Marriott International Luxury Group Reimagines The Road Trip With Its Iconic Drives Program
There’s an enduring romance to the open road, memories of family road trips, spontaneous detours, and freedom of moving at your own pace. Marriott International Luxury Group has captured that spirit of wanderlust with Iconic Drives a new program that pairs dream cars — from a twin-turbo V8 Ferrari 488 to the timeless Porsche 911 — with curated routes and luxurious hotel stays. Debuted at five flagship properties across the U.S. and Hawaii, the initiative balances automotive culture and experiential travel, rewarding with journeys every bit as memorable as the destinations themselves: from Arizona's Sonoran Desert to the shores of Maui.
A Taste of Italy in Nashville
The Italian word strada means more than just “road”—it evokes the spirit of the journey and at The Joseph, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Nashville forms the heart of its Italian in Nashville Luxury Auto Escape. Get behind the wheel of a Ferrari 488 GTB or V10-powered Lamborghini Huracán EVO, then trace the Natchez Trace Parkway, a route once traveled by Native Americans and early explorers. All forests and wildflowers, the road is a rolling postcard with must-stops in Franklin or Leipers Fork, where antique shops line the streets. Back at the hotel, slow mornings unfold with gourmet breakfasts: think French toast topped with chocolate-amaretto custard and cherries.Set in the city’s SoBro district, steps from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Broadway’s neon glow, the hotel is a love letter to art and design, with more than 1,000 works curated by the Pizzuti family. Sip cocktails at the rooftop pool at Denim or make reservations for the Esperienza Yolan five-course prix fixe tasting menu at Yolan, which celebrates different regions of Italy.
Explore Hidden Gems in Oregon
If there’s a region that rewards detours, it’s the Pacific Northwest. The Ritz-Carlton, Portland might be centrally located in downtown Portland but its two-night Iconic Drives package comes with a choice of vehicle from the Exotic Car Collection by Enterprise—from a high-octane Porsche 911 or Corvette C8, to the elegant restraint of a Range Rover Sport or Porsche Macan—for getting out to explore Oregon’s most scenic routes, celebrated dining spots, and hidden treasures. Bespole itineraries are crafted by the concierge team, ensuring drives feel personal, not prescriptive. One day might mean weaving through vineyard-laced valleys for Pinot Noir tastings; another might lead to the Oregon Coast, where lighthouses stand sentinel. The package is paired with a daily breakfast for two at elegant 20th floor restaurant, Bellpine, which boasts striking views of the city skyline and the Cascade Range. Just one floor below, is sanctuary of calm The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Portland, which features ESPA treatments. For original mixology and Japanese-inspired cuisine, head to the hotel’s lobby lounge, Meadowrue.
Paradise Found in Maui
Some drives test performance, and some etch themselves into memory. Maui’s legendary Road to Hana is the latter: a 64-mile serpentine stretch through rainforest, waterfalls, and ocean cliffs that demands a slower pace but rewards with views at every turn. The Maui in Motion package at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, will set you up for the journey with $200 toward a vehicle through Go Rentals—perhaps a Cadillac Escalade, or something rugged and island-ready like a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota 4Runner – plus a gourmet picnic basket to linger over at one of the lookouts.Drive routes don’t stop at Hana. They also lead into Maui's Upcountry, where rolling farmland, ranches, and historic towns like Makawao reveal a slower pace of life focused on local food and the natural beauty of the mountains. For post-drive relaxation, the resort itself is a secluded sanctuary. Tucked into the spectacular Kapalua coastal preserve on the island’s north shore, luxury suite accommodations include access to The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge and a $500 spa credit to use at The Ritz-Carlton Spa Maui, Kapalua.
Coastal Cruising in North Florida
With its Victorian-era architecture, cobblestoned streets, and live oaks draped in Spanish moss, Amelia Island in Florida’s Nassau County feels like a place where the past lingers–and its coastline best discovered with the windows down. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, invites guests to do just that with its exclusive drive program, where you'll be handed the keys to a Mercedes-Benz for four-hour stretches each day, along with a curated Beach Road Trip Driving Guide. Set the pace along dune-backed roads that hug the shoreline, detours past harbors dotted with shrimp boats, and salt marshes alive with herons and egrets. Back at the resort, the sense of ease continues. Mornings begin at Coast, the oceanfront restaurant framed by sweeping views of the Atlantic, while evenings are for settling into club- and suite-level accommodations that feature expansive living spaces, marble bathrooms, and balconies that look across Fernandina Beach.
A Desert Road Trip in Arizona
For fans of rugged landscapes, the Arizona Road Trip package at the AAA 4-Diamond JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in northern Phoenix promises a memorable desert escape and drive experience. Settle into your elegant one-bedroom suite before grabbing the keys to a new Range Rover and heading out on a scenic route from Phoenix to Sedona, where desert highways and winding switchbacks pass towering saguaros, before rising into a landscape of crimson cliffs and cathedral-like rock formations.With rest stops—from vortex hikes to gallery visits—factored into the journey. Set on 316 acres of Sonoran Desert, the property features amenities and activities from a golf club and spa to pickleball courts. Breakfast for two at award-winning southwestern restaurant Tia Carmen is also included in the package, available through December 29.
www.marriott.com/luxury/experiences/iconic-drives
