James Haskell: 'I've been to Las Vegas 13 times'

The rugby player James Haskell talks travel - David Rose
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One of the best hotels I’ve stayed at is the Yeatman in Porto

It’s perched up on the hillside and has the most incredible views over the city and the Douro river. Within 15 minutes you can walk down to the Dom Luis bridge and into the Old Town. It’s also next door to Taylor’s Port factory, so I spent a very indulgent afternoon tasting white, tawny and vintage ports.

Nothing beats an Ibiza beach break but I always like to find the quieter parts of the island

The ME Hotel, in Santa Eulalia, is beautiful. My wife Chloe and I are real foodies, and Ibiza has some amazing restaurants. Our favourite spot is Sa Punta, where you can order Lebanese, Asian fusion and traditional Spanish food. You go there at 12pm and leave at 5pm!

Cod sperm in Tokyo was the worst thing I’ve eaten abroad

It was warm and salty and not very appetising! But I got a T-shirt for trying it.

I lived in Japan for six months while playing for the Ricoh Black Rams

It’s such a diverse country, with its beautiful old temples and futuristic cities, and travelling is easy on the bullet trains. You can get from one side of the country to the other within a couple of hours. The only thing I hated was their underground system. They have people on the platforms who pack you into the carriages, which was unpleasant.

Japan offers beautiful old temples and futuristic cities - Getty
Japan offers beautiful old temples and futuristic cities - Getty

Paris will always be special because that’s where I got engaged

I proposed to Chloe in the Jardin des Tuileries, outside the Louvre, then took her for dinner at a restaurant with a view of the Eiffel Tower. It was very romantic.

For pure luxury I love the One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai

After a Six Nations tournament, I would often book a relaxing break there. The food and service are impeccable, and it’s the perfect place to sit by the pool with a good book or have an old fashioned watching the sun go down.

Being marooned on an island is my idea of heaven

Last year, Chloe and I spent our honeymoon on Turtle Island in Fiji, where they filmed The Blue Lagoon. It was a tiny resort, so everyone dined together in the evening, and each morning the Fijians serenaded us. A few months later, we were lucky enough to stay at Soneva Fushi in the Maldives, in a villa hidden in the jungle. It was absolutely idyllic.

Being marooned on an island is my idea of heaven - Getty
Being marooned on an island is my idea of heaven - Getty

My first holiday was to Praia da Luz in Portugal

My parents hired a villa and I remember spending all day in the swimming pool, drinking too many Diet Cokes and living on peanuts.

New York at Christmas is magical

I had never been before, so Chloe took me there as a treat in December. We loved strolling through Central Park with a hot chocolate, while watching the ice skaters and the horse-and-carriages go past.

My scariest travel experience was flying through a storm in a little sea plane in the Maldives

There were a lot of people looking really rather green. We landed safely, but the sea was so rough that the resort’s boat could not get in to pick us up for quite a while.

I’ve been to Las Vegas 13 times since first visiting when I was 21

It keeps drawing me back. I’ll fly out on a Thursday evening and do three full days, most of which revolve around pool parties! Then I’ll head home on Monday morning questioning every life decision I’ve ever made and never wanting to go back. A few weeks later, I’ll start planning my next trip.

Las Vegas, Nevada - Getty
Las Vegas, Nevada - Getty

I’m partial to a staycation and I’m a big fan of Cornwall

The coastline is stunning and because Chloe’s parents live down there, in Talland Bay, we often go to chill out. I’m a member of Soho House, and Soho Farmhouse isn’t too far from where we live, so we like to do a getaway there. They have a restaurant called Pen Yen, where we’ll eat our entire body weight in sushi.

The worst thing about travelling is the automated systems at airports

I get so annoyed at having to check in using a machine. You have to go there, put your label on your bag and carry it to the carousel, but then someone is still there checking your passport… what’s the point? They’ve actually made the process longer and put lots of people out of jobs.

There’s plenty left on my travel bucket list

I would like to return to Mykonos and Dubai, and I would love to go to Russia and China one day. I once did a fly-drive around the West Coast of America for two weeks and I’d like to do that with Chloe – we’re keen to visit Napa Valley, as we love our wine.

My most rock and roll moment?

It was when I played an England game in Australia and Qantas upgraded us to first class.

Interview by Kirsty Nutkins

What a Flanker by James Haskell is out now (HarperNonFiction, £20)