My holiday: Jeffrey Archer

British novelist Lord Jeffrey Archer. Photo / Dean Purcell

What was your greatest holiday?
Mary and I love going to the Olympic Games, and our favourite trip was to Seoul in 1988. The games were held all in one park, which made it very easy to get around, and the people couldn't have been more friendly. The taxi driver who took us from the airport to the hotel ended up acting as our personal driver for the two weeks, making our holiday much easier ... and he taught us so much about the country.

And the worst?
My wife dragged me to Iceland some years ago because she wanted to study the glaciers. I couldn't wait to get on the plane back home.

If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
You'll probably find me in the local art gallery, as I'm aware that it may be my only visit to that particular city, and I may never get the opportunity to see their masterpieces ever again. You will not find me water-skiing or lying on the beach.

What's your dream destination?
St Petersburg. It would be impossible to fully appreciate the Hermitage and the Winter Palace unless you went to that great city at least a dozen times. I know this because I've already been three times and have hardly touched the surface.

What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?
Bought a carpet in Turkey.

What will you always have in your hand luggage?
A Kindle, a good-food guide and if I'm in Japan a lot of money.

What's the best meal you've had?
I took my wife, Mary, to Milan for her 50th, and before going to the opera we ate in the Ristorante Milano Savini in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and we enjoyed the food so much we were late for the opera.

What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
When I was in Pune in India, I found a remarkable jewellery shop and purchased several gifts because the quality was so good and the price so reasonable.

Complete this sentence: I can't travel without: The itinerary prepared by my PA - otherwise I'd never get out of the airport.

Favourite airport to land at?
Boston, because you can get to your hotel in a matter of minutes.

What's the next trip you have planned?
I'm going to Dubai in March for the Emirates Literary Festival and I'm much looking forward to it.

Jeffrey Archer's latest book, Best Kept Secret, is out in March.