The 15 Best Travel Accessories for Women, Tested and Reviewed
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Whether you travel two or 20 times a year, some items are simply non-negotiables when it comes to packing. What’s more, the best travel accessories will help make the journey all the more seamless and stress-free so long as you know what to look for. Plus, the best travel accessories are designed to last for many trips to come.
To help narrow down the top options, we tested dozens of items in our everyday lives and on trips. As you scroll, you’ll notice that our favorite travel accessories include a convertible crossbody bag, packing cubes to help you save precious suitcase space (they come in especially handy for overpackers!), and a portable umbrella that easily fits in a jacket pocket. Check out the complete list below.
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Keep your skincare and makeup staples safe and secure on the go with the editor-favorite Beis Cosmetic Case. Available in eight distinct color options, this makeup case is Travel + Leisure-approved for its sturdy and high-quality leather construction, which is both durable and easy to clean. The roomy interior and included travel mirror are also added bonuses in our book. While there are no individual compartments for each product, there is a shallow zippered section on the lid of the bag, a removable middle section for makeup brunches that easily pops out, and a bottom section. We’re happy to report that nothing spilled or came loose, even after shaking and dropping the bag.
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Despite its compact, oval-shaped design, the oh-so-sleek Cuyana Travel Jewelry Case is surprisingly spacious. The straps for rings and earrings can be easily removed if you want extra space to fit more items, while the two slip pockets — one on each side — are ideal for holding bigger or longer pieces of jewelry. Meanwhile, the protective Italian leather exterior did not scuff or scratch at all — even after throwing and kicking it! The soft suede lining, which can help prevent jewelry from scratching or damaging, is equally impressive. Last but not least, we especially love how versatile the case is since it’s small enough to fit in a purse or jacket pocket. Shoppers can choose from six beautiful hues in a pebbled or shimmered finish; monogramming is also available for an added fee.
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Crafted from recycled ripstop nylon, these set of three colorful pouches from Baggu are one of our favorite sets. They function as mini packing cubes, able to fit all sorts of accessories, including tech like portable chargers, headphones, and more. We especially love how versatile the sizes are — the smallest is able to fit undergarments and socks and the largest can store jeans and even shoes — and their budget-friendly price tag and cute design options are just the cherry on top. While their fabric feels durable and easy to clean, the pouches are unstructured and wouldn’t provide much support to more delicate items like toiletries and jewelry. They’re also not water-resistant or leakproof.
The Details: Set of 3 | Recycled ripstop nylon
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Chronic overpackers can save precious suitcase space with packing cubes, and this set from Veken features a durable polyester construction to prevent wear and tear so that they last for many trips to come. The sturdy two-way zippers glide smooth — read: no jamming or snagging, even after stuffing the cubes to the brim! We appreciated the cubes’ thoughtful, user-friendly design elements, including breathable mesh panels that made it easy to see all of your items without having to rummage through each cube in search of your favorite sweater or jeans. Plus, each cube has a small illustration of what to pack to help you stay organized throughout your travels. The laundry and shoe bags are a nice touch, too.
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Clocking in at just seven ounces total, the Davek Mini Umbrella is the travel accessory you didn’t know you needed. When not in use, you can store it away in a fanny pack or jacket pocket. Also, don’t be fooled by its small size. The umbrella’s sturdiness and quality are unmatched. When testing it out, especially loved how well it repelled water and how durable the canopy is; even after pulling and tugging it, it never ripped which tells us it can withstand wind and heavy rain without breaking or flipping inside out. After drenching the umbrella in the shower to test how quickly it dried, we were pleasantly surprised that it took only 45 minutes to be completely dry again. While there are no buttons or visible tabs to open the umbrella, we found it incredibly easy to open and close with a few pulls. Lastly, shoppers can take their pick of ten color options.
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As you can guess by its name, the Loop Dream earplugs are specifically designed for sleep, making them especially great for long-haul flights. Not only do they offer noise reduction technology — which means they’ll block out that snoring neighbor on your flight — but they also have thoughtful design features like a unique oval shape and soft silicone construction to reduce pressure on ears. Parker says, “I love that the loop is closed, which I find even more comfortable than the (already comfortable) open loop style of the original ones. These are the most comfortable earplugs I’ve ever worn, likely due to that feature and because these also have different interchangeable ear tips, so I get a snug and comfortable fit.” Oh, and did we mention these editor-loved earplugs are also suitable for side sleepers?
