Neil Fox: My Life In Travel

'My wife and I are happy to rough it. There's more to life than a nice spa'

First holiday memory?

Going caravanning in the south of France with my parents and two older brothers. I remember being in a lovely campsite next to a beach, which was shaded by pine trees. My parents taught me enough French to go and buy a baguette every morning.

Best holiday?

My honeymoon. My wife Vicky and I went to Barbados and did nothing for a week to relax after the excitement of the wedding. We both love adventure so after that we went to Ecuador and travelled around, which was amazing. While we were there the Guagua Pichincha volcano erupted, which stopped us flying out of Quito. We had to fly on a tiny plane to a port called Guayaquil and then on to Miami to get back home. We also visited the Galapagos Islands and spent a week on a boat exploring which was fascinating - each island was totally different.

Favourite place in the British Isles?

I have a helicopter licence and I recently flew down to Land's End via the Isle of Wight with some friends. We flew back along the north Cornish coast and I realised how gorgeous the south coast is.

What have you learnt from your travels?

Although the world is incredibly diverse, mankind is the same the world over. Also, if you can't speak the language of the country you are in, a smile is universal.

Ideal travelling companion?

My wife, because we're so compatible. We're quite happy to rough it. There's more to life than a nice spa or hotel - although we do enjoy spending time in them, too.

Greatest travel luxury?

A credit card with no limit and my iPod with its fold-out speakers.

Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?

All three. Every year I try to do a bike trip in the States with an American friend of mine, which I love because I'm a big Harley Davidson fan. My favourite resort is Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, which I can't rave about enough. It's a great place to go and relax with the family.

Holiday reading?

I like biographies. I'm reading Piers Morgan's The Insider, which is a brilliantly written insight into the world of media and celebrity.

Where has seduced you?

You can fall in love with places for different reasons. The Galapagos was one place I fell in love with, but I wouldn't want to live there. We recently rented the most amazing beach villa in Malibu for five weeks and I could easily live there. There was hardly anyone on the beach and we saw dolphins every morning, yet it is just three quarters of an hour from Los Angeles. It was magical.

Better to travel or arrive?

The worst thing is travelling home. Getting there is exciting because you have expectations ahead of you. Planning a holiday can keep you going through bad times. Sadly, the trip is always over too quickly.

Worst travel experience?

Luckily I haven't had any disastrous experiences other than cancelled planes or erupting volcanoes.

Worst holiday?

Lots of people had suggested going on the Blue Train in South Africa, which was stunning. However, when we stopped along the way we saw people living in abject poverty, which made us feel really uncomfortable because we were on this ridiculously expensive train.

Worst hotel?

I'm not going to name names, but recently I had to do an outside broadcast in Barbados and stayed in a dreadful hotel. Sadly, we arrived and were told that a hurricane was about to hit the island, so had to fly home the next day. The hotel we were put up in for the night was absolutely appalling. It was meant to be a four-star hotel and I wouldn't even have given it one.

Best hotel?

The Saint Géran is hard to beat. There's also a beautiful hotel called El Monasterio in Cuzco, Peru, which is stunning; the location is incredible because it's up in the Andes.

Favourite walk/swim/ride/drive?

A road trip in America in an area called Four Corners where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet at right angles. I love riding a bike around there, because it's so diverse and breathtaking. You see desert, mountains and salt flats - and hardly any people.

Best meal abroad?

We once stayed at a fantastic place called Palazzo Terranova, at the top of a valley in Umbria. It is owned by an English family and they grow a lot of their own produce. The meal that I ate there was one of the best I've ever had.

First thing you do when you arrive somewhere new?

Unpack and make the hotel room feel like home and then find out where everything is. If I'm by the coast I love walking on the beach with no shoes on.

Dream trip?

I'd like to take a year out and go travelling with my family. I like seeing what it's like actually living somewhere, rather than just staying in a luxury hotel.

Favourite city?

My home town, London. It's hard to beat.

Where next?

We try to take four holidays a year. Because our children are quite young, long weekends are great because we can get away on our own. Our next trip will probably be a weekend in St Petersburg with a group of friends.

Neil Fox is supporting the World's Biggest Coffee Morning on 30 September in aid of Macmillan Cancer Relief. Register at www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee or call 0845 602 1246.