Are you looking for essential travel bags that can make any trip smooth and easy?

I’ve got you covered! Here are my top 3 essential travel bags that I’ve put to the test on countless trips.

Essential Travel Bags # 1 – Suitcase

The first essential travel bag is the right suitcase. You need a suitcase that is versatile for all different types of trips. One that will meet all your needs for the new and fabulous travel lifestyle you will be creating!

My personal favorite is the Olympia Denmark 21”. This bag works great for all types of travel.

Versatile

It’s 21 x 14 x 9 and meets the carry on requirements for even European carriers, which are minute by American standards. Everything is smaller in Europe.

I also love that this bag is hard sided. It works perfect for taking cruises. Cruise lines pile all the luggage on top of each other when taking it to your state room . If you have a soft-sided suitcase things can get damaged. That was the reason I first bought this bag.

Plus, it only weighs 5 pounds! I take it for short weekend trips too because it’s so light. This suitcase keeps you light on your feet while you are traipsing through airports, onto trains and into taxis and ride shares.

It’s so lightweight it can be easily lifted yourself into the overhead bin of a plane or train. Hey, if there is a cute guy nearby ask him for help anyway. I won’t tell! 😉

Features

This bag also expands by two inches so, there’s plenty of room to bring home all those fun souvenirs on the way home.

It also has a cool hidden pocket in the expansion section where you can hide your laptop and other valuables.

I also love that this bag has a snap in waterproof toiletry case. It works great for bringing home wet swimsuits or other items that might leak.

It is also surprising how much can fit in the Olympia Denmark 21” if I keep things organized in packing cubes. Packing cubes are another favorite of mine which I discussed in this post. I have easily fit clothes for up to 10 days in this bag if I pack thoughtfully.

Plus I never have to worry if my bag will make it to my destination since I never have to check it.

On a recent trip to Europe my traveling companion’s luggage failed to arrive in Barcelona where we were scheduled to embark on a cruise the following day.

The stress and anxiety of not knowing if her things would make it in time for the cruise was terrible. Not to mention being without basic things like socks and underwear.

Don’t put yourself in this situation. Always carry on! You can do it! I promise and your best friend will show you how.

The Olympia Denmark 21” also has four spinning wheels which makes it a breeze to maneuver. It has 3 handles, which makes it easy to get in and out of overhead bins or in and out of vehicles.

Colors

The Olympia Denmark 21” comes in fun colors too that are not your standard black, which I love. My favorite and the one I bought was the Teal.

It makes it much easier to find your suitcase if you choose or are forced to check your bag. However, if you prefer a more classic color like black or silver those are also available.

Saves Money & Time

This bag will also save money and time since there won’t be fees to check your bag and you won’t have to wait endlessly at the baggage claim to collect your bag.

The price is also reasonable compared to a lot of bags. At the time of this post (updated January 2024) it was listed on the Olympia website for $240, but I found it for $65 on Amazon!

I love the Olympia Denmark 21” so much I have forsaken all others. 😂 Once I got used to traveling smoothly, with ease and without lugging a heavy bag, I started using it for all my travel.

My other suitcases are gathering dust in my closet now. It is my go to essential travel bag!

Essential Travel Bags # 2 – Tote or Small Duffel

The next essential travel bags are a nice tote or small duffel. This way I can keep all the things I need handy to amuse myself when I’m on the plane, train or long taxi/ride share ride.

I use it to put my small purse in when I board the plane since everyone can only have one carry on and one personal item. Always take a bag with a zipper so things don’t spill out mid-flight.

I also put my tablet or laptop, snacks, toiletries and gifts or souvenirs in it. Depending on the bag I can also put in a change of clothes.

This is helpful in the event that the overhead bin space is full and I’m forced to check my bag.

Since all my essentials and valuables are already in my personal item I won’t have to worry about moving things around on the jetway at the last minute should that happen. Embarrassing!

If it does happen, don’t worry, a lot of the time you can collect your bag on the jetway rather than taking more time to go to baggage claim.

Spring and Summer Totes

I take different totes depending on the destination and time of year. If I’m headed to the beach or browsing around a public market, a classic straw tote or boat bag is great.

I love the the L.L. Bean Boat and Tote Zip Top or their Every Day Lightweight Tote.

