Are you tired of travel purses that are either stylish but insecure, or anti-theft but frankly, an eyesore? As someone who travels constantly, I get it. For years, the market seemed to offer only unflattering, grandma-esque bags when it came to security. Why is it so hard to find a travel purse that’s both chic and safe?
The fashion world is brimming with gorgeous, functional purses we adore for everyday life. Yet, when we search for travel-specific bags designed to protect our valuables, we often encounter options that sacrifice style entirely. Think of those bulky, oddly colored bags that scream “tourist” and ironically, might even attract unwanted attention.
Honestly, many “anti-theft” travel purses not only compromise on style but also miss the mark on discretion. Carrying a bag that shouts “I’m an anti-theft bag!” almost feels like advertising yourself as a target. And the price tags on some of these less-than-desirable options? Highway robbery!
Traveling as frequently as I do, there’s no way I’m willing to compromise my personal style for a bulky, unattractive travel purse. Just like I refuse to wear ugly travel shoes, my travel purse must be both functional and fashionable.
Best travel purses that are cute and anti-theft!
Stylish and Secure Travel Purses Do Exist
Good news! You absolutely can find travel purses that blend style and security seamlessly. That’s why I’ve curated a list of 8 exceptional travel purses that I’ve personally tested or come highly recommended by trusted travel experts.
These purses are designed for both aesthetics and practicality. You can confidently explore bustling European cities, capture stunning photos in iconic locations, and keep your essentials safe without sacrificing your style.
Why trust my recommendations? Because I’ve either personally used these purses on my travels or received glowing endorsements from fellow travel professionals. Style and function are non-negotiable for me, and these bags deliver on both fronts.
Top 8 Travel Purses: Style-Tested and Travel-Ready
Let’s explore my favorite stylish travel bags. They’re not only cute and discreet, avoiding the typical tourist look, but also incredibly functional for long days of exploration.
1. Arden Cove Crossbody: The Ultimate Anti-Theft Travel Companion
Arden Cove is, in my opinion, the best overall travel purse for security and style. It’s perfect for international adventures and stylish enough for everyday use back home. I even had the pleasure of meeting one of the founders, whose passion for creating fashionable yet practical women’s travel handbags is truly inspiring.
Arden Cove started with crossbody bags and has since expanded their range. What sets them apart is their ability to create bags that look like chic, everyday purses, not obvious anti-theft bags.
Features include an adjustable shoulder strap and a wealth of traveler-friendly details. They incorporate RFID-blocking card slots to protect against electronic theft.
Uniquely, Arden Cove bags are crafted from the same material used in bulletproof vests. This offers superior protection against slashing, going beyond standard stainless steel wire mesh linings.
Best travel purses that are cute and anti-theft!
The bag features two zippered pockets: a locking main compartment and a smaller, easily accessible pocket perfect for phones and travel passes. The zippers lock, adding an extra layer of security in crowded places. Plus, they are water-resistant!
This brand is my top recommendation for stylish and secure travel. My own Arden Cove purse accompanied me on my honeymoon across Europe, enduring rain, hikes in the Isle of Skye, Oktoberfest, and more.
I wholeheartedly recommend this compact yet secure travel purse for any trip. For travel, darker colors like black are ideal, as my cream-colored bag showed some wear after a year of use. While a bit of an investment, the quality and peace of mind are worth it, and you can find Arden Cove on Amazon and their website.
2. Dagne Dover Micah Crossbody: Vegan Style and Smart Design
The Micah Crossbody from Dagne Dover is another excellent crossbody travel purse option. It’s known for its stylish designs and wide color selection to match your personal taste. A fellow travel blogger friend of mine swears by this entirely vegan purse for her travels.
A standout feature is the convenient back phone pocket, making it one of the best crossbody bags for travel by keeping your phone secure and close to your body, deterring theft.
This bag also boasts a comfortable, adjustable strap for all-day wear, an internal key ring, and ample space for daily essentials.
Shop The Dagne Dover Bag
Stylish and practical crossbody travel purse from Dagne Dover
3. Pacsafe Anti-Theft Sling: Embrace the Fanny Pack Trend with Security
This anti-theft classic mini sling is a top pick for a secure and stylish fanny pack. Fanny packs are back in vogue, thanks to Gen Z, and we’re on board! Wearing a fanny pack in front is a smart security move as it’s always in your line of sight and easily accessible.
This Pacsafe travel purse is packed with security features: Lockable Zippers, an RFID Blocking Pocket for cards, a key clip for organization, and a comfortable padded honeycomb fabric backing. It’s one of the best cute travel bags for worry-free exploration.
