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Picture a glorious spring day in Paris.
I'm sitting in a café with my friend Susanne. She loops the strap of her handbag over the back of her chair. You know the gesture – you've probably done it a hundred times.
She'll never see that handbag again.
There are things you do with your handbag – and then there are things you don't do, like loop it over the back of your chair.
But before we get into the how of handbag handling, let's look at the what. What follows are the best travel bags for women (at least, I think so!)
5 and main compartment (plus credit card slots)
12" X 10.5" X 2”
Apple, Peach, Portobello + 9
Synthetic Crossbody
Room for most tablets
6 and main compartment
16.5” x 14.3” x 2.8”
Midnight Blue
Nylon Crossbody
Room for laptops up to 13”
6 and main compartment (plus credit card slots)
9.5” X 8.5” X 2”
Black, Brown, Chocolate + 14
Synthetic Crossbody
Room for small tablets
2 zippered compartments, a padded sleeve, 2 interior pockets (RFID safe)
9.06" x 6.69" x 2.95"
Black, Tweed, Navy, Khaki
Nylon + stainless steel (polyester lining)
Room for small tablets
4 plus main compartment
11.5" x 11" x 1.25"
Grey, Black
Polyester Crossbody
Room for 9” tablet
3 exterior and main compartment
10-1/2" H x 10-1/2" W x 3"
Black, Beige, Cayenne + 6
Synthetic Crossbody
Room for most tablets
6 and main compartment (plus credit card slots)
11.6” x 10.4” x 2.68”
Coffee, Dark Grey, Grey
Canvas and Oiled Leather Crossbody
Room for some smaller tablets
10 and main compartment
11.22" X 6.49" X 12.59"
Black, Brown, Grey, Purple, Red
Synthetic Washed Leather
Room for tablet up to 12.9”
Several, based on the size
7.87" x 20.08" x 13.78"(largesize)
Dozens
Cordura nylon, cotton canvas
Fits the largest laptops
Several internal and external pockets
6" x 8" x 2"
Orange, Blue, Black, Maroon
Water resistant nylon
Fits a small tablet
2 lockable exterior pockets, 1 padded laptop sleeve, 2 side water bottle pockets, 2 RFID safe inside pockets
16.5" x 11.6" x 5"
Black, Navy, Khaki
Nylon and polyester
Fits a 13" laptop and everything else you might need for the day!
5 and main compartment (plus credit card slots)
12" X 10.5" X 2”
Apple, Peach, Portobello + 9
Synthetic Crossbody
6 and main compartment
16.5” x 14.3” x 2.8”
Midnight Blue
Nylon Crossbody
6 and main compartment (plus credit card slots)
9.5” X 8.5” X 2”
Black, Brown, Chocolate + 14
Synthetic Crossbody
2 zippered compartments, a padded sleeve, 2 interior pockets (RFID safe)
9.06" x 6.69" x 2.95"
Black, Tweed, Navy, Khaki
Nylon + stainless steel (polyester lining)
4 plus main compartment
11.5" x 11" x 1.25"
Grey, Black
Polyester Crossbody
3 exterior and main compartment
10.5" x 10.5" x 3"
Black, Beige, Cayenne + 6
Synthetic Crossbody
6 and main compartment (plus credit card slots)
11.6” x 10.4” x 2.68”
Coffee, Dark Grey, Grey
Canvas and Oiled Leather Crossbody
10 and main compartment
11.22" X 6.49" X 12.59"
Black, Brown, Grey, Purple, Red
Synthetic Washed Leather
Several, depending on size
7.87" x 20.08" x 13.78" (largesize)
Dozens
Codura nylon, cotton canvas
Several internal and external pockets
6" x 8" x 2"
Orange, Blue, Black, Maroon
Water resistant nylon
2 lockable exterior pockets, 1 padded laptop sleeve, 2 side water bottle pockets, 2 RFID safe inside pockets
16.5" x 11.6" x 5"
Black, Navy, Khaki
Nylon and polyester
The table above lists the best travelling handbags for ladies – but it's just an outline. I've expanded on a few individual models below because yes, you need the best travel purse ever.
How do you find it and which are the best travel handbags for you?
Don’t let the rain keep you from exploring. This Baggallini crossbody is also a stylish travel purse, light and water-resistant, so you can take advantage of wet travel days without worrying about your valuables and electronics getting drenched. It comes with a removable RFID-resistant wallet you can pull out of the middle of the bag. For me, this feels safer than having an outside zippered pocket for my cards.
It has oodles of pockets (including one for a water bottle or umbrella), and wonderful color options if you happen to be tired of basic black, brown and grey. That all makes it one of the best purses for traveling in Europe (or anywhere else) when you're looking for more of an urban vibe.
Anything I say about this bag is going to be heavily biased... because this is my all-time favorite of all crossbody purses – my best purse for international travel!
I have two of these, in different colors and sizes. This slightly more compact version has a few extra goodies, like a front zipper that secures under a little loop, a feature I love.
Like most Pacsafe bags, it’s slash-proof, which gives me extra peace of mind in busy city centers, and the pocket with credit card slots features RFID-blocking technology.
My iPad fits perfectly in the CS200, but the Gii is much roomier: if you have a DSLR, it will easily fit. I carry my Macbook Air in it. So I use the CS200 for daily sightseeing, but the Gii if I'm working. The bag itself is a lightweight travel purse: you can fill it without feeling like you overpacked.
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I'm not sure I would normally include this among shoulder bags for women – it is more of a messenger bag than an anti-theft purse but... I've added it to the list because I bought one myself (small size) and used it for a month as I traveled through Eastern Europe. Had I gone for the large I might have even used it as a carry-on.
