What should you pack for travel?
Pack items that are good for a variety of situations, that can be mixed and matched with different outfits. Also, keep in mind that these packing lists can be easily applied to any type of travel from business trips to vacations.
- Clothes
Of course, this is the most important part to packing for travel, and possibly the most difficult. Packing clothes that won't wrinkle easily or that can be worn more than one way will save space and time when out of the house.
- Medicines
This is the first step to preventing travel sickness and other ailments. Pack painkillers, antidiarrheals, decongestants, an antihistamine for allergies as well as any medication you take regularly.
- Toiletries
Again, keep this as packable as possible so you won't have items rolling around the bottom of your luggage. Try not to go overboard with any particular type of item; pick a few that will work for many situations (i.e. deodorant, sunscreen) and then wait until you return home to restock on anything you used up or forgot to pack. Women should also remember makeup wipes can be used for removing makeup and cleansing the face in addition to taking care of makeup emergencies.
- Electronics
A power strip with multiple plugs and USB outlets is great for those who need to charge more than one device at a time, as well as those who don't want to unpack everything just to find their phone charger or camera battery.
Make sure all of your chargers are packed in a case that will keep them from getting lost and tangled, and expect extra batteries and memory cards if you'll be taking photos frequently.
- Documents and money
This may seem like stating the obvious, but putting these items in an easily accessible pocket can save you some stress when trying to board a plane or leave the country. It's also important to note that if you're traveling across borders with anything that looks like a weapon or is an actual weapon, you may be required to leave it behind.
This is the last thing you want to deal with when you're already running late for your flight.
- Sunglasses and/or a hat
Protecting yourself from the sun at all costs is important for preventing skin cancer and heat stroke if you'll be in warmer climates. A hat or scarf that can double as a towel will make packing easier and save room in your luggage as well (extra points if they're made of quick-drying material). Some travelers also swear by those neck pillow scarves; not only will they give them some privacy on the plane but they'll actually be seen using it too!
- Extra shoes
Walking around the city on your trip means wearing your most comfortable walking shoes, but that can create some issues when it's time to board a plane or walk up the hill to where you're staying. Bring along an extra pair of flats, sandals or boots so you'll be prepared for whatever might come your way.
- Swimsuit
Pack with the weather in mind, but be aware of whatever might be "in" that summer. For example, if there is a chance you'll need a full-body swimsuit due to religious reasons then it's best to pack one with you for easy access instead of trying to find one at your destination. Having an extra bikini top for those beach picnics is also nice, as are sarongs or simple coverups for unexpected events (like an ocean breeze blowing up the skirt of your sundress).
Why do you need a crossbody bag?
So, all your luggage was put into the case, but what about the crossbody bag? There are many reasons for this as well as a few options to consider. If you have a local trip from the airport, you'll want to only carry the essentials so you can pick up your case after landing and take it through customs with you if necessary.
A crossbody bag should contain all of the travel documents and money that won't fit into a wallet or purse. Flights don't always board on time, so being able to get going directly from baggage claim will save some time and an unnecessary second trip.
In case that is a road trip, it would be useful to put into the crossbody bag all the things that you would need in an emergency situation. For example, if your car breaks down, you'll find the money (the amount of which will vary based on what state you live in) can be extremely useful! Perhaps there is no cell phone service where you are stranded and you don't have a map; having these items with you could make all the difference.
The crossbody bag for travel may also contain some simple snacks to get by until dinner time. After security checks are finished, the airport becomes extremely crowded with people who have just arrived or are waiting to board their plane. There won't be much space for finding something to eat, so be prepared with some gum or granola bars.
TOP-7 best crossbody bags for travel
Baggallini Everywhere Crossbody Bag
This is one of the most popular crossbody bags for travel. This bag has a stylish design and looks good with casual or dressy outfits.
You can wear this bag as a shoulder bag, as a cross-body bag, or even as a belt bag. It is also made from water-resistant nylon so you won't have to worry about liquid spills on your clothes. The materials used for this bag are:100% nylon.
This bag also has a lot of pockets and zippered compartments to help keep your items organized, which is perfect if you're always on the go as it makes finding things easy and fast. The crossbody strap can be adjusted or removed if you want to carry this as a handbag instead.
The storage space for this bag is: main compartment: 5 x 7 inch (12.5 x 17.6 cm) Approx. This product weighs 1 pound and comes in four colors: black, chocolate, steel, and stone.
Travelon Unisex Anti Theft Heritage Crossbody Tour Bag
This one has a very stylish design and can be worn as a crossbody bag, a belt bag, or even as a shoulder bag. This product is made from nylon which makes it durable and lightweight. It also comes with an adjustable strap that can be attached to your body for convenience.
