My wife won't see this, I hope! Once a year I go skiing with my old schoolmates for a boys' holiday. We go to Switzerland, Italy or France, rent out a big chalet and just laugh for a week. We eat well, get up early, ski hard and just talk like teenagers again and pretend we're not all 40! Friendships are really important and I wouldn't skip this trip for the world.

AND THE BEST HOTEL YOU'VE STAYED IN?

My happy place is Babington House in Frome in England - a beautiful old country pad that's just cool enough without being too cool. It's part of the Soho House group, which was started by my friend Nick Jones. Every chef that's ever worked there has been a friend. I feel really happy there, I've had many weddings there and also celebrated my wife's 40th there. I love that place.

WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS TAKE WITH YOU?

My gimp suit's really important for me! *jokes* I always take my noise-cancelling headphones, which are an absolute must. Although my teenage kids keep stealing them now, so I had to buy a new pair on my way over on this trip.

WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR A PERFECT HOLIDAY?

A good sleep, a lie-in and good food - I think a holiday with bad food is diabolical!

If I can get into a hammock it normally means I've had a good holiday; my four kids occupy a lot of my time! Saying that, we've never done a white sand-type holiday because my wife's afraid of flying. Unless of course someone like Brad Pitt asks her to come over, which - when it happened - seemed to make her lose her fear!

WHAT'S YOUR BEST PIECE OF TRAVEL ADVICE?

Always tie a pic of really ultra-violet camp ribbon onto your bag - that has helped me very often! Also, get yourself insured just in case something happens.

AND YOUR WORST EXPERIENCE ON HOLIDAY?

Losing my luggage and then not getting it returned until I got back home. I ended up just buying a load of new stuff, which was good fun, but it's not great spending ages packing and then having it go walkies.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PACKING MISTAKE YOU'VE MADE?

As a boy, I'm naturally not very good at packing bags. I don't try anything on and just throw a load of stuff into my case. So, I'll often just pack too much stuff. Generally you'll end you wearing the same two or three outfits every day anyway.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO NEXT?

I'm going to Mexico next for work and then Costa Rica for work too. I really want  to go to Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. I'm also saving myself up for India. There are so many places I want to go!

Jamie Oliver 's Created With Jamie range is available at Woolworths.