The singer and Blue Executive Club Member reveals her ultimate travel accessory and why she’ll always have a soft spot for Italy

Which destination do you keep returning to?
We love Italy. I holidayed there as a child and got married there. It’s great for families with kids – all the generations stay out late together.

What’s one of the most romantic places you've been to?
Rome takes some beating. It has a touristy side but it’s also so beautiful. [My husband] Richard and I honeymooned there. London can be romantic too, especially by the river.

What do you never travel without?
My iPad. It’s useful for journeys between gigs because I can fill it with things to watch, read and listen to. I need to stave off boredom when I’m in transit.

What’s been your scariest travel experience?
A taxi ride in Italy. The driver was snaking all over the road. Second to that an incredible but terrifying zipline in Mexico. I did it 14 more times, but the first one, with my eldest boy strapped to me, was quite something!

Which view has blown you away?
The view from the house Elizabeth Taylor owned called Casa Kimberly (below) in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Her bedroom looks out over the town and sea. It’s breathtaking.

Favourite hotels?
I like hotels with personality. I love Palazzo Belmonte in Italy because I’ve been going there since I was a kid. But for high-end I’d say The Upper House in Hong Kong. For something romantic and fun it would be Dean Street Townhouse in London. 

Top tips for travelling with kids?
Prepare them and take lots of things to keep them occupied. I did a long-haul flight with my kids and made sure they knew it meant we’d be spending longer than a school day on a plane. It meant they weren’t really restless.

What’s your earliest holiday memory?
Going to the south of France. My grandparents had a place near Sainte-Maxime in the Provence-Alpes-Côte’Azur region (below), and my parents and I would drive through France to get there.

What do you spend your Avios on?
I use them to reduce the cost of short-haul trips. I often visit Richard on tour with his band, The Feeling, and it makes those short European breaks a little easier to justify.

What do you think of when you think of British Airways?
I fly with British Airways whenever possible – the staff are friendly and experienced.

What has travel taught you?
It brings a sense of awe and wonder about the world and teaches perspective. It has helped me to fear the unknown less and develop a sense of adventure.


Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s latest album, Familia, is out now

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This article has been tagged Opinion, Travel Tips