Are you looking for a list of travel essentials for women that’ll make packing for your next trip ten times easier? I’m a full time solo female traveler, and this list includes all my top essentials after years of travel.
After exploring the world for years, I’ve had my fair share of packing mistakes. So to take the anxiety out of packing for your next adventure, I’ve come up with a complete list of travel essentials I love to bring abroad. While this isn’t a complete packing list, it includes all of the travel essentials for women that will make your life overseas a lot easier.
Short on time? Here is the complete list of essentials!
The Top Women’s Travel Essentials In 2024
Hanging Toiletries Bag
I can’t tell you how irritating it was to travel without a hanging toiletries bag. I didn’t realise what I was missing out on until I got one. From fumbling around in the shower with my toiletries all over the floor, to my hand cream exploding all over the inside of my suitcase, to losing my most expensive moisturiser because of my unorganised bag.
Now It’s the first cheap product that I recommend to everyone wandering what to pack. It’s lightweight, waterproof, organised, and makes showering and keeping your toiletries together overseas ten times easier.
I use the Bagsmart Hanging Toiletries Bag (pictured above), and it’s my personal recommendation if you don’t already own one. You can find the bag here.
Portable Charger And Tech Organiser
Having a good portable charger is so important when you’re traveling, and for women especially when it comes to safety. If my phone were to run out of batteries I’d have no access to maps/ directions, money, or most importantly emergency services if I got hurt or found myself in danger.
Phones are also used for so many other things overseas, like tickets and boarding passes, airline apps, bookings, communication, entertainment, and credit cards. Having your phone run out on you away from your accomodation could be inconvenient and dangerous, which is why I always carry a portable charger with me.
I always prefer to have one that lasts for multiple charges, meaning a ‘20,000+ mah’, and one with multiple spots for different types of cables. Meaning you can charge all your devices, headphones, cameras, ect, all at once! It’s also very handy to have a tech organiser to keep all the chords and cables organised, especially when you’re moving.
You can find my favourite portable charger here.
I love this cheap tech organiser on Amazon.
Compression Socks
If you’re a woman who takes long haul flights, you may not know (as I didn’t for years) that you’re at a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT). You can read more about it on the Travel Doctor website, but essentially risk is increased with long periods of sitting down.
Compression socks are recommended by doctors to help increase blood flow back to your heart during the long periods of sitting on large flights. You can find compression socks with all different levels of tightness and size, including wide calf options. I personally love to use them on long haul flights, I don’t even notice I have them on!
My personal favourite compression socks are these.
Money Belt
If you want to keep your valuables and money safe, I highly recommend you buy a money belt. You’d be surprised how highly developed technology is in foreign tourist-targeting schemes. With devices that can scan your credit card information through fabric, and pickpockets who can easily take things out of a closed bag without you noticing.
To protect your money and things, money belts are fitted with RFID blocking technology (which tags and tracks objects, including credit card information). They also fit close to your body under your clothes, which helps you keep your valuables hidden from pickpockets.
I used my money belt every time I withdrew money in Indonesia and Argentina. And while I heard countless horror stories about people having money stolen outside ATM’s and Western Union’s, I never had an issue.
You can find my favourite money belt here, it’s the Ventura 4th Money Belt.
Portable Hangers
Especially if you’re travelling as a backpacker in hostels, portable hangers are a lifesaver. Budget accomodation usually never offers a place to hang up your clothes or dry them off. On top of that, hotels and resorts rarely have enough hangers to store all of your things.
Portable hangers like these mean I can avoid having to drape fancy outfit you want to keep hanging, or a swim suit I’m trying to dry over any surface I can find. It really comes in handy with keeping things organised.
Anti-Wrinkle Clothes spray
Anti-wrinkle clothes spray does exactly what it sounds like, it almost magically removed wrinkles from any clothes you have. Especially if you’re travelling with packing cubes (which crunch your clothes), this spray is a saviour.
My favourite is this one on Amazon.
Airtags
This is one of, if not the number one item I think you need to travel with. And the reason is, it could be the only thing between you losing all of your belongings or not.
I’m known for misplacing things, so I never travel without AirTags hidden in my checked-in luggage, laptop case and camera bag. More than once there have been occasions where I would have lost thousands of dollars of camera gear, my work setup, or important documents.
A close friend of mine put an AirTag in her luggage last minute before a flight to Madrid, and the airline ended up losing her bag. The AirTag was the only reason she managed to get it back, incredibly, 4 months later.
In any case, it’s much better to be safe than sorry. And purchasing an AirTag may be the thing that saves you from losing your belongings.
