Ilona Maher shares her best travel tips

Ilona Maher is the travel companion we wish we had. On the one hand, she seems to make us laugh about plane delays, lost luggage, and other travel mishaps. But also, the Olympic rugby player, viral TikTok sensationand active “Dancing With the Stars” contestant is a true travel pro, with her busy schedule taking her everywhere from South Africa to the Olympic village of Paris.

PS had the opportunity to speak with Maher about her active lifestyle, and in true Olympian fashion, her travel plans consist of careful preparation, teamwork, and a healthy dose of overpacking. Ahead, she shares some of her favorite, must-have tips — plus a few potentially unpopular travel opinions — to help you travel like a fellow Olympian.

Ilona Maher's Best Travel Tips

Perfect the preparation

The first rule to traveling like a champion is to prepare for success. For Maher, that means arriving at the airport early to reduce the stress of travel. Yes, it's a Airport Dad. “I don’t like to take risks,” she tells PS. “If you're an anxious traveler, you can arrive early. Most of us are already hanging out on the phone, and you can do that at the airport and feel safer. You can have your mind quiet” (Even if that just means hanging out in the Delta lounge.)

She has a similar mindset when it comes to packing, saying she often packs a few days in advance, or even packs and repacks her suitcase several times to see what suits him. “I don’t like to leave it for the day,” she says. “Just pack it a day or two before, leave it, and then you can go on with your day and think about whether you missed anything.”

Love your luggage

When it comes to luggage, Maher isn't picky: his main requirement is that it have four wheels. “I love four-wheeled luggage, I think it makes traveling a lot easier,” says Maher. His current favorite is the ever-popular Beis Luggage ($308). She usually travels with a smaller piece of luggage, a larger wheeled bag and hand luggage. And when it comes to luggage, she has another potentially unpopular travel opinion. “I'm a fan of checked bags,” she admits, saying it's often easier because of the amount of rugby equipment.

Comfort above all

Maher knows that some people on social media love dressing 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 if it’s summer, I wear leggings or long pants.” The rest of her fit airport is planned with logistics in mind, from the sandals she can easily slip on and off while going through security, to the sweatshirt she packs in her carry-on in case the plane gets cold.

To rest

Beyond an extra layer, Maher also packs a few other travel essentials to help him relax and pass the time on long flights. “I always bring a neck pillow And an eye mask“, she says. “What matters to me is knowing that you are not going to be 100% comfortable. It’s not like you’re lying in bed, and you just have to get used to it.”

Maher also has a few other tips for sleeping better on planes — some of which she passed on to her family for their 16-hour flight to South Africa. “If it's a night plane, don't try to overstimulate yourself by watching a movie,” she advises, saying she often begins to unwind immediately after dinner with a book. audio or music. In case you're wondering, she's currently listening to a lot of Olivia Dean and reading “Not in Love” by Ali Hazelwood ($11, originally $19). “To sleep, I myself put my hands in my seat belt and my jacket almost straight,” she says, adding: “Even if you don't sleep, at least put yourself in a state of rest.” It's also important to stay hydrated on the plane, and for that, Maher is a big fan of hers. Owala Water Bottle ($29, originally $33) – which is also a PS favorite.

Anticipate jet lag

After landing, Maher said time difference is usually his toughest opponent. “Every time I go to Dubai, it’s like a 12-hour time difference, so it’s difficult,” she says. “I'm just trying to stick to a normal sleep schedule.” This means that if she lands at 8 a.m. and there is still an eight-hour time difference, she will do her best to stay awake. “I might take a little nap, but the main thing is to try to stay up as late as possible,” she explains.

What's on Ilona Maher's travel destination list

As for where she's already been, it's hard to beat a flight to Paris for the Summer Olympics. “Paris was amazing. It was so cool to be a Delta partner and being able to fly with them (again),” Maher says. “My whole team was watching my little in-flight entertainments and they were all sending me pictures.” She also loved Cape Town, South Africa, where she performed in the Rugby World Cup 2022 and a trip to Laos to promote the non-profit organization ChildFund Rugby with his sister. Next on his list is Croatia and somewhere a little more tropical. “I would love to go to one of those houses on the blue water, like Tahiti,” she says.

How Ilona Maher stays busy between trips

In the meantime, Maher is staying busy with opportunities like “Dancing With the Stars” and social media. “'Dancing with the Stars' is really cool. It's a strike while the iron is hot and (I'm) just trying to do as much as I can now,” she said. But while we often think of athletes in terms of physical prowess, Maher has also demonstrated a certain level of mental resilience, becoming particularly vulnerable in a recent episode of “DWTS.” Yet learning to prioritize yourself is a work in progress.

“I think it’s something I’m still learning,” she says in reference to her mental toughness, adding that her support system plays an important role, as does her sister-turned-manager. “I try to take those moments for myself, whether it's just sitting down, reading my book, going for a walk – whenever I can find those moments, (I) try to take them.”

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

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