Jean Reno's holiday heaven and hell

Great holidays…

Which was your best holiday?

When I went to Croatia two years ago with my wife, Zofia, and my two young children, Tom, 14, and Serena, 12. Croatia is an amazing place. We went diving and ate plenty of delicious food. We originally went there to watch my friend Lenny Kravitz play in concert, but loved it so much that we ended up staying for an extra couple of days. We spent most of our trip on a boat, sailing out to a far-off location and going for a swim in the sea.

And the best hotel you've stayed in?

There are several. The Lemuria Resort in the Seychelles is an amazing place and an ideal location for a romantic holiday. You're constantly surrounded by beauty – beautiful trees, creatures, people and views. Staff are on call 24 hours a day, which is quite helpful when you're craving a midnight snack. We didn't go to a restaurant once because the food was so great.

The private and luxurious resort of Frégate, in the Seychelles, is equally amazing. The entire island is a resort – it's that small. It is a beautiful place, surrounded by golden sand beaches and crystal-clear water.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?

If it's a romantic holiday, the only thing I need is my wife. We love quiet and calm places where we can't be disturbed. Neither of us likes being in busy places; we would much rather stay in our hotel room and enjoy each other's company. We try to take romantic breaks as often as we can. I believe it's healthy for any relationship.

What do you always take with you?

Swimwear, books for reading on the beach and perhaps even a few of those embarrassing Hawaiian shirts that you can only pull off when in an exotic country. I'm a minimalist. I don't really need much to enjoy a good holiday – just my family and the bare essentials.

What's your best piece of travel advice?

Don't drink too much when you're on the plane. When I was young and on a long-haul flight to Japan, I drank a lot of sake. I thought it would help beat the boredom, but I ended up getting drunk, which made me feel uncomfortable, so I couldn't sleep properly.

Also, I would advise anyone not to get too angry when something doesn't go according to plan. You're on holiday to relax, so take anything negative with a pinch of salt.

Where do you want to go next?

I'm going to North America to see a good friend of mine. I'm going to be quite close to Canada, so I might even cross the border to check it out if I have the time.

…and disasters?

Which was your worst holiday?

After divorcing my first wife, Genevieve, I took my children to Italy for a well-deserved break. I thought we would enjoy a quiet holiday, but it was awful. The resort we were staying in had lots of young guests who were partying around the hotel. It was noisy and the small swimming pool was crowded with people mucking around. We were there for 10 days, although it felt like 10 years. Luckily, the food was amazing; it gave me an incentive to stay.

And your worst experience on holiday?

Several years ago, I took my children to Mauritius for a small family holiday. Although we enjoyed our stay, getting back home to France was a nightmare. At the airport, we were told that our flight had been cancelled and that we had to go back to our hotel and wait for further information.

To make matters worse, my daughter had fallen ill the day before and I had to carry her. She got so bad that we had to call a doctor. Also, our hotel didn't have a telephone, so I had to make constant trips back and forth to the airport to get the latest information on the status of our flight. It was hell.

What's the biggest packing mistake you've made?

I used to overpack a lot and sometimes even forgot vital pieces of clothing, such as my swimming shorts and sandals. I'm much better now. I only take what I know I'm going to wear or use and always double-check my suitcase so I don't have to rush to the nearest clothing store when I unpack at the hotel.

Which is the worst hotel you've stayed in?

In 1998, I was in Tunisia filming for the movie Ronin with Robert De Niro. We stayed at an unpleasant-looking hotel. I can't remember the name. What I can remember is that the food was awful and the service was extremely rude. They served the same food every day and the place was filthy.

What do you avoid on holiday?

People. I know it sounds bad, but I don't like being disturbed. I usually get fans asking me if I'd like to take part in their volleyball game or to join them for a drink, which is flattering, but at the same time I just want to be left alone with my wife and books. And then of course there are the paparazzi. I can't stand it when they're taking pictures of me when all I'm doing is just lying on a beach. Why is that interesting?

What do you hate about holidays?

When the food isn't good. As you can tell from my previous answers, I am a huge foodie, which is why I loved Italy so much. Go there and you can rest assured you will eat very well. If I'm not offered good cuisine on holiday, it's enough to make me want to leave.