Ultimate Travel Essentials for Women
From a passport case to lipstick, check out our favorite travel essentials for women, especially those wanderlust-loving ladies who refuse to sacrifice style or sanity.
Ladies, get ready to pack your bags and conquer the world because we’ve got the ultimate travel essentials that will make every journey a fabulous adventure!
Whether you’re jet-setting across continents or just heading out for a weekend getaway, these must-haves will keep you prepared for anything that travel insurance can’t cover… like unexpected fashion emergencies to impromptu parties.
Picture this. You’re sipping a vibrant cocktail on a sun-kissed beach, with the wind tousling your hair and an epic adventure waiting just around the corner. Traveling is always a good idea. Nay… it’s a GREAT idea.
So it’s time for us to grab our passports, pack our bags, and embark on our next great adventure. But before we can dive into our next great adventure and explore the world of travel essentials we need to address a problem that plagues all female travelers…..OVERPACKING.
That’s right it’s time to channel your inner travel ninja and conquer the art of packing like a pro. Whether you’re jet-setting across the globe or embarking on a weekend getaway, these 3 tips will help you pack smartly while maintaining your fabulousness.
Packing Tips
Rule of 3: Don’t Overthink, Triple-Think!
Packing light doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Instead of cramming your entire wardrobe into your suitcase (we’ve all been there), embrace the rule of three.
Choose 3 versatile pieces that can create numerous outfits. Think mix-and-match magic. This way, you’ll have more space for shopping and we all know that’s absolutely happening while on holiday!
Shoe Obsession? Set Some Ground Rules!
Trust us, we understand the irresistible allure of shoes. They can make or break an outfit, right? But let’s be real. Unless you’re attending a red carpet event, it’s unlikely you’ll need 30 pairs for a week-long trip.
Be selective! Opt for comfortable yet stylish kicks that serve dual purposes like day-to-night wonders that won’t leave your feet crying out in agony.
Rollin’ Like Royalty!
Forget folding clothes neatly. Rolling is where it’s at! Not only does this method save space but also minimizes those pesky wrinkles caused by overzealous baggage handlers.
Now time for our women’s travel essentials list to get us on our globe trotting way, because when it comes to wanderlust, girls just wanna have fun!
Travel Essentials for Women
1 – Travel LED Lighted Mirror
A girl can never trust the lighting when she is traveling. We have been using this travel sized lighted travel mirror for the last year when we travel and we can absolutely give it our stamp of approval!
2 – Travel Tech Organizing Case
We have all fallen victim to the tangled cord mess that can happen when you travel. This tech organizing case can house all your charges and cables to keep things easily accessible and organized.
3 – Hair Tools Travel Bag
This might seem excessive, but how many times are you ready to check out of your hotel, and you have just used a hot hair tool and now you need to pack it?!
We know that we aren’t the only ones. And this hair tools travel bag has been a game changer. It’s heat resistant so you can throw your tools in and make your check out time.
4 – Travel Makeup Bag
This makeup bag has been all the rage on the internet and for good reason. It folds out flat so you can actually see your makeup. Not to mention, it holds SO much stuff. We stuff ours to the brim and it’s been the perfect toiletry bag for all our traveling needs.
5 – On The Go Hydration
Our motto is hydrate before you libate. So we never travel without some on-the-go hydration. We know that there are plenty of options to choose from. However, we are partial to these sugar free liquid IV pouches since they are easy to pack and take with you just about anywhere.
6 – Packing Cubes
Packing cubes are travel necessities in our opinion. Not only do they provide some organization to the packing chaos, but they also help with planning things out.
As professional overpackers, we like having to fold and thoughtfully curate our travel wardrobe so that we are intentional in the items we bring. It also helps to ensure we don’t leave anything behind!
7 – Know Before You Go Toilet Spray
We know that it’s not fun to talk about, but we all know that sometimes nature calls. And while traveling or sharing hotel rooms that isn’t always ideal. A travel size poo pourri is a literal life (and nose) saver!
