My holidays: Ben Barrington

Shortland Street actor Ben Barrington. Photo / Brett Phibbs

How often do you travel?
At least once a year, mostly to Australia, which is about long enough on a plane. Half a Hobbit movie there, the other half on the way back.

Best holiday ever?
Probably to the United States with my family when I was a kid in the 80s. Disneyland and Universal Studios blew my little mind.

Best get-away-from-it-all place to escape to and why?
Hamilton on New Year's Eve. There's nowhere quieter on earth.

Favourite city?
So far, it's Rome. I met a gypsy woman there who had this ring she claimed was meant for me - she'd actually had a mystical vision about it and she let me have the ring for only €40. It was really special.

Best meal you've eaten while travelling?
Once, at Athens Airport, Billy Zane gave me a croissant. It was a hell of a croissant and he really is a cool guy.

Best travel tip?
Chat to the person next to you on the plane. It helps the trip go faster.

Where would you love to return to and why?
I would love to return to Amsterdam. I was just a child when I went. Now, as a grown man, I could really get among all those art museums.

Most remote place you've been?
An event I was invited to recently, which turned out to be a meeting of people still supporting a flag change.

Most luxurious travel moment?
I was on the London tube and for about 30 seconds there was no yelling; no one bleeding, swearing or playing music out of their phone and only the faintest smell of BO. At the time I thought wow, this is travelling in style.

What do you hate about travelling?
When the plane lands, the seat belt light turns off and everyone jumps up like they're not going to be allowed off and then have to stand there for 20 minutes anyway while the crew get the door organised - same as ever.

It's not a proper holiday unless...
You're schlepping around, dragging your feet on the last day, waiting for the taxi to the airport and wishing you were staying another week.

Where is your next holiday?
My girlfriend and I are planning to drive around the American South next year sometime: Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee ... Hot damn!

Ben Barrington is an actor on Shortland Street. The 90-minute, end-of-year special screens tomorrow, 7pm on TV2.