My Holiday: Murray Crane

Murray Crane, at the Colosseum, in Rome.

What was your greatest holiday?

I think my greatest memory would be summer holidays as a child. The anticipation I felt on the last day of school. The uncontrollable excitement of sleeping in, days spent with mates and the exorbitance of doing nothing - followed by the inevitable boredom.

And the worst?

London 2012, the night before I was due to leave on a connecting flight to New York I came down with one of the worst cases of food poisoning. Sitting still for long periods of time in a small cramped and confined space whilst you're running a temperature and leaking from orifices you never knew existed tends to take the shine off international travel.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?

Hopefully very little, probably somewhere out of the way, by or near a beach - Piha or Pauanui - eating good food, hanging out with the kids and my Art Friend with my cell phone not on me. Possibly reading a book.

How about for a dream holiday internationally?

Somewhere in Italy or France. I have travelled extensively to both those countries but never really on holiday. The motivation would be the same as Piha: Lion Rock would become the Eiffel Tower and Cathedral Cove would be the Sistine Chapel.

What's important is that I would want to share it with the people closest to me, while relaxing and not thinking about work. There is so much pressure when you travel to see this or do that. The indulgence of flying to the opposite side of the world and having enough time to read a book really appeals.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?

Walked for eight hours in new shoes (bought that morning), I looked great but hobbled for a week.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without ...

My Bose noise-cancelling headphones.

What's your best travel tip?

Adjust your watch to your destination's time zone when you leave rather than when you land. For some reason it makes a massive difference. Helps with the jet lag.

What was the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?

Last year, I travelled to Spain with Jaguar. I had two days driving the new Jaguar XF through the Pyrenees. In the evening we had the most amazing meal. We all sat outside eating and drinking locally sourced produce and wine that had been prepared simply (basically over an open fire). That was unforgettable.

Favourite airport to land at?

Anywhere other than Los Angeles - I like Heathrow.

• Murray Crane is talking about "Sartorial Elegance" as one of the presenters at Huka Lodge for the "Celebrate the Art of Living" weekend, from August 5-7.
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