My Kind of Holiday
Where did you spend your last holiday?
In Hermanus and the Overstrand region.
What was the best thing you did while there?
Surfing and fishing, golf, wine tasting and shopping at markets all competed with family walks on the beach and mountain, whale watching and good old family meals and “geselstyd”.
Your favourite city abroad, and why?
Boston, US. I like the olde world/new world mix and mash-up of things to do.
What must a first-time visitor see there?
Harvard University; the city itself; the JFK Museum; catch the Celtics (basketball) and the Red Sox (baseball); and visit some markets.
What was your best holiday, ever?
Big call — I love holidays. Maldives with my wife; our honeymoon in East Africa; fishing in Madagascar with friends; Cape St Francis with family.
What was your worst holiday ever? What happened?
I booked a surprise trip for my wife to Norway one Christmas. It was great value, but that’s because the Scandinavian people all celebrate Christmas at home and the city emptied out completely for five days of our six-day trip.
Which is the worst hotel you have stayed in?
Probably that one — it was in the middle of Oslo, running on a skeleton staff and it was 0°C outside. We had to run from the coffee shop to the bus shelter just to survive the cold.
Who would be your fantasy holiday companion and why?
I am a man’s man and a fishing trip with “the boys” always lives up to expectations.
Your favourite SA destination and why?
Definitely the Overstrand, right up the coast from Cape Town. It’s got the flora and fauna, the people, the wine and the sea.
Your favourite restaurant, anywhere?
Sophie’s, a steakhouse on Fulham Road in London.
One place you want to see before you die?
Africa, preferably on a road trip from here to London (and maybe back).
What do you avoid on holiday?
People who are too hard to please. I believe the journey is half the holiday, so rushing to queue and mark off the sights is all so fruitless and frustrating. I prefer to have a look around, meet someone, see something and enjoy the moment. Bob Skinstad is a former Springbok rugby captain, businessman and Overstrand region tourism ambassador