Being a woman is tough enough without adding the challenges of travel on top of it.
Thankfully, there are tips and tricks to help. ✨
In this post, I’ll share with you the essential travel items for women that will make your adventures million times easier.
Because whether you are sipping an Aperol Spritz on a city getaway or backpacking through the Amazon, your life (and travels) should not be a pain in the butt, just because you are a woman.
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Disclaimer.
Here’s a little bit about our journey, if you are new here! If you know us, feel free to skip this part.
After leaving our old life in Scotland in March 2022 (it rains too much there), we travelled full-time for almost 2 years. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Well, it was. If you think that carrying overpacked backpacks in 45°C heat around streets that aren’t even on Google Maps is fancy. And that’s just 1% of all the fun we had! 😆
During the 2 years we volunteered in Italy and Bulgaria (free travel while learning new skills, anyone?), explored other amazing European countries and backpacked Southeast Asia. Even our secret wedding was more of an expedition than a wedding. 😅
And, of course, we researched and planned everything ourselves, because you gotta keep the budget low, right? If you are like us, you’ve come to the right place, because we want to share all the useful tips and info with you!
Excited? Good. Let’s get into it so you can go on your own adventures too!
Disclaimer (x2)
I feel that a post like this needs a disclaimer. And while we are here, let’s make it two.
Disclaimer no. 1
When I say “women” in this post, I’m using the term for simplicity – but these travel tips and essentials can totally apply to anyone, no matter your gender. This isn’t about excluding anyone, just making it easier to read. Everyone’s welcome here! 🌈
Disclaimer no. 2
These essential travel items for women aren’t meant to be a full packing list. You’ll still need your basics, of course, but this post is all about the clever little extras. Think of it as a collection of smart hacks and underrated items you might not have thought to pack, but that can seriously make travelling smoother, comfier, and just… better. Especially when you’re navigating the world as a woman.
If you do need more help putting together an epic packing list, check out our post on how to pack.
(pictured: volunteering in Italy)
Hi, it’s me
Since in this post we talk all things women, I thought I should personally say hi and introduce myself.
Hi! 👋
I’m Mirka, the female half of Our Enchanted Journey (also the Slovak half, the let’s-spend-all-our-money-on-gigs half, the one-can-never-have-enough-chocolate half…).
A little background story
The reason I decided to write this post is that I really struggled figuring things out as a woman who was going full-time travelling.
Now. that’s not to say that you need to be travelling full-time to use these essential travel items for women.
Not at all.
But for me, it wasn’t until we were going full-time travelling that I started asking: how am I gonna do this as a woman? How am I gonna have my period as we travel? How am I gonna always be appropriately dressed? How will we carry around all my cosmetics without those things leaking?? Etc, etc – you know the challenges we women have to deal with.
I started doing research (I do love to research. I research the hell out of everything) and discovered that there are so many cool items that will make your travels easier – unless you are a weirdo, like me.
Dirty little secret
Here is a little secret about me that you probably don’t know.
Most things that work for everyone else don’t work for me.
This is not a flex – the opposite actually. It’s a struggle to live with this curse (?), but basically, whatever generally works for people, never works for me.
Examples?
We spent MONTHS looking for a backpack for me, because none fitted me.
Period cup? I had to buy 4 before I found one that actually works for me.
Solid shampoo we took full-time travelling? (The ONLY shampoo we had, may I add.) Did not work for me at all aka the transition phase never went away despite me waiting for months. 😭
Why this matters to you
The reason I am sharing this here is to let you know, that, if you feel like you are the weird one, who struggles to travel as a woman, while everyone else is okay, you are not.
I am a proper weirdo for whom nothing ever works.
I can help. Or we can at least cry together, looking at all the lucky ladies out there who only battle the standard challenges of a female life.
So.
If you are a weirdo, feel free to reach out in the comments below or, if you want more privacy, via DMs on our Instagram. It’s a joint account, so just say in your first message that you want to speak to me (Mirka).
