Mark Hodson is the founder and editor of 101 Holidays and 101 Short Breaks. In his twenties he gave up a desk job at a newspaper to spend three years travelling in Asia and Latin America. He then spent 15 years as a full-time freelance travel journalist, mainly writing for The Sunday Times. He has visited more than 75 countries and had more than 500 newspaper and magazine articles published.
Cheapflights: What do you always do when you travel – any routine procedures?
Mark Hodson: This is going to sound really nerdy, but I have packing lists for different types of trips (city, beach, ski, long haul, business). I also keep a ready-packed toiletries bag containing miniature sized toothpaste, shaving foam, etc.
CF: What is your travel pet peeve?
MH: I find that many staff at airports – particularly in the UK – are unnecessarily officious and rude. I think it comes down to a fundamental disregard towards passengers as individuals. Airport and airline staff even joke privately that passengers are
