My Ultimate Airport & Travel Guide

I have a confession to make…

I think I enjoy planning a holiday almost as much as the holiday itself. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love getting away, but there’s something so exciting about the build up too. I love researching where I’m going, getting everything organised and arriving at the airport with plenty of time so there’s no rushing. For me, the airport isn’t just somewhere you have to get through. It’s part of the whole experience.

I love wandering through duty free, picking up a little treat for whoever I’m visiting, and if I’m running low on my favourite perfume or makeup, or there’s a bottle of wine I’ve been meaning to try, I’ll often treat myself too. It’s become part of my holiday tradition. Even if I’m only hopping over to London to visit family for a day I still get that little buzz of adventure. There’s something about stepping onto a plane that makes me feel like I’ve escaped everyday life for a while.

Although I’ve used Dublin Airport as the basis for this guide, most of these tips will help no matter where you’re flying from. Whether you’re travelling from Cork, Shannon, Heathrow, JFK or anywhere else, the habits that make travelling less stressful are very much the same. Dublin Airport just happens to be the airport I know best and use most often.

Over the years, I’ve picked up lots of little habits that make travelling easier and far less stressful. Some are based on services I regularly use at Dublin Airport, while others are simple travel routines that I use wherever I fly. So, I thought I’d put them all together in one place.

I’ve Made Every Travel Mistake You Can

Imagine

People often ask me for travel tips, and I always laugh because I’ve made just about every mistake you can make. I’ve forgotten my passport. I’ve packed far too much luggage. I’ve even turned up at the airport on the wrong day! If there’s a travel mistake to be made, chances are I’ve made it.

I’ve been travelling since I was 14 years old, and every one of those mistakes has taught me something. Am I perfect now? Absolutely not. I still overpack because I love having options. These days I lay out everything I think I want to bring, then I make myself take a few outfits away before I zip the suitcase. Even then, I usually come home with three or four outfits I never wore! Every trip teaches me something new, and hopefully some of the things I’ve learned will make your next journey that little bit easier.

The Airport Lounge Completely Changed

How I Travel

The first time I ever walked into an airport lounge wasn’t in Dublin. It was in America. I was travelling with friends who had lounge access, and they brought me in with them. Honestly, I was blown away. It didn’t even feel like an airport. It felt like we’d wandered into a VIP area, and I couldn’t believe I’d never realised something like this existed.

When I came home, I started looking into airport lounges properly. Then I had a bit of a lightbulb moment. I like arriving at the airport early. If I’m travelling anywhere that’s more than about an hour away, I’ll usually have breakfast, lunch or dinner before my flight. If I’m travelling with family or friends, we might have a drink while we’re waiting too.

Then I realised…

I was already spending almost the price of the lounge anyway. Once I looked at it like that, it completely changed how I travelled.

Instead of sitting in a busy terminal, I could relax somewhere quieter, enjoy food and drinks, charge my phone, catch up on emails or simply watch the planes. For me, that’s when the holiday begins. Of course, being me, I wasn’t going to pay full price if I didn’t have to! So I started keeping an eye out for lounge discount codes.

Long before I officially worked with Dublin Airport, I was already sharing those codes with my followers because I genuinely wanted other people to experience what I’d discovered.

My Favourite Dublin Airport Services

Download the Dublin Airport App

If you don’t already have it, it’s well worth downloading. I use it to keep an eye on my flights, and it’s also handy for booking parking, Fast Track and airport lounges. Having everything in one place just makes travelling that little bit easier.

Book Your Parking in Advance

If you’re driving to the airport, I’d always recommend booking your parking before you travel. It usually works out cheaper, guarantees your space and removes one more thing to worry about on the day.

I also keep an eye out for parking discount codes throughout the year because, as you’ll probably know by now, I love finding a saving wherever I can!

Is Fast Track Worth It?

This is one of the questions I’m asked most often.

My answer is…

Sometimes.

If you’re travelling during a busy period, you’re cutting it a little fine or you simply want peace of mind, I think Fast Track is well worth considering. If security is expected to be quiet, you may decide you don’t need it. It’s not something I think everyone has to buy every time, but there are definitely occasions when it can make the start of your journey much less stressful. And yes… whenever I have Fast Track discount codes, I always share them.

Why I Love the Lounge

People often think airport lounges are only for business travellers. I used to think that too.

Now I honestly see them differently. For me, they’re about starting my holiday in a calm, relaxed way. I always leave enough time to enjoy the lounge properly because that’s become part of my holiday. Sitting with a coffee, enjoying something to eat, watching the planes outside the window and knowing there’s nowhere else I need to be…

That’s the moment I switch off. Walking onto the plane is exciting, but for me, the holiday starts before take-off.

The Little Habits That Make Every Trip Better

These are the simple things I do almost every time I travel:

 Check my passport… then check it again!

 Book parking in advance.

 Arrive early enough that I’m never rushing.

 Pick up a little gift in duty free if I’m visiting family or friends.

 Treat myself if I spot something I’ve been meaning to buy.

 Take time to actually enjoy the airport instead of racing through it.

None of these things are revolutionary.

But together they’ve made travelling so much more enjoyable.

If You’re Nervous About Flying…

People often tell me they’re nervous about getting on a plane. I completely understand that. I always think about it this way. I hate lifts.

If I need to get to the 18th floor, I’ll still get into one because I know it’s taking me somewhere I want to be. That’s how I think about flying.

If it’s the part you don’t enjoy, try to focus on what’s waiting for you at the other end. Whether it’s a family holiday, a city break, visiting loved ones or making memories with people you care about, the flight is simply the bridge that gets you there.

My Happy Place

If I had to pick one place in the world that has my heart, it would be New York. I’ve been there around fifteen times now. After the last few visits, I’ve caught myself saying, “Right… I think that’s me done with New York.”

But it never is.

Before long, I’m looking at flights again. I can’t really explain it. It’s the skyline, the shopping, the restaurants, the energy, the atmosphere… even the steam rising from the subway. The moment I arrive, I feel excited. It never loses its magic.

Final Thoughts

For me, travelling has never just been about the destination. It’s about the excitement of planning the trip weeks in advance. It’s about counting down the days, packing the suitcase (even if I still overpack!), arriving at the airport with time to spare, wandering through duty free, picking up a little gift for someone I’m visiting, treating myself if I spot something I’ve been meaning to buy, and sitting down with a coffee while watching the planes outside the window. That’s when my holiday begins.

Then it’s about making memories, exploring somewhere new or spending time with people I love. And when I come home, I love unpacking, looking back through all my photos and reliving those moments all over again. Travelling is one of my greatest joys, and over the years I’ve learned that a little planning can make the whole experience so much more enjoyable.

Whether you’re flying from Dublin Airport, Cork, Shannon, Heathrow, JFK or anywhere else in the world, I hope some of these tips help make your next journey that little bit easier, a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable.

Safe travels, and enjoy every part of the adventure—not just the destination. ✈️