The 15 Best Travel Accessories for Women of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Cosmetics are an investment — which means it’s only logical to want a structured and reliable makeup case to keep your investments safe while on the go. That’s where the Beis The Cosmetic Case comes in. We tested a whole lot of different options for carrying cosmetics — 26 makeup bags to be exact — and found this one stood out due to its roominess and also its structured exterior. The supple leather feels very high-end for the price while the interior was easy to open and pack without having to stuff everything in. We also really liked that this case comes with a compact travel mirror that makes applying cosmetics on the go easier. The only thing we didn’t love was that there weren’t any straps to hold brushes or bottles in place but the solid construction still felt adequately secure for holding more delicate items.

If you don’t travel with a case designated specifically for jewelry, we urge you to invest in this one immediately! A travel jewelry case allows you to keep all your precious jewels safe in one specific spot. Not only does this help ensure your necklaces and earrings don’t get all tangled and knotted, but it also means you’ll always know exactly where each and every piece of jewelry is; no more digging through your handbags or toiletry kit trying to locate your favorite earrings. This option is particularly noteworthy due to its abundance of pockets, holders, and ring slots, which actually keep your accessories in place in transit. We also loved that the necklace pockets and pouches keep everything from tangling, but it’s worth noting that this option isn’t very well suited for larger items like statement earrings or watches. We voted this our best overall pick out of all the jewelry cases we’ve tested this year.

These days nobody wants to risk checking a full-size suitcase — but sometimes fitting everything you need into one tiny carry-on bag can seem like an impossible feat. That’s where the Veken Packing Cubes come in. These surprisingly high quality and budget-friendly packing cubes come in a pack of six different sizes to best suit your specific needs or organization preferences. The cubes offer a very light compression but during the testing process we were particularly impressed with how well-made the overall construction was. The zippers feel like they won’t pull or stick even with heavy use. The material also feels like it will last for many trips without ripping. The only thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that the material does feel pretty thick, which might add too much weight if you’re worried about going over your weight limit.

A well-designed passport wallet is one of the best functional travel accessories to invest in. This multi-purpose, zip-around passport holder and travel wallet is a top pick. The supple leather wallet has pockets for pretty much everything you could possibly need at the airport, making it easy to stay organized and on top of all your gear as you travel from gate to gate. We also really appreciated the zip-around design that makes it easy to store things like coins or even a pen without worrying about anything slipping out while you’re on the go. Think of this as your travel command center: there’s a spot for anything and everything to make getting from point A to point B as stress-free as possible. The only thing we didn’t love about this option is that it’s admittedly a little bulky if you prefer to travel light — but if you like to have everything in one spot (even your boarding passes), it’s the perfect size.

There’s nothing worse than realizing your Airbnb or hotel room doesn’t come equipped with a hair dryer — except maybe trying to plug your own hair dryer into the outlet only to realize the wattage isn’t compatible. That’s why we love the T3 Afar Travel Hair Dryer. The travel-friendly styling tool is compact and lightweight, but it’s also equipped with auto dual voltage, which means you won’t have to worry about whether or not your dryer is compatible in other countries. We found this option was very gentle on the hair and didn’t notice any visible heat damage — but one of us that tried it did note that it’s not the best option if you have frizz-prone hair.

The Anker Soundcore Life Q35 Wireless Headphones will blow all of your other wireless headphones out of the water on multiple levels, according to our tests. The headphones are budget-friendly while offering a superior battery life of up to 40 hours between charges, so you won’t have to worry about your headphones dying mid-flight (even if you’re on the longest flight in the world!). We found that the sound quality and noise-canceling capabilities held up in terms of quality against much more expensive and well-known brands. The lightweight design also meant that this pair of headphones was supremely comfortable even when we wore it for long stretches of time. One thing to note is that these over-the-ear headphones are obviously a bit larger than compact earbuds.

Luggage trackers are a must-have for frequent flyers. We tested a handful of big-name Bluetooth tracking devices, and the Eufy SmartTrack Link came out on top. The tiny tracking device is small enough to wiggle its way into your carry-on and suitcase of course, but it’s also great for slipping into a handbag or wallet as needed. We particularly liked this option because, unlike competing brands like the Apple AirTag, the Eufy SmartTrack is designed with a keyring hole that makes it a lot easier to slip onto a keychain and keep track of in your gear. The only issue we ran into during testing was that this option has a very slight lag when it updates the location, so you sometimes can’t confirm that your luggage is on the flight before you take off. We would also make the built-in location alert ping a bit louder. 

