Chris West

When I’m not at work or travelling I’m…

Playing football, running, socialising down the pub or at friends houses and always up for trying a new hobby.

My favourite band and football team are…

Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Brighton and Hove Albion.

If I wasn’t working for Travel Nation I would be…

Cycling around the world with a tent and all the necessities to live in 4 panniers.

Top 3 places

Cycling the Columbia Icefield Parkway in the Rockies during a 3-month trans-Canada cycle expedition, trekking Torres Del Paine National park, Chile, with 2 friends in mid-winter including sections of knee-deep snow and without seeing another person for 5 days, trekking to Annapurna Base Camp, Nepal.

On my RTW trip, I spent longer than expected in...

Laos - such an amazing, chilled out place. Very friendly people, beautiful scenery and great water sports available on the rivers. A completely different pace of life when arriving from hugely populated China.

What are your top 5 must-pack items?

Headtorch, Pen Knife, Guidebook, Trekking shoes, sunglasses.

When staying in a hotel room for more than one night do you a) Unpack your bags or b) Live from your rucksack?

It is questionable whether you can call it unpacking - more a chaotic emptying of bags and creating carnage within seconds.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why?

Canada - amazing scenery and activities abound, very friendly people, relaxed atmosphere.

What was your first great travel experience?

Travelling to Bolivia at 18 on a one-month expedition with a party from school. We helped build a kitchen for a school, trekked over 5000m in the Andes, visited the Amazon jungle. It definitely gave me a taste of adventure and led to a whole lot more…

What is your favourite hotel, why and where is it?

Soneva Fushi, Maldives. For 5-star luxury on a beautiful island surrounded by coral reef, you cannot beat it.

Which is your favourite beach, where is it and why?

Tayrona National park, Colombia - stunning beaches complete with Seychelles-esque huge boulders and surrounded by jungle.

Which passport stamp are you proudest of?

A cancelled Chinese visa - a bureaucratic nightmare and no-one seems to know the actual requirements when visiting Tibet.

Where/what would you really like to visit?

Borneo and hopefully will do so next year on honeymoon- some of the world's best diving, beautiful islands, wildlife, huge caves, trekking. A perfect mix.

What is the weirdest thing you have eaten whilst abroad?

Pig's Brain soup in China - I would not recommend it.

If you had just 24 hours in a big city which one would it be?

Sydney - great place with lots to visit in the day including all the usual city highlights plus fantastic beaches and coastal walks followed by a great party atmosphere in the evening.

What’s the best party you have been to whilst travelling?

Halloween on Caye Caulker, Belize. The whole island - locals and tourists - all dressed up and hit the few bars there were.

What do you miss most from home whilst you are away?

Friends and family and home cooked food during long trips away.