SPF Sunscreen
Protecting your skin while you travel is so important, so make sure you pack a good SPF sunscreen. Some moisturisers even come with SPF, which can be a great way to easily work it into your daily routine.
Even if you aren’t heading somewhere tropical and sunny, UV can still damage your skin. Snow can reflect up to 90% of UV rays, so even if you’re in the middle of winter it’s still important to wear sunscreen.
I recommend this SPF moisturiser on Amazon for ease and effectiveness.
Good Walking Shoes
Good walking shoes can make or brake your trip. Exploring a new city comes with a lot of walking, and aching feet will seriously take away from your experience. I always bring a pair of close toed shoes like runners or sneakers, trust me, you’ll be happy you opted for comfort.
On my last backpacking trip I only brought 2 pairs of shoes, so I could travel with a tiny 55L backpack. I very quickly regretted not bringing my Nike’s, when I had to choose between wearing chunky hiking boots or battered Birkenstocks every day. So, long story short, bring a basic, in between sneaker, you won’t regret it.
Waterproof Sandals
Another shoe must have that I discovered on my last trip were waterproof sandals. Amazon sells these amazing waterproof Birkenstocks, which my travel partner brought with us to Italy.
While she was able to wear her shoes in the shower, lakes, and around camp without worry, I was trying to dodge any water I could with my suede Birkenstocks. In Bali, my only sandals were destroyed as I got stuck on the back of a motorbike in a freak rainstorm. I ended up having to go months with wrecked shoes.
Waterproof sandals are one of the best extras to bring on your trip. It makes general travel so much easier, since they cant’t be destroyed by something as small as sweating or accidentally standing in a puddle.
My favourite ones are the waterproof Birkenstocks on Amazon.
Capsule Wardrobe
If you don’t know what a capsule wardrobe is, it’s basically a minimalist collection of clothes that all complement each-other, and can be made into a wide variety of outfits. A capsule wardrobe is designed to maximise the amount of outfits you can make with a small amount of items, which is perfect for travelling.
Building a capsule wardrobe for your trip will save you space, stress, and time.
A lot of minimalist travellers like the 5-4-3-2-1 method, which includes 5 tops, 4 bottoms, 3 accessories, 2 shoes, and 1 swimsuit. But I personally don’t stick to any numbering system as long as all my clothes match enough.
Over-shirts
If there’s one clothing item I’m always glad I packed, it has to be my over shirts. You can wear flow-y button ups over dresses, tops and swimsuits, making them an easy addition to any outfit. They also keep you protected from the sun, which paired with a good face sunscreen helps you avoid burns.
And if I’m having a day where I don’t feel confident overseas (yep, we all have them), throwing on an over shirt helps me feel a little more comfortable.
I’ve bought most of my over shirts from Cotton On and Target, they’re cheap and super cute!
Biker Shorts
Another clothing essential, especially for all the beautiful plus size and thick thigh women out there is bike shorts. Bringing bike shorts with to wear under dresses, especially if you’re going somewhere hot, will help avoid thigh chafing.
Nude bike shorts blend in nicely under your clothes and usually won’t show. If you don’t want to wear shorts, you can also by an anti chafing cream which works too.
Jewellery Organiser
After carrying around my jewellery in little bags and mixed through my luggage for years, I couldn’t recommend a jewellery organiser more. Having everything in one place makes getting ready easier. Not only that but it greatly lowers the risk of tangling, breaking, or losing your jewellery.
For a small, easy to use organiser, I suggest this one on Amazon.
Day Bags
Tote bags, cross body bags, and over the shoulder purses are essential when you’re abroad. Having a medium sized bag you can use to store things throughout the day makes exploring so much easier.
Personally, I bring 2-3 tote bags on every overseas trip. I use them every day for my daily items, groceries, and as my personal item on the airplane.
I use these tote bags, this cross body bag, and these shopping bags.
Menstrual Cup + Period underwear
As women, one thing that makes travel, and packing for travel more complication is periods. Pads and tampons take up space, can be messy, and tampons aren’t even available in all countries.
For ease abroad, I always recommend swapping your regular pads and tampons for a menstrual cup and period underwear. Period underwear are great for overnight’s and easy to wash. Menstrual cups are a much lower effort, reusable option for during the day, and will save you money in the long run.
Good Sunglasses
Another game changer, good sunglasses. Sunglasses minimise UV damage, elevate your style, reduce harsh sunlight and improve visibility.
Paired with over shirts and SPF sunscreen, you’ll be protecting your body from harsh UV rays, keeping you healthy and happy overseas.
I love these sunglasses, they work great and they’re super stylish!
