80+ Travel Essentials For Women (My Ultimate List)

I wish I could say that I’m one of those women who absolutely adores packing for their next trip, and that it fills me with excitement, but unfortunately I’m not there yet. So far, packing fills me with almost equal parts dread and joy.

I look forward to boarding the plane, train or boat that’s taking me to my destination but, as a chronic procrastinator and recovering over packer, the process somehow never gets easier.

However, over the many years of travel (45 countries and counting!) as well as moving to study abroad in Sydney, I have started to build my own travel essentials list that I abide by for nearly every trip. Whether I’m travelling for months in a huge suitcase, or doing a weekend trip with a carry on, this list is the foundation of every pack.

It helps me focus on my primary task without distraction or worry that I’ll forget something important. Working my way methodically through, ticking off items as I go along, fills me with much-needed comfort that nothing will be left behind!

Meanwhile, I strongly believe in the philosophy that functional items can also be beautiful. In my search over the years, I have seen and been recommended many an ugly travel item. That’s simply not my vibe. We can travel the world whilst looking stylish, and no one can convince me otherwise.

So, let me share my list of women’s travel essentials! Whilst you may not need every single one of these for every trip, let it act as a starting guide for your next holiday – feel free to substitute or replace items to create your list of travel essentials for women.

⭐️ Top 10 Travel Essentials for Women

If you’re looking for my absolute favourite, essential, ‘I can’t live without these’ items for your next trip, then this is my list. For all women who are thinking about packing for their next vacation, these are my absolute ladies travel essentials that I would never holiday without!

1. A stylish and indestructible suitcase and duffel bag
2. A versatile and functional handbag that can be used as your carry-on item
3. Ridiculously comfortable yet stylish trainers to explore your destination
4. Simple everyday 18k gold jewellery, so you look put together without any effort at all
5. A chic travel towel that doubles as a sarong and coverup
6. Apple Airtags so I never worry about losing my belongings
7. Refillable travel containers so I can pack more of my favourite products
8. A universal travel adapter so I can charge all of my electronics at the same time
9. A chic pair of sunnies to protect your eyes and complete an outfit
10. My phone and camera so I can create memories of everywhere I’ve travelled

🧳 Luggage and Packing Travel ITEMS for Women

No matter where you’re going, you can’t make it there without something to pack all your items into. So, for this list of female travel essentials, we might as well start right at the beginning – luggage, bags, and packing items to help you carry and organise your stuff.

A stylish suitcase and weekender set

No item on this list will get quite as battered as your suitcases so make sure you invest in good quality ones. They need to hold up to being thrown around, rolled over cobblestones and lugged up staircases.

Having been through this myself, I can honestly say there is no worse feeling whilst travelling than realising your cheap suitcase has a broken zip, faulty wheel or busted handle. 

My first year out of university, I finally invested in a set of good quality Samsonite suitcases. They have travelled the world with me since, and remain one of the best purchases of my life. Despite being relatively lightweight, they are incredibly sturdy and can withstand my mistreatment! I’ve even had friends comment on how smoothly the wheels roll, despite it being stuffed to the brim with 20+ kilos of clothes.

If you’re ready to make an upgrade, I recommend everyone buy a weekender bag and a set of three staple suitcase sizes:

1. The Weekender: For those who can (and want to!) pack light, this is the best bag I’ve ever used. It’s perfect for one or two night trips or flights on very budget airlines (£16 flights to Barcelona, anyone?!) where you would need to pay extra for a carry on suitcase.
2. The Carry On: Perfect for short getaways, this is probably my most-used suitcase. Before you buy, take some time to think about where you are likely to be flying over the next few years. In my experience, European airlines (like Ryanair and EasyJet) have much tighter restrictions on what classes as a ‘carry on’ vs their American counterparts.
3. Medium Checked Suitcase: The perfect size for when you have the usual 23kg of checked luggage available. I prefer ones with a hard shell and extending zip – they’re much easier to pack, provide slight compression, and don’t restrict you from being able to pack light but bulky items, such as for ski holidays.
4. Large Checked Suitcase: Although this is my least used of the three, I would never want to be without it! I generally find that it surpasses the common 23kg threshold when fully packed, so it gets saved for long-haul flights with generous luggage allowances. This is the bag I took with me when I moved to Sydney for my study abroad, and I don’t think I could’ve survived without the extra room for all my clothes! 