8 – First Aid Kit
BLINGSTING First Aid Kit, 75 Essential First-aid Supplies, Wipes, Bandages, Gold Travel Case, Mini Emergency, Cute Car Accessories for Women, Home, Purse, Auto, Pink Interior Decor, Glovebox
You can never be too prepared in our opinion because accidents do happen. Or blisters or wardrobe malfunctions which is why this compact cutie is a travel must-have!
9 – Sweat Set
We are all about comfort when we travel. But that doesn’t mean we need to compromise on fashion either. We love a good matching sweat set for comfort and ease that is still chic and stylish.
10 – Road Spill Wipes
These TSA approved wipes are a traveling must…even if you are just traveling to school drop off or errands. Spills happen (to some of us more than others), and these little prepackaged stain wipes work like a charm every time. Plus, they are perfect for throwing in your bags!
11 – Kindle Paperwhite
Whether you are traveling to the beach or the mountains, there is something about diving into a good book while on vacation that is extra relaxing. A Kindle Paperwhite is easy to tote around in your purse or suitcase and stores all your favorites on your must-read list on one tiny device.
12 – Wireless Charger
A portable power bank is a traveling must these days. After all, our phones are now our cameras, maps, and more when globe trotting! We love this Anker magnetic battery because it not only offers a cord-free charge, but also can prop up your phone while on a plane or in a car for a little binge sesh!
13 – Tatcha Serum Stick
Traveling with skincare is always a bit tricky. This Tatcha serum stick is a multipurpose tool that is perfect for smoothing out fine lines, under eyes and hydrating to refresh your makeup! We love a travel essential that can be used multiple ways and this little gal is like a magic wand for your face and is a tsa approved travel stick!
14 – Jet Lag Mask
The name says it all! This Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask is a travel must-have and a skin saver. We know that we aren’t the only ones whose skin freaks out on them when they travel to new climates. This mask is our secret weapon and we don’t ever leave home without it!
15 – Touchland Hand Sanitizer
From the year who shall not be named, we learned a lot. Which is why hand sanitizer is always at the top of our travel essentials list! We love the Touchland Hand Sanitizing Mists because they are not only cute but easy to pack and don’t leave your hands feeling sticky!
16 – Dry Shampoo
They used to say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but that’s just because dry shampoo hadn’t been invented! Dry shampoo has been doing the most for women around the world the last few years and is one of the most important traveling must haves!
We are partial to the Living Proof Advanced Clean version because it actually cleans your hair! We’ve tested and tried a lot of dry shampoo and we can say with confidence that this is the best one!
17 – BioDerma Makeup Wipes
When it comes to travel, it’s all about ease which is why we trade our double cleanse for these BioDerma makeup wipes! They are the best of the best when it comes to removing everything off your face while still keeping your skin hydrated!
18 – Beis Carry On
Your suitcase is the most important piece of the traveling puzzle, and we are team carry-on as much as possible. The Beis The Carry-On is superior in every way with its sleek design and 360 wheels. It is a luggage dream that should be on your travel must have list from here on out!
19 – Beis Weekend Travel Bag
We love a matching set, and the Beis The Weekend Travel Bag is the perfect companion to the Beis carry on but also a stand out on its own for a quick weekend getaway or overnight trip! The brand truly thought of women when designing their bags with their spacious bottom zip for shoes or toiletries!
20 – Handheld Steamer & Iron
We first saw this handheld steamer on Oprah’s Favorite Things. And if it’s good enough for Oprah, then you know it’s a major win! We all know that we have tried the whole iron with our straightener when we are in a pinch and rarely does it work right.
This steamer was designed to work in a pinch and work she does! Not sure how we have gone without it so long, but now that we have her she is coming on all our girls trips!
