My travel life: Beau Ryan, former professional rugby league player and TV host

MY PASSPORT PHOTO IS

not bad. My last one was when I was 18, living in Wollongong and had long hair at the back, so I had a bit of a mullet. That one was pretty funny. I had a lot of laughs with Customs, joking about my hair. But it was in fashion back then.

I CAN'T STOP GOING BACK TO

Bali. It ticks all the boxes for us. If you've got little kids it's good because it's not a really long flight (although my son tries to get into the cockpit every time), the people are beautiful, the food is the best and the beaches are great.

MY LAST TRAVEL DESTINATION WAS

take your pick! I've recently come back from filming The Amazing Race Australia, which saw me go to 12 countries. That was an incredible experience and I got to go to places like Africa, which I've never travelled through before. I was away for about six weeks.

MY NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION IS

nothing planned for the next little while. But I'd really love to go to Croatia at some stage. I've never gotten to experience a proper European summer as it's in the middle of footy season.

I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO

Croatian culture, the food and the people. I don't want to really go in peak season though, because I have no patience and don't want to line up for the sights.

WHAT I REALLY WANT FROM MY NEXT TRIP IS

checking out the beaches to see if they're as good in real life as they look in the pictures. A lot of my friends go to Croatia all the time.

I LOVE TO TRAVEL BECAUSE

I like to think I'm cultured. I like to experience different cultures, meet different people, eat different foods and just see how other people live. I also think it's good for my family, especially my daughter, to see how other people live.

MY TRAVEL PHILOSOPHY IS

to listen to my wife! She always likes planning tours and excursions that I'm never too keen on, but I always end up enjoying myself. Also, to always wear comfy shoes like runners.

THE ONE TRAVEL MISTAKE I ALWAYS MAKE IS

thinking my kids can fly over five hours. I always end up wrestling with my son for more than half the flight. He likes walking up and down the aisle, which is cute for about the first hour, but then starts to annoy people. I also always eat the street food. Always. No matter what country I'm in. I'm usually guaranteed to get sick for one day out of the trip. It's a mistake I always make and will continue to make.

THE ONE THING I REALLY DO GET RIGHT WHEN I TRAVEL IS

staying hydrated on flights, which helped me a lot while filming, so I'd always arrive at the destination ready to hit the ground.

IF I HAD TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT THE OTHER PASSENGERS I'D WANT ON EITHER SIDE OF ME WOULD BE

[Canadian rapper and song-writer] Drake – I love Drake. I listen to so much of his music and sing it all the time. And I love [US comedian, actor and writer] Dave Chappelle. I've been a fan of his for 20 years. I think they'd make for really good conversation.

THE ONE FAMOUS TRAVELLER I REALLY ADMIRE IS

[English cricketer-turned TV presenter] Freddie Flintoff. Being a high-profile sportsman in England is quite brutal, and he's in the spotlight all the time. He made his transition from sport to TV by being himself.

THE ONE FAMOUS PERSON I'D LIKE TO TRAVEL WITH IS

Leonardo DiCaprio. I just want to pick his brain. He's in four of my top five favourite movies. I want to talk to him about his life, his passion for the environment, find out what's next for him. I heard he's doing Scarface which is the only movie in my top five that he's not in.

AIRLINE FOOD IS

dependent on which airline you're on. Ethiopian Airlines has to be one of the best meals. The food was 10/10.

AIRPORT SECURITY IS

necessary, but over the top in the US.

HOTELS ARE

quite depressing when you're by yourself.

I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO

Russia. The mystery around it fascinates me. I went very close to Russia while filming the race, so saw a lot of the culture from afar, but it's just somewhere that's on my bucket list.

I'VE NEVER WANTED TO GO TO

probably Syria right now, but when things settle down, I'd love to go there.

AISLE OR WINDOW?

It used to be aisle, because I drank so much water on the plane, I'd be up and down to the bathroom. Since filming The Amazing Race, I'm a window man. But if I'm travelling with someone and they want the window, I'm happy to give it up.