The United States is a destination of almost incomprehensible variety — a country so vast and diverse that a dozen holidays barely scratch the surface. The East Coast offers a concentration of iconic cities: New York, a city that needs no introduction, where the energy of Manhattan remains one of travel’s great thrills; Washington DC, a city of monumental civic architecture and world-class free museums; Boston, charming, walkable and deeply historical; and Miami, a city of beautiful people, Art Deco architecture and a Latin energy that feels unlike anywhere else in the country.

The South brings a completely different character: New Orleans is one of America’s most extraordinary cities — jazz music drifting from every doorway, antebellum architecture, extraordinary Creole and Cajun cuisine and a spirit of celebration that pervades every neighbourhood. Nashville is the home of country music and one of America’s fastest-rising culinary destinations. Charleston in South Carolina is elegant, historic and one of the most beautiful cities in the American South.

The American West is a landscape of staggering scale. The national parks — Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yosemite — represent some of the most spectacular scenery on earth and reward road trip itineraries of any length. Las Vegas is a phenomenon all its own. California delivers the Pacific Coast Highway, San Francisco’s iconic hills and bay, Napa Valley wine country and the endless sunshine of Los Angeles.

For families, Florida offers the undisputed global centre of theme park entertainment — Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and SeaWorld — paired with excellent beaches and the extraordinary ecosystem of the Everglades. The USA is a supremely well-organised long-haul destination with direct flights from Dublin to multiple cities.