If you fancy a fabulous vacation at any time of year, I recommend a road-trip around America. The exchange rate is favorable, so there has never been a better time. Exhilarating sights, non-stop partying and endless possibilities await you.

I recommend going straight to your nearest auto dealership and tracking down a reliable Chevy van or similar. These sturdy beasts are road-trip classics and perfect to fling a mattress into and head off carefree.The beauty of this is that you can sell the van at your final destination and arrive home with money in your pocket. It’s useful to plan a route, but keep it fluid, as invariably recommendations from fellow travelers will send you on welcome diversions.

When I did this trip, I started in Pittsburgh, meaning Niagara Falls was a natural preliminary stop, and I would urge fellow road trippers not to miss it. The waterfalls are impressive examples of the relentless power of nature and promise to dazzle.New York City was next port of call. It is expensive, but being dwarfed by the Statue of Liberty and gazing into the sunset from the top of the Empire State building is unbeatable. Don’t forget to pop into Bloomingdales! 250 miles down the road is Washington DC. Peruse the numerous museums and make the obligatory trip to the White House before visiting a national park for a leisurely stroll.

Shenandoah is within easy reach and should be a welcome change after the city bustle. Campers are welcome and deer, bears, and waterfalls feature greatly in this calming, soulful place.

The Blue Ridge Parkway curves through Shenandoah National Park, and you can see really BIG trees. Follow this highway and it will eventually lead to Nashville, Tennessee, home of country music.

Then cruise through Graceland, Memphis, where people still sob at Elvis’s grave. Just outside Memphis is the Jerry Lee Lewis Ranch, continuing the rock’n’roll vibe. New Orleans continues its Jazz festival this year. So, if you are visiting in the summer, show your support but wear loads of sun lotion, as it gets unbelievably hot. Journeying West will take you to Corpus Christi on the Gulf of Mexico. I parked my van by the beach and sat on the roof drinking a cold beer while watching the sun go down. Despite the many glorious natural wonders that I saw, this one was stiff competition for them all.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona was next on the agenda and I highly recommend it. The insignificance I felt by being surrounded by such a vast expanse is unsurpassed.

It will be approaching the end of your trip by now but try and make time to drive through California’s Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth. Eerie, deserted settlements still remain which settlers were forced to abandon due to the heat. I left the van for half an hour and when I returned it was over 50 degrees and impenetrable, a death trap. Then you will have to drive through California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range en route to San Francisco- Alcatraz is a must see, it is easy to imagine the despair prisoners must have experienced with the bustle of the city a constant reminder of their predicament.

Then cruise down Interstate 5 to Los Angeles before selling the van for a quick buck, then fly home. Have a great trip!!