When I'm travelling I always miss ...
Marmite. I was brought up on the stuff and do take it with me if I can. I was once in LA and there's a little English shop down near Venice Beach. I was craving a Marmite fix so went and bought bags of Twiglets just to get that taste.
My idea of paradise is ...
Not knowing where I'm going to end up - for me that's the point of travelling. On my recent road trip across America, I remember turning a corner and looking down a 100-mile stretch of dead-straight road with no buildings and the sun melting into the distance. It was a complete road trip cliché, but that kind of solitude, for me, is paradise.
My favourite hotel is ...
Dog Bark Park Inn, a Beagle-shaped hotel in Cottonwood, Idaho. It has legs, a nose, ears and a tail - it's big enough for a couple and perhaps their children. There's a room in the belly, a bathroom in the arse and a small den in the head where the kids can sleep and it's run by the nicest people. It's surrounded by this incredible prairie landscape.
I never travel without ...
My iPod. I used to travel with loads of CDs, but to be able to now carry something as small as a cigarette packet has been a great improvement. When I'm on tour for three months it's not a holiday and it's good to have music in your life in the same way you would at home. My playlists aren't dictated by the place though, more by my mood. Strolling through New York for example, listening to the Housemartins gives you a bit of home.
My top travel tip is ...
In America - outside of New York and LA - don't book accommodation before you get there. There are loads of places that you will find that are cheaper, more authentic and nicer than anything you'd be able to book online.
I always bring back ...
Fridge magnets bearing the name of the place I've been to. In a place called Independence, in Oregon, we had breakfast in this great little diner. It was their last day of trading and we stayed all day until they closed up for good. They presented me with a 30-year-old magnet from their fridge as a souvenir which was a particularly moving experience.
My most memorable meal was in ...
Beijing, China. I was visiting an American art collector who lives there with his Chinese wife. He took us to this place which was the complete opposite of the touristy places and we had some amazing food. There was a soup that was still cooking and was full of fish heads. I was advised to take a drink of the harshest spirit I've ever tasted in between mouthfuls just to ensure the food was dead.
The best place I've ever been was ...
The Tree House Hotel in a place called Takilma in Southern Oregon. They have a zip line and pony trekking which are just within my grasp, but the tree houses are amazing. They're all unique, but inside have a sort of Flintstones feel - lots of furniture and details you'd find in a suburban American home, but up a tree.
My most recent trip was to ...
Berlin. I took my girlfriend to stay in a hotel called Propeller Island. I found it in this great book called Unusual Hotels of the World. Each room is themed and arty - one like a crime scene, another with just two coffins for beds. Thankfully ours wasn't so extreme and we had a great time.
· Dave Gorman's book 'America Unchained' is out now. The accompanying television documentary will be shown on More 4 at 9pm on Wednesday.
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