21 – Sleep Headphones
An airplane must-have are these cozy sleep headphones! They are bluetooth enabled and double as an eye mask so you can turn on your favorite white noise or playlist and get rested for your next travel destination!
22 – Memory Foam Travel Pillow
And while we are on the subject of sleeping on flights, you are gonna need a good travel pillow to help catch some z’s. We love this memory foam travel neck pillow because it is moldable and can twist into different positions to help you get comfortable in close quarters.
23 – Cloudmonster Running Shoes
Comfortable walking shoes are a traveling must! When exploring new places, a lot of walking will be going down and nobody has time for sore feet and blisters. The On Cloudmonster Running Shoe is like walking on actual clouds and is hands down the most comfortable shoe we have ever worn!
24 – Birkenstock Sandal
WIth every comfortable walking shoe you need a comfortable sandal. And we love the Big Buckle Birkenstocks because they are so versatile and go with almost anything as well as being the most comfortable. We have worn them for 14 + hour days walking over 10 miles and not a blister or sore foot was in sight!
25 – Sony A6000
While our phones take incredible photos these days, there is still something extra special about a “real” camera that makes us feel creative and nostalgic to capture all the memories when we travel.
The Sony A6000 is a compact camera that can do all the heavy lifting. We personally love her with a 50mm lens. She can document all the special moments and places so that you have the memories to look back on for years and years to come.
26 – Travel Sewing Kit
Nothing worse than packing outfits you have been envisioning for vacay and finding a tiny hole in your favorite pants or a strap breaks on your going out dress.
You never know when you will have a wardrobe malfunction, but a tiny travel sewing kit may not be a must per se. BUT it is for sure something you will be so thankful you packed when a fashion emergency arises.
27 – Passport Case
We know that Stoney Clover is a splurge, but the quality is unmatched and we love the cute customization offerings. World traveling is an extra special vacay so we think an extra special passport case is mandatory! Customize with patches or leave plain, they are classic and chic and oh so fun.
28 – Travel Jewelry Organizer
We hit the jackpot when we stumbled across this travel jewelry organizer off Amazon. It looks and feels like a high end brand and can be customized with your initials. It fits perfectly in a carry-on or even purse and will keep everything nice and untangled while you travel.
29 – Travel Hangers
We feel like there are two types of travelers. 1) Those that unpack and settle into their temporary spaces 2) And those that keep everything in their suitcase.
We are team unpack and organize and so these travel hangers are a game changer. They fold up all tiny and cute and easily fit in any carry-on bag to be used once you get to your final destination to hang all your things to keep them neat and accessible.
30 – AirTag
These are a travel must these days. Need to find your luggage, backpack or even your child? Apple AirTag to the rescue! It is a piece of mind in a little compact circle that can be put in your wallet, passport case and basically anywhere you can imagine to ensure you keep up with all your valuables.
31 – Travel Wrinkle Release
Carry on queens know that wrinkles are going to happen. Once we stuff our cube full of all our stuff there is no avoiding a crease or wrinkle which is why we have been loving this Begley’s 3 in 1 Wrinkle remover travel spray. It is magic in a 3-ounce bottle that gets the creases and wrinkles out in a pinch.
32 – GlowStick
No matter the climate SPF is a non negotiable. The SuperGoop glow stick is travel friendly and tsa approved. SPF 50 in a compact stick that can be put in any bag or pocket to travel the world with you while saving your skin. An actual superhero in a stick!
33 – Birdie Safety Alarm
Listen ladies, you can never be too cautious, especially when you are traveling alone. We are all about safety and this personal safety alarm from Birdie is just the security you need.
Compact enough for a keychain or purse but packs a HUGE punch with a siren and strobe light if you ever feel threatened. This also makes for a great graduation gift for her.
34 – Laneige Lip Balm
Travel and climate changes really suck all the moisture out of your skin and that includes your lips! We never leave home without a lip balm, and this glowy lip balm from laneige is our go to!