Once you’ve invested in these three sizes, I can guarantee you’ll be set for a long time. Maybe even for life, depending on how well you treat your suitcases!

If you’re looking at brands, I recommend:

• Samsonite Luggage: This is the closest I could find to my current set. It’s a much more affordable price than luxury brands, such as Rimowa, but with something that’s incredibly well-designed and very durable. Samsonsite have been in the luggage market for over 110 years and provide a worldwide guarantee on their products. Depending on the item, it will come with a 2 year, 10 year, or lifetime warranty.
• Away Travel: This is my current favourite brand for duffel bags and other travel-related items. Not only do they pass the aesthetics test with flying colours, but I have always found the quality and customer service to be exemplary. My favourite part about their Everywhere Bag is the sheer number of pockets they have – it’s so easy to organise!

A daily driver handbag

The Longchamp Le Pliage tote has been my go-to for many years now. It’s chic, it’s stylish, and it works with all of my outfits. I have owned the black one for nearly 5 years, using it as my daily driver, and it still looks brand new.

To add to my long list of reasons to love this bag, it’s also fully waterproof and washable – no need to worry about leaky water bottles. The zip and snap closure give you added security, and the larger sizes have 1-2 internal pockets which are brilliant for storing your essentials.

Finally, it folds up into nearly nothing, despite being able to carry a surprising amount of stuff. I can quite comfortably fit everything I would need for a daily outing in this, and it’s often used as my hand luggage bag for flights too.

Packing cubes

A recent purchase, the Away Travel packing cubes have absolutely transformed the way I pack. I never understood why these came so highly recommended on my TikTok feed, until I finally actually tried them. For so long, I questioned whether they could help me pack any more into my suitcase than my usual methods.

After trying them, I’ve realised I needed to change my perspective. The cubes don’t necessarily help with fitting more, but they help you find items and pack or unpack with ease. Genuinely life changing when you are taking trips spread over multiple locations or accommodations!

Instead of needing to unpack your entire suitcase, you can simply remove the packing cubes from your bag, unzip them, and place them in the drawers or on shelves. And you’re done! It’s so much easier to find the specific item you’re looking to wear, and far faster to repack your suitcase at the end of the trip as well.

If I’m not carrying a separate laundry bag, I will keep a packing cube empty so I can put all of my dirty clothes in there throughout the trip. This makes it ridiculously easy to unpack when I get home, as well – dirty laundry goes straight into the wash, whilst anything else can be moved back into my wardrobe.

Since I organise my wardrobe drawers by folding Konmari style, it also means they can go directly in to and out of the cubes without needing to be re-folded. Hurrah!

If you are particularly tight on space and are eager to fit as much as possible into your bag, have a look at these compression packing cubes instead. These are most effective for bulky and fluffy items, like thick winter jumpers, but will work on everything. Pack as usual directly into the cube, and compress with the zip to push all of the air out. The reviews are amazing.

Wet bag

If you’re bringing a swimsuit, then you also need to pack a wet bag. It’s great for when you want a last-minute swim or dip in the hot tub before your flight, and you don’t have enough time for your swimsuit to fully dry. There’s nothing worse than trying to fit a damp swimsuit in your suitcase without it soaking the rest of your clothes!

Toiletries bag (that’s actually waterproof!)

If you have ever experienced the misfortune of a leaking toiletries bottle in your hold luggage, you know why I specified a waterproof toiletries bag.

My favourites are the clear zipped pouches. They get through airport security like a charm, without the need to use those disposable plastic baggies – yay for the environment! It’s also super easy to find all of your items since you can see exactly where they are.

I love this insanely aesthetic zipped pouch, or this set of three different sizes. For short trips or where you have just a carry on, you can use only the smallest of the three. For longer trips away, you can organise your toiletries by type in the different bags so they are super easy to find.

Refillable travel containers

I don’t bother with these when I have hold luggage, but they are an absolute life saver for carry on trips! It’s surprising how long full size, or even travel-size, bottles of your favourite toiletries last. And, frankly, that’s space and weight you could be saving for other essentials!

I’ve been decanting toiletries and makeup into travel bottles for a long time. My absolute favourites are squeezy silicone tubes. Unlike tubs or the hard plastic containers, it’s really easy to get the very last of the product out. And, if you’re using these in the shower, they aren’t slippery at all.