If you are not a weirdo, I envy you. Go skip into the sunset surrounded by unicorns and candy floss mountains. But first, read this post, these essential travel items for women are NOT just for weirdos. 😄
(Also don’t worry, no bad vibes here. If you are lucky to be “normal”, I am happy for you. Everyone has their own life struggles and I have learned to live with mine.)
(Vodka and chocolate helps.)
(Kidding!)
(Kinda.)
Essential travel items for women
Now, let’s get to the list of all the hacks I use to stay sane on the road. Which isn’t always easy. Some days you wake up with PMS pain, realise you’ve got to wash your hair and on top of that you have to carry your overstuffed backpack to your next destination because it’s a travel day. *Mega irritation incoming*
Here are the 17 things that will help you navigate the life of travel as a woman.
Backpack
Let’s start by talking about what to pack into, especially if you are travelling long-term.
If you’ve read our post on how to pack, you’ll know we are #teambackpack. Not because we love to lug our whole life on our shoulders, but because travelling full-time with a suitcase just isn’t possible (based on our experience).
Why am I mentioning a backpack as one of the essential travel items for women, though?
Because you might not know this, but some brands sell gendered backpacks.
Now, these are not just a marketing strategy stereotyping the genders – pink for women, blue for men.
These packs are specifically adjusted to suit the different body shapes. For example, women’s backpacks are shorter, have curved shoulder straps to fit breasts and narrower shoulders better, and hip belts are adjusted too, to fit wider hips.
Did you notice? The backpack I was trying on in the pic above was a women’s model – you can tell by the symbol on the label hanging at the back.
What backpack did I get?
As I have mentioned, I struggled big time finding a backpack that would fit me. The men’s and unisex ones were completely out – I was so happy that some brands, including Osprey, understand that women are built differently and make women-specific backpacks.
So if you are struggling too, this is something to look into.
Btw, if you want to know what specific backpack I went for in the end, it’s the Osprey Fairview Trek 50l – a fantastic backpack for full-time travelling.
Period cup
Okay, next, let’s talk about the monthly funfest that is periods.
I don’t wanna go into too much detail here – we will do a full post on travel period products soon.
But if periods are getting in the way of you living your best life, whether travel life or your day-to-day, normal life, you’ve got to check out period cups.
I was veeery sceptical of all of these sustainable period products at the start, I’m not gonna lie.
Then we started planning our full-time travels, and I realised managing my period on the road with pads was going to be problematic, at best.
Especially since everyone was freaking me out, saying how in Asia it’s impossible to source feminine products that match the Western ones. 😬
Long story short, all female travellers I researched swore by period cups, so I decided to give them a go too.
It was a long process, because I am special (😭), but now I can’t imagine going back to pads or tampons.
Again, we’ll cover this in a separate post, so for now, if you want more info, feel free to reach out directly on our Instagram (shout my name first so I know it’s a message for me and not Daniel) and check out this website that is my go-to resource when it comes to period cups.
Period underwear
Continuing the period theme, another of the essential travel items for women is period underwear.
Again, we’ll cover this in our separate travel period product post, but basically, if you know you will be somewhere for a prolonged period of time, without being able to change the period cup OR you are worried about your cup leaking, consider buying a pair or two of period underwear.
Think:
- Long travel days with only bus/train/station toilets available (yikes)
- Long hikes with outdoor au natural toilets
- As I mentioned, an emergency for a cup leaking on heavy days
- Also, of course, there’s the option of using just the period underwear on its own, instead of combining it with a period cup
I got WUKA period underwear – check them out if you are looking for a brand that is eco-conscious, offers awesome absorbency and cares about inclusivity, and style (and is designed in the UK!).
Period bikinis
The last of essential travel items for women when it comes to periods?
Period bikinis!
Because if you can’t (or don’t want to) use a period cup or you are worried about it leaking in water and shooting another sequel to Jaws? Period bikinis are your friend!