We’re not even sure how many tubes we have gone through at this point. But we can say it gets our stamp of approval and is always in our makeup bag!
35 – Travel Backpack
A large travel backpack should be on every gals travel essentials list! Hands free is always the way to go, and this bad boy can hold so much stuff. From clothes to tech and everything in between, it is the perfect travel companion for a carry-on, weekend away or even hiking in the mountains.
36 – Crossbody Bag
Bum bag, fanny pack, crossbody, she carries many names! But what we love most is a hands-free bag that provides some security and is a great anti theft travel purse.
Our favorite is this Esllcorri Bag from Amazon. It’s so spacious and soft and comes in a ton of colors and is still stylish and one of our favorite essential travel items.
37 – Satin Pajama Set
A comfy set of pj’s should be on every packing list! No matter where you travel you want to be comfy and cozy when it’s time to rest. Which is why this satin pajamas set is one of our top travel essentials. Silky and soft and so very cute, we promise you will want more than one set!
39 – Owala Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle is a travel necessity. The Owala FreeSip Insulated Bottle is a great option for travel. It’s leak proof and travel friendly.
One of our favorite travel tips is putting ice in your water bottles without any liquid. You can bring it through TSA security. And then, get ice water or a crispy diet coke to sip on the plane! It’s the perfect travel hack!
40 – Travel Power Strip
Laptops, phones, cameras, iPads, AirPods and more — we know that we bring a lot of tech when we travel. And they all need to be charged. You never know where the outlets will be in your hotel or Airbnb so we like to pack a travel power strip with us to make sure we can charge all our essentials.
41 – Motion Sickness Patches
Sailing the high seas or tackling your favorite roller coasters. Sometimes a gal needs a motion sickness patch.
We are all for adventure and don’t want motion sickness ruining our fun so we always keep these in our travel bags for a just incase moment. They came in clutch on our Mediterranean Cruise a few years ago!
42 – Travel Medicine Kit
In the spirit of being prepared for anything we promise you will never be sorry you packed a travel medicine kit. From headaches to stomach aches, the kit will have you covered. And then, you can travel in peace. Pack them all or just a few they are easy to keep in your toiletry bag.
43 – Sunglasses
Not so much a travel essential but a daily life essential, sunglasses are something we never leave home without. We love a classic Ray-Ban since it goes with basically anything, making it the most versatile for travel with floating in the pool or cruising to your favorite destinations.
44 – Noise Canceling Headphones
Every seasoned traveler will tell you that noise canceling headphones are a travel must-have! From crying babies on planes to a noisy neighbor in the hotel, you never know when you need to drown out a noise to find your vacation zen.
45 – Lounge Set
Another travel day OOTD that is comfort and style all wrapped up in a cozy 2-piece set. We love the colorway options and are partial to the grey green one.
46 – Compression Socks
Designed for more than just comfort, these compression socks are the ultimate travel essentials for international travel for combating the adverse effects of long flights and reducing the risk of swelling and discomfort.
Offering support to tired legs, enhancing circulation, and minimizing the impact of prolonged sitting, compression Socks are a must for any globetrotter seeking a comfortable and health-conscious journey.
47 — Portable Door Lock
Compact, easy to use, and providing an extra layer of protection, this portable door lock empowers will enhance your safety to feel secure in any accommodation. No tools are required for installation and removal.
48 — Backpack Purse
A backpack purse is an indispensable travel companion for women, seamlessly blending style and functionality. Its compact design offers convenience, allowing hands-free exploration of new destinations.
We love this particular one cause of its anti-theft pockets, and that it’s less than $25. It’s also one of our favorite backpack purses on Amazon.
More Travel Guides
For more travel content, check out a few helpful articles from the archives below –
- Flying With a Baby & Travel Documents You Will Need
- Baby Travel Gear: Essential Things for Travel When With a Baby
- 20 Best Luggage for Kids
- Tips for Traveling with a Baby
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