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Not only is this passport holder incredibly chic thanks to its buttery soft leather construction, but it’s also cleverly designed with plenty of slots and slip pockets to keep your bills, boarding passes, credit cards, and other essentials neatly stowed away while en route to your next destination. Since receiving this passport holder, we’ve been able to keep our passport and boarding passes organized and secured more easily through utilizing the interior card slots. Despite its ample storage, the passport holder is incredibly compact. What’s more, we found that the passport holder has the capacity to store a wide array of items without taking up too much room in a fanny pack or travel purse. Its RFID-blocking technology protects against electronic theft, making this pick well worth its affordable price point.
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Ideal for everyday wear, these trendy, rectangular sunglasses from Meller are a T+L editor favorite. They’re just as functional as they are stylish thanks to their UV 400 protection, anti-scratch coating, and polarized lenses. “The slightly oversized square frame is surprisingly lightweight and comfortable,” says T+L associate editor Anna Popp. “I wore these for hours at a time and they were super comfortable no matter the length I had them on for. They didn’t slide or move around, nor did they pinch behind my ears.” She also noticed that the sunglasses “definitely reduced eye strain thanks to the polarized lenses” and that, despite wearing them for days on end, crushing them in her purse, and frequently tossing them around, “the lenses and frame never scratched.”
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Having a reliable sunglasses case is essential for keeping your beloved frames in pristine condition as you travel. The Garrett Leight Collector’s Case can hold up to four pairs of sunglasses of all shapes and sizes. “It is as slim as it possibly can be and not too bulky to pack,” says T+L’s testing editor Jackie Cucco. She also goes on to describe it as “hardside and not flexible, making it very protective of the delicate sunglasses inside.” Speaking of the inside, the interior has a soft lining and adequately spaced zippers to protect your shades from scratches. All in all, Cucco notes that “this case feels very durable and high-quality, from the dual zip-around closure and the embossed logo on the outside to the soft lining and sturdy dividers inside.”
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There are regular water bottles, and then there’s the USB-rechargeable Larq Bottle PureVis. The latter stands out for its innovative features, namely the ability to self-clean every two hours. It also utilizes UV-C LED technology to neutralize bacteria and sanitize water. Parker used this bottle on a two-week trip to Portugal and was impressed with how sturdy it was (read: no dents). She also noticed that the diameter of the bottle was quite small, which made it easy to hold and drink from. Similarly, she says, “I like the hand feel of this bottle. It’s not super skinny or slippery, but it fits well in my hand.” Per the company, the bottle is also leak-proof — and Parker can attest to that. “This is a tight seal with no leaks! I feel confident putting this even in a suede purse,” she says. Finally, its stainless steel construction and double-wall insulation keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours.
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Pro tip: you can make plane, train, or car travel all the more comfortable by bringing along a plush travel pillow. We’re big fans of the Ostrichpillow Go Neck Pillow in particular. Even when we moved our head and neck around in different positions, the plush pillow remained firmly in place. We’d also be remiss not to mention its memory foam filling and unique asymmetrical design. Despite how soft the pillow is, it provides plenty of support without making us feel overheated or sweaty. While we found it easy to remove from the included carrying case, it was slightly more challenging to roll up to fit back in the case (though practice makes perfect). Once rolled back up, the pillow took up virtually no space in our suitcase and personal item. When it’s time to sanitize the pillow post-trip, you can simply toss it in the washing machine.
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Whether you’re traveling for work or for pleasure, a trusty travel steamer always comes in handy for smoothing out stubborn wrinkles from clothes that easily crease when packed. This handheld one from Electrolux weighs just two pounds and “was super easy to fit inside the suitcase wedged underneath clothing,” according to senior editor Jasmine Grant. It’s also incredibly easy to use: simply plug it in, turn on the power button, and wait 30 seconds for it to heat up. Additionally, Grant found the steam output to be powerful and she was able to remove most of the wrinkles in her clothes quickly and efficiently due to the wide plate, which “helped cover a wide surface area on each garment.” Additionally, the water tank was “super easy to detach; I simply pressed the button above it to release it from the base of the steamer.” Ultimately, she was able to steam four items before having to refill the tank, which is mighty impressive for a compact steamer.
