Road Trips: How to Plan an Accessible Getaway

The great American road trip is going electric.

When interest in ChatGPT exploded a year ago, a cottage industry arose of people asking it to perform tasks that have long been the province of experts—write a recipe, curate a wardrobe, and, of course, plan a trip—and then evaluate how well it had done. Generally, the results, while not disastrous, were mediocre. Ah, but ChatGPT is quickly going to get much better, Silicon Valley insists. Perhaps. But AI tools can rely only on the reams of data they’ve scraped from the Internet. So while they might, in the near future, be able to put together an itinerary as effectively as you could based on your own online research, they’ll never be able to deliver the kind of next-level journey a travel specialist can.

Etihad Airways' beloved Airbus A380 has returned to the US after four years. It landed at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport just after 10 a.m. on Monday after a more than 14-hour trek from Abu Dhabi.

Marriott PointSavers lets you book select room types at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels at lower award rates on some dates. I figured PointSavers rates would disappear after Marriott adopted dynamic award pricing, but they're still around. So, here's what you need to know about Marriott PointSavers.

With the spotlight on sustainability like never before, the hospitality industry the world over can – and is – playing a key role in supporting government ESG initiatives and green goals.

Renowned for their tangled roots and resistance to salinity, the earth’s mighty mangrove forests serve as a crucial bridge between the open ocean and inland environments, with no shortage of aquatic and terrestrial species thriving across their branches—yet in spite of their importance in mitigating natural disasters, this ecosystem has seen widespread devastation over the centuries. While more than 5,000 square kilometers of mangrove forest have been destroyed since the mid-’90s, not all hope is lost for these marvelous natural features. From the lush jungles of the Yucatan to the shores of Fiji, some of the earth’s most dazzling hotels have set out to restore their surrounding mangrove forests, ensuring that all native flora and fauna will have a safe place to flourish for years to come.

Backroads, a longtime leader in adventure travel, has made its reputation by catering to changing traveler needs and shifting demographics. In 2024, that means focusing on the increasing number of multigenerational families eager to travel together.

AI can plan travel itineraries and Apple AirTags can track luggage — but tech and travel aren't always a foolproof combination when it comes to road trips.

If you travel internationally at least a couple times per year, chances are you’ve thought about applying for Global Entry. The program gives members access to an expedited line at US Customs and Immigration checkpoints, allowing them to avoid lengthy wait times that become particularly painful during peak travel seasons. Although the Global Entry application process can take weeks or months to complete in full, it's a must-have for frequent flyers who want to make their airport experience as convenient as possible.

Traveling aboard an Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) – the ferry network that connects Alaska's coastal communities – offers the same views as the cruise ships, but without the fluff.

What’s more American than a road trip? Like blue jeans and apple pie, it's so embedded in the culture that travelers from around the world plan a road trip just to experience our open highways and byways. From the iconic Route 66 stretching across the heartland to the rugged beauty of the Pacific Coast Highway, the US has no shortage of scenic routes. What sets the American road trip apart is the sheer diversity of experiences on offer, from camping under a star-spangled sky to exploring epic parks like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. “Road trips offer an opportunity to venture out and connect with a multitude of people and experiences,” says Samantha Brown, the television host behind Samantha Brown’s Places to Love on PBS. At its most basic, Brown says, road tripping is about freedom.

Great road trips define Canada.