WHICH WAS YOUR BEST HOLIDAY?

A trip to France in 2009. We went to the lakeside town of Annecy to catch a stage of the Tour de France; it was breathtakingly beautiful and the atmosphere was fantastic and carnival-like. It was also the first time I'd watched the tour live, something I'd always wanted to see. I love active holidays, and Annecy is perfectly set up to spend all day on a bike, running, rollerblading or walking around. The lake, despite being at the foot of snow-capped mountains, is warm enough to swim in during summer as well.

AND THE BEST HOTEL YOU'VE STAYED IN?

The Intercontinental in Sydney. I love the old sandstone building and there's really no better place to take in the views of the entire city, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Botanic Gardens. I love being able to walk straight out into the CBD to explore, into the gardens for a run or up to the top floor of the hotel for a swim. The Hilton in Barbados also stands out because of its private beach.

WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE WITH YOU?

A pair of running shoes.

WHAT'S YOUR BEST PIECE OF TRAVEL ADVICE?

The best way to explore and get a feel for the place you're staying in is to get out on foot and walk or run. You take in far more of your surroundings than you do in a car or bus. It's also a great way to get over jet lag.

AND YOUR WORST EXPERIENCE ON HOLIDAY?

Getting lost in the middle of Paris in a hire car. We had no idea how to navigate all the one-way streets and dead ends, and it took us three hours to travel the three kilometres to our hotel. Since then, I've always made sure there's a sat nav in any car I hire!

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?

I'd love to go to New York and San Francisco, not just to see their iconic landmarks, but also to experience their unique cultures. I also really love coffee and trying new cafes, and both New York and San Francisco have cool, growing cafe scenes.