I got my pair from Modibodi, and they are amazing. I went for simple, black bottoms that match with any top – gotta keep it versatile when you are travelling full-time and living out of a backpack!
As with the period cup and underwear, we will cover period swimwear in more detail in a separate post, but any questions, give me a shout!
Bonus: mug
Actually, I’ve got one more period-related travel essential for you.
Because period cups should be boiled to be sanitary, at least once, at the end of each period.
And how will you do this when you travel?
Here is what we do:
- Try to time our accommodation to match with my period (lol on this sometimes, because I am special) and stay in a place with a private kitchen.
- Kitchen alone is not enough, though – make sure it actually has a hob. A kettle and a toaster will not be enough in this situation.
- Boil the period cup in my portable camping mug.
I got this cheap, lightweight mug from Sports Direct – it’s meant to be for camping, but is pretty useful for keeping your period cup sanitary too.
Now, onto more fun essential travel items for women, than the monthly torture of periods!
Makeup remover cloth
This is another of the essential travel items for women that was just beginning to be a thing, at least in the UK, when we were going full-time travelling (2020).
Nowadays, there are so many makeup remover cloths out there, you can pick one that matches your needs and style. I started off with a big, bunny-soft cloth, and now, years later, I’ve got a Nightmare Before Christmas small round one.
Why is a makeup remover cloth essential?
If you wear makeup when you travel, not having to worry about sourcing a makeup remover or it leaking all over your luggage is amazing.
When I discovered that these makeup remover cloths are not a scam, but actually do take your makeup off without any extra product, just using water, I thought it was the best invention since….I know I’m supposed to say sliced bread, but that doesn’t feel relevant (plus I am not a fan of sliced bread). So, since conditioner was invented? Let’s go with that.
The one thing to think about when buying
The biggest issue I have with the makeup remover cloths?
There isn’t always time to dry them before you have to pack up in the morning and check out of your accommodation.
Here are the 3 things that help:
- Picking a cloth that isn’t too big or too thick. This is something you should consider before buying, so keep it in mind.
- Leaving it overnight somewhere either hot (e.g. heater) or sunny (window sill) or with a lot of air flow (at an open window, in front of a fan/AC). This way you are increasing the chances it will be dry by the time you are packing up the next day.
- If all fails, hairdryer to the rescue. That is if you have one in the room.
If you are in a situation where your makeup remover cloth is still wet and you just have to pack it, here’s what you can do:
- Always carry it in a plastic bag so it doesn’t make anything else wet or dirty (and vice versa – so it stays hygienic too).
- Take it out in your new accommodation as soon as you can, wash it again and let it dry properly.
But do get one. Even if you are not planning on wearing a lot of makeup, as you travel. I usually don’t wear much – it’s a faff to put on, it melts away in the heat, and then you’ve got to spend time taking it off in the evening.
But, there is one piece of makeup I did wear daily, and so I was happy for the miracle of a makeup removal cloth. More on this secret tip below.
My current makeup remover cloth. So small, so handy
Lipstick
This is one of my top secrets – possibly my best life hack for always looking good, not just on the road, but day-to-day. But I will share the secret here with you. 🤫
Get the right lipstick.
What do I mean by that?
What to look for in a lipstick
- First, you need a lipstick that stays on. And I don’t mean one that doesn’t imprint much. I mean the kind that stays on even as you wash your hair, drink cocktails all day long or get splashed by a wave or two. Yes, there are lipsticks like that (and they are THE BEST).
- Second, you need to find a shade that suits you. Ideally, one that makes you “pop”. So, as an example, if you are pale (light coloured hair, light skin colour), wearing nude lipstick will not deliver the full effect. You want something that makes you look alive, instantly put-together and beautiful – even if it’s the only bit of makeup you are wearing (and your hair is a mess).
What do I use?
I have discovered the magic of a dark red lipstick many many years ago and it, honestly, has been my lifesaver.
