Craig David: My Life In Travel

'P Diddy would be a cool travelling companion, judging by his parties'

First holiday memory?

Going to Normandy. I remember seeing the Bayeux Tapestry and Mont-St-Michel, but I didn't really appreciate it at the time. I think I played up while we were there and gave my parents a really hard time.

Best holiday?

For the last four or five years I've been going to Miami for New Year. The second time I went was one of my best holidays because I knew people there. I stayed at the Fontainebleau Hotel, which is a bit less manic than some of the other designer hotels.

Favourite place in the British Isles?

The Isle of Wight. I used to go a lot when I was younger because I grew up in Southampton. I'd go over for the day with my friends, especially during Cowes Week, which was a lot of fun.

What have you learnt from your travels?

Always ensure you've got £50 in the currency of the country you're in, including a few coins.

Ideal travelling companion?

P Diddy would be cool. At one of his parties, you're guaranteed to have a great time. I've been to a couple and they're incredible. He flies in DJs and artists from all over the place, and there's the most amazing food.

Beach bum, culture vulture or adrenalin junkie?

If there's a lovely beach with soft sand, the sun is shining and the view is incredible, that's pretty much all I want from a holiday.

Greatest travel luxury?

My iPod Shuffle. I've got into running and it's great to listen to while I'm jogging because it's light and chooses songs randomly, which keeps me interested.

Holiday reading?

I'm not a big reader because I get too distracted. I did read The Da Vinci Code, which was great - I'm really looking forward to the film coming out.

Where has seduced you?

While I was touring I stayed at the Hayman Island Resort on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It was one of the most beautiful, tranquil places I have ever been to. The sea was a perfect blue. We had our own butler and there were little buggies to take you around the island.

Better to travel or arrive?

It depends who I'm travelling with. If I'm with a friend, that can be fun, but I've made the fatal error of making conversation with a stranger in the seat next to me on the plane and then they wouldn't leave me alone. I usually tour abroad twice a year, which can be a bit like a holiday because the record company usually puts me up in a nice hotel and takes me to the best restaurants.

Worst travel experience?

I once went to Costa Rica to do a show for MTV. But my bags didn't arrive - they ended up in Korea and only turned up on the day we were leaving.

Worst holiday?

I went to Norway a couple of years ago just before Christmas. I expected it to be snowy and festive but it was dead - everyone was already in family mode. All the clubs were shut and there wasn't anything going on. I ended up staying in my hotel room, ordering room service and wishing I was back at home.

Worst hotel?

One that I stayed at while I was on tour in Finland. I had a couple of days off so I went out for a few drinks one night and came back at 2am, but couldn't find my room key. The receptionist wouldn't help me because she wanted to see some ID before she let me into my room, but my passport was in the room. We argued for about three-quarters of an hour before she let me in.

Best hotel?

A hotel in the new Roppongi area of Tokyo, which I think was the Grand Hyatt. It was beautiful, very modern, with loads of different restaurants. The previous time I was in Tokyo I stayed in a miserable place, which ruined my perception of Japan, but thankfully I really enjoyed it this time because I loved the hotel.

Favourite walk/swim/ride/drive?

Three years ago, I went to the Côte d'Azur. I was staying in Cannes but really wanted to see St-Tropez, so I hired a Mercedes SLR and drove there along the coast. It was an amazing stretch of road with hardly any cars on it.

Best meal abroad?

Nobu at Shore Club in Miami. One of the desserts was ice-cream wrapped with rice and sugar. There's nothing like it.

First thing you do when you arrive somewhere new?

I unpack all my clothes and hang them up so that everything's in place. I like to make the hotel feel like home.

Dream trip?

I'd love to do the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, then over to New York and Miami, stopping off and having fun in between.

Favourite city?

I've had a lot of fun in Milan because it's very cosmopolitan and there's a lot going on. Rome is beautiful and has the most amazing history, which is still visible today.

Where next?

I'm going on tour around Japan, Korea, Europe and the UK. After that, I'd like to go back to the Côte d'Azur, or maybe to Sardinia to relax in August.

A special edition of Craig David's album 'The Story Goes...' is released on 24 April. For UK tour dates go to www.craigdavid.co.uk