Keeley Hawes's Travelling Life - Telegraph I went on two holidays as a child. It wasn't what people did where I grew up. My dad was a London taxi driver so we drove down to Tintagel in Cornwall in his cab for a week, which took quite a long time, and a few people did try to flag us down on the journey but at least there was plenty of legroom. Then when I was about 12 we went to Corfu and I remember spending the whole holiday reading My Family And Other Animals. Favourite European city? San Sebastian in Spain. Matthew was attending a film festival there and it's somewhere that we'd love go back to. It's really beautiful, with lots of lovely squares, and the food was absolutely incredible. We weren't there for very long but it left a lasting impression. San Sebastian Do you embrace the local cuisine on your travels? Food is very important to us and generally we like to try the local dishes as a family. We went to Le Touessrok, in Mauritius, with the children and they were all happy to tuck into crocodile, which is a local delicacy. And yes, it's true what people say about meats you've not tried before: crocodile does kind of taste like chicken. Most memorable travel experience? Matthew and I stayed at a crazy place in California called the 29 Palms Inn. It's a kind of hippy hotel in the middle of the desert, where the stars are amazing. There is no air-con and there is nothing luxurious about it but it felt like a real adventure. We love La Bastide de Moustiers in Provence. It's owned by chef Alain Ducasse and it's quite a grown-up sort of place. It started off as his family home and it's since been opened to the public but it feels as though you are the only people there. Obviously the food is quite incredible but don't go there if you want to shed a few pounds. Last time we were there we consumed a lot of cheese. In Britain I love The Connaught. We stayed there for a weekend before Christmas to do some shopping and just had room service, which felt really cosy and Christmassy. I am not into action and adventure on holiday, that doesn't really do it for me. I would much rather go and lie down. We have really busy lives and holidays are the only time I get a chance to read and just spend time with the family. Worst travel experience? I was on a flight to Kenya when I was about 19 and we experienced one of those horrendous moments where it feels like the plane is going to drop out of the sky. It probably only lasted seconds but it felt like the plane was nosediving for an awfully long time. We could just feel it dropping and dropping. What was quite interesting was the reaction of people on the flight. When the plane started plummeting there was silence; no screaming. And suddenly somebody finally broke the silence and said, "Oh, s---." Le Touessrok, Mauritius Virgin Atlantic. They always look pleased to see you whether they are or not. I love their lounge at Gatwick, too. It's a great way to start a holiday and last time I was there I was sitting next to Martin Sheen, which was very exciting. I sat there looking dorky next to him and all the stewards and stewardesses wanted their pictures taken with him. Then he said, "Is that girl an actress?" I don't know who he thought I was but I was very pleased. Do you get upgraded? I have had the luxury of that once or twice when work have been paying and it is sort of awful because once you have turned left you never want to turn right again. Mosquitoes. My son and I are always attacked and end up on antibiotics or something. I got bitten so much on one trip to Scotland, I literally couldn't bend my legs. What has travel taught you? I can't imagine a life now without travel and I think that is because I travelled very little as a child. My children have been all over the world and I think it's so good for them: expanding their horizons and imagination and seeing how other people live. We'd love to return to Mauritius. It's a long way and you have to save up for it but it's so worth it. It's a beautiful country, they love children and there is something for everyone guaranteed. When the kids get a bit bigger we would love to go on a big trip to India. I want them to be a little bit older before we do that, though, so that they can remember it and enjoy it. Taj Mahal, India Keeley Hawes is an ambassador for Childnet International. For more information, see: childnet.com.