L.L. Bean is such a classic East Coast brand. I can just picture myself strolling in the Hamptons, smelling the sea salty air ,listening to the sea gulls croon, the crashing of the waves and toting my boat and tote to the sandy beach for a day full of fun. Can’t you just feel it?

I brought a version of the Medium Every Day Lightweight Tote below on my Southern Caribbean cruise.

In the summer L.L. bean comes out with fun patterns too like the one in my cover photo.

They are cute, lightweight and this one matches my Olympia Denmark Teal 21” Spinner perfectly. Got to look cute and stylish when I travel!

Fall and Winter Totes

If you are headed out on a city adventure, I suggest something a bit more traditional and classy like a leather tote or a recent gift to myself for my birthday was a Longchamp Paris, Le Pliage Tote.

I’ve long envied the classy looking and stylish ladies I’ve seen on my many travels with this bag. I was thrilled to finally have one of my own!

I took my Longchamp Paris, Le Pliage Tote to New York recently. It’s great how it’s so lightweight and versatile.

Fold it up and it’s as small as a paperback book when it snaps closed (remember those things we used to read before tablets? 😂).

It’s also perfect to put in your luggage as an extra bag to bring home all your fabulous souvenirs from your travels.

The Longchamp Paris, Le Pliage Tote is also wonderful for day trips at home and abroad to store all my essentials for the day.

It also zips closed, so your things don’t fall out all over in the plane or car and it’s water resistant which came in handy for those New York showers.

It also has 2 small pockets inside for smaller items. Need more organization for the bag? Try this insert.

I chose the Le Pliage Original, Size Large in Navy. Black is also another classic color. Navy and black are what I have seen most in my travels. Want a pop of color? They have those too!

Once I arrive at my destination I use my tote as a handy day bag with all my essentials for the day.

Duffel Bag

Traveling somewhere where you will be doing some side trips? A small duffel makes a great second bag/personal item.

Along with fitting all my essentials while I’m traveling, I can also fit a few changes of clothes in it.

This way I am not taking a wheeled bag with me on those cobblestone streets in Europe which can be a bit jarring 😂.

I can stow my suitcase at my main hotel and then take my duffel with me for those side trips. Hop on and off those trains with ease!

I am a big fan of Kipling bags because they are also very lightweight and water resistant.

My black Kipling duffel went with me when I took a train trip through Italy and it worked perfectly.

I also took a Kipling backpack with me on my first international trip 20 years ago touring through Egypt. Love these bags!

Plus I like the little gorilla keychain that comes with it. 😄 Don’t pack this bag full though, otherwise it won’t fit under the plane seat.

3. Essential Travel Bags # 3 – Cross body bag

My last essential travel bag is a cross body bag. I love these bags for travel! They are so freeing.

It’s great to be able to have your hands free when you are traveling. Whether you’re loading your carry on into the overhead bin on a plane or train, strolling through the streets of Paris shopping or checking into your hotel, your purse will always be safe and secure at your side.

Unfortunately the down side of traveling and being outside of your normal routine is thieves can take advantage of you.

Put your purse down for a second to look at your phone, sip your latte or glass of wine and admire the view and someone can snatch your bag and ruin your vacation.

If your purse is at your side the whole time you will be more likely to notice if someone is tugging on your bag.

I’ve been using cross body bags since my first international trip 20 years ago and wonder what I ever did before then.

I choose different ones based on my destination and the time of year. In the Spring and Summer I like something with a pop of color that will contrast with my outfits nicely.

In the Fall and Winter I tend to stick with something more neutral like black, navy or brown.

The bag I took on my last Caribbean cruise is the Sakroots Basic Crossbody Eco Twill.

I bought mine a year or so ago, so they don’t have the exact pattern I have anymore, but I love the Royal Blue Seascape. I think it would be the perfect bag for a Caribbean cruise.

I’m going to sound like a broken record, but again this bag is lightweight, water resistant and zips close.

It has tons of pockets where you can store your travel documents, passport, lipstick and phone.

I actually even bought the small matching wallet below which has a clip I can clip to the inside zipper pocket in the main compartment of my cross body bag.

This way I can get my wallet out easily without it falling out onto the floor or counter. It also makes it harder for thieves to slip out of your bag.

These bags come in a variety of colorful and whimsical patterns that I just think are really fun! They come with a pretty keychain too. Choose the one that is uniquely you. 😀

Not to sound like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, but these are a few of my favorite things! 

I hope you get these three essential travel bags and start traveling smoothly and with ease!

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