Actor Tom Holland is having a whirlwind year, with a slew of film releases, including the latest installment of Spider-Man and an adaptation of The Odyssey, alongside his non-alcoholic beverage brand, Bero. But it’s not all work and no play for the 30-year-old star. In a recent conversation with Condé Nast Traveler, Holland shared the details of his milestone birthday celebration, which involved a lads’ golf trip to Portugal.

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For Holland, Portugal holds a special place in his heart. ‘We used to go to Portugal all the time as kids,’ he revealed. ‘It was our place to go as a family.’ This trip marked his first visit to the country as an adult, and he was determined to make the most of it. ‘I love going on lads’ holidays,’ he said. ‘We’ll usually fly like EasyJet or Tap Air or something; I try and fly under the radar in the airport, and it just is really fun.’

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During the trip, Holland and his friends participated in a variety of activities, including golf, paddle tennis, and an obstacle course on a lake. ‘We found this place that had this obstacle course on a lake, so we would go and do that and end up doing time trials with each other—it’s very much like we resort back to being kids,’ he explained. The group also made time for lovely dinners and traditional Portuguese experiences, including grilled fish and chicken piri piri.

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Holland’s love for Portugal is evident in his choice of souvenirs. ‘I bought this really beautiful ceramic sardine,’ he said, gesturing above the camera. He also gifted the golf course hundreds of golf balls, which he joked might now be a welcome surprise for golfers visiting the course. ‘I was playing terrible golf, so I’m sure there’s loads of people playing golf there now going like, wow I’m finding so many golf balls,’ he chuckled.

When it comes to packing for a trip, Holland has a simple philosophy: ‘I think I packed perfectly.’ He made sure to bring nice outfits for dinner, which he said made the experience feel more special. ‘When we all went out for dinner, we wore nice clothes, and it was really nice,’ he recalled. His travel style is all about finding a balance between comfort and looking presentable.

For those who, like Holland, struggle with flying, he has a few tips. ‘I am an absolutely dreadful flyer,’ he confessed. ‘I get really nervous flying; nowadays I cannot sleep on planes at all.’ He recommends taking morning flights, which allow for some work time before settling in for the journey. Holland also swears by Vicks to help alleviate congestion during flights.

One of the biggest challenges Holland faces during his travels is jet lag. ‘It’s interesting that you ask that question now as I’ve just turned 30,’ he said. ‘I have really noticed in the last few years how much jet lag has been affecting my day-to-day life.’ He’s currently exploring different strategies to cope with jet lag, but hasn’t found a foolproof solution yet.

On the topic of snacks, Holland has a clear favorite: microwavable popcorn. ‘I really love Skinny Pop—that one is good,’ he said. ‘For me, that will keep you full, but you’re not eating too much food.’ He also recommends bringing comfortable clothing, like his trusty Vuori travel set, which he finds both practical and stylish.

As for what he brings with him as a piece of home, Holland has a few essentials. ‘I tried to bring my dogs with me, because there’s nothing that makes a new place feel like home than experiencing it with your dogs,’ he said. He also likes to print out pictures of family and friends to put up around the place he’s renting.

Finally, Holland shared his travel guilty pleasure: Brooklyn Nine-Nine. ‘I love Brooklyn Nine-Nine,’ he confessed. ‘On a long-haul flight, I could download three seasons of that and just go through episode after episode.’