Sure, you could throw all your shampoo and skincare into a Ziploc bag and call it a day, but investing in a high-quality and long-lasting toiletry bag is not just a more sustainable option — it also helps ensure your toiletries will remain organized and easily accessible. We love the Away Large Toiletry Bag in particular for its compact exterior and surprisingly roomy interior, as well as the built-in pockets and mesh siding designed to provide easy access for grab-and-go items like lip balm or hair ties. The toiletry bag is also totally water-resistant, so if you do have anything spill over while en route, it won’t soil the rest of your suitcase. The only thing we didn’t like is that this option is pricey for a basic toiletry bag, but we still loved it enough to make it the best overall pick out of all the toiletry bags we tested. The quality and convenience are there, but the price point might be a bit hard to justify unless you’re a frequent traveler.

If you’ve invested in a high-end camera and gear, the last thing you’ll want to do is risk it getting damaged in transit in a sub-par camera bag. The Peak Design Everyday Sling 6L provided everything we wanted and more during our tests thanks to its high-quality and thoughtful design. It features several areas for specific storage (from camera bodies and lenses to flash) as well as removable panels that allow you to customize your bag to fit the exact camera and accessories you’re working with. We also really liked that this option is a sling style rather than your typical messenger bag or top-handle design. This makes going hands-free while on the go much easier. The only thing we didn’t love was that the size is a bit cumbersome for some — but it definitely has enough space to store everything a traveling photographer could need.

Try as we might: we can’t fly business class each and every time we embark on an overnight flight (if only!). Thankfully there are certain tips and tricks that make getting a good night’s sleep in economy totally feasible. You might be tempted to grab your tried-and-true neck pillow, but we highly recommend upgrading to a Cabeau TNE S3. This compact travel pillow is designed to support your head and neck comfortably — but also includes a unique chin strap designed to stop your head from bobbing down while drifting off. We really liked that it’s much smaller than the neck pillows of yesteryear, which means you won’t have to clip it onto your backpack, but rather tuck it discreetly back into your carry-on when you’re not using it. We also really liked that, unlike those bulky neck pillows, you can throw this pillow in the washing machine after a trip.

It’s vital to use a decent sunscreen on your face — even on cloudy or winter days — and the Summer Fridays ShadeDrops Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Mineral Milk Sunscreen makes it easy to do so even if you hate the thought of rubbing chalky sunblock onto your face. This unscented option became an instant favorite during our tests. We found the formula to be lightweight and noted that this sunscreen was easy to use in tandem with our other face products without interrupting our makeup routine. The formula was non-greasy and didn’t affect oily skin during testing even with all-day use. Some online reviewers said it irritated their sensitive skin, but we didn’t experience that ourselves.

Travel sunglasses can be hard to get right. You want something that’s lightweight enough that you can wear for hours in the sun while exploring the city or lazing on the beach — but you also want to ensure your glasses are sturdy enough to stay put while cruising on a boat or jogging to catch a tram. We found that the Eleventh Hour Essential Sunglasses manage to strike the perfect balance between lightweight comfort and functionality — and they also happen to be pretty stylish. The polarized lenses help to protect the eyes against the sun’s rays, while the thick black frames are fashion-forward but basic enough to pair with pretty much any outfit. We did notice that the frame is a bit wider than your average sunglasses, so those with a particularly slim face might find they fit loose.

A reusable water bottle is a sustainable way to stay hydrated on the go. The Thermoflask Double Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle was “our top pick for the best water bottle for travel out of all the ones we tested. We found that this durable bottle is totally leakproof, which means you can easily throw it into your bag as needed without worrying about water spilling into your carry-on or backpack. We really liked that this option can actually keep your water cold for hours on end and that it comes with two lids to best suit your preferred drinking style. We also like that it has a handle that’s easy to grip and comes in a huge variety of fun colors to choose from. The only thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that the exterior of the bottle, while pretty durable, might get dented over time with heavy use.

When it comes to leak-proof toiletry bottles, LiquiSnugs Premium Silicone Travel Bottles reign supreme in our books. The high-quality design is leakproof and long-lasting — we had no issues with spillage during testing and found the silicone design very easy to fill and dispense compared to the hard-plastic pharmacy variety. We really liked that this option came in four different sizes, which allowed us to customize the amount of each product we needed to bring for a trip. The price point also seemed very reasonable for the quality of the bottles. The only thing to keep in mind is that the caps can sometimes be tricky to open after flying — but that’s better than a leak!

You need to have a decent lip balm on you at all times when traveling — you just do. Between the hours spent outside and on the go and the often higher levels of alcohol and salty food consumed on a trip, keeping yourself hydrated is key (and that includes your lips!). We found the Goopgenes Clean Nourishing Lip Balm was the overall winner out of all the lip balms we tested for travel. We loved how smoothly and easily it rolled on our lips, and the instant boost of hydration and softness was a major bonus as well. There are several tinted shades to choose from, in addition to a clear option. The only thing you’ll want to keep in mind is that it unfortunately doesn’t have SPF in the formula, so it might not be the best choice for beach vacations.