When I travel by plane, I often change up my personal items depending on the type of trip I'm taking and what I need upon arrival. For instance, when traveling to Europe, I'll use a backpack as my personal item, as I plan to use it at my destination.
However, if you plan to use your laptop at your destination or attend a business meeting or conference, you may prefer to use a travel tote. The right travel tote can serve as both a practical carry-on bag and a functional computer/work bag. Here's what to look for in a travel tote, along with some of our favorites (including my favorite best travel tote for women).
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, and a purchase/click through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.
Best Travel Tote for A Vacation or Business Trip
Appearance is a significant factor in choosing a travel tote, especially when using it as part of a professional outfit. You'll want something in a color you like, but also want to make sure it has the features you need both for your travel and at your destination. Personally, I prefer totes marketed as "travel totes" over those that are more stylish but less functional for travel.
Features to Consider
Here are some popular features in travel totes. Keep these in mind, especially as you consider how you will specifically use the bag. The more features it has, the larger (and potentially heavier) it can be.
Before choosing one of our picks, be sure to check the specific features (they don't all contain all of these features).
Underseat Luggage - This is especially important if you are traveling with only carry-on bags. You'll need your tote to fit under the seat in front of you to maximize space. Compare the dimensions of the bag with the allowed personal item size of your airline.
Luggage trolley sleeve - A travel tote bag can get heavy when carried over your shoulder. A luggage trolley sleeve will allow you to securely place your tote over the handle of your roller bag, making it much easier to carry.
Laptop pocket - If you plan to carry a laptop or tablet in your bag, you'll likely want a padded pocket to keep your essential electronics safe. Be sure to compare the dimensions of your laptop with the size of the pocket.
Exterior pocket - I prefer having an exterior pocket on my travel tote. It's a quick, easy spot to place small essentials like my boarding pass and ID.
Interior organization/pocket - Interior pockets and some form of interior organization can help keep the inside of your bag organized. This is where I store items such as gum, pens, and business cards.
Water bottle pocket - This isn't essential, but can be useful, especially if you always carry around a refillable water bottle.
Some travel totes come with a crossbody strap, but I don't usually use one when carrying my tote.
The Best Travel Tote Bag (My Favorites)
There are numerous options for travel totes, but here are my top favorites. These are bags I've actually owned and used. If you have a favorite that we haven't listed, leave us a comment.
Beis North to South Tote
Beis is one of my favorite travel brands, and their totes and duffle bags are the best. I've raved about their Mini Weekender bag as underseat luggage, but it isn't the type of bag you'd use as a tote. Instead, try one of their other tote options.
The North to South Tote is a vertical tote made from recycled water bottles. It is currentlyavailable in beige and black, although Beis does sometimes make limited edition bags (in varying styles - mine is pink).
The tote easily wipes clean and contains the following features:
- Trolley pass-through
- 2 water bottle pockets
- Key leash
- Cross-body strap
- Exterior pocket
- Padded laptop sleeve
- Interior pockets
Beis East to West Tote
The Beis East to West Tote is similar, but has a horizontal layout rather than a vertical one. It is a big bag, so it holds a lot of stuff as a personal item. It's typically available in more colors than the East to West tote - beige, maple, atlas pink, black, and olive.
Features include:
- Trolley pass-through
- Water bottle pocket
- Key leash
- Cross-body strap
- Exterior pocket
- Padded laptop sleeve
- Interior pockets
Beis The Work Tote
The Beis Work Tote is more of a business tote than a travel bag. But it still offers features that are great for travel. While I purchased mine in a no-longer-available limited edition pattern, the bag is typically made of vegan leather. It's offered in several colors, including black, black croc, maple croc, atlas pink croc, and beige.
Features include:
- Trolley pass-through
- Detachable pouch
- Key leash
- Cross-body strap
- Padded laptop sleeve
- Interior pockets
Nomad Lane Origami Tote V2
The original version of this tote sold out quickly, and they've recently introduced V2. As a fan of Nomad Lane's Bento Bag, I was eager to purchase the Origami Tote to try it out. It's currently available in two colors, black and dawn (a blush pink). This new V2 does not have a crossbody strap.
It's a large tote and can accommodate a lot. But the functional, interior pouches keep things organized.
Features include:
- Trolley pass-through strap
- 2 interior water bottle holders
- Interior pockets for things like pens, your passport, portable chargers, etc
- Exterior padded laptop sleeve
- Exterior phone pocket
- Exterior pocket
BAGGU Small Cloud Carry-On
Like other BAGGU bags, this is a lightweight bag that is great for travel. It's made of 100% nylon and comes in a variety of different colors and patterns. You can purchase it on Amazon.com. Mine is in black and white gingham.
The BAGGU is more "stuffable" than the other travel tote bags I've listed, so you'll want to ensure you don't overstuff it to the point where it becomes difficult to carry. The trolley sleeve is more difficult to use if the bag is too full.
Features include:
- Side zip laptop pocket
- Trolley sleeve
- 2 exterior water bottle pockets
- Interior pocket
- Can fold into the interior pouch for each packing as an extra bag
What is the best travel tote bag in your opinion?
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