WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE HOLIDAY?
My honeymoon. I’ve been quite indulgent with travel in my life but the one thing I saved was a safari, because I really wanted to do something special with my future husband – and this was before I had even met him.
We only had six days so it was mental but we went to Tanzania and explored the Ngorongoro Crater.
Afterwards we went to Mnemba Island, which is just off the coast of Zanzibar, and helped the turtles hatch and find their way into the sea.
I got quite ferocious actually as the crabs on the beach were trying to go for the little baby turtles, so I started smashing the crabs out of the way.
Mnemba was incredible. It is a private island resort with 10 cabins right on the Indian Ocean and they served the most amazing seafood.
We also stayed at a tree house resort, which is ironic because the area was famous for the tree-climbing lion.
We had a Maasai watching out for us, underneath the tree house at all times.
AND YOUR WORST?
It wasn’t really bad but it was disappointing. I went to Bali on a girls’ trip when I was younger and I had the most amazing time.
Then I went back 12 years later with my husband and seeing how quickly the country had changed and how bad the traffic was, it was a let-down.
I’d bigged it up to Dougie because he’d never been, saying: “We’re going to paradise”.
It was sad seeing a place of beauty deteriorating.
BEST SOUVENIR?
The first time I went to Maui, about 15 years ago, stand-up paddling was just coming about and I bought a stand-up paddle and a huge 12ft board.
I live on the Thames so I started stand-up paddling in London – no one had seen the sport then, so people were taking photos everywhere I went. I’ve had so much enjoyment on that board.
BEST BOOK?
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search For Everything by Elizabeth Gilbert. It’s amazing and something to inspire you.
It’s about the author’s journey across Italy, India and Indonesia following her divorce.
I love Italy and I really want to do a train trip around it. I went to Florence for a wedding last year and I didn’t realise Rome was only an hour away by train, so I really want to do that.
HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR TIME ON HOLIDAY?
I always want to rest but as soon as I have a day off my body goes into shutdown and I get a cold, so I do a lot of sport.
I love surfing, hiking, exploring, canyoning and jumping down waterfalls. My husband loves it too but now we’ve had a baby it’s a bit more difficult.
WHERE WOULD YOU REVISIT?
Croatia. I went with a friend who works in the travel industry but I think it could be a good family place.
WHERE ARE YOU OFF TO NEXT?
I really wanted to go skiing in Japan on my way back from South Korea. I’ve never skied in Japan and they have the most amazing powder there but I’m too busy.
At the end of the season we’re going to Club La Santa, Lanzarote, which is like a sports camp for adults.
We haven’t planned our summer trip yet. Usually we go to New Zealand or Chile.
The Winter Olympics in South Korea continue until February 25. Information: chemmyalcott.com