It has a waterproof flap (rain-tested in Romania by me), enough pockets to keep me happy, especially the external one (which is not available in the XS size). The key strap was also useful given the two cavernous main compartments. Plus compartments for pens, and an internal water bottle.
I absolutely loved this bag! The wide shoulder strap is so comfortable I loaded the Timbuk2 with plenty – but my back was fine at the end of each day. I'm still addicted to my Pacsafes, but this one gets as many kudos from me.
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The above four are 'normal-sized' travel shoulder bags and will carry pretty much anything you need, even though some bags are smaller than others.
BUT – you may need something smaller. If you're flying within Europe or on a discount airline, you may find you're only allowed a single carry-on, handbag included.
The best handbag for flying is a small travel handbag: you can slip it into your carry-on if you're not allowed a second bag on the flight.
The best small travel purse is the one you're allowed to take with you on the plane!
Travelon bags are much-loved for their anti-theft properties and their affordable price. This is one of the more popular small travel bags: it holds everything you really need (passport, phone, credit cards), and encourages (or maybe forces) you to leave the extras at the hotel. This makes it a great purse for Europe travel.
Both the strap and purse body are made of slashproof mesh, the straps and zippers lock, and the inner compartment blocks RFID thieves. And I know you could buy an LED light anywhere, but I love that this purse comes with one attached. This is an ideal lightweight travel handbag to slip into your luggage or use for the basics - passport, money, cards, phone...
Here I go with Pacsafe again! The Metrosafe LS100 is a popular antitheft bag and among the best travel purses for Europe, safe and stylish, if you're looking for something small and discreet.
It's smaller and more compact than its counterparts, but you still get all the great anti-theft features (RFID-blocking pocket, locking zippers, and slashproof fabric) Pacsafe is famous for.
It's also water resistant, which makes it ideal for autumn wear in Europe when the skies open up. It's not large, but you can fit a lot into it – most of what you need for the day. No laptop but you can fit in a mini tablet. I like mine – I unfortunately have one of the older versions and don't like the wine color but these new tints are much nicer.
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This looks like a rather fun little purse and one of the few on this list I haven't tried for myself. But I probably shall.
It's an anti-theft cross-body bag, so has everything going for it for travel, with a steel cable in the strap and anti-slash protection on the sides. I
t also has RFID blocking for both the lined internal pocket and the outside locking pocket.
This is a small bag for such things as your glasses, papers, phone, keys and the like, and will also hold a small iPad. The strap is adjustable and the exterior is water resistant so rain or shine, your things will be protected.
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For those of you who prefer daypacks to handbags (you'll find a selection of great travel daypacks here), this is a sleek, frills-free anti theft backpack that will fit everything you need for a day trip and comes in red, teal and black. It features a couple of pockets and a padded electronic sleeve: just be aware that laptops larger than 13” probably won’t fit inside it. It’s not particularly stylish, but you’d be able to wear it around both urban and rural areas without raising eyebrows.
And it has the usual Pacsafe safety features, including the stainless steel wire mesh in the fabric and the wire-reinforced straps, turn and lock security hooks on zippers, and an RFID blocking pocket and main compartment. If you're keen on a theft-proof backpack, this is probably as close as you're going to get.
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Not all bags for travel are made equal and there are a number of features that make good travel purses as opposed to just blah ones:
Maybe not that essential. It depends.
If you're a person who doesn't carry much around, you may not need one. You can always stash your phone, room card and credit card in a money belt or travel pouch, right? Or if you hate the idea of a traveling handbag, consider a travel daypack instead.
If on the other hand you are a handbag person, here are a few simple questions you should ask yourself before you buy:
Answering these questions will help you choose.
And if you travel often, don't skimp on expense. You're better off investing in the best purse for travel now rather than buying something that will unravel in the middle of nowhere – and that you'll have to replace.
Other than deciding on the best handbag for travelling, the most important issue you'll have to deal with is probably security.
1. Don't wear flashy brand name labels on your bag: they make it that much more attractive to steal.
2. Don't be arrogant as in "it won't happen to me because I'm too smart/careful/savvy" — it can happen to you. I'm a seasoned traveler and I've had my belongings lifted. It's almost inevitable after a lifetime of travel. What I do know is without being careful, it would have happened far more often.
3. Make sure your bag is hard to get into. Even the best travel purses for women can be stolen. That's why I like the slash-proof straps with all sorts of wire mesh. I can still lose it and it can disappear — but it won't be slashed while I'm wearing it and my belongings lifted from under my nose.
4. Pay attention. The best time for someone to steal your bag is when you're busy taking that ultimate photograph or admiring the view. You're not paying attention and you won't even notice: there goes your perfect handbag for travelling. I sadly speak from experience.
5. Wear your bag in a way that dissuades theft. Most often thieves look for an easy mark. A handbag across your chest (as opposed to hanging loosely over a shoulder) will look more challenging and less appetizing. Keep your bag on the inside rather than on the street side. Yes, there have been instances of women being dragged along by a thief on a scooter BUT seeing a well-protected bag should be pretty dissuasive. If this worries you, use a pashmina or a scarf over your shoulder. It won't hide your bag completely but it makes it more complicated for thieves - and they like to keep things simple.
6. Never leave your bag unattended. Obvious, right? And if you don't want to hang onto to it tightly while trying to eat, tie it to the table. Or get one of those metal cable locks to tie your bag to your table or chair: someone else might want that perfect travel handbag you just bought. I simply keep mine on - the strap is long enough to do that comfortably.
7. Don't carry all your valuables in your purse. Split your things up by using a money belt or pouch and spread your cash around various clothes pockets.
Whatever I do, I will NOT be hanging my bag on the back of a chair!