The 100ml bottles are great for shampoo, conditioner, or anything you will tend to use more of for your trip. For moisturiser and face wash etc, I recommend getting smaller 30ml bottles which are much more space-conscious. For my foundation, BB cream, face primer and setting spray, I like using the 10ml squeezy tubes and spray bottles from Muji. They’re super small but, realistically, it’s more than enough product for even a week’s holiday. In fact, I managed a 2 week trip to Mexico with just these decanted products!

For those who take medication or vitamins frequently, a pill organiser is an absolute travel essential – they really help you to organise and keep track of your meds, without needing to lug the full size bottles around the world with you.

✈️ Travel and Airplane Beauty Essentials

Whilst everyone will have their own favourite products and preferred routines, these are my tried and true beauty travel necessities for women.

Skincare essentials

As someone with a tendency to break out on trips, I’ve learnt that it’s best not to leave any of my usual skincare products at home. Even if I’m away for just a night or two, I make sure I follow my full routine.

I would much rather have too many products, than deal with a massive spot on a trip where I’m probably taking more photos than usual! At least, with the travel containers I linked above, they don’t take up too much space in my bag at all.

These are my go-to skincare essentials:

• Makeup remover: When I’m feeling lazy, face wipes are the way to go. But otherwise, I much prefer using a makeup cleansing balm – it gets rid of everything, including waterproof mascara, and leaves my skin feeling so well moisturised.
• Face wash: I’ve been a Cerave girl for a while. This cleanser is both super effective whilst also being gentle.
• Salicylic acid: A gentle chemical exfoliant is an essential and this has been my skin’s favourite brand for a long time!
• Vitamin C treatment: A new addition to my morning face routine, but I couldn’t believe the difference it made to the texture and brightness of my skin after only just a few days. Whilst pricey, a bottle lasts months and it’s the single most effective product in my entire routine. A life changer!
• Azelaic acid: Kept on hand for any upcoming or active breakouts. I’ve learnt my lesson – every time I don’t bring this, I end up needing it. So now, it lives in my travel skincare bag.
• Retinol: Part of my evening routine only!
• Moisturiser: A classic and necessity in every skincare bag. I’ve tried many over the years, but this and the Cosrx 96 Mucin Power Essence are my absolute favourites, especially when layered. If I’m going somewhere particularly cold or air conditioned, I know my skin is likely to get dry so I might combine with a moisturising serum.
• SPF: Even in cold or grey destinations, it’s essential to protect your skin. I never leave home without a layer of this! I highly recommend having a separate SPF. Most often, makeup or skincare products that are combined with an SPF don’t provide sufficient coverage to truly protect your skin.
• Lip mask: My lips get super dry in air conditioned and cold spaces, so this is an absolute travel essential. I’ve tried many brands over the years, and this is by far the most moisturising.
• Sheet masks: Equal parts moisturising and relaxing – the perfect choice for a self-care evening.

Makeup essentials

Depending on the trip, how long I’m away for and the general vibe, I might take more or less than makeup than this list. For instance, if I know we are intending to get dressed up and go out for nice dinners, I’ll pack some additional products like my favourite eyeshadow palette. But, for the vast majority of the time, this is my go-to list:

• Tinted moisturiser: Super lightweight and has been my go-to for years. If I’m going for a no makeup look and want less coverage, I’ll replace this step with the Flawless Filter, and I’ll combine the two for extra coverage.
• Concealer: I’ve generally been the girl who tries a new concealer brand each time it needs replacing, but I’ve kept repurchasing this one. It’s super hydrating, doesn’t crease, and is very high coverage – perfect for hiding my eye bags whilst travelling!
• Bronzer: For the golden glow that we all love!
• Blush: Super natural, giving just a light rosy glow. It’s also very compact so it doesn’t take up much space at all in my makeup bag.
• Setting powder: As an oily girl, this is my best friend. Love how mattifying it is without feeling dry and, unlike the cheaper dupes I tried first, it doesn’t cause any flashback in photos (a must!)
• Brow gel: Still the best one I’ve tried for my unruly brow hairs.
• Setting spray: I’ll usually decant this as even the travel sized bottles are huge, but it’s definitely not one I’m willing to travel without. This makes my makeup absolutely sweat proof and helps me stay looking freshly done up all day long.
• Eyelash curler: I’ve hated every lash curler I’ve tried until a deep research rabbit hole took me here. This is absolutely game changing! I can’t believe how long the curl lasts now.
• Mascara: This is the best I’ve tried for being both waterproof (an essential on hot and humid travels) whilst also being super volumising. I always buy the mini travel versions as it takes so long to finish it.

