Brendan Courtney: 'We went from sitting on the station floor with rats to a business class flight with champagne'

Despite years of airports, islands, and on-the-road adventure, Brendan Courtney is happiest now keeping things simple: sunshine, sea swims and the ease of Greece.

Broadcaster, podcast host, and fashion entrepreneur Brendan Courtney has travelled the world for work

Broadcaster, podcast host, and fashion entrepreneur Brendan Courtney has travelled the world for work: From his early days presenting travel shows to filming in far-flung locations for television. But despite years of airports, islands, and on-the-road adventure, he’s happiest now keeping things simple: sunshine, sea swims and the ease of Greece.

The Acropolis of Athens, Greece

Favourite childhood holiday memory

We never went abroad when we were kids; we went to the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney, Joe Dolan playing, lunch with country music… those are the lasting memories. We always went off for a week somewhere around the country. I remember sitting in the driveway waiting to go, but Dad was a builder and always had a job to finish before we left. One year, my two sisters went to the gaeltacht, and when they came back — I think it was 1980 — we went to the south of France. We drove all the way there and spent a month travelling through France and Paris. I had my ninth birthday there. Looking back, it felt so exotic, such a big adventure.

Glenmalure Lodge in Killarney

Most memorable trip

Myself and Adam — my ex, who’s still a very good friend — are great travel buddies. The year we met, we went to Vietnam. We flew into Ho Chi Minh City and travelled up the entire coast, south to north, over two and a half weeks.

We flew into Ho Chi Minh City and travelled up the entire coast, south to north, over two and a half weeks.

One particular moment stands out. We were meant to take an overnight train, and the station was grim — boiling hot, no air-con, people sitting on the floor with baskets and chickens. I checked TripAdvisor and it said, “Don’t get this train overnight”. So I said to Adam, who’s very frugal, “If the airport is less than an hour away and the flight is under $100, can we book?” The airport was 12 minutes away, the flight was $60, and it was business class. We went from sitting on the floor with rats to a 45-minute business class flight with champagne. Adam just said, “Okay, fair”. One of the funniest travel memories I have.

Most surprising destination

I discovered Greece only about six years ago, and I’ve now done 70 islands. Greece surprised me because I had never been there, and I assumed it was a kind of poor man’s Spain. It’s not. It’s superior to Spain and Portugal by a mile. The islands are little slices of perfection. The flag is blue and white — the sea and the sky — and that’s exactly what you see everywhere. The food is simple and fresh, the people are lovely, and nothing is complicated. Even the ferries are easy. Every island has its own character. I don’t like long-haul flights anymore, so Greece, being only a couple of hours away, is a big bonus. I recommend it to everyone.

Brendan Courtney: I discovered Greece only about six years ago, and I’ve now done 70 islands.

Favourite city in the world

The islands win every time.

Most memorable food experience

A standout food memory is discovering prawn saganaki. They do chicken saganaki too, but the prawn one is incredible — tomato, mint, basil. I make it myself now. We ate it every day in Greece.

Favourite hotel

I don’t like luxury hotel experiences; they’re all the same. You could be anywhere in the world. I love small, higgledy-piggledy, family-run places. My favourite is Glenmalure Lodge in Wicklow ( pictured left), a family-run lodge with 19 bedrooms over a traditional pub, Guinness, steak pies, log fires.

I go every New Year’s Eve and have done for eight years.

We hike on New Year’s Eve, then head to Shirley and her Bosca beatha sauna – she’s the original sauna woman – in a converted horse box by the cold-water stream. Sauna, dip, then pints. Perfect.

Favourite thing to do while travelling

I’m not a sit-around person. I hike and swim. Joanne McNally always says, “Brendan’s gas – he can’t walk past a sink without getting in”. I’m a big walker. I use the AllTrails app everywhere. I’d never sit by a pool.

My bucket list trip

I think people forget I started my TV career doing a travel series. I presented Treasure Island, I guest-presented No Frontiers, and I’ve done five different travel series.

I never did a year abroad because I went straight into TV, so travel always mattered to me, but I travelled so much that I became a weary traveller. So honestly? There’s no bucket-list place left. I’ve been everywhere. I just bought a house by the sea in Wicklow, and there’s no place like home. I get offered hotel stays all the time for work. I’d rather be at home with the dog, light the fire, swim, cook. Simple. things. But I will always go back to Greece. Always.

I’ve been everywhere. But I will always go back to Greece. Always.

I went to Madeira and the Azores recently. So lovely, but they weren’t Greece. A friend has just built a house in Palm Springs, so that’s tempting. And I love travelling alone… it’s freer, easier. But for now… it’s Greece, every time.