London, UK – January 7, 2019 - Route 66 has been named as the most Instagram-worthy road trip in the world, according to Brits. The study, commissioned by Hertz in the UK, polled 2,000 adults to identify the latest trends in road trip holidays and found the top three routes were made up of US-based trips. These include the Grand Canyon and the Pacific Coast Highway, with 56 percent of respondents naming the U.S. as the road trip capital of the world.

The research also identified key ingredients for a successful road trip, which include wide-open roads, driving past famous attractions and spotting wildlife along the way.  Discovering views and taking in the scenery is the main purpose for adults over 38 years old (over 38s) going on a road trip, while millennials want to enjoy a new experience.

Following the research, Hertz has launched three new routes to its USA Road Trip Planner: Canyons of Arizona and Nevada, California Surfing and Totally Texas, providing inspiration for routes to experience iconic and off-the-beaten track scenic drives and pit-stops. A free online resource, the Hertz Road Trip Planner also features the legendary Route 66, along with 30 other bespoke routes across the USA.

Temerity Vinson, Senior Director International Marketing, Hertz said: “The survey results clearly show how much adventurers love the USA for a road trip. The influence of social media has had a huge impact on destinations of choice, bringing increased awareness of less well-known areas, as well as ensuring that gems such as the Route 66 are still as popular as ever.

“Hertz is always dedicated to finding new ways to help our customers plan their dream trip. Our USA Road Trip Planner can help our customers experience a different culture, discover new cuisines or visit famous landmarks.”

Of millennials, more than two thirds admitted the places they see on Instagram affect their choice of location, compared to only 13 percent of over 38s.  In fact, 30 percent of millennials said they are unlikely to visit somewhere if they’ve never seen photos of it on Instagram. Hashtags and location tags have become a new way to research the next travel destination and four in 10 millennials use the platform to discover new points of interest and places to visit.

The survey, conducted via OnePoll in December 2018, found an average of 12 photos a day are taken on a holiday or a trip. Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they are most likely to take a photo of a landscape or cityscape while on a trip. But double the number of millennials compared to the over 38s are likely to take a photo of their food.

It seems that photographs make memories, with 36 percent of millennials saying that they would struggle to remember their trip if they didn’t post a photo of it, compared to 19 percent of over 38s of the same opinion.  Furthermore, one in 10 respondents admitted to visiting somewhere purely because they want to share it on Instagram.

When it comes to planning, it takes an average of six months to arrange an adventure of a lifetime. Twenty percent of respondents would like to combine creating their own route with a structured drive.

For road trip inspiration, travellers are welcome to check out Hertz.com/USARoadTripPlanner and the new @HertzRoadTrip Instagram channel. Hertz is also inviting road trippers to share their road trip experiences by tagging @HertzUK (Facebook & Twitter).

• ENDS –

Notes to Editors

The top 10 routes are:

1.       Route 66 - U.S
2.       Grand Canyon - U.S
3.       Pacific Coast Highway –U.S
4.       West Coast Perth to Broome - Australia
5.       South Island Circuit – New Zealand
6.       Great Ocean Road – Australia
7.       Cowboy Trail - Canada
8.       The Argyll Coastal Route – Scotland
9.       Ring Road – Iceland
10.     Snowdonia – Wales 

IMAGES

High res image of Route 66, Arizona and the Pacific Coast Highway are available upon request.

The Hertz Road Trip Planner is a free online resource that brings together 31 bespoke routes across the USA. It provides iconic and off-the-beaten track routes with downloadable maps and insiders’ guides to the best pit-stops including significant landmarks and sights, historical and cultural locations and little-known attractions. To discover an ideal route, travellers simply choose a region of the USA and select from a range of different interests, including: family, culture, food, nature, history and shopping. Hertz then suggests routes detailing the distance, number of stops and estimated journey time, along with a step-by-step guide describing each carefully chosen pit stop.   

The new routes are:

• Canyons of Arizona & Nevada – to mark 100th anniversary of the Grand Canyons’ national park status in February 2019, this route provides suggestions for exploring some of the most incredible scenery in the USA, incorporating a little cowboy culture along the way.
• California Surfing – with surfing set to become an Olympic sport in 2020, explore California’s Pacific Coast Highway from the surfing culture perspective.
• Totally Texas – to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Buddy Holly’s death in 2019 the route guides you through the diverse Lone Star State. From skyscrapers and contemporary culture to Texan heritage, including a stop at Buddy’s home in Lubbock, adventurers can explore from Dallas to the South Coast.

VIDEO

A video of the Road Trip Planner tool is available

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/BsYBM45lVJ8/

Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/HertzUK/videos/2109374102489419/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HertzUK/status/1082616610148532225

About Hertz: 

The Hertz Corporation, a subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., operates the Hertz, Dollar, Thrifty and Firefly vehicle rental brands in approximately 10,200 corporate and franchisee locations throughout North America, Europe, The Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Hertz Corporation is one of the largest worldwide rental companies, and the Hertz brand is one of the most recognized in the world. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Ultimate Choice, Carfirmations, Mobile Wi-Fi and unique vehicles offered through the Adrenaline, Dream, Green and Prestige Collections set Hertz apart from the competition. Additionally, The Hertz Corporation owns the vehicle leasing and fleet management leader Donlen, operates the Hertz 24/7 car sharing business in international markets, and sells vehicles through Hertz Car Sales. For more information about The Hertz Corporation, visit: www.hertz.com.

For more information contact

Samantha Tillotson

Senior Account Director

Gosh PR

Lower Ground Floor

Europoint Centre

5-11 Lavington Street

London, SE1 0NZ

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7871 2915

Email: Samantha@goshPR.co.uk