Sports presenter Derek Alberts chats to Vernice Shaw about being cheap in Durban but a star in India

Where did you spend your last holiday? In Dubai, during the world cup of horse racing.

What was the best thing you did while there? Spent seven hours acting like children at Aquaventure at Atlantis.

Your favourite city abroad and why? Bangkok. The song from Chess hit the nail on the head, while the massages are cheap and plentiful.

What must a first-time visitor see there? The Suan Lum night bazaar, with its perfect mix of eateries, pubs and stalls. One of my favourite "restaurants" is also there: a nameless stall that serves a mean shrimp Pad Thai.

What should they not bother with? For the shopping enthusiasts, stay clear of the beautiful but expensive Siam Paragon, and head straight for MBK.

What was your best holiday ever? A school rugby tour to Zimbabwe in 1998, where we went white-water rafting; attempted to bungy jump naked (but were barred because we weren't female); and won all our matches.

Which is the worst hotel you have stayed in? A certain hotel in Durban always locks the mini-bar upon my arrival, insinuating that I can't afford anything in there. Sadly, they're right.

Your favourite SA destination and why? Leisure Isle, Knysna. I spent a lot of my childhood there, and whenever I return, it's as if I've stepped back in time.

Your favourite restaurant, anywhere? Natti's Thai Kitchen in Port Elizabeth, a rustic oasis where the red Thai curry is the best on earth.

What is the most exotic dish you have ever eaten on holiday? A grass-like substance in Nagpur, India, which was meant to be a breath freshener. Not wanting to offend anyone, I chewed the dreadful stuff for 20 minutes before I gave up and spat it out.

One place you want to see before you die? Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand, on October 23 2011, when the Boks beat the All Blacks in the World Cup final.

Have you had any embarrassing moments as a traveller? As a South African in India, I was constantly taken for a cricketer, and hounded non-stop for autographs and photos. Eventually, it became easier to go along with it. I'm sure my photo is on many a child's wall in Kolkata.