Luxury Travel Podcast | Why Road Trips Are Defining Luxury Travel in 2026 | Winged Boots

What is it about the open road that turns a holiday into something far more personal than a journey from A to B? In this episode of The Luxury Travel Podcast, we explore why road trips are one of 2026’s most exciting travel trends, from Colorado’s Wild West towns and steam trains to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, Big Sur and Australia’s Great Ocean Road. We discuss the freedom of travelling at your own pace, the beauty of unexpected stopovers, and why self-drive itineraries are perfect for those who want to see more, stay longer and feel closer to the places they visit. From white-water rafting in Glenwood Springs and vineyard cycling in Napa to hot air ballooning over Melbourne and helicopter rides above the Twelve Apostles, this is a conversation about scenic detours, shared stories, local flavour and the rare joy of letting the journey become the destination. Inspired? Start planning your next journey today with Winged Boots: WhatsApp: https://api.whatsapp.com/send/?phone=... Call: 0203 816 0985 Enquire: https://www.wingedboots.co.uk/contact... Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to The Luxury Travel Podcast 00:32 Why road trips are booming for 2026 01:18 Colorado as the ultimate Wild West road trip 02:18 Steam trains, Silverton and stepping back in time 03:03 Black Canyon views and Mesa Verde’s ancient ruins 04:40 Summer in Colorado’s mountain resorts 05:26 Hot springs and white-water rafting in Glenwood Springs 07:14 Discovering Denver’s foodie scene and Red Rocks 08:00 The Yellowstone effect and cowboy culture travel trend 08:42 Favourite moments from Colorado 09:16 RV road trips through the American West 10:28 What no one tells you about travelling by RV 11:40 Vegas, Sequoia and Yosemite National Park 12:28 Lake Tahoe surprises and bear country 13:17 Cycling through Napa Valley vineyards 13:31 San Francisco, Alcatraz and iconic landmarks 14:20 Big Sur and Carmel-by-the-Sea 16:04 Why Napa Valley was a standout stop 16:37 Australia’s Victoria road trip adventure 17:04 First impressions of Melbourne 17:50 Sunrise hot air ballooning over the city 18:22 Melbourne’s coffee culture and hidden laneways 18:47 Gold rush towns and wildlife encounters 19:21 Staying on a vineyard in the Grampians 20:17 Aboriginal heritage experiences and trying eel 21:26 Koalas, snakes and Australia’s wild side 21:54 Driving the Great Ocean Road 22:53 Helicopter views over the Twelve Apostles 23:48 Why Victoria deserves more attention 24:22 Dreaming of Canada and the Rockies next