Ilona Maher shares her best travel tips

Ilona Maher is the travel buddy we wish we had. First, she seems to keep us laughing through plane delays, lost luggage, and other travel mishaps. But also the Olympic rugby player, viral TikTok sensationand active participant on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ is a bona fide travel professional, with her packed schedule taking her everywhere from South Africa to the Olympic Village in Paris.

PS had the chance to chat with Maher about her on-the-go lifestyle, and in true Olympic fashion, her travel plans involve careful preparation, teamwork and a healthy dose of overpacking. Ahead, she shares some of her favorite tips and must-haves—along with some potentially unpopular travel advice—to help you travel like a fellow Olympian.

The best travel tips from Ilona Maher

Perfect the preparation

The first rule of traveling like a champion is to set yourself up for success. For Maher, this means getting to the airport early to reduce stress on the travel day. Yes, she is one Airport Dad. “I don’t like to take the risk,” she tells PS. “If you’re an anxious flyer, it’s okay to get there early. Most of us are already just on the phone, and you can do that at the airport and feel safer. It’s okay to get some peace of mind .” (Even if that just means hanging out in the Delta lounge.)

She has a similar mentality when it comes to packing: She says she often packs a few days in advance, or even packs and repacks her suitcase a few times to see what fits inside. “I don’t like to leave it until the day of,” she says. “Just pack it a day or two in advance, leave it, and then you can go about your day and think about whether you missed anything.”

I love your luggage

When it comes to luggage, Maher isn’t picky; its main requirement is that the bag has four wheels. “I love four-wheeled luggage, I think it makes traveling so much easier,” says Maher. Her current favorite is the ever-popular one Beis luggage ($308). She usually flies with one smaller piece of luggage, one larger rolling bag and… a portable hand luggage. And when it comes to luggage, she has another potentially unpopular travel opinion. “I’m a checked bag person,” she admits, saying it’s often easier because of the amount of rugby equipment.

Comfort over everything

Maher knows that some people on social media like to do that dress up for the airport . . . but you won’t see Maher jumping on the bandwagon anytime soon. “It’s all about comfort, especially on long flights,” she says. “Even when it’s summer, I wear leggings or long pants.” The rest of her airport ‘fit is planned with logistics in mind, from sandals she can easily put on and take off as she goes through security, to a sweatshirt she packs in her carry-on in case the plane gets cold.

Rest

In addition to an extra layer, Maher also brings a few other travel essentials to help her relax and pass the time on long flights. ‘I always take it with me a neck pillow And an eye mask‘ she says. “The most important thing is that I know you won’t feel 100 percent comfortable. It’s not like you’re in bed, and you just have to get used to that.”

Maher also has a few other tips for sleeping better on planes – some of which she passed on to her family before their 16-hour flight to South Africa. “If it’s a night plane, try not to overstimulate yourself by watching a movie,” she advises, saying she often unwinds right after dinner with an audiobook or music — just in case you remember. Wonders: She is currently listening to a lot of Olivia Dean and reading “Not in Love” by Ali Hazelwood ($11, originally $19). “To sleep, I put my hands in my seat belt and almost in my straitjacket,” she says, adding, “Even if you’re not sleeping, make sure you get into a resting state.” It’s also important to stay hydrated on the plane, which is why Maher is a big fan of hers Owala water bottle ($29, originally $33) — which is also a PS favorite.

Anticipate jet lag

After she lands, Maher says jet lag is usually her toughest opponent. “Every time I go to Dubai it’s a 12-hour time difference, so it’s difficult,” she says. “I’m just trying to keep a normal sleep schedule.” That means if she lands at 8 a.m. and there’s still an eight-hour time difference, she’ll do her best to stay up. “I might take a nap, but the most important thing is to stay up as late as possible,” she explains.

What’s on Ilona Maher’s bucket list for travel destinations?

As for where she’s been already, it’s hard to beat flying to Paris for the Summer Olympics. “Paris was great. It was so cool to be there a Delta partner and got to fly with them (again),” says Maher. “My whole team watched the little in-flight entertainment from me and they all sent me pictures.” She also loved Cape Town, South Africa, where she played the Rugby World Cup 2022 and a trip to Laos to promote the non-profit organization Children’s Fund Rugby with her sister. Next on her list is Croatia, and somewhere a little more tropical. “I would like to go to one of those blue water houses like Tahiti,” she says.

How Ilona Maher stays busy between trips

Until then, Maher will stay busy by fully committing to opportunities like “Dancing With the Stars” and social media. “‘Dancing with the Stars’ is really cool. It’s striking while the iron is hot and I’m just trying to do as much as I can right now,” she says. But while we often think of athletes in terms of physical prowess, Maher has also shown a certain level of mental toughness, becoming particularly vulnerable on a recent episode of “DWTS.” Still, learning to put oneself first is a work in progress.

“I think I’m always learning that,” she says referring to her mental strength, adding that her support system plays a big role, as does her sister-turned-manager. “I try to take those moments for myself, whether it’s just sitting down, reading my book, taking a walk – whenever I can find those moments, I try to take them.”

Whether it’s travel or TV, Maher is looking forward to what the future holds, knowing she has plenty of support by her side. “I’m so excited, blessed that I get to do this, and even though I don’t get a lot of free time, it’s really fun and I’m doing something that so many people would dream of.”

Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has more than four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie and Bustle Digital Group.