For those needing a slightly larger fanny pack style, Baggu purses are another great option to consider.
4. Beis Daytripper Backpack: Chic Backpack Functionality for Day Trips
Sometimes, a backpack is simply more practical than a purse. Our editor Taylor recommends the Beis backpack travel purse bag, especially as a carry-on or for day trips when you need to carry more – like a water bottle or light jacket.
Features include two side water bottle pockets, a trolley passthrough, three zip pockets, and a padded laptop sleeve for up to a 13-inch laptop.
The spacious front pocket is great for day trip essentials or work conference items.
The comfortable shoulder straps and chic design make it blend seamlessly with local styles, not screaming “tourist.” While lacking dedicated anti-theft features, its everyday backpack look makes it a less obvious target.
For more on Beis, check out Taylor’s detailed Beis luggage review.
Stylish and functional Beis Daytripper Backpack, great for travel
5. Longchamp Tote: The Working Traveler’s Chic Companion
As a travel blogger, my laptop is practically glued to me. If you travel for work or need a stylish, office-appropriate tote for your laptop, Longchamp is an excellent choice, offering a more stylish alternative to bags that look overtly like anti-theft travel bags.
This large travel tote is ideal for working professionals on the go. A key feature is the top zipper, completely securing the bag – a must-have in my book! Many laptop totes lack this essential security detail.
Travel Tip: On crowded transport, keep a hand on your bag’s zipper for extra security.
This shoulder bag is spacious enough for your essentials yet folds down to paperback size when empty – incredibly lightweight and convenient.
Available in numerous colors, from classic black to vibrant pink and yellow, it’s a popular choice for stylish women on the move.
6. Double Compartment Crossbody: Affordable Security and Smart Organization
If Arden Cove is beyond your budget, the Double Compartment Crossbody is a fantastic alternative.
While not as feature-rich as the Arden Cove, this anti-theft mini purse is affordable, comes in many colors, and meets my three basic travel purse criteria: full closure, crossbody style, and comfortable strap. It’s also spacious enough for daily exploration essentials.
This crossbody purse features two separate compartments for organized storage. Keep your camera and phone separate from your wallet and smaller items.
It has a snap button top with interior zipper pockets, offering a level of security even without mesh wiring. A standout feature is the secret back zipper pocket, ideal for valuables like cash or ID, kept securely against your body. Skip less stylish options; this one is cuter, more affordable, and has that valuable hidden pocket.
Various styles are available, but most feature the back zipper, leather shoulder strap, and zipper pockets.
Affordable and secure Double Compartment Crossbody travel purse
7. TravelSmith RFID Crossbody Bag: Lightweight Security with a Pop of Color
Last but not least, this charming baby blue purse is another excellent travel purse with built-in anti-theft features! It includes a passport-sized RFID-blocking pocket for digital data theft protection from cards and passports.
The straps are slash-resistant, though not the full bag body like Arden Cove.
Zippers can be double-locked to an interior security hook, preventing quick unzipping – a key concern when navigating crowded areas.
It’s compact yet spacious enough for essentials, with additional side pockets for quick access. Pockets are always a plus!
What I love most about this purse is its stylish color and design. It doesn’t resemble a typical anti-theft purse at all, looking more like a trendy find from popular retailers. Its chic and fashionable appearance can actually deter pickpockets. It also includes that valuable secret back pocket for extra-secure storage.
8. Lo & Sons Bond Sling: Sleek Sling Style with Smart Security
I’ve been a fan of my Lo & Sons OG bag for carry-on travel, and recently tried the Lo & Sons Bond fanny pack. I’m obsessed!
For errands around San Francisco, sling bags are my go-to, and while I love my Baggu Crescent bag, it lacks travel security features.
The Bond sling is sleek and packed with pockets, including a secret back zipper pocket for your phone or cash to sit securely against your body. It also has card slots, perfect for metro cards when traveling, eliminating the need to pull out your wallet.
The Bond is available in premium sheepskin leather, tyvek, and recycled poly with antimicrobial lining, and features durable hardware – typical of Lo & Sons quality.
A favorite feature is the internal key string, for keys or even your wallet, adding extra security against pickpockets. It’s an instant favorite.
Sleek and secure Lo & Sons Bond Sling travel purse
Essential Features of a Great Travel Purse
Before diving into recommendations, let’s discuss what makes a travel purse truly great. Having traveled extensively, I’ve identified key qualities for any travel bag.
First, a secure zipper closure is crucial. While bucket bags have their place, they’re not ideal for travel exploration.