There are built-in RFID blocking card and passport slots where you can store your ID, credit cards, and other important documents to protect them from identity theft.
The zippered closure on the main compartment of this bag ensures safety for all of these items by helping block signals from reaching them so they won't get scanned by thieves who have a scanner app on their phones. For the storage space of this travel purse: main compartment: 4 x 7.5 inch (10 x 19 cm) approx.
This bag also has an interior divider pocket and three exterior pockets for your convenience, including one zippered pocket.
Emma RFID Crossbody Bag
This is another great-looking cross-body purse made from 100% leather which means it's not only stylish but also durable enough to withstand the hustle and bustle of travel.
It can be worn as a shoulder, cross-body, or belt bag with an adjustable strap to meet your needs depending on what you're wearing that day or where you are headed. This product comes in five colors: coffee brown, black, natural tan, light blue, and white so you have more choices than the first one.
This product also has many pockets and zippered compartments to help keep your things organized, which makes finding them easy and fast. This product comes with anti-theft technology that has locking zippers where you can secure all of your items safely in place without fear of someone trying to steal them while you're not looking.
For the storage space: main compartment: 3 x 7 inch (8 x 17 cm) approx. This travel bag also weighs 1 pound and comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large so it's perfect if you want a crossbody purse but don't want it to be too big for everyday use when traveling.
Baggallini Luggage Crossbody Bag
This one is made from nylon as well, but it comes with a strap so you can wear this bag as a shoulder bag, cross-body bag, or even as a belt bag. There are many pockets to help keep your things organized and easy to find when you need them which is great if you're trying to stay on schedule and don't have time to waste searching for things.
This product also has RFID blocking card and passport slots where you can store your IDs and credit cards to protect them from identity theft and prevents thieves from getting access to all of your personal information without your knowledge. The main compartment has a zipper closure that helps block signals from reaching your cards and prevents them from being scanned.
The product dimensions for this travel purse are 10 x 5 x 2 inches (25.5 x 12.7 x 5 cm) so it's a bit larger than the first two but it can still fit most things you would want to bring with you on your trips such as wallet, phone, passport, keys, and sunglasses. This product comes in black color only!
It weighs 1 pound and comes in four sizes: small, medium, large and extra-large.
Vera Bradley Women’s Signature Cotton Hipster Crossbody Purse
This one is made from 100% cotton and comes in nine different designs: eggplant, black, white, blush pink, fuchsia flamingo, khaki green, navy blue sea glass, and love.
It has the option to convert the strap as a shoulder bag or as a cross-body bag using a removable strap with a 21-inch drop for your convenience. The main compartment is large enough to carry all of your everyday essentials such as wallet, phone, and keys securely inside without worrying about them falling out due to zippered closure and interior pockets.
This travel purse also has an additional outside pocket which gives you more storage space for things like sunglasses or car keys that you need quick access to whenever you're heading out.
This product comes in three different sizes: small, medium, and large but it weighs 1.5 pounds which means it could get a little heavy when you're packing all of your travel essentials inside since the bag is made from cotton material.
Travelon Unisex Anti-Theft Active Tour
It is a great option for you if you don't mind spending a little extra on anti-theft design and functionality. Although it has many pockets, this travel purse is unisex so both women and men can wear it comfortably without feeling like they are wearing something that isn't made for their gender.
It has lots of zippered compartments to help keep your things organized neatly so you know exactly where everything is when you need them which is great during travel. The front zippered pocket doesn't open very far due to the heavy-duty zipper but will allow you quick access to items such as cell phones.
This one also comes with an RFID blocking card and passport slot where you can store your IDs and credit cards or any other important documents to keep them protected from identity theft.
This purse is made with water-resistant fabric that protects the belongings inside against the wet weather so you don't have to worry about putting your travel essentials away if it starts raining suddenly. The product dimensions are 7x10x4 inches which makes it a perfect size for holding your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses and even an umbrella.
It weighs around 1 pound but comes in five different colors: black, brown, grey, navy blue, and red!
NeatPack Crossbody Bag For Women
This practical travel bag comes with a single strap which you can wear across your shoulder or can convert into a crossbody bag that is great for travel. If you don't mind paying a little extra, this one might be the best choice to consider if you're looking for something that's well organized and made from high-quality material.
It is made from water-resistant nylon fabric which helps protect the belongings inside against unexpected rain showers during travel but it can get a little heavy when packed with all of your things.
It comes with three zippered compartments on the outside for even more storage space and one main compartment, two interior pockets, and two slip pockets for holding smaller items such as earbuds or ID cards so you can have quick access to them anytime without having to open the entire bag.
The product dimensions are 7x10x4 inch which makes it the perfect size for holding your phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses, and even an umbrella but also means that it can get pretty heavy if filled with travel essentials since this travel purse is made from nylon material.