Rebecca Adlington's holiday heaven and hell. Rebecca Adlington, the Olympic swimming champion, on soppy holiday literature, a forgettable trip to Tenerife, and why you're never too old for Disneyland.
Great holidays…
Rebecca Adlington won two swimming gold medals at the 2008 Olympics
Which was your best holiday?
I'd say Disneyland in Florida. I absolutely love all the rides. I could go on them all day. I love the theme parks and the water parks. It's a magical world. I also love Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. There's a really good rapids ride I adore and I can't resist the big roller-coaster rides. I went to Disneyland quite a few times when I was little and then we went back three years ago, and I just loved it even more. The only person who didn't go was my eldest sister because she hates flying. She used to fly when she was younger, but now she has realised she doesn't like being shut in a plane.
And the best hotel you've stayed in?
We stayed at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando about eight years ago. It's a golfing resort, but even though we didn't play golf we adored our stay. It was just amazing. We stayed in our own villa as the grounds were massive. We weren't really there that often though, as we were always at a theme park or doing something in the day. We each had a double bed and each room was like a mini-apartment with a kitchen. I'm always hungry, so it was nice to be able to grab a bowl of cereal or something.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
Fun, sun and food – not necessarily in that order. I am quite an active person anyway, so after a couple of days of lying in the sun I think: "What shall I do now?" That's why I love America so much, because you can never get bored. There's always something to see and do. I like just to be able to go on a walk and have something to look at or go shopping. I also like going on day trips. Nice places to eat are always good, too.
And it's a delight not to have to cook or wash up on holiday.
What do you always take with you?
I always take a book to read on the plane or the beach. I like soppy, romantic books. Jill Mansell is my favourite author. I always take my phone as well so I can contact my parents or boyfriend if I'm not with them.
What's your best piece of travel advice?
The thing I've always done is drink bottled water no matter where I go, whether they say the tap water is safe or not.
Where do you want to go next?
I'd love to go to New Zealand or Fiji. I've been to Australia, but I'd love to explore those places. The weather is good and the scenery unbelievable. My parents have been to New Zealand and absolutely loved it. My mum loves Australia, too. I've seen some amazing pictures of New Zealand and Fiji, but would love to see it all for myself. There's an ad on at the moment for New Zealand, and it just looks incredible.
...and disasters?
Which was your worst holiday?
Six years ago we booked a week in Tenerife. It was one of those last-minute things – a timeshare hotel apartment that turned out to be an absolute nightmare of a place. It wasn't very clean and the location was terrible: right in the centre of town with no views. We managed to change to a better hotel. It was a sister hotel or something, so we just transferred our reservation over and paid extra. It wasn't near the beach, from what I can remember, and it wasn't much better, but we managed to stick there for the week.
And your worst experience on holiday?
Eight years ago we had a week in Spain. On the first day my dad and I – the only ones to use the pool – went down with gastroenteritis. We didn't get out of bed for the week. It was awful. My sister had to walk around with a surgical mask on because it was so contagious.
What's the biggest packing mistake you've made?
I went to a training camp in Cyprus, and had so much to remember. I had my adapter and phone charger, but forgot the two most obvious and important things: sun cream and my trainers – two things I'd be bound to use every day. There was a shop where I got sun cream. I had brought a pair of shoes I wore for gym, but they weren't proper running trainers. I just had to get by.
Which is the worst hotel you've stayed in?
We went to Rome to a training camp about 18 months ago and stayed at the smallest hotel you could imagine. The beds were actually like caravan beds. The rooms were tiny, and despite temperatures of 36 degrees, there was no air conditioning. The lift was so small that it took only one person. We were there for only a week and the staff were lovely and helpful. It wasn't great, but it wasn't awful, and we all laughed about it.
What do you avoid on holiday?
Exercise. I like walking and exploring, but I avoid the gym. At home I train four hours a day. I do 20 hours of swimming and five hours of land work a week. Hotels always have a gym and when I see people working out, I think: "If you're on holiday, why are you in there?"
What do you hate about holidays?