Hair care and hair styling essentials

I wouldn’t generally pack all of the below, but rather a combination of this list that best fits the length and vibe of the trip as well as how much storage space I have. For a cabin holiday, I’m very happy to leave behind my corded hair items, but I’ll likely still pack a heatless kit if we are planning on taking photos.

• Dyson hairdryer: An absolute life changer for those of us with long and / or thick hair. This hairdryer took me from fresh out the shower to dry hair in <15 minutes, when it would previously take me over an hour. And to do all of that without making my (sensitive) scalp feel burned?! Incredible.
• Dyson airwrap: I didn’t want to love it, and yet I did. Dyson (both the airwrap and hairdryer) have single handedly changed my hair game. I regret not going for the long barrels and will probably purchase them separately at some point, but I love this for when I want to style my hair as a blow out or blow dried straight.
• Heatless hair kit: Since I have the UK version of both Dyson products, I can’t take it on all travels as sometimes the voltage doesn’t match. For such trips, like my visit to Mexico, the heatless hair kit is genius! Especially brilliant if you don’t have the space for the above or want to reduce heat damage, you can sleep soundly in the super soft pillowy curlers and wake up to bouncy heatless curls.
• Wet brush comb: Wet and damp hair is at its most delicate and vulnerable, and brushing wet hair is when you’re most likely to have breakage or damage. The wet brush is amazing at delicately detangling wet hair without causing pulling. I use it to help brush conditioner through my hair. Although I may leave it at home for short trips, it’s an essential for any trip where my locks will be coming in contact with sea water.
• Tangle teezer: For those of us with naturally knotted hair, the tangle teezer is incredible. Its super soft and flexible bristles work through knots to detangle your hair without any pain! I have the full sized version at home and keep the travel-sized mini in my toiletries bag for trips.
• Scalp brush: I hate the feeling of my long nails on my scalp whilst brushing my hair, so this helps me get that squeaky clean feeling without having to use my nails.
• Scrunchies: You never know when you’ll need one! I always keep a few in my travel toiletries bag, just in case.
• Hair claw: This lives either in my hair or on the strap of my handbag. It’s the comfiest and easiest way for me to get my hair off of my face and neck and, thanks to the revival of the 90s, is bang on trend too. I’ve tried many a plastic claw clip that really struggle to hold the weight of my hair and break rapidly, but a metal one has been my daily driver for two years now and is going strong.
• Bar shampoo and conditioner: Whilst I’m personally partial to the liquid stuff when I’m at home, these are amazing for saving toiletries and liquids space when travelling abroad.
• Bar shaving cream: I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this when I first purchased, but I was pleasantly surprised. Great foaming, super moisturising, and saved me liquids space and weight – all around winner. It lasted longer than I anticipated too, especially when left to dry out after use in a proper soap holder.

Jewellery essentials and organiser

I am dependent on simple, minimal gold jewellery to make me feel put together and chic – whether I’m on my way to work, out for dinner, or bleary-eyed going through security at the airport, waiting until I can get my hands on a coffee.

My essentials are:

• Gold hoop earrings: I like small huggies for everyday, since they’re comfortable enough to sleep in and go with every outfit. I recently upgraded to a 14k gold pair of Mejuri bold huggies and love them – I’ve barely taken them off since! For a more budget friendly option, I like these from Hey Harper. They’re sweatproof, waterproof and totally life-proof! The perfect alternative to solid gold for a budget.
• Layered necklaces: This set is my everyday wear and I get so many complements on it! I’ve been wearing (and sleeping!) in it for nearly a year, and it looks brand new.
• Rings: I’m a huge fan of the layered ring look, and have a few classic shapes and styles from Mejuri and Hey Harper.

If you’re travelling with jewellery and don’t want to spend hours untangling delicate necklaces once you reach your destination, an organiser will be your best friend.