Clear TSA Bottles
Security won’t let you take over 100ml bottles/ tubes of liquid, and that includes hair-care/ skincare. So if you’re like me and have products you can’t go without, these little clear tubes are a lifesaver.
You can fill up with just the right amount for your trip, and not have to worry about losing expensive products to TSA.
Locks
I have an entire article on which locks to use in hostels. Which shows just how important I think they are! Even if you aren’t staying in a hostel or budget accomodation, locks are great for keeping your luggage safe at the airport and when you’re in transit.
I like the Search Alert TSA locks, to find out more on why, you can read my article on locks to use in hostels. The same rules apply to general travel locks.
Offline Maps
This isn’t a product, but an app that I definitely recommend you download before you go! As a woman abroad it’s important to be prepared for situations that could become unsafe. Having an offline map means I’ll always have access to directions even without mobile connection or WIFI.
Anything can happen in an unfamiliar country. So always knowing where you are and having access to directions is great for peace of mind and general safety.
Apps like Guru Maps let you search up directions, driver navigation, and GPS recording without access to data or WIFI.
Silk Travel Pillow
Travel pillows always feel unnecessary, until you’re on a long haul flight trying to sleep with a cramping neck. Especially if you plan on taking long flights, car rides, buses, or trains, a travel pillow is a great idea.
I also love using a silk travel pillow. Silk is great for your skin and hair, and stays much cooler at night in comparison to normal cotton pillowcases. It’s just a nicer experience!
I love this silk travel pillow.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
Noise cancelling headphones are a game changer. Sat next to a screaming baby? No problem. Can’t sleep because of noise on the street? No problem.
Noise canceling headphones not only make listening to music higher quality, but great for airplanes (those airplane headphones are so uncomfortable), and can help quieten things down in overwhelming situations.
I take them with me everywhere, overseas and at home, and they’ve become one of my most essential items. I use and love these ones from Sony.
E-reader
I love to read, but when I’m travelling I really don’t want to be lugging books around with me. This is where my Kindle becomes a saviour. It’s small, light, and you can find almost any book on there.
Important Documents & Travel Insurance (+ Copies Of Documents)
Trust me, as much as you may not think you need it, never travel overseas without travel insurance. Things always happen when you least expect it, and you could end up paying thousands of dollars for treatment depending on which country you’re in.
If you’re looking for a good travel insurance for your trip, Safety Wing is my personal favourite, especially for digital nomads. I use it for all of my trips abroad.
As well as having travel insurance, It’s very important to have copies of your most important documents. This includes vaccinations, passport, other ID, insurance, trip itinerary, and extra passport photos.
I like to put them all in a big folder and carry them with me when I catch flights or move from one country or another. It’s helpful to have everything in one place, especially if immigration or police choose to question you.
Universal Travel Adaptor
This sounds like a no-brainer, but I have made the mistake of travelling overseas without a travel adaptor. If you want a one and done adaptor that works wherever you go, Universal Travel Adaptors are a great one off purchase.
I like this adaptor from Amazon, I used it for 8 months on my last trip abroad, and still use it at home. It’s light, compact, and works like a dream.
A Mini Sewing Kit
When your favourite clothes get torn overseas, you’ll be so glad you packed a sewing kit. You can buy mini compact ones from most general shops like Target, Walmart, and Big W.
I brought one with me to Indonesia, it was so small I almost forgot it was there. But when I ripped my favourite linen pants trekking in the jungle (side note, never wear linen in the jungle), I was able to patch them up in a few minutes!
I like this sewing kit on Amazon.
A Water Bottle With A Filter
There’s nothing more important to your health and enjoyment overseas than staying hydrated, and I find I drink a lot more water when I bring my own water bottle. I love my little Nalgene, but when you’re overseas I also recommend you swap your usual water bottle for one with a built in filter.
In some continents, water isn’t as safe to drink as it is at home, and sometimes when they say it’s filtered it really isn’t. To avoid getting sick and stay hydrated, having your own water bottle, like this UV filtered Water bottle, is a great option.
A Quick Dry Towel
Normal towels can get extremely heavy, take up space, and often stay wet for hours after using them. In short, they’re a nightmare for travel. But not bringing a towel is also a bad option, when many hostels/ hotels don’t offer them, and it restricts you from doing water based activities.
To make your life easy, I suggest bringing a quick dry backpacking towel. They’re certainly not as comfortable as normal towels, but they do a great job of drying you, and then drying quickly too. They’re also easy to pack down and take in a day bag!
Thank you for reading the top Travel Essentials for Women! If you like any of the products in my post or have any feedback, feel free to let me know via the email in my Contact Page. Enjoy your travels!
