BEYOND THE LOBBY - ROADTRIPPING

America on the Road: Between Motels and Landscapes

By Jon @whereismyhotel

The American road trip was born from a desire to explore—and escape—closely tied to the rise of the automobile in the early 20th century. What began as an adventure for a few soon became the nation’s preferred way to travel. By the 1920s, the world of RVs and camper vans was already bringing many families to new corners of the country. But it was after World War II—thanks to the boom of the family car and the expansion of the interstate highway system—that the road trip became a truly mass experience.

The car became an extension of the home—a way to cross the country freely and on your own terms. One of the most popular destinations was the national parks, long considered symbols of natural beauty. Photographer Roger Minick, in his series Sightseer (1979–2000), captured anonymous tourists in moments of awe. His images often carry a sense of humor and irony, showing families dressed in colorful outfits, cameras in hand, posing before iconic landscapes—a kind of modern pilgrimage to see and photograph.

Motels were essential to the road trip experience. They emerged in the 1930s as a practical, affordable option—shaped by the landscape and thriving along legendary routes like Route 66. Their bold façades and family-run atmosphere made for safe, comfortable stops. Their golden age came in the 1950s and 60s, though many of these buildings fell into disuse with the spread of modern highways.

The road trip, however, didn’t disappear. It evolved into a more personal and flexible way of traveling—remaining deeply tied to American identity. It was no longer just about exploring landscapes, but also about writing new stories in different places.

Romeos Ibiza brings this tradition of adventure, nostalgia, and discovery to life on the island of Ibiza—reimagining the spirit of the road trip as a unique way to see and experience the island.