Monument Valley - the quintessential American road trip view AP

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THE TRIP: US ROAD TRIP

Time: Three weeks and up.

Where to go: Where not to? Even by driving coast to coast, you’re not going to see everything you’d want to – so work out whether you want to go north (bit chilly in winter), middle or south, and take it from there. Timewise, you could do it in a week, technically, but anything less than three weeks would be a waste – the point of a road trip is being able to linger where you like.

Start on the west coast – not only will you get the long flight out of the way first, but you’ll be plunged into a world out of the movies the minute you leave California. From LA, Vegas is a glorious four-hour desert drive away. From there, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Monument Valley (the one in John Ford’s westerns and Thelma and Louise) are all in your sights.

The central route – the old Route 66 – is the one most people take, so be prepared to share it with half of Europe. To escape, go south at Albuquerque – Texas and the Deep South will be yours alone. Just make sure you head north afterwards – the east coast may not be so popular with the silver screen, but it’s still pretty peachy.

Keep it cheap: Be ¬flexible with flights – San Francisco’s often cheaper to fly to than LA, and when BA launches its Vegas route next month, prices could be driven down further. Fly back from major hubs like New York or Chicago. Most car rental firms allow coast to coast rentals for an extra $150. The cheapest options are National and Avis.

On the road, the glory of the US is that pretty much every exit on the interstate has a choice of motels, so you can drive till you drop without planning everything in advance. Motel 6 (motel6.com) is one of the best bets. For something sexier Hotwire.com sells rooms at huge discounts – four- or five-star pads for under $100. The only catch? You’re not told the name of the hotel until you book it, only the area. But betterbidding.com lists Hotwire hotels so you should be able to work it out.

JULIA BUCKLEY

THE TRIP: SOUTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY

Time: Five weeks and up.

Where to go: Argentina, Brazil and Peru.

No wonder US bankers flocked to Buenos Aires after last year’s crash – you can drown in tango, steak and malbec for the same price as a coffee and sarnie in London.

"You'll be plunged into a world straight out of the movies"

For a weekend of wine-tasting, escape to the vineyards of Mendoza – it’s a 13-hour bus ride but the beautiful countryside more than compensates for it.

Iguaçu Falls on the border with Brazil is a must-see, and Rio de ¬Janeiro is Brazil’s party centre. The statue of Christ the ¬Redeemer, Sugar Loaf Mountain, cachaca-fuelled samba dancing and the ultimate waxing session are all essential. Slow the pace with a stop in Salvador (a two-hour flight from Rio), which boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Even at its most touristy, Peru retains a mystic appeal. Most flights go to Lima (four-and-a-half hours from Rio) and the capital serves as a ¬decompression chamber before you’re absorbed into the ancient delights of the country. Arequipa (14 hours by bus from Lima), Peru’s second largest city, acts as a gateway to colonial Cusco and Machu Picchu, the lost Inca city.

Keep it cheap: Iberia and Air France have regular promotions on flights (Iberia has London-Rio for £410 on lastminute.com). And while buses elsewhere aren’t all that, those in Argentina have cushy seats that turn into beds.

RAVNEET AHLUWALIA

THE TRIP: THE AUSTRALIA TRAIL

Time: Four weeks and up.

Where to go: Hands-down Australia’s prettiest city, Sydney could swallow up your time (and money) with its endless bars, clubs, beautiful people and beaches. After that, it’s just a question of north, south or west.

If it’s north you fancy, make sure you find the time to chill out in hippy haven turned hip holiday destination Byron Bay, near the New South Wales/Queensland border. Then, unless you like meat markets, skip the Gold Coast and head way north. Port Douglas gets you close to one of the seven wonders of the world – the Great Barrier Reef – Cape Tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest.

If west appeals, jump on a plane to Darwin. Once considered the Wild West, Darwin is a great place to find yourself in the Never-Never, or Uluru country. If you have the time, a trip to Katherine to see 40,000-year-old art on rock walls will change your life. Perth’s isolation has left it with its own identity – and you can add to that great beaches and wine.

Victoria in the south has festivals for everything, from comedy to wine. Lose yourself in Melbourne’s tiny lanes, then take a drive along the 243km-long Great Ocean Road between the cities of Torquay and Warrnambool, past the enormous limestone ocean stacks of the Twelve Apostles.

KEEP IT CHEAP: Emirates is offering flights to Perth for £569, and increased competition has seen huge savings on internal flights. Or hire a Wicked Van (wickedcampers.com.au).

PRUE DE GROOT