When I’m at home, I have a small marble catchall on my bedside table for my daily jewellery and engagement ring. Since I can’t logistically take that with me on travels, this organiser acts as a replacement. When I’m away, the only place I ever take off and leave my jewellery is in this. This means I always know where it is, and there’s no risk of having a panic attack thinking I’ve misplaced my ring!

I have the Mejuri organiser, which is a great size and made of gorgeous quality leather. Alternatively, for those on a budget, this organiser looks very similar internally and has great reviews.

Perfume bottle minis

Firstly, I never want to lose liquids space to a full perfume bottle and, secondly, I would be far too anxious of the risk of a perfume explosion. I’ve seen how suitcases get thrown around!

I’ve been using the Travalo atomiser for years and it’s an absolute game changer. Super small, so easy to fill, and you’ll be surprised how long 10ml of perfume actually lasts.

I’ve recently also enjoyed buying Zara’s dupe perfumes in the roll on form – they’re so budget friendly and have great scents, many of which are considered dupes of their designer counterparts. It’s a really fun way of mixing up your usual scents, without having to buy large or expensive bottles of perfume. Plus, the rolls on are a hugely convenient size to keep with you on vacations.

🧺 Hygiene Essentials for Women

It’s likely some combination of the below products are on every woman’s travel essentials list, and for good reason. They are absolute must-have items when you are packing for some time away from home!

Menstrual items

For a more sustainable, luggage-friendly and financially savvy option rather than buying boxes of tampons and pads, have a look into period underwear and menstrual cups. Once you get over the mental hurdle of the swap, I guarantee you’ll love them! They’re far less likely to leak versus traditional options, which is a mental relief when you’re travelling, and it means you can do a little bit of good for the world whilst you vacation. We’re always supportive of sustainable swaps!

Laundry bag

Some travel suitcase brands (like the Away luggage) come with built-in laundry bags to keep your dirty clothes separated in your suitcase. If yours don’t, it’s very much worth picking one of these up. Not only does it keep any damp or dirty clothing away from your clean and fresh clothing, but it makes your post-travel laundry routine way faster.

Laundry essentials

If you’re going on a particularly long trip or one where you need to work with less luggage space than ideal, you might just need to get comfortable with doing laundry whilst you’re travelling. It’s less of a laborious and arduous task than it sounds, especially if you have a few key items to help.

• Laundry detergent sheets: I discovered these just in time for our two-weeks spent gallivanting around Greece and Italy and I am SO thankful. These are way easier than any other detergent options (liquids, powder of capsules) as there’s absolutely 0 risk of a detergent explosion in your suitcase. Also, they weigh absolutely nothing, don’t take up any critical suitcase space, and don’t restrict your liquids bag either. An all around winner! I was impressed with how quickly they dissolved in warm water and made our laundry feel so fresh and clean.
• Expanding clothes line: Whilst too small to be particularly helpful for large clothing items, these are amazing for hanging smaller clothing items to air dry – underwear, swimsuits, and socks for instance. It takes up no space in a suitcase but expands to hold a surprising amount of stuff to dry. Using one of these also means we can save the hangers in our hotel wardrobe to help with air drying larger clothing, such as t-shirts, dresses and shorts.

Travel towel

You truly never know when you’ll need it! Whether it’s to replace a gross hostel or hotel towel, to use as a sarong by the pool, cover up your shoulders on a particularly sunny day or a chilly evening, or for that impromptu trip to the beach. I have never once regretted packing a travel towel, but I’ve always regretted when I didn’t bring one.

I bring this lightweight 100% cotton towel – it isn’t at all bulky and easily slips into my hand luggage or suitcase. I used to bring a microfibre towel but quickly realised the texture alone made it an absolute no-go for me, let alone the way it held on to smells. You have to make sure it air dries well after each use, or microfibre quickly develops a mildew smell.

Cotton, on the other hand, is much easier to dry, looks great, and I always prefer using natural materials too. I loved that this beige and white striped towel was aesthetic enough to be used as a sarong and cover up on my way to the pool, too.

👜 Carry On Essentials for Women

Particularly for long journeys, deciding what belongs in your travel carry on is an arduous task. After many a flight, I’ve narrowed down my carry on to only the tried and tested, the items I truly depend on to get me through the journey – my ultimate carry on travelling essentials for women.