Open tops are an invitation for thieves and can lead to items falling out during travel. A fully zippered bag is the first essential feature I look for.
Essential zipper closure for secure travel purses
Second, a crossbody style with a comfortable strap is key. Backpacks and messenger bags are okay, but crossbody bags at waist level offer easy access to essentials like wallets, phones, cameras, and lip balm without constant removal.
Anti-theft crossbody purses are more secure in crowds, allowing you to bring the bag to your front for added control and visibility.
Third, consider capacity. The ideal size depends on your trip. Work trips might require larger totes for laptops, while city explorations need smaller bags for cameras and souvenirs.
A tiny party purse won’t cut it for travel. Your travel purse should accommodate some or all of these essentials:
- ID and/or passport
- Wallet (cards and cash)
- Train/metro card
- Camera
- Sunglasses
- Small water bottle
- Hand lotion
- Lip balm
- Hair ties
- Phone
- Portable phone charger
- Small umbrella or rain jacket
- Occasionally, a book or souvenir!
When choosing a travel purse, prioritize these three features. The bags listed here are truly the best travel purses available.
Example of essentials fitting into a great travel purse
Extra Tips to Avoid Pickpockets While Traveling
Choosing a great travel purse is the first step, but here are more strategies to stay safe from thieves.
The Decoy Wallet Tactic
During my study abroad in Mexico, a professor passionate about pickpocket prevention shared fascinating stories and tips. His favorite was the decoy wallet.
This professor, a typical tourist target, carries two wallets: his real one in a front pocket and a cheap decoy wallet with a few dollars in his back pocket. If a thief targets him, they get the decoy, leaving him unharmed. Genius!
While I don’t use a decoy wallet, the lesson is clear: tourists are prime targets.
Beyond an “anti-theft” purse that looks like one, blending in is key.
Ditch the Touristy Sports Gear
Looking like a tourist increases your risk. Avoid wearing obvious tourist attire, like American sports team apparel on European trips!
Style matters for blending in. Remember when my husband Robin visited me in Italy? I banned sports t-shirts and baseball caps from his packing list to avoid the “obvious tourist” look.
While perhaps a bit strict, I wanted to prevent any theft incidents during our trip, opting for pizza, wine, and Italian exploration over embassy visits for passport replacements.
He slightly ignored my fashion advice but we had a theft-free trip. I credit my large, zippered crossbody tote and constant awareness.
Be Aware of Common Scams
Awareness is your best defense. My professor shared numerous common scams, making me much more vigilant.
One scam is the “lost tourist” – someone approaches with a map, distracting you while an accomplice steals from you. Now, I’m cautious when anyone approaches with a map, just in case.
Another trick involves staged spills. Someone “accidentally” spills a drink on you, and while they apologize and help clean up, someone else steals your bag. It’s distracting and overwhelming, making it easy to lose sight of your belongings.
Train scams are also common. Children blocking train doors can be a distraction for pickpockets as you try to exit. Now, I’m extra alert when people crowd train doors unnecessarily.
That’s why I appreciate Arden Cove’s detachable straps, allowing you to secure your bag to a chair, preventing grab-and-run thefts. Arden Cove also offers travel backpacks for more capacity!
Dublin street scene, emphasizing the importance of secure travel purses
Keep Your Purse Secure
Sometimes, thieves are brazen. In San Francisco, I witnessed a thief simply rip a backpack off someone’s shoulders and sprint away. It happened so fast, no one could react.
Beyond theft prevention, purse function and space are vital. Airport security lines are easier with a small pocket for boarding passes and phones.
Train travel is smoother with a secure, accessible pocket for train passes.
Pro-tip: A separate airport belt bag like Baggu or Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag is useful for passports, boarding passes, and phones in transit, switching to a more secure, water-resistant option for city exploration.
Choose Waterproof Travel Purses
Rain happens! Especially in destinations like Portland, Washington, and Ireland.
Before my Arden Cove purse, rainstorms caused panic for my phone and camera. A waterproof purse eliminates this worry, even without an umbrella.
And finally, style matters! My rant about that berry purse proves it. Travel is a lifestyle, and expressing personal style on trips is important.
I don’t understand compromising style for travel. I love wearing dresses in New Orleans or chic outfits in London.
Stylish traveler with black crossbody purse in Vancouver
An ugly purse ruins the travel vibe! That’s why I shared my top picks for women who value both function and style.
I hope this guide helps you find the perfect great travel purse for your next adventure! For questions, leave a comment or DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul!