I really miss having a duvet on my bed. Many hotels I've stayed in only give you a sheet and a blanket. ( telegraph.co.uk )
Great holidays…
Rebecca Adlington won two swimming gold medals at the 2008 Olympics
Which was your best holiday?
I'd say Disneyland in Florida. I absolutely love all the rides. I could go on them all day. I love the theme parks and the water parks. It's a magical world. I also love Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. There's a really good rapids ride I adore and I can't resist the big roller-coaster rides. I went to Disneyland quite a few times when I was little and then we went back three years ago, and I just loved it even more. The only person who didn't go was my eldest sister because she hates flying. She used to fly when she was younger, but now she has realised she doesn't like being shut in a plane.
And the best hotel you've stayed in?
We stayed at Orange Lake Resort in Orlando about eight years ago. It's a golfing resort, but even though we didn't play golf we adored our stay. It was just amazing. We stayed in our own villa as the grounds were massive. We weren't really there that often though, as we were always at a theme park or doing something in the day. We each had a double bed and each room was like a mini-apartment with a kitchen. I'm always hungry, so it was nice to be able to grab a bowl of cereal or something.
What do you need for a perfect holiday?
Fun, sun and food – not necessarily in that order. I am quite an active person anyway, so after a couple of days of lying in the sun I think: "What shall I do now?" That's why I love America so much, because you can never get bored. There's always something to see and do. I like just to be able to go on a walk and have something to look at or go shopping. I also like going on day trips. Nice places to eat are always good, too.
And it's a delight not to have to cook or wash up on holiday.
What do you always take with you?
I always take a book to read on the plane or the beach. I like soppy, romantic books. Jill Mansell is my favourite author. I always take my phone as well so I can contact my parents or boyfriend if I'm not with them.
What's your best piece of travel advice?
The thing I've always done is drink bottled water no matter where I go, whether they say the tap water is safe or not.
Where do you want to go next?
I'd love to go to New Zealand or Fiji. I've been to Australia, but I'd love to explore those places. The weather is good and the scenery unbelievable. My parents have been to New Zealand and absolutely loved it. My mum loves Australia, too. I've seen some amazing pictures of New Zealand and Fiji, but would love to see it all for myself. There's an ad on at the moment for New Zealand, and it just looks incredible.
...and disasters?
Which was your worst holiday?
Six years ago we booked a week in Tenerife. It was one of those last-minute things – a timeshare hotel apartment that turned out to be an absolute nightmare of a place. It wasn't very clean and the location was terrible: right in the centre of town with no views. We managed to change to a better hotel. It was a sister hotel or something, so we just transferred our reservation over and paid extra. It wasn't near the beach, from what I can remember, and it wasn't much better, but we managed to stick there for the week.
And your worst experience on holiday?
Eight years ago we had a week in Spain. On the first day my dad and I – the only ones to use the pool – went down with gastroenteritis. We didn't get out of bed for the week. It was awful. My sister had to walk around with a surgical mask on because it was so contagious.
What's the biggest packing mistake you've made?
I went to a training camp in Cyprus, and had so much to remember. I had my adapter and phone charger, but forgot the two most obvious and important things: sun cream and my trainers – two things I'd be bound to use every day. There was a shop where I got sun cream. I had brought a pair of shoes I wore for gym, but they weren't proper running trainers. I just had to get by.
Which is the worst hotel you've stayed in?
We went to Rome to a training camp about 18 months ago and stayed at the smallest hotel you could imagine. The beds were actually like caravan beds. The rooms were tiny, and despite temperatures of 36 degrees, there was no air conditioning. The lift was so small that it took only one person. We were there for only a week and the staff were lovely and helpful. It wasn't great, but it wasn't awful, and we all laughed about it.
What do you avoid on holiday?
Exercise. I like walking and exploring, but I avoid the gym. At home I train four hours a day. I do 20 hours of swimming and five hours of land work a week. Hotels always have a gym and when I see people working out, I think: "If you're on holiday, why are you in there?"
What do you hate about holidays?
I really miss having a duvet on my bed. Many hotels I've stayed in only give you a sheet and a blanket. ( telegraph.co.uk )
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