Sleeping essentials

There’s nothing worse than a long overnight flight, squeezed into an Economy seat with no legroom, where you can’t sleep. To try and help me get a few hours of peaceful slumber, I pack a few favourites:

• Eye mask: To block all remaining light in the cabin. This is especially useful if you have someone on the flight who insists on turning their reading light on max at 3am.
• Noise cancelling ear plugs: No more screaming babies!
• Travel pillow: To support your neck so you can get into a comfy position, even if you’re stuck in the middle seat.

Time wasting essentials

Keeping it real, there’s only two things you can do on a plane: sleep, or waste time. When you can’t do one, we work on doing the other. When I want time to fly by as quickly as possible, I like to pack the following.

• Wireless, noise-cancelling earphones: I recently upgraded from the normal AirPods to the Pro 2s and I can’t believe the difference! The noise cancelling is truly superb. I hadn’t realised how loud airplane engines were until I tried these! Whether you prefer in-ears or over-ear headphones, ensure they are noise-cancelling!
• Phone holder: A new discovery in my life and particularly helpful for budget airlines where you aren’t lucky enough to have a tv screen. You can use this to hang your phone from the seat table in front of you, and voila! Entertainment for the whole flight.
• Kindle: I always pick up some new books from the Amazon Kindle store before any holiday. Although I tend to get travel sick on car journeys, there’s nothing stopping me from passing time with a good book on the flight! Murder mysteries and detective books will always be my favourites, but I remain partial to a good SciFi fiction as well.
• iPad: A new addition to my carry on essentials packing list, this has been amazing at helping me pass time – whether productively or not. Download a few episodes of your favourite show, a movie, or some podcasts, and you’re sorted. At the very least, you can protect your phone battery by using this instead.
• Portable charger: You can’t always guarantee your seat will have a working USB port, so it’s safer to bring a portable charger with you instead. I’ve had this Anker one for about 8 years now and it’s still going strong. It’s an item that you don’t ever want to forget because when you need it, you really need it!

Essentials kit

For ease of finding after I’ve dumped everything into my Longchamp, I like to collect all of these small and easy-to-lose items into a single essentials kit in an old makeup bag. You can add or swap items, but these are my essential travel items:

• Tissues: It can’t just be me that gets a sniffly nose when I travel. I’d much rather keep tissues with me than run the risk of being the audible sniffler on a plane. 
• Gum or mints: For post-food, coffee or nap breath. Your fellow passengers will thank you.
• Hand sanitiser: Pandemic or not, this is truly an essential handbag item. I hate the ones that smell like cheap vodka, so I would much rather splurge on one I actually enjoy using.
• Eye drops: I get super dry eyes when on flights and in air conditioned spaces, so I keep these on hand to provide some much-needed relief. For any contact lens wearers, this is an absolute travel essential!
• Nail file: Since you’re unlikely to get nail clippers past airport security / TSA, a nail file is worth keeping on hand in case of the odd snag. Glass or crystal nail files will forever hold my heart – they last forever.
• Lip balm: I pack one in my suitcase and one in my handbag – just in case!

Insulated water bottle

I’m not exaggerating when I say my Chillys insulated water bottle travels the world with me. I love ice cold water and this brand is the most reliably insulating I’ve found. I have left this inside a car for 8 hours on a 36-degree day (in celcius!) to find the ice inside my bottle hasn’t even melted. Truly brilliant.

🧷 Travel Safety and Wellbeing Essentials for Women

Safety is paramount for all women, no matter where or when you are travelling. As much as I wish we didn’t need to worry about this, it’s an unfortunate reality of life. I travel with these items to help my wellbeing and keep me safe. These should form part of all ladies’ travel essentials lists.

