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Every woman faces this same dilemma when we’re doing our final packing for a big trip. What’s the right travel bag to take, and do I need more than one? I’m a pretty savvy packer, and I think I’ve found the perfect balance.
Every woman needs a travel bag that acts as a catchall for all the stuff we think we need to take on the plane. Personally, I take crossword puzzles, a Kindle, a laptop, lip gloss, an old-school iPod, pens, notebooks, hand sanitizer, a snack, extra socks, and playing cards—ridiculous since I only know how to play Go Fish. Anyway, I need a bag that allows me to easily access all of these goodies while on board the plane. I also want it to be large enough to pop a few fragile souvenirs inside on the flight back if necessary. But it can’t be so large it doesn’t fit under the seat in front of me. I also like something that can double as a beach or day bag during my trip.
1. The Tote Bag
Longchamp Le Pliage has some amazing travel options in just about every size, color, and style you could ever desire. They’re a bit pricey, but they are amazing quality and super fashionable. If you travel a lot or want to make sure your travel bag lasts the test of time, they’re worth the splurge.
I like the medium to large size Le Pliage bag because it’s manageable. Any larger, and I tend to overfill will useless items (like the playing cards), or I can’t find what I’m looking for at the bottom of the bag. The best part about these bags is that when they’re not in use, you can fold them up super small. I pop mine in my handbag and use it for shopping.
If Le Pliage is out of your budget, check ebay or Amazon to see if you can find one for a deal. I got mine at a fraction of the price from an authorized retailer. But a word to the wise, no matter how good the deal, pass it up if it’s for the bag with the short strap. Get the long strap so you can toss it over your shoulder when you’re running from one terminal to the next. Trust me, it’s worth the few extra bucks. I made the mistake of getting the short strap, and I’m still sorry I did.
Another option I love is the quilted tote bag from Roots. At under $80 it’s a great deal and very durable. It’s got a lot of pockets to help keep all of your odds and ends neatly organized. I found mine at Marshall’s for a fraction of the full price. Discount retail chains are a great place to find the right tote bag in a range of prices, styles, sizes, and brands. But remember, you want a bag that:
Has a long strap
Fits under the seat
Can double as a beach or day bag
Has a bit of extra room for souvenirs
Has pockets or other organizers
2. The Satchel
A tote bag is great to get you there, but what do you carry when you arrive? I like to take a smallish satchel to haul around things I think I may need during the day. My favorite destination travel bag is a canvas cross-body bag that measures about 1 square foot. It stays fairly dry in rain—or on water rides—and can hold a lot. It never shows dirt, is super durable, and thanks to the wide shoulder strap, never feels heavy.
I’ve had my canvas cross-body bag for nearly a decade, and I take it on most trips. It easily holds a small umbrella, sunscreen, light jacket or sweater, wallet, camera, phone, hand sanitizer, tissues, lip gloss, and more. I can usually even squish a few purchases inside to keep my hands free.
If I plan to take both a carry-on suitcase and a carry-on tote bag, I toss my satchel and its contents inside one of them for the flight. Then I pull it out and pack it full once I arrive. For smaller trips, I don’t even need a tote bag—my satchel does the trick.
3. The Wristlet
Call it what you want—wristlet, pouch, clutch—it’s a small wallet-like purse that contains just the bare necessities. I use one of these in my daily life since I hate carrying a lot of stuff if I don’t have to, a necessity when you leave the hotel at 9 a.m. and return at midnight.
I often don’t have a lot of use for a wristlets when I travel except for evenings out. They are perfect to pair with a pretty dress or dark jeans and a nice blouse if you’re heading to an upscale restaurant or out dancing. I often pop my bank cards, ID, and a lip gloss inside a small wristlet to use as my wallet during the day. I keep it inside my satchel during the day, and I carry it as a purse for a night out.
Pro tip: For those times you forget to pack a little something that goes with your evening wear, I’ve got the perfect solution. Dump the contents of your makeup bag and put everything you need for the night inside it. If you’ve got a traditional camera with a wrist strap, you can use it to make a handle for your makeup bag. Simply loop the strap through the zipper. Alternately, you can use a hairband for a handle—we’ve always got those looped around our wrists anyway.
With these three simple styles, you’ll have just the travel bag you need for just about any type of activity. And the best part is that they all fit inside one another.