A necessity: My laptop computer, as it removes the need to take anything else. I take a printer, too, so that I can type up my impressions of a place, print them out and send them to my son. My latest book came out of the faxes I sent my son, although I did not intend them for publication.

A luxury: If I am travelling by sea, or don't have to worry about carrying my luggage, I would take a proper feather pillow. I don't like those synthetic ones that you lie on and your head bounces back at you.

A good luck charm: I take absolutely nothing. I'm not superstitious. I don't need to take pictures of my family or a good luck charm. I find it so strange that people do take things with them and have written a book about it.

If only: My favourite trip was going to New York with only a brief case, so I would like to be able to take absolutely nothing. I do think that carrying hand luggage is one of the curses of travel and I avoid it at all costs.

• The Naked Eye, Travels In Search Of The Human Species, by Desmond Morris, is published by Ebury Press at £16.99.