When I’m not at work or travelling, I’m…
Eating or cooking or working it off in the gym!
My favourite band is…
Kasabian/Arctic Monkeys – too close to call.
If I weren’t working for Travel Nation, I would be…
On a sandy beach somewhere with a frozen daiquiri.
On my round the world trip I spent longer than expected in…
New Zealand. I remember landing in Christchurch and driving to Queenstown – anyone that has done that drive, will know why I decided to stay there! Two and a half years later I came home.
What are your top 5 must-pack items?
Speakers, camera, mosquito spray, bikini, passport.
When staying in a hotel room for more than one night do you a) unpack your bags or b) live from your rucksack?
I plan on living out of a rucksack but within minutes, the contents are usually emptied onto the floor.
What was your first great travel experience?
I won a trip as part of a global competition with a company called G Adventures and travelled to Peru with 100 other agents from around the world. It was a whirlwind trip of 6 days but I have never had so much fun – we visited the natural wonder that is Machu Picchu by train, used my bare feet to mix clay and straw to build houses, visited an incredible project in the Sacred Valley where the locals threw us a surprise party after eating the best local cuisine (including Guinea Pig)
What are your top 3 places in the world?
Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, Peru
What is your favourite hotel, why and where is it?
Banyan Tree – Bangkok. The views from the rooftop restaurant “Vertigo” are incredible. The club suite is totally worth the extra money as they have panoramic views over Bangkok.
Which is your favourite beach, where is it and why?
Ee Island (Ee Motu) on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands is untouched beauty. The water is so shallow and the sand is like flour.
Which passport stamp are you proudest of?
One Foot Island – Cook Islands.
Do you have any ‘pet hates’ whilst travelling?
Sharing a room with someone who snores.
Where/what would you really like to visit?
Bali, Cuba and Chile are next on my list.
What is the weirdest thing you have eaten whilst abroad?
Maggots on Khao San Road, Bangkok.
What’s the best/worst thing you’ve eaten on your travels?
Best – Ceviche in Cusco, Worst – Sea Urchin in Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
Have you ever worked abroad?
I worked in Port Douglas in Australia teaching scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef. I also worked in quite a few bars in Queenstown, New Zealand. I also owned a sandwich deli in Queenstown which I loved.
If you had just 24 hours in a big city which one would it be?
I adore Tokyo. It is crazy, loud, bright and eccentric. Japanese food is also my favourite.
What’s the best party you have been to whilst travelling?
Full Moon on New Year’s Eve 2010 on Koh Phangan, Thailand along with 30,000 other people.
