean, this cliffside hideout is all eco-luxury and organic architecture. Expect earthy interiors, firelit terraces, and some of the world’s best stargazing from your private deck – ideally with a chilled Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir in hand.
postranchinn.com
Pacific Coast Highway, California
Route distance: 600 miles (from San Francisco to San Diego)
Time of year to go: June–September
Garden Route, South Africa
Drive… South Africa’s Garden Route. A symphony of surf and sand, woodlands and winelands. This road trip winds from city (Cape Town) to winelands (Franschhoek) to coast (Hermanus, Plettenberg Bay and Knysna). Expect to spot dolphins, stop at roadside farm stalls, and skim the rugged shoreline on the open road.
Stay at… Sterrekopje Farm. Tucked in the foothills of Franschhoek, this soulful sanctuary is part biodiverse farm, part healing haven. Suites are filled with hand-crafted details, long lunches are a ritual, and the whole place feels gently and gloriously off-grid.
sterrekopje.com
Garden Route, South Africa
Route distance: 186 miles (from Mossel Bay to Storms River)
Time of year to go: November–March
North Coast 500, Scotland
Drive… Scotland’s North Coast 500. Scotland’s answer to Route 66 is all brooding beauty and remote romance – wild beaches, winding roads, whisky distilleries, and weather that changes by the minute. Plot a path through the Highlands (the type of off-road terrain best tackled by an INEOS Grenadier) and stop off at Balblair for a taste of its rare, vintage single malts.
Stay at… The Fife Arms. A wildly characterful former hunting lodge in Braemar, this place is part luxury hotel, part art-filled wonderland. It’s where fires crackle, tweed is timeless, and a dram by the bar feels like the only way to end the day.
thefifearms.com
North Coast 500, Scotland
Route distance: 516 miles (circular route beginning and ending in Inverness)
Time of year to go: May–September
Great Alpine Road, France
Drive… France’s Great Alpine Road. From the glassy calm of Lake Geneva to the sun-drenched glamour of the Côte d’Azur, this is one of Europe’s most epic road trip routes. Wind past a snow-capped Mont Blanc, stop for fondue in Chamonix, detour to the glacial Lac de Restefond for a peaceful picnic, and finally roll into Antibes in true Riviera style.
Stay at… Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc. An icon of old-school elegance, this oceanside retreat is where the greats came to play Gatsby-style. Expect marble floors, pine-shaded parasols, and a Riviera setting that never goes out of fashion.
oetkercollection.com
Great Alpine Road, France
Route distance: 435 miles (from Thonon-les-Bains to Nice)
Time of year to go: June–October
