Susan’s Picks

MOST UNDERRATED DESTINATION?

Portugal. It was very relaxed and the food was great. They also have something called fado, a style of singing that happens spontaneously and emotionally in restaurants or cafés. It’s specific to Portugal; that was quite something.

BEST PLACE FOR FOOD?

Italy. Pretty much everywhere you eat in Italy is good, except the Vatican. I went there once for a conference on refugees, and the food was pretty disappointing.

FAVOURITE TRIP TO ASIA?

I went on an Indonesian sailing ship called Silolona through the Ring of Fire, which was just extraordinary. It was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of trip that I took with a few friends. I slept on deck, watched the sunrise and sunset, and went snorkelling with whale sharks.

TRAVEL MUST-HAVES

A sleeping aid of some sort. I’m terrible with jetlag. Other than that, a moisturiser, sunblock, a good book and pictures of my kids.