With over 25 years in the industry, Access Prepaid’s Graham Perry’s travel lists enviably extends past 30 countries. Taking time out from his travels and popular prepaid travel money card business, Mr Perry told e-Travel Blackboard about some of his time spent abroad and that time he was detained for carrying old passport details.

e-Travel Blackboard: What drew you into the travel industry?

I started with Thomas Cook 25 years ago and haven’t looked back. I remember the queues were always four to five deep with people buying travellers’ cheques.

Technology has made the business of travel money an interesting industry. In terms of travel money options, travellers have never had it so good. The Multi-currency Cash Passport makes taking travel money abroad more convenient, easier and safer than ever before. Watch this space - the prepaid travel money market is transitioning to a period of explosive growth.

e-Travel Blackboard: Over the years you’ve managed to tick off up to 30 countries from your travel list – which two destinations are your favourite and why?

Japan is a clear stand-out, because it’s one of the most foreign places on earth. It’s modern, clean, safe and also very technologically advanced. It’s an interesting and beautiful country.

I also can’t go past Fiji for pure relaxation with the family. It’s a quick plane trip, child-friendly and the perfect place for doing very little.  

e-Travel Blackboard: What’s one of your funniest travel memories?

After travelling to China with my new passport I get stopped by officials as my APEC business travel card doesn’t match my new passport - it has my old passport details on it. I get detained. There are two options: ask our London office to write a letter stating that I am in fact there for business or I am put on the next flight back home. Luckily the letter arrives and I am granted a temporary visa and am released.

e-Travel Blackboard: During your next trip away from Access Prepaid, where are our readers most likely to find you holidaying?

You’ll find me either at home or unwinding in Fiji.

e-Travel Blackboard: What other destinations are still on your travel bucket list?

Number one on my bucket list is Egypt and a visit to the pyramids. Despite how often I travel, it remains the one destination on my radar.

e-Travel Blackboard: What is the number one travel tip to all friends, family and peers?

I’ve learnt that it’s always best to pay for a cab fare with a card because the receipt comes in handy if you happen leave your mobile phone or anything valuable in the back of the cab.

e-Travel Blackboard: What three items always make the must-pack list when travelling?

My Multi-currency Cash Passport is a must, secondly my apple mac as it is great for movies and I can access my work emails and last but not least my up-to-date APEC travel card!

e-Travel Blackboard: If you could travel the world with any celebrity, which would it be?

Larry David who is best known as the co-creator of Seinfeld. We could go on a world trip “about nothing!”