With her razor-sharp wit and knack for storytelling, Rachel Galvo brings humour to everything, including travel. Whether she’s flying to London or dancing in Barcelona, the comedian, actor and writer brings her unique perspective on life along with her.

Rachel Galvo isn’t your typical traveller. Sure, she loves a good beach and a bit of sightseeing, but her adventures are always sprinkled with a bit of chaos and the odd spontaneous singalong. Whether she’s swapping stories in a salsa bar or laughing in the face of disaster, Rachel’s approach to holidays is anything but ordinary—and she’s got the anecdotes to prove it.

Barcelona: where mangoes and music collide

Completing college exams is a milestone in any student’s life; what better way to mark the occasion than by serenading tourists with Lion King songs and dancing until dawn?

“To celebrate finishing our final year exams in Trinity, I took a trip to Barcelona with my girlfriends—one of the best holidays of my life. We would go to the fruit market in the morning and buy these huge mangoes and just eat them like apples on the beach… very attractive I imagine.”

Rachel and her friends made sure to explore La Sagrada Família, one of architect Antoni Gaudí’s most famous works in Barcelona.

“When we visited, there was a man selling little instruments outside. We all took one and started a singalong outside the cathedral. I’m sure we sounded absolutely awful, but we had a huge crowd of tourists singing along to the Lion King songs.

I think Barcelona is such a perfect combination of beach and city and culture. On our first night, we went to this salsa bar called Mr. Robinson, and we ended up going back every single night; we danced our arses off and fell in love with the bartenders.”

Book a flight to Barcelona to experience this magical city for yourself; Lion King singalongs are purely optional.

From window seat to work zone

Rachel’s frequent flying often turns her seat on an Aer Lingus flight into her own personal workspace.

“Recently my job has meant a lot of flights, so the plane has become my second office. I love a window seat. I always wipe down my tray table with sanitising wipes and order a cup of tea.

If it’s a short flight—most often between London and Dublin—I write up email replies and work on scripts or social media stuff. If it’s a longer flight, like to Portugal, I buy a book in Waterstones and try to finish the whole thing before we land. I love it… it’s the only time in my life when I’m not glued to a screen.”

Notting Hill, shops in Pembridge Road

Sun, sea and south Dublin stereotypes

Rachel’s earliest holiday memories are filled with enormous waves and family fun.

“This will be damaging to my reputation and solidify others’ beliefs about south Dublin stereotypes, but my first memory of a holiday is the Algarve in Portugal. I have clear memories of my parents sitting with all of their friends in Julia’s Beach Bar, eating prawns and drinking wine while the older children took us swimming in the sea. I remember the waves being terrifyingly big but thrilling.

We’d also take a trip to the water park every year. It would be the one day where the dads would take the children off the mums’ hands so they could finally relax.”

From Glengarriff to Kenmare

Every year, Rachel and her family make a visit to the Europe Hotel in Killarney, County Kerry.

“We set aside a day to drive across into Glengarriff in Cork, which is where my Grandad grew up. We always stop at Ladies View (on the Ring of Kerry), which was my other grandad’s favourite view in Ireland. We then drive down to Blue Pool (near Killarney) and go swimming. The Sheen Falls is nearby, which is where my parents got engaged, and we’ll sometimes go for a meal there. Or to a pub in Kenmare… depending on how hungry our swim made us!”

To whet your appetite for an action-packed adventure in Ireland, read our behind-the-scenes tour of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Glengarriff , County Cork

Flying solo: to Edinburgh and beyond

As a 21-year-old, Rachel fell hard for Edinburgh—a city made for solo adventurers.

“I love Edinburgh. I first went there to visit my best friend Aisling who was studying in St. Andrews; I went to Edinburgh for a few days by myself after. It was my first solo trip and I felt very comfortable there. I was actually supposed to study a Masters in Law at Edinburgh Uni, but got into acting college that same year.”

More recently, the comedian and TikTok star completed a month-long run of shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.

“I stayed in student accommodation so it was almost as though I got to taste what that life would’ve been like! However, I’m currently in Lisbon and I have to say it’s a very strong contender for my favourite city.”

Book a flight to Edinburgh to experience the enchantment of this historic city for yourself.

It was Rachel’s leap to London that would transform her life and career in ways she never expected.

“I’m not sure you can call it travelling, but after college I moved to London for acting school. I was absolutely terrified as I’m such a home bird, but I’m now here two years. If I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be doing my current job, performing. It’s been the best decision I ever made. I’m also so lucky that I work for myself and so I can fly back to Dublin whenever I want… which is quite often.”

Book a flight to London to dive into the buzz and excitement of the UK capital.

And when it comes to the perfect travel companion? “My best friend Kate has been to a lot of cool places and she’s always up for embracing a new adventure. We laugh everywhere we go, even if everything has turned out to be a disaster.”

Rachel Galvo is one of Ireland’s brightest young comedy talents, known for her sharp wit and ability to find the funny side in any situation. After moving to London for acting school, Rachel quickly established herself in the world of comedy, performing regularly in both Dublin and London. Her most recent shows at the Edinburgh Fringe were a hit, and she continues to captivate audiences with her blend of storytelling, humour and relatable observations on life.  Follow her on TikTok (@rachel_galvo) and Instagram (@rachelgalvo) for news on her upcoming shows in Dublin, London and beyond.

Are you ready to add a bit of humour and drama to your own travel story? Whether it’s dancing in Barcelona or following the cobblestoned laneways of Edinburgh, take a leaf from Rachel’s book and embrace the unexpected. Book your flights today and see where the journey takes you—because every great adventure starts with a boarding pass.