How do you pass the time in the air?
I always have a drink or two, but that’s really about it. I can’t drink any
more than that because I’m only five feet two inches and it just goes
straight to my head. I have my iPod nano to pass the time and listen to
Keane, Jack Johnson, The Lighthouse Family and some opera and classical
music. It’s very difficult to listen to a whole opera on an iPod without
subtitles, so I usually just listen to some highlights. I speak Italian and
French, but even if my Italian was perfect I wouldn’t be able to understand
all of the opera, because they sing in different dialects.
I also read on flights. I like something easy, like Jodi
Picoult’s Second Glance or something a bit harder, like David
Baldacci’s Stone Cold.
How do you buy your tickets?
Well, not surprisingly, I shop online! I recommend www.kayak.co.uk
to people who are looking for hotels or flights because they have the widest
choice. I’m also a big fan of www.tripadvisor.co.uk
because it has honest accounts of places from people who have been there.
What’s your favourite place?
It has to be San Francisco. It’s multi-ethnic, it’s got a micro climate, it’s
within an easy distance of some amazing scenery and, of course, there are
fantastic shops. Everything about the area is incredible; I drove for two
and a half hours and the temperature went up by 15C in that space of time.
Do you travel much in the UK?
I do because you have to know what is selling here. I’ve got two sons in
Edinburgh so I go up there and also use it as an opportunity to check out
the shops. We live in Buckinghamshire and I’ve got an old Range Rover. It’s
got a 4.6 litre engine and takes a tank and a half of petrol to get up to
Edinburgh if we drive. That doesn’t sound too bad but the tank is enormous!
Do you ever take the train?
Yes, frequently. If you go a long distance, for example to Edinburgh, you’ve
really got to be careful and pick the best time to go. If you book ages in
advance and go off-peak, it’s possible to travel for as little as £20. But a
peak season ticket costs hundreds, it’s crazy money. I use the train into
London from Buckinghamshire and it only costs £11.50 with a travelcard,
which is terrific value. You’ve got to be daft to drive into London, surely?
I’ll avoid it because I don’t like paying the congestion charge or the
parking fees.
What type of hotel do you look for?
My favourite hotel is the Grand-Hotel
du Cap-Ferrat, between Nice and Monaco. When I went out to dinner, they
sent their Bentley to pick me up afterwards. But it’s a different story when
I’m paying! Essentially, I want something as comfortable as possible in the
price bracket that I can afford. Preferably somewhere that is four star or
above and on a good deal. I’m gong to Exeter soon and staying in a Thistle
hotel, although I haven’t tried them before. In San Francisco, I stayed in a
Westin, which was nice. I like the hotel to be in the centre of town but
quiet, if that’s possible, and I like a gym and a very large swimming pool.
I’m a big fan of swimming. But that’s about it really.
You often can’t tell what a place is like until it’s too late. The problem
with the star rating system is that it varies so much. You can get some
great three-star hotels and some average four-star properties.
Do you do much socialising with contacts?
I used to, but I’ve been married 21 years and I haven’t had a good night out
in quite a while! Seriously, I’m in the country in Buckinghamshire, so I
don’t have lots of nights out in London.
