My life in travel: Lisa Faulkner

'The food was beautiful in Mauritius'

Good taste: Maradiva Villas in Mauritius

Lisa Faulkner will be cooking at The Caravan & Camping Show at Birmingham NEC from 18-23 February.

First holiday memory?

Moraira in Spain. My dad took us to a fish market really early in the morning. I remember seeing the biggest octopus ever and thinking it was amazing.

Favourite place in the British Isles?

West Wittering in West Sussex. My parents had a beach hut there. Rain or shine, we'd be in that hut, with tea and corned-beef sandwiches.

Best holiday?

Mauritius. I stayed at the Maradiva Villas, where Shelina Permalloo, who won MasterChef in 2012, has a cooking school. You could walk into the nearest town, Flic-en-Flac, which was gorgeous, cheap and had beautiful food.

What have you learnt from your travels?

Travel light. You never need as much as you think. I learnt that when I was 16 and I travelled the world – to France, Spain, Mexico, Japan and America – working as a model.

Ideal travelling companion?

My sister. We're best friends and we like doing the same things. We spend a lot of time together at home, but usually there are children running around. On holiday, we can really catch up.

Where has seduced you?

I stayed in Paris for a long time, doing films and modelling. When you go as a tourist, you go to all the attractions. When you live there, I couldn't tell you where I went. I would go to somebody's apartment, a party, a side-street restaurant. Life was about the little shop around the corner and the marché aux puces (flea market) in St-Ouen on a Sunday.

Worst travel experience?

I went to Mexico for a modelling job. We were shooting in the "Thieves' Market" in Mexico City when we were held up at knifepoint. They took our cameras, passports and everything. It was terrifying, but in the end, we got to stay longer because we had no way to get back, so I actually ended up falling in love with Mexico.

Best hotel?

La Mirande in Avignon. The room was so beautiful and the bedding was all white. I've always wanted to go back and have a birthday there, because it's something special.

Best meal abroad?

Le Chateaubriand in Paris. The food was the most exciting I've eaten for such a long time.

Where next?

Italy. I've never been and would love to go.