If we bump into you on holiday, what are you most likely to be doing?
If I am somewhere warm I'll be soaking up the sun and eating. If I am in a city or town somewhere I'll be searching out the museums and historic places.
If we could teleport you to one place in New Zealand for a week-long holiday, where would it be?
The Bay of Islands. So beautiful and such a great part of our history. My dad's family is from Northland so I have a great connection to the place.
How about for a dream holiday internationally?
I would love to go to Vietnam or Nicaragua. If anyone wants to teleport me there I will not complain.
What's the dumbest thing you've ever done when travelling?
I had to travel from St Anton in Austria to a town in Germany to catch a plane back to the UK. It involved three different train connections and I fell asleep and ended up crossing the Austrian/German border to my second destination only to go all the way back again. It involved a lot of panic and a lot of pleading to let me start over.
Complete this sentence: I can't travel without... a book.
What's the best travel tip you've ever been given?
Don't make plans. Okay, it can add some level of anxiety to an adventure but isn't that the point?
What is the most memorable meal you've had while travelling?
Halo halo in the Philippines is the most weird, disgusting, delightful thing you will ever have. It's like a hodge-podge of sweetened kidney beans and chickpeas, evaporated milk, balls of insanely coloured jelly, candied fruits, purple icecream, yams ... It's an experience and one I won't enter into again lightly.
What's the best thing you've brought back from a trip?
It's all about the memories. I always forget to take photos and I find shopping for souvenirs painful.
Favourite airport to land at?
Landing at Queenstown always has a special place in my heart.
What's the next trip you've got planned?
For my dad's birthday the family are planning our first overseas holiday together. He spent a few months living and working in New Caledonia when he was a youngster, so we are going back to stir up a few memories.
Hayley Holt co-hosts the 'Back Benches' Auckland special on Wednesday, August 3. Filming takes place at Auckland's Britomart Country Club from 6.30pm (get there early for a good spot), or watch on Prime at 10.30pm.