Even on days when I don’t have time or can’t be bothered with doing my makeup, I know I can just put the lipstick on and instantly feel (and look) a million times better.
And when travelling?
Having something that you know lasts – despite long sightseeing or travel days, despite the heat, despite rain, despite water activities or sweating on hikes – and something that is low maintenance – pop it on, then take it off using makeup remover cloth – is one of the best things ever.
It’s hard to pick the best from the essential travel items for women, but this lipstick is definitely up there.
The brand I trust
Currently, I use the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick (that’s a mouthful!) – I call it the two-week lipstick, because you don’t have to worry about it coming off – you should actually worry about taking it off, because it really stays on! 😅
I used to use the Rimmel Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour (also a mouthful. Does anyone know anything about marketing?), which I preferred to Maybelline, because:
- It had a shade of red I liked more, that Maybelline just doesn’t seem to match
- It was a bit smaller and easier to pack
- It was significantly cheaper than Maybelline
Sadly, they must have changed the ingredients in the Rimmel lipstick, because a few years ago, it just stopped working so well.
It still stays on way more than your usual lipstick, but not quite as well as the Maybelline one.
I did first think it was down to me constantly travelling – the change of pressure and temperature on flights, different climates etc., but even at a home base and having bought a new lipstick a few times, it still isn’t what it used to be.
Sad Mirka. 😢
It might work for you, though, or might be enough of a stay-effect. Give either brand a go and see. Or, if you know about a brand that has a lipstick like this – that stays on no matter what you do – please let me know either in the comments or via DMs on our Instagram.
I am still on the lookout for an alternative to the Maybelline one, since it just doesn’t have the right shade of red for me, so I will be forever grateful if you help me find it. 🫶
Bronzer instead of makeup
I would like to give credit to whoever the traveller was that wrote about this little trick, but I honestly don’t remember the blog name.
I did a lot of research when planning our full-time travels (more than a lot, actually) and at some point came across the smart advice of using a bronzer instead of makeup when travelling.
Here is how it works:
- As I mentioned here, when you are travelling, you often can’t be bothered with makeup. Or it just isn’t convenient.
- If you are pretty happy with your skin the way it is, but you do want to look a bit more “done up”, you can use a bronzer on key areas (cheeks, temples, forehead, chin, nose) to give yourself a nice glow, without the need for a full-blown makeup.
- Obviously, if you are planning on using the bronzer on multiple areas, not just cheeks, make sure it’s not a super sparkly one; otherwise, you’ll look like a tanned version of Edward Cullen.
Basically, the idea of the bronzer and also the lipstick is to look super done up without a lot of work.
Bronzer, obviously, works better if you are tanned/travelling in hot climates, but I do now travel with it everywhere, including places like Lapland.
The one tip
Try to find one that is very small, unless you use a lot daily.
I got the Rimmel Radiance Shimmer Brick when we went full-time travelling, because it has multiple shades and honestly, if I haven’t dropped and broken it (yikes, I know), I’d still have it 10 years later (let’s not talk about how long you should keep cosmetics vs how long you actually do, that’s another topic 😅).
When it comes to makeup, my lipstick and bronzer are the things I consider essential travel items for women. The rest is optional.
Solid perfume
Avoiding disasters when a lot of your luggage is liquid can be a struggle.
My solution?
Switching what I can to solid versions.
If you have no idea what solid toiletries are, first of all, you know solid soaps, right? Well, that’s one example of solid cosmetics.
What was surprising for us when we started researching gear for full-time travel was that you can get so many other things in a solid form.
If you want to know why these are the superior cosmetics to travel with – read this.
If you just want to know more about solid perfumes, here is the key information:
- Solid perfumes are the perfect solution to smelling nicely as you travel. Since most perfumes come in a glass bottle, they are the opposite of travel-friendly – heavy and breakable. Solid perfumes are small, light and not breakable – yay!
