Iwan Rheon: My life in travel

'After watching "The Killing" I want to go to Denmark and solve some murders'

Very Moorish: the city of Granada in Spain is a favourite (Getty)

Iwan Rheon stars in "Game of Thrones" and is currently appearing in "Our Girl", broadcast Sundays on BBC1 at 9pm

First holiday memory?

Being in a hotel in Cornwall. I can't remember what the place was called now but it was near Newquay, and I was with my family. I must have been about four. I remember there was an indoor pool which really impressed me. Apart from that it was probably being in a tent in North Wales in a terrible storm, hoping that I didn't get blown away.

Favourite place in the British Isles?

Whitesands Bay, near St David's in Pembrokeshire. It's where I used to go on holiday with all the boys when we were about 16. It was our first time away from home and we'd stay in my mate's caravan. We got up to all sorts. It's a beautiful beach; a really amazing part of the world. I still go there, but now it's all stag dos.

Best holiday?

I went to Costa Rica a couple of years ago and travelled around. I think that was probably the most expensive one because we were there for about three weeks going from place to place and just seeing the country. It was amazing, so many different ecosystems, and awesome rainforests and beaches, and the people were amazing as well. We just tried to see as much of the country as possible, going on canopy tours and swimming in the Caribbean – it was pretty special. And the sunsets over the Pacific are just out of this world.

What have you learnt from your travels?

Not to do anything stupid. I think it depends where you are, but you've got to keep your head on. Some places are a bit dodgier than others. I also always try to learn the language of whichever country I'm in so that I'm not just one of those British tourists who demands to be spoken to in English.

Ideal travelling companion?

My girlfriend. Since we've been together we've been to lots of different places. I was working in South Africa at the beginning of the year for Our Girl and on the weekends we'd drive to the middle of nowhere. We're good together because we both like sleeping and not having too much of an itinerary.

Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?

Probably culture more than anything, I get really bored on beaches, I can't just lie there and sunbathe. When I'm in a new city I like simply walking around, not having any aim, not going in any direction, seeing different things.

Greatest travel luxury?

Maybe I'm a bit weird but I always take a torch with me, you never know when you might need it. Probably something instilled in me from my camping days.

Worst travel experience?

I was on a flight from Venezuela and there was a massive storm over Cuba. You'd look out of the window and the sky was black. The turbulence was unbelievable and turbulence is a bit scary, isn't it? Everyone was really tense which was horrible because it's so infectious. I'm normally OK with flying if I don't think about it too much.

Worst hotel?

Recently, when we were working on Our Girl, we turned up at a hotel, ready to start shooting the next day. We were all really tired but when we arrived there was a massive wedding going on and everyone was smashed. There were fights in the car park and everything.

Best hotel?

I stayed in a wonderful place in Amsterdam called The Dylan, after Dylan Thomas. It was my girlfriend's birthday and I took her there because it was quite swanky. It has a Michelin-star restaurant and this beautiful living room.

Favourite walk?

Probably walking up Snowdon. I've done it a couple of times throughout my life because all my family are from North Wales. It's like being on the Moon sometimes.

Best meal abroad?

I was working in Venezuela and there was this big barbecue thing the day I arrived. That was awesome. It was a massive culture shock and I was just thrown into the middle of it. There were guys playing the tambora (drum) and loads of music going on.

Favourite city?

Granada in southern Spain is right up there. It's just got so much going on and there's that amazing cross between Spanish and Moorish culture in food and music. It's a pretty cool place.

Where next?

I want to go to Copenhagen. We're thinking about where to go for New Year and it would be cool to go somewhere new. I've been watching lots of The Killing lately and it's kind of made me want to go to Denmark and solve some murders.