Tell us something about yourself.

I’m a marketing and PR consultant, an entrepreneur with a passion for dancing, fashion, travel and beautiful cars. I love travelling and fashion, so I recently started sharing my experiences via my fashion and travel blog www.graziellecamilleri.com/blog

How often do you travel?

On average, I travel every six weeks.

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

The first time abroad was on a skiing chalet holiday to Verbier with my dad and my brother. I was nine at the time. It was my first time on snow skis, so I remember the sheer delight of taking lessons to learn how to ski down the slopes, the countless times I fell back on my butt and pulled myself back up and the many laughs we had in the evenings with everyone relaxing at the après-ski hours.

It was also the first time I had ever seen or touched snow, rode high ski-lifts and fought some fears of heights, just dealing with not knowing what slope comes next.

Try not to stand out with expensive jewellery, in places where you hear stories of thefts happening in the streets

Best holiday ever and why?

This is a terrible question, I have enjoyed so many holidays – even the three-day getaways – for different reasons. If I’m cornered to name one, it would be my four-week holiday to Thailand with Marco, my then boyfriend who since then proposed and is now my husband.

We had stayed in six different luxury resorts in Ketchup, including the Vijitt Resort, The JW Marriott Ketchup Resort & Spa and the Renaissance Ketchup Resort & Spa... all offering excellent service, a choice of restaurants and lots of daily things to do.

We made sure we were active every day. We drove out to the villages and the countryside on tours to explore the surroundings and to learn about the local lifestyle.

I loved the beautiful scenery, the smell of exotic herbs and fruits, the barbecued fish caught in front of our eyes every day, the long and pristine sandy beaches, with barely any people on them. So many wonderful memories.

It was also on this holiday that my husband, who is not typically such a romantic person, had prepared a Valentine’s Day surprise dinner for me on the beach of the Vijitt Resort, a stone’s throw away from the seashore. We had a personal waiter taking care of our every whim and our very own two-piece band, playing Thai music in the background.

Which place would you never visit and why?

Places where my safety would be endangered. Otherwise, I cannot say never.

Best travel companion?

I have been quite lucky with travel companions.

I recently travelled to Tuscany with four girlfriends and we all got on really well, despite our different characters, tastes and personal travel preferences.

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

The worst thing you can do to me is not letting me sleep… someone who snores at night would be the worst.

What do you usually look for when you travel?

An interesting place that offers beautiful scenery, culture, good food and photo-graphy opportunities. Oh, and did I forget shopping?

The perfect holiday would be... ?

Every holiday that provides me with some food for the soul and some inspiration is a perfect holiday for me. Nowadays, when I travel with my baby girl, it is important for me that she is happy and comfortable where we go.

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

Malaysia and Thailand.

Package tours or DIY?

Package tours for cruise holidays and DIY for everything else.

What’s the best travel advice you can give?

Always check if you need travelling visas for certain destinations, because they can be very strict in some countries and you do not want to miss a holiday for lack of checking. Speaking from personal experience, check that your passport is not about to expire less than six months from the time of travel to places like Thailand or Malaysia, because you will not be allowed to use it. Travel light from your destination to allow for shopping in cities with fabulous January sales. And try not to stand out with expensive jewellery in places where you hear stories of thefts happening on the streets.

Flying – hate it/love it/neutral?

Neutral.

Describe one memory that stuck with you from a place.

I remember the look on my daughter’s face the first time she saw birds and monkeys at the Monkey Park on our recent holiday to Tenerife. She had seen animals on a book and on TV, but seeing them so close up made her squeal in delight and surprise.

You met the coolest people in... ?

Mykonos, Greece, while on a holiday there about 10 years ago. The locals and travellers were simply awesome – party animals, to say the least.

Your best budget tip to save money on holiday?

When beaching it, buy drinks and snacks beforehand from supermarkets, because on the actual beaches the prices are much higher. I’m not the best person to give advice on saving money, though honestly. I’m terrible!

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

I’m not sure – somewhere with a good climate and a pleasant lifestyle, I guess. I love Rome, Barcelona and the Greek islands. It would depend on work factors, education options for my daughter, climate and lifestyle opportunities for me and my family members.

Anything on your travel bucket list?

Oh yes. Egypt, Las Vegas, South Africa, Machu Pichu, Australia, India, North Tenerife, West Malaysia, Japan, Amsterdam – and there’s more.

Travel is important to you because... ?

Living on such a small island in the centre of the Mediterranean, albeit beautiful, can be limiting in terms of options of things to do and of different sceneries like mountains and rivers. It is important for me to explore other destinations, other cultures, traditions and food specialities. I find it fascinating how so many people exist in the same world and yet live so differently, having adapted to their surroundings.

What has travel taught you?

Travel has taught me what a beautiful world we live in. It has given me insight into what went on in the past in different countries around the world. I have made friends from all walks of life – Christian, Hindu, Muslim – not to mention friends with every skin colour imaginable. Yet, when we sit down and have dinner or a drink, sharing a joke, a hug and a cry over the same things, I realise that we are not so different after all. It has also taught me that there are holiday destinations to cater for everyone’s needs and tastes.

Life is about so much more than money and wealth. Watching children playing football with oranges in Malaysia with beaming smiles on their faces was priceless. It is arrogant to assume that people who have fancy phones and designer clothing are happier than these people. I would think it is quite the opposite. Every so often, travel recalibrates what is important in life.

Where would you retire and why?

Somewhere with a warm climate all year round.