Tell us something about yourself

By day I’m the PA to the managing director of a large insurance company; but after hours I wear various hats – actress, dancer, writer, translator, lover of all things vintage, and a regular at gigs and theatrical events.

How often do you travel?

As often as I can. But it always feels like not often enough.

Do you remember your first time abroad and can you tell us about it?

I was about nine and it was a trip to Sicily with my parents. Several funny things happened on that trip but the thing I remember most was discovering that yoghurts abroad came in a variety of creamy flavours as opposed to the white, watery kind back home.

Best holiday ever and why?

I honestly cannot pinpoint the best holiday ever, because they were mostly all good in their own way. So I’ll mention the most recent ones, which were a wedding in the Cotswolds and a week in a beachfront villa near Cefalu with old friends. On all these holidays I experienced beautiful scenery and good times with wonderful people.

Which place would you never visit and why?

Unfortunately, I’d have to say Thailand or similar places. I have a terrible gecko phobia and every time somebody returns from there I am told that the phrase “Imagine if Becky were here!” was used regularly. Some meanies even sent me photos of the creatures – you know who you are!

Best travel companion?

Someone who is happy to go with the flow, because when I travel I don’t like sticking to a rigid itinerary. When you find that a travel companion is completely on the same wavelength with regards to daily preferences, then that is very serendipitous indeed.

And what’s the worst your travel companion could do?

I’ve been very lucky so far, but I would find it irritating if a travel companion were to be really loud in public or disrespect the local culture. Incessant moaning and complaining is also frowned upon.

What do you usually look for when you travel?

A little bit of everything... it all depends on the destination. If it’s a city, I look for live music events, shows, museums and galleries, vintage shops, markets, shopping and food. However, a lot can also be said for the type of holiday where your only dilemma is which cocktail to choose and which book to read next.

Don’t be afraid of getting lost

The perfect holiday would be?

New York on an unlimited budget.

What’s the furthest you’ve been from home?

Twice to Canada and once to Mexico.

Package tours or DIY?

Definitely DIY – choosing where to stay and what to experience is part of the fun.

What’s the best travel advice you can give?

Don’t be afraid of getting lost – go down that interesting alley, follow where the music is coming from. Leaving yourself open to unexpected discoveries is quite the best way to experience a destination. However, as much as possible, try not to look like a tourist.

And what’s the worst piece of advice you’ve been given?

Around 1994 a friend and I were once crossing from Vienna to Budapest by train quite late at night and on the train I asked somebody the best way to get to our hotel address. He recommended a taxi, but advised us to avoid the drivers inside the station (“Bad men”) and to take one from the taxi stand outside instead. What he failed to mention was that the minute we stepped off the train onto the platform we would be assailed by taxi drivers from all directions and the same drivers followed us out of the station, so we weren’t to know which were the good guys or the bad guys. I picked one at random and my friend and I sat glued to the passenger doors ready to jump out at the first sign of dodgy behaviour. He stopped us outside a door flashing a peep-show sign and I thought this was the part where we would be sold off as sex slaves, but it turned out that our hotel was just next door.

Flying – hate it/love it/neutral?

Love it when I’m fortunate enough to be seated in club class or have an empty seat next to mine. Hate it when there’s somebody hitting the back of my seat. But mostly neutral, as it’s just a means to an end.

The one place you never get tired of visiting?

So far I’d have to say London.

Describe a memory that stuck with you from a place?

Too many to mention. Sometimes, if I’m experiencing some particularly beautiful scenery I’m almost loathe to photograph it and would rather have it seared into my memory for posterity, for fear that no photo could ever do it justice. Having said that, I do recall one particular evening, drinking wine while watching the sunset over the sea with friends on our terrace in Mykonos. I remember saying, “Life simply doesn’t get much better than this”. No sooner had the words left my mouth, than we heard the hum of about six motorini bringing new hotel guests – bunch of Italian men.

You met the coolest people at?

Jerez, Andalucia. I discovered a bar close to my hotel and I adopted it as my new local. I could never remember the name so I used to just call it ‘City of London’. The people there were warm and friendly and we really clicked to the extent that shortly after my return to Malta they sent me a parcel containing two bottles of sherry and sherry glasses.

Your best budget tip to save money on a holiday?

Eat where the locals eat.

If you actually had to live away from Malta, where would you pick?

I believe in following my gut instinct so I’d go wherever that took me.

What’s the one thing you would never do in a foreign country?

I tend to avoid going in to any franchises we already have in Malta. I also don’t like to order food I can easily find back home.

Anything on your travel bucket list?

There’s too much world left for me to explore.

Travel is important to you because?

Travel is so many things besides being just a welcome break from the norm. It’s fun to experience first-hand places you have only read about or seen on film. I read somewhere that travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer. I’m keen on that kind of investment in my memory bank.

What has travel taught you?

Tutto il mondo è paese – People are people wherever you go and everyone has a story if you take the time to seek it out. I also learned I have a very good sense of direction and seem to learn my way about in new places very easily.

Where would you retire and why?

If I ever make it to retirement, then I think I would be happy to retire in Malta or Gozo. Much as I love to travel, I am not blind to the advantages of a great climate, beautiful sea, relative safety and good lifestyle, not to mention the proximity of family and friends.