First aid kit 

You can buy ready-made versions of these kits, or create your own. Reuse a small makeup bag and pack the essentials. You probably have the majority of these items in your house already:

• Plasters: Waterproof and ones that match your skin, in a variety of sizes. You never know what or when you’ll need these, but it’s a lot easier to have it on hand than need to go hunting.
• Blister plasters: Hopefully you’re only carrying the comfiest of shoes (you can see my recommendations below), but it’s likely you’ve packed a brand new pair of super cute shoes that you wanted to wear on holiday. It happens to me, too! These are well worth it to protect your feet and ankles from uncomfortable blisters.
• Painkillers: Whichever are your preferred brand, I usually pack a few strips of basic ibuprofen and paracetamol – just in case. Depending on where you’re travelling, it can be really difficult to get hold of these without visiting a pharmacy. Sometimes it’s just less of a headache (pun intended) to have your own.
• Motion sickness meds: For those who need it, bring a pack or two if you are intending to travel around – by air, road or sea.
• Safety pins: In case you pop a button or get a small rip somewhere, it’s worth keeping a few of these on hand. I thread them through a single safety pin to help keep them together.

Security keychain

Since pepper spray / mace is very unlikely to make it through airport security, a personal security keychain alarm is the next best bet. If you’re travelling solo, I highly recommend this for peace of mind. In case you find yourself in a dangerous situation, this device is tiny enough to fit in the smallest of handbags and yet incredibly powerful.

Portable door lock

A must have on every woman’s solo travel essentials list. Even if you’re staying in a respectable hotel or AirBnB, an extra layer of peace of mind is always welcomed. This ingenius device stops anyone from getting access to your room (even if they have a key!). You’ll be surprised how much safer this will help you feel.

Apple Airtag

Now that people have started travelling frequently again, it seems like airlines have discovered an uncanny ability to lose suitcases in record numbers.

I once had to survive without my hold luggage on a 5 day trip to Malta, and I remain traumatised by the experience. Losing all of my perfectly packed and curated outfits only to be replaced by gaudy ‘Malta’ souvenir t-shirts, which now have pride of place in every photo from the trip – truly awful.

When I read the articles about airlines losing travellers’ suitcases, I decided that being able to accurately track the location of our luggage was an absolute travel essential. Apple Airtags are remarkably effective, using the GPS location of nearby iPhones to accurately triangulate their whereabouts.

Put one in your hold suitcase and another in your everyday handbag. They’re super easy to track via ‘Find My’ and, if you have a family iCloud account, it will also let you track Airtags belonging to your family and friends!

👟 Travel Clothing Essentials for Women

Packing comfortably for your flight and the rest of your vacation is an absolute must. I have a list of go-to favourites that I take with me on nearly every holiday – check out my list of the best travel essentials for a woman!

Cosy jumper

There’s no better feeling than being super cosy on a long flight. Since I tend to find planes run quite cold, I like to pack a thick and warm jumper that I can put on after take-off. The Aritzia Cozy Fleece Crew Sweatshirt is worth the splurge – super warm but surprisingly lightweight. It hangs quite comfortably over my shoulders when I don’t need the warmth.

Comfy leggings

A good quality pair of leggings are an absolute essential. On their own, they’re super comfy for long journeys. Layered, they’re perfect for maximum warmth. I always end up packing a pair – even if they just become ‘chilling in the hotel room’ comfy clothes.

Shoes you can walk for miles in

Depending on the holiday and vibe, you might need to amend this list. Generally, I pack a minimum of three pairs for the majority of holidays that work for every eventuality. The bulkiest pair will get work on the flight, and the rest will get thrown (with shoe bags, of course) into my luggage.

• Trainers: The classic choice for holiday, since comfortable walking shoes are a must. I like a pair of classic white sneakers – they go with literally everything, even a lot of my daily dresses. This is the comfiest pair I’ve ever worn. They took me on a walking tour of Barcelona without any pain or need to be worn in – over 60k steps in 3 days!
• Flip flops: Preferably ones that are both comfortable and waterproof, in a neutral colour. They can be used by the pool, at the beach, or double up to protect you from groggy showers in the less-nice hotels. These are the comfiest I’ve ever tried!
• Sandals you can walk in: I definitely prefer sandals over trainers for hot holidays, so Birkenstock Arizonas are my go-tos. I have the white and black versions and I pretty much live in them over summer. Every year I remain surprised at just how comfortable they are!

Hat clip 

We all know the struggle of bringing the oversized summer hat on vacation. You either have to become a Tetris mastermind to fit it in your luggage, risking winding up with a squashed hat on arrival, or wear it through the airport and embrace the tourist stereotype. I recently discovered these hat clips, which you can use to attach your sunhat to your handbag, and it’s an absolute game changer!

