Showbiz reporter and Strictly Come Dancing star Alison Hammond reveals her love for Florida

Alison Hammond’s favourite holiday destinations.

“We didn’t go on a lot of holidays when I was a kid but when we did it was usually to Blackpool.

But then my mum got a job with a travel agent and our first foreign holiday was a bit of a freebie.

We went to Malta and mum got very friendly with one of the waiters. So all I remember is mum and him on a motorbike with me in the middle.

When you think of safety you’d never do it nowadays, so thanks for putting me in such terrible danger, mum!

If I had to pick my all-time favourite destination it has to be Florida.

The first time I went was when I was eight and I’ve been back about five times since.

Sometimes it’s been for work, but mostly it’s been on holiday.

In February I went back with my son and my partner and we had such a brilliant time.

I don’t know what it is about the place but every time I go I find myself reverting to my childhood and behaving like a real kid.

Probably because of my showbiz reporting, I like the Hollywood studios where you do the star tours and things like the House of Terror.

I just love anything to do with Hollywood.

My son’s favourite is probably the EPCOT Centre as he’s really into all the futuristic stuff.

There’s a fireworks display at 9pm every night where they play classical music and it’s just so beautiful.

I’ve been on a few cruises and if I get an outside cabin I just can’t take it if it’s an inside one then they are lovely.

I go to bed with the patio doors to the little balcony open and am rocked off to sleep by the sound of the sea.

In fact, my all-time dream holiday is going to be a cruise this August.

I’ve done a couple with P&O and I’ve really splashed out on a major one to the Caribbean.

I’m taking my whole family my mum, dad, brother and sister and it’s going to be like one massive reunion.

We’ll be going to Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico before finishing off in Florida.

Then we’ll have a week there followed by a week in New York.

“I’m paying for it all, but I know it’s going to be so worth it.”