- Everything depends on the brand you choose, but if you pick well, you can get a solid perfume that is natural, alcohol-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free and sustainable.
- There are many to choose from, and the scents are not just citronella (if that’s what you are expecting! That is more the solid repellent section 😅).
- They make a great present for a fellow traveller. This is actually one of our money-saving tricks – not spending money on material things when you are saving up for your long-term travels, unless it’s part of your travel gear. We gifted each other solid perfumes for birthdays before we set off on our full-time travel adventures.
Where we got our solid perfumes from
Etsy! We found handmade solid perfumes there that were everything we listed above – free from harmful things and full of natural ingredients.
I got Daniel this solid cologne (made in Scotland!) and he got me one from Salvatore Tripi (sadly, not selling on Etsy atm).
Shaving bar
So many cosmetics are available in a solid form – perfumes are just one of the essential travel items you can get.
Another one I would like to highlight is a shaving bar, because shaving creams tend to be big, heavy and don’t last that long, especially if you travel in hot climates and shave daily.
A shaving bar is a great solution.
I got a great one from Eco Warrior. Their shaving bar is moisturising and soothing, but also eco-friendly, natural, vegan, cruelty-free, hand-crafted in the UK and more – this is exactly why we love solid toiletries – they are full of the good stuff and help you live your life while caring about the world. And yes, it does last forever. Oh, and did we mention it’s just £4.50? (June 2025 price.)
Again, if you want to know more about solid cosmetics, make sure to read this article.
Tangle Teezer
Another thing you wouldn’t guess about me?
My straight, normal-looking hair turns into a complete riot when washed.
No matter what conditioner/hair mask/oil I use.
It tangles up so much hair washing is an hour-long process for me that usually involves a lot of deep breathing. (This is why I don’t need to do meditation, I am a pro at staying calm after a lifetime of dealing with my hair.)
First, if you know of a miracle product that will help me with this nightmare, please please let me know in the comments or on our Instagram. I will forever be in debt to you.
Second, the one thing that helps me stay sane and manage this mess of a hair?
The magical hair brush
I won’t go on here about how amazing Tangle Teezer is, but basically:
- It has unique teeth design, meaning it glides through knots without pulling or breaking hair
- It’s gentle on all hair types
- It reduces pain & damage (yes please)
- It detangles quickly (crucial for people with problematic hair, like mine)
The other thing I want to highlight?
If you want the perfect brush for travelling, get the Compact Styler by Tangle Teezer.
It has all the features of a normal Tangle Teezer, but also comes with a protective cover that you slot over the teeth of your brush – keeping them safe as you travel (and more hygienic too).
Also, all the funky designs?? Who says basic things like a hairbrush have to be boring and without personality?
The Compact Styler is one of the essential travel items that I never go anywhere without – so glad I discovered it!
Compact Styler by Tangle Teezer. You can see how the teeth are protected by the cover
Packing cubes
To be perfectly honest with you, packing cubes are not just essential travel items for women, but for everyone.
So why am I including them on this list?
Because I know that many women struggle with the idea of reducing their wardrobes into one small backpack. And have no idea how to do it.
Here are the 3 steps:
- Look into the concept of a capsule wardrobe if you are not familiar with it.
- Buy packing cubes. Here is everything you need to know.
- Learn to roll clothes before fitting them into your packing cubes. It’s not hard, but it will save you space AND keep your clothes less wrinkled, so it’s a win-win.
I won’t go into more detail here, because this post does tell you all you need to know and the article you are currently reading is long enough, but do get the cubes, they will change how you pack forever.
Sarong/big scarf
This is THE item that features on packing lists of all female travellers.
How do I know?
Because I researched 20+ packing lists when creating one for our full-time travels.
Yep.
And a big scarf or a sarong featured on almost all of them. Talk about essential travel items for women, right?
