My Kind of Holiday
Where did you spend your last holiday?
I travel often for work and I recently stayed on in Paris after a job for a few days to explore the city.
What was the best thing you did while there?
Spending a day at the Louvre. As an art geek, it’s always been a dream of mine to wander those halls.
Your favourite city abroad and why?
Amalfi, or anywhere on the Italian coast.
What must a first-time visitor see there?
Amalfi is a sensory destination: the food, the views, the drinks and the gelato. Try limoncello, discover a hidden beach, take a day trip to Capri, rent a boat and enjoy a day on the water …
What should they not bother with?
The best pizza I’ve eaten was in Italy, and the worst pizza I’ve eaten was in Italy. Avoid the main roads and venture down alleyways to humble-looking trattorias. You have to eat like a local if you want real Italian food.
What was your best holiday ever?
The year I graduated from university, my best friend and I road-tripped to Cape Town. (After two solid weeks of partying, the hung-over, 13-hour drive back was a nightmare, though).
And your worst to date? What happened?
I haven’t had a terrible holiday, but I have had some crazy experiences. I was in Taksim Square during the riots in Turkey recently; I was in a hotel that caught fire in London; I had food poisoning on my 10-hour flight home from Turkey; and I have a knack of getting lost in every underground/metro in every country I visit — all exhilarating, frightening and exciting.
Which is the worst hotel you’ve stayed in?
In London, I stayed in a super-budget hotel. The beds were so dirty, I slept zipped up inside a suit bag.
Have you had any embarrassing moments as a traveller?
In Italy, I made an unplanned trip to the Vatican. I didn’t realise I would need to cover my shoulders and, after an hour queuing in the blistering sun, I wasn’t about to leave. I had an H&M plastic packet, which I ripped in half and used to cover my shoulders.
What do you avoid on holiday?
Crowds, McDonald’s, high heels.