Packable puffer

You never know what weather you’re about to encounter on your travels. Even down to whether you’ll be sweltering on the plane or have been transported back to the last ice age. I never regret packing a super lightweight packable puffer! Patagonia’s Nano Puff is probably the most well known and highly reviewed on the market, but I have the Uniqlo Ultra Light Down and am impressed with just how warm it feels.

Sunglasses

Whether you’re protecting your eyes or hiding your eyebags, we love a chic pair of sunnies. RayBan Aviators and Round frames are classics and are my go-tos for eye protection. But, I do worry about losing them at the beach. For those instances, I have a few cheap pairs from Amazon, including my favourite square cat eyes. I bought them in the instance of a guilt-free loss but have somehow managed to keep them safe for years!

Travel steamer

I picked up my Steamery travel steamer before going away for my friend’s wedding, and I now don’t know how I survived without it! I hate ironing and I find steaming to be much less of a chore. This is super aesthetic and incredibly effective at getting out any creases from packing. Although I don’t tend to bother for everyday wear, it’s such a nice item to have when you are getting dressed up for nicer occasions.

Mini lightweight umbrella

Not technically clothing, I will admit, but you never know what the weather will be when you land. And, as a Brit, I am well accustomed to getting caught in a sudden rain shower – it’s not an experience I enjoy repeating. Keeping a mini and super lightweight umbrella is a great way to protect yourself from the risk. Barely taller than an iPhone, this Fulton mini umbrella will even fit in your pocket!

📦 Other Miscellaneous Travel PRODUCTS for Women

Here are some final additions to add to every woman’s travel essentials list.

Travel mug

On the same vein as a reusable water bottle, travel mugs are brilliant at helping to keep your hot drinks hot whilst also reducing your carbon footprint. I use the Huskee travel cup and lid most often – it’s beautifully aesthetic and keeps my lattes super hot. If I need to be conscious of space, like when I’m travelling with just hand luggage, I would opt for a collapsible travel mug like Stojo. Once empty, it folds to be less than 2 inches thick and is super lightweight.

Universal travel adapter

Gone are the days of lugging an extension cord and multiple travel adapters with me on holiday, since I inevitably won’t be sure which one will work. I’ve since upgraded to a universal adapter with multiple USB-C and USB-A slots. It’s life changing! I can now charge my phone, watch, AirPods, and iPad all at once. And it’s so small and lightweight, it doesn’t take any room in my carry on. I’ve since bought the same one as gifts for my parents and siblings.

Portable luggage scale

I like to tell myself I’m a super minimal packer, but I’m sure my fiancé and friends would disagree. I think it’s more accurate to say I’m a great folder. I manage to fit a lot of stuff into a smaller suitcase than you might expect. But that doesn’t mean it’s light! A portable luggage scale is an essential travel item so you’re never surprised at the airport check in desk.

Heroclip carabiner

Whether in hostel showers or airport toilets, there are a fair few times when I just don’t want to put my things on the dirty or wet floor. The Heroclip Mini carabiner can easily carry up to 18kg (yes, you read that right!) and is super lightweight. 

Reusable shopping tote

You’ve probably noticed the theme now – we don’t like disposable items over here on Untravelled. We can travel the world and protect it at the same time! I love keeping a folding reusable bag on me – use it as a beach bag, shopping bag, or to carry groceries home from the store. The Nanobag is the world’s lightest bag, just 24g, and yet can hold up to 30kg.

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And, last but most definitely not least, everything you need to capture the incredible memories of your trip!

📝 Planning Your Next Holiday

• ✈️ Find the best flights with Booking
• 🏡 Find the best hotel on Booking for your trip
• 📑 Get your visa through iVisa so you don’t have to fill out the forms yourself
• 💸 Get reliable travel insurance through World Nomads
• 🚖 Book your private transfer from the airport with Booking or Get Your Guide
• 🧭 If you want to explore the city in a fun and unique way, check out Get Your Guide
• 🛍 Follow this list of travelling essentials for women and remember to pack a universal travel adapter, kindle, and a portable charger

🎬 Final Thoughts on the BEST Travel Essentials for Women

Thanks for joining me as I shared an epic travel list for women, of the best and most useful products I’ve found for my travels.. I hope you find this useful as a starting point for your next vacation!

Make sure you pin this post for later, a reminder of all the ladies’ travel essentials you need to pack.

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