Ilona Maher is the travel buddy we wish we had. For one, she seems like she’d keep us laughing through plane delays, lost luggage, and other travel mishaps. But also, the Olympic rugby player, viral TikTok sensation, and active “Dancing With the Stars” contestant is a bonafide travel pro, with her packed schedule taking her everywhere from South Africa to the Olympic Village in Paris.
PS had a chance to speak with Maher about her on-the-go lifestyle, and in true Olympian fashion, her travel plans consist of careful preparation, teamwork, and a healthy dose of overpacking. Ahead, she shares a few of her favorite tips and must haves — along with a couple potentially unpopular travel opinions — to help you travel like a fellow Olympian.
Ilona Maher’s Best Travel Tips
Perfect the Prep
The first rule of traveling like a champion is to set yourself up for success. For Maher, that means arriving at the airport early to cut down on travel-day stress. Yes, she is an Airport Dad. “I don’t like to chance it,” she tells PS. ” If you’re an anxious flyer, it’s OK to get there early. Most of us are already just on our phone hanging out, and you can do that at the airport and feel more secure. It’s OK to put your mind at ease.” (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 re-packs her suitcase a couple times to see what fits. “I don’t like to leave it for the day of,” she says. “Just pack it a day or two before, leave it, and then you can go about your day and think about if there’s anything you’ve missed.”
Love Your Luggage
When it comes to luggage, Maher isn’t picky — her main requirement is that it has four wheels. “I love the four-wheel luggage, I think that makes travel so much easier,” Maher says. Her current favorite is the always-popular Beis luggage ($308). She typically flies with one smaller piece of luggage, one larger roller bag, and a handheld carry-on. 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 due to the amount of rugby equipment.
Comfort Over Everything
Maher knows that some people on social media love to dress up for the airport . . . but you won’t see Maher jumping on the bandwagon anytime soon. “It’s all about comfort, especially for those long flights,” she says. “Even if it’s summer, I wear a legging or a long pant.” The rest of her airport ‘fit is planned with logistics in mind, from sandals she can easily take on and off going through security, to a sweatshirt she packs in her carry-on just in case the plane gets cold.
Rest Up
Beyond an extra layer, Maher also brings a few other travel essentials to help her unwind and pass the time on long flights. “I always bring a neck pillow and an eye mask,” she says. “My big thing is to know that you aren’t going to be 100 percent comfortable. It’s not like you’re laying down in your bed, and you have to just get used to that.”
Maher also has a few other tips for sleeping more soundly on planes — some of which she passed on to her family for their 16-hour flight to South Africa. “If it’s an overnight plane, don’t try to stimulate yourself too much by watching a movie,” she advises, saying she often starts to wind down immediately after dinner with an audiobook or music — in case you were wondering, she’s currently listening to lots of Olivia Dean and reading “Not in Love” by Ali Hazelwood ($11, originally $19). “To sleep, I tuck my hands into my seatbelt and almost straight jacket myself in a way,” she says, adding, “Even if you’re not sleeping, at least get into a resting state.” It’s also important to stay hydrated on the plane, and for that, Maher is a big fan of her 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. “Whenever I go to Dubai, it’s like a 12-hour time difference, so it’s hard,” she says. “I just try to keep with a normal sleep schedule.” That means if she lands at 8:00 a.m. and there’s still an eight-hour time difference, she’ll do her best to stay up. “I take maybe 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 Bucket List
As for where she’s already been, it’s tough to beat flying to Paris for the summer Olympics. “Paris was amazing. It was so cool to be a Delta partner and get to fly with them [again],” Maher says. “My whole team was watching the little in-flight entertainment of me and they were all sending me pictures.” She also loved Cape Town, South Africa, where she played in the 2022 Rugby World Cup, and a trip to Laos to promote the nonprofit organization ChildFund Rugby with her sister. Next on her list is Croatia and somewhere a bit more tropical. “I’d love to go to one of those houses on the blue water, like Tahiti,” she says.
How Ilona Maher Stays Busy Between Trips
Until then, Maher is staying busy by putting her all into opportunities like “Dancing With the Stars” and social media. “‘Dancing with the Stars’ is really cool. It’s a strike while the iron’s hot moment and [I’m] just trying to do as much as I can now,” she says. But while we often think about athletes in terms of physical prowess, Maher has also demonstrated a certain level of mental resilience, getting especially vulnerable in a recent episode of “DWTS.” Still, learning to put herself first is a work in progress.
“I think that’s something I always continue to learn,” she says in reference to her mental fortitude, adding that her support system plays a big role, as does her sister-turned-manager. “I do try to take those times for myself, whether it’s just being able to sit down, read my book, go on a walk — whenever I can find those moments, [I] try to take ’em.”
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 to be doing this, and though I don’t get a lot of time off, it’s really fun and I am doing something that so many people would dream to do.”
Chandler Plante (she/her) is an assistant health and fitness editor for PS. She has over four years of professional journalism experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributing to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group.