DESTINATIONS SELF-DRIVES | THE US


HOW TO sell


US self-drives DRIVING IS EASY


“Driving in America is easy with wide open roads. Our routes include all the main attractions of the areas, allowing ample time for sightseeing en route. Clients


like the fact they can do this at their own pace, with extra days in certain places and the freedom of a self-drive.”


Jo Glick, reservations manager, First Class Holidays


IT OFFERS FREEDOM “We’re seeing self-drive holidays prove


really popular because it gives people the freedom to choose where they want to go and explore at their own pace. Route 66, Florida and California self-drives are the most popular by far. In the current climate, motorhome or campervan holidays offer the added benefits of seclusion and the


FROM FAR LEFT: (top) Santa Barbara, California; Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, Maine; statue of Rosa Parks in Montgomery, Alabama; Glacier National Park, Montana PICTURES: Shutterstock


happened there in the fight for human rights and how it continues to this day.” Fly into Atlanta and head to state capital Montgomery to visit the Rosa Parks Museum, dedicated to the woman who famously refused to give up her seat on a city bus. Next, head to Selma, starting point for the landmark civil rights march that changed the course of the campaign, and Birmingham, a centre for the civil rights movement where a


whole district is dedicated to its history. Book it: America As You Like It offers an Alabama Civil Rights Trail self-drive journey starting at £1,084 for a seven-night trip including flights, accommodation and car hire. americaasyoulikeit.com


BEST FOR . . . THE GREAT OUTDOORS One of the many trends being tipped for post-coronavirus travel is a rise in outdoor adventures, giving travellers all the social distancing they want as they eschew crowds in favour of wide open spaces and wildlife-filled


travelweekly.co.uk


plains. The western US has its pick of parks, stretching from Utah’s Mighty Five (Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion) to the country’s oldest national park in Yellowstone, a landscape so extraordinary it was the first to be granted protected park status back in 1872. Those might be the most famous, but there’s


plenty to discover in the parks that aren’t as well-known on this side of the pond. In Grand Teton, just south of Yellowstone, you can see black bears, grizzlies, elk, moose and bison, all with the jagged backdrop of the Teton Range behind; while the pine-edged turquoise lakes and snow-dusted peaks of Glacier National Park in Montana could give the


Rockies a run for their money. Book it: Pettitts Travel offers a Self-Drive: Yellowstone and National Parks of Western USA itinerary from Seattle to Las Vegas, starting at £2,100 for 17 days, including flights, accommodation and car hire. pettitts.co.uk


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option to veer away from tourist hotspots.” Debbie Goffin, sales and marketing director, Premier Holidays


BIG OPEN SPACES


“The state parks, national parks and open spaces make for great road-trip


experiences, RV or motorhome holidays. With tourism such a large employer in the US, the industry is striving to be innovative in the way it offers its products, adhering to all the latest health and safety guidelines to offer guests a safe and enjoyable holiday.” Cath Pusey, product director, America As You Like It


YOU’RE IN CONTROL


“Self-drive in your own vehicle is one of the safer ways to travel in the current


climate. Book arrangements on a flexible basis – it may cost a little more but the


client will be thankful. Consider using small motels and B&Bs, which mean clients will be sharing space with fewer people while experiencing true American hospitality.” David Pettitt, head of product, Pettitts Travel


2 JULY 2020


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