Why you need one
A big scarf or a sarong is a super versatile item that you can use, for example, for:
- Covering yourself up at religious sites, such as churches or temples (and it’s light and packable, so you can always carry it in your daypack, in case you come across an unplanned religious site too)
- Sitting on at a beach or in a park
- Sleeping on as you travel on a bus/plane/train/magic carpet, by scunching it up into a ball
- Covering yourself anytime you get cold – e.g. when the air con is blasting on transport or in a shopping centre
- Creating shade by stringing it up between palm trees etc. (or hanging it over a paracord – another essential, if unusual, item to pack)
- Covering yourself up at a beach/spa/anywhere when you are not feeling like walking around showing yourself off
- Protecting your neck in cold weather because it is a scarf/sarong at the end of the day!
And many more, but you get the point. It’s super versatile and super useful, so just get one.
In terms of what you should buy, go either with a big scarf you already own or, if you are heading to areas like Southeast Asia, just pick up a sarong at a local market or a beach (that’s what we did as soon as we hit our first Thai island).
Non-wired bra
Do you hate your bras?
It might be for two reasons:
- You are wearing the wrong size
- You haven’t switched to non-wired bras yet
I have forever struggled with bras, being an awkward size that isn’t available in normal shops. That’s why, when we were getting ready to go full-time travelling, I knew I had to get a perfect couple of bras so I would feel comfy while travelling and I wouldn’t have to go looking for a new bra on the road.
Speaking of comfort, whoever invented the wire in bras was a genius.
Not.
They are one of the most uncomfortable items of clothing, so they have no business being on the list of essential travel items for women.
When we were getting ready to go full-time travelling, I was thinking: how on earth am I going to sleep in this torture device? Because I knew we would be travelling on a budget, which means sleeping on buses, at airports etc.
And in general, living in a bra all day long, because, let’s face it, when you travel full-time, you are spending most of your days out and about. It’s not like you come home from the office and can instantly take your bra off to experience THE freedom.
The magic of non-wired bras
I am not exaggerating when I say my life changed when I discovered non-wired bras.
Here are the 3 things I want to tell you about them:
- Once you switch to non-wired bras, you will struggle to wear anything else. Every time I have to wear an underwired bra now, I wanna cry.
- It’s not just about comfort, though. There are many health benefits associated with not having wires pressing on you (or jabbing you) constantly throughout your day.
- If you think non-wired bras are those flimsy, lace bralettes that won’t work for you because of xyz, let me tell you, times have changed.
The good news
As I have mentioned, thankfully, times have changed. The world is now catching on to the fact that comfort (and health) is more important than looking like a playmate, and so more and more non-wired bras are available.
This means you can find something that will suit your size, body shape, style and needs.
What I chose
For our full-time travels, I went with a simple, black, comfortable bra from Next. It’s got a bit of padding to hold its shape, but otherwise feels like a classic T-shirt bra—soft and flexible, perfect for pretty much any occasion.
I also discovered the Freya Deco Moulded, which is a step up in support—the cups are moulded, so they keep their shape and offer more structure, unlike the softer style of the Next bra. It’s great if you want something a bit more defined but still wire-free.
These were my 2 bras I took full-time travelling (plus one sports bra and one mistake – more on that below).
Multiway dress
Some essential travel items for women come with a disclaimer.
This one, for example, I believe can be super useful, it done right.
You might be guessing that this means I did not do it right. You are correct. 😅
Let’s unravel this packing mistake.
What’s a multiway dress?
Multiway dresses are ones that have two long strips of fabric at the top, which you can tie/style in many different ways.
They sound like the perfect solution for women travelling long-term, right?
One dress, but dozens of styling options.
One dress to rule them all!
I thought this was going to be one of the best essential travel items for women EVER.
Except I made a few mistakes when choosing my multiway dress.
Don’t make this mistake
Okay, so first, in my defence, it was not easy to source a multiway dress in the UK.
You can get them on Amazon (e.g. this one), but I just didn’t trust the quality – in general I am not a big fan of buying clothes online when I can’t touch the material first.