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Keep your toiletries organized with the Morfone travel bottle set. This 16-piece travel kit consists of four bottles, four jars, two spray bottles, scoopers, a funnel, a brush, labels, and a bag to store everything. The silicone bottles were easy to fill, as were the spray pines. However, we found the jars to be a bit more complicated since they come with a seal that goes on before the cap, meaning it’s easy to accidentally overfill them. The bottles come in two different sizes to provide an excellent variety of options depending on the length of your trip. We were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the bottles, too. Even when we pushed down on them, they hadn’t popped open or spilled. The clear storage bags were also easy to clean.
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Anyone who has ever lost luggage en route to their destination knows all too well the stress and hassle that comes along with it. However, luggage trackers can help provide peace of mind since you can, well, track exactly where your bag is. The Eufy SmartTrack is among our favorite options on the market, and T+L editor Taylor Fox describes it as “easy to use, no fuss, and accurate.” While you do need to download an external app to set it up, the tracker is compatible with Apple’s Find My app. (However, you can use the aforementioned Eufy app to share the location of your items with friends and family.) Fox also notes that the device is tiny enough to fit inside “any pocket (including pants pockets) and is very discreet because it is so flat.” Alternatively, you can use the key ring hole to attach it onto a chain. As a bonus, the tracker may help prevent you from losing your items in the first place by sending “left-behind” alerts.
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A pair of high-quality comfortable headphones is a travel must-have, especially for long-haul flights. The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are an especially great pick since they offer excellent noise cancellation and a long battery life (up to 24 hours, to be exact). Even at 25 percent volume, we couldn’t hear anything outside of the audio we were listening to (yes, even on a loud subway). We also found the sound quality of the headphones to be just as good for a phone call as it was for music, movies, and books. The headphones are easy to set up via the Bose app, which allows the user to switch listening modes, set up shortcuts, manage Bluetooth connections, and more. The headphones are also fairly simple to use since they have just two buttons — one to turn the headphones on and off for Bluetooth and one to control the audio — and a touch bar to control the volume.
Our Testing Process
The T+L team tested dozens of different products across 15 different tests in order to narrow down the best options for all of the above travel accessory categories. We carefully examined and put each item to work, including packing and unpacking the jewelry cases to determine how easy they were to use and tossing each water bottle from waist height to determine its durability. We also continued using the products and collecting insights after the initial tests to truly determine how well each item holds up with heavy use.
Tips for Buying Travel Accessories
Consider the destination and length of your stay
The travel accessories you pack will vary depending on the length of your trip and where you’re traveling to. For example, if you’re heading on a short weekend getaway, you likely won’t need a large toiletry bag or makeup bag. Similarly, you may opt to leave your passport wallet behind for domestic travel. On the contrary, though, if you’re heading on a weeks-long trip out of the country, you may opt for multipurpose accessories, such as a camera bag that pulls double duty as a purse and a convertible bag that can be worn at least two different ways to save suitcase space.
Shop for products that will stand the test of time
Whether you’re a frequent flyer or someone who travels just a few times a year, it’s key to invest in products that will last you for years instead of just one or two trips. Most of these items (i.e. headphones, compression socks, umbrellas, and purses) can also be used in everyday life, which means you’ll get your money’s worth.
Think about your itinerary
Instead of just purchasing a slew of travel accessories on a whim, take some time to really think about your specific itinerary before going ahead and springing on something pricey. For example, you don’t necessarily need to shell out money on a camera bag if you rarely take photos while away. Or, if you’re heading to a cold-weather destination, consider skipping the sunnies.
Why Trust Travel + Leisure
For this story, T+L contributor Lauren Dana Ellman combed through T+L tested reviews to uncover the top travel accessories for women across each category. As a travel and shopping writer, she’s always researching and testing the latest and greatest gear, gadgets, and other must-haves for her next trip. Some things she never travels without include a pair of noise-canceling headphones, a luggage tracker, packing cubes (because once an overpacker, always an overpacker), and a passport holder to help her stay organized when flying internationally.
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