Miss Gallivant met her Gallic other half 16 years ago at a wedding in Normandy and it was a complete ‘coup de foudre’, as the French say. At the time, they were living half a world away from one another – she in Amsterdam and he in Singapore – but it didn’t stop them committing to months of commuting across continents all in the name of love. Since those early days, they’ve called several countries home, are currently settled in France and have two adorable children. A likeminded lure to travel and discovery and all the doors they can open is likely their original raison d’être, and today they enjoy nothing more than sharing that passion with their tots and taking off whenever time and pennies permit.

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Your kind of holiday …

A blend of culture, discovery, great fun, great food & drink, and a good old dose of sunshine

Where you last went to …

A long weekend in Porto with the wife and without the kids. Time out for just the two of us is so important, but it doesn’t seem as easy now that there are two tots in the equation. Still, we seize the opportunity whenever it comes along

And next up …

Another long weekend away sans enfants before the summer’s out if we can swing it! We’ve got Stockholm or Dubrovnik in mind, but we’ll see. Other than that, this coming weekend we’ll have a Bank Holiday break en famille somewhere in south west France, and the following weekend – there are a lot of jours feriés in France in the month of May – I’ve got a guys’ getaway to Normandy with my two best mates from school   

Favourite go-to destination …

San Sebastián in Spain’s Basque region – we live just over two hours’ drive away and head there a few times a year. I also take part in the annual La Concha Bay Swim each September and have a very soft spot for the city, its unique location, upbeat vibe and renowned cuisine

A place you’d never go back to …

Hotel Ute in Lido de Jesolo – a complete dive found as a cheap alternative to staying in Venice itself when I didn’t know any better. Never again!

First holiday with friends …

Sicily in my early 20s – an alcohol-fuelled Club Med fest with my two best mates (the same lads I’ll be seeing in a couple of weeks – we still get together at least once a year, but the trips have become somewhat tamer over time, and a lot closer to home!)

Favourite childhood holiday memory …

Swimming with tropical fish in the turquoise waters of Martinique as a seven-year-old

Favourite view …

The iconic New York skyline

Where in the world you’ve felt happiest …

Bordeaux, where we currently live and where my children were born; and Singapore, where my love for Miss Gallivant flourished

A pinch-yourself moment …

Discovering the rich culture and heritage of Jerusalem as a teenager. It was a pretty inspirational place to be, and for a geopolitics amateur like me is the ultimate experience

© http://www.jerusalem.com

Dream destination …

Japan – it’s been on my wish list for years

Favourite destination …

It has to be South East Asia, where I lived for five years; and I have a penchant for Bali in particular

Favourite city …

Rome, where Miss Gallivant surprised me for my 40th

An unusual travel experience …

Dhaka in Bangladesh – it was like something out of a horror film!

Best all-round travel experience …

Nepal was a truly amazing experience, from the frenzy of Kathmandu to the spectacular Himalaya vistas, and the incredible beauty in the heritage buildings to the extraordinary kindness of the people. It’s a land filled with fascination and a trip that will always be with me. We travelled there to meet the Tibetan family we sponsored at the time, and to spend time with the locals, eating at their home, learning about their way of life and getting to know two adorable children was the richest of moments. The family couldn’t do enough for us, and we’ll never forget their generosity.

What you last ticked off your bucket list …

Rome – I’d never made it there before turning 40 believe it or not!

Biggest culture shock …

The chaotic frenzy that is Kathmandu, but in a good way; and visiting friends there and getting to see how the locals live, which is always the best way to experience real travel

What you never travel without …

A good read and my Previscan medication (for a heart condition, more’s the pity)

A secret little find to share …

Well, it was technically Miss Gallivant’s find, but Lubra Casa Relax on the Sorrentine Peninsula is an exquisite little boutique B&B presided over by the extraordinary Lucia and her superb pizza-making skills

© http://www.lubracasarelax.it

A guilty holiday pleasure …

I always love the opportunity to be more gourmand on holiday than usual; whatever the local bite or brew, bring it on!

A literary travel inspiration …

Shanghai after reading Shanghai Baby by Wei Hui. It’s an intense city that never disappoints

I lost my heart in …

Granville, Normandy – its train station to be precise, where I got my first glimpse of Miss Gallivant and life changed for the better

© http://www.patrimoine-normand.com

What travel means to you …

Seeing how others live allows you to question your own life and values; I love the continuous learning curve your life follows when you have the opportunity to travel