So I bought what was available. In the end, I found a nice multiway dress in New Look. And it was so cheap, just under £23 (2020 price).
I did still have to order it online, since we were getting ready for our full-time travels in the middle of a global pandemic and we all remember the fun rules that came with that, right?
What went wrong
The dress is pretty. It’s a nice pale pink colour and it does have many options for styling.
But.
Here are the issues:
- The material is very sensitive – it snags easily, which, when travelling, happens A LOT.
- The material is also very heavy. This means it goes against the packing light rules AND it takes forever to wash and dry – something that is also inconvenient when you are travelling full-time.
- It’s too long, so it only really works when I wear the other mistake I made (yes, I can also see a pattern here).
- Not all styles of the dress work with my comfy non-wired bras, so I had to buy a multiway Wonderbra as well.
Yikes.
Basically, it would be an ideal dress to keep as your go-to for weddings, balls or other fancy celebrations.
But it’s terrible for long-term travel, especially when backpacking.
You might be wondering why I didn’t just return it.
Honestly, I considered it.
But I really wanted a multiway (I wasn’t packing any other dress with me) and my options were….well, slim. Plus, Daniel reassured me we can carry a bit of extra weight. (Which would have been true if we didn’t overpack in a million other ways, but that’s not what this post is about.)
Unsurprisingly, I wore the dress ZERO times while we were full-time travelling.
Actually, I still haven’t worn it, even though we’ve been at a home base for over a year now.
Yikes again.
What you should do
Definitely do look into multiway dresses, they are such a great way to pack lighter.
But do it right: pick a light, snag-resistant material. Choose a good colour that you can wear over and over again. And check the length of it before committing.
If you can’t find a multiway dress like that in your home country, don’t worry. Chances are you’ll be able to source it abroad – we saw so many in Southeast Asia, I was kicking myself for buying it in Scotland (and having to carry it around).
Basically, shop smarter than I did!
Long skirt
This wasn’t something I’d have considered one of the essential travel items for women, originally. I just packed a long, black, thin skirt because I had it in my wardrobe.
It turned out to be pretty useful.
Here are the things you should consider when deciding on taking a long, basic skirt:
- It’s great for religious sites. If you get a thin one, you can easily carry it in your daypack and just throw it over your shorts/shorter skirt/dress if you come across a temple/church/mosque etc. and need to cover up to go in.
- It’s great as a cover-up when you need to change, for example, at the beach. Just put it on and get changed underneath it.
- If you get a good plain skirt (e.g. I have a black one), it can work like your dressier outfit if you go out somewhere fancier. Just pair it with a nicer top and some accessories, and you are good to go.
- If it’s long enough, it might even hide your lack of fancy shoes, which can be a problem when travelling with a limited number of footwear. (Though do remember that, in that case, it will probably need to be washed a lot more often, since the bottom will be dragged along the dirty streets.)
- If you get a thin one, it does actually feel pretty airy while keeping you modest in countries where long skirts or trousers are the preferred way of dressing in public.
Again, like with the multiway dress, if you don’t own one and are heading to countries where women tend to wear long skirts, just plan to get one there when you arrive.
Compression socks
Compression socks are one of our hacks for making long-haul flights way more comfortable – have a read.
They are one of the essential travel items for women, especially if:
- You are taking birth control pills and are worried about DVT
- You suffer from tired, swollen legs
- You have problems with (or want to prevent) varicose veins
Not to make this post super long, if you do want to know more about compression socks, check out this guide to comfortable long-haul flights.
If you are wondering where to get compression socks, Decathlon has a good selection.
These are the 17 essential travel items for women that make my travels easier, and I hope they will help you too. I know there are many more things that I could try – I have had a reusable razor and LastSwab on my to-check-out list for a while, for example.
If you know about any other must-haves for female travellers, let me know if the comments below – let’s spread the word about all these great hacks and travel like superwomen!
— Mirka
