If you’re jetting off on world travels, or even a long weekend, you’ll probably want to have your luggage handy. But if you’re simply staying overnight somewhere or are seeking a commuter bag to hold your essentials as your luggage is checked—and to possibly use as a day bag once you reach your destination—these are the best travel tote bags and weekenders for the job.
Jonathan Alder, a Winter Park, Florida-based luxury travel advisor and founder of Jonathan’s Travels, has plenty of practice testing totes. He’s visited all seven continents across 72 countries personally, and has planned more than 30,000 client trips to date (advising them how and what to pack before departure).
“To steer clear of an unorganized inconvenience during a trip, a good travel tote bag must have spacious compartments that are easy to access and repack for built-in organization,” Alder says. “Being able to bring all essentials on the go while keeping everything organized is the ultimate goal. Durability is also important for a bag that can keep up with you!”
Mary Helen Law, a Rome, Georgia-based founder of Law Luxury Travel has six years of experience professionally planning trips in her role as a luxury travel advisor, and echoes those sentiments, noting that “functionality is key.” She adds, “I keep all of my most important items with me at all times: wallet, keys, chargers, laptop, travel toiletries, and medicine.”
This way, you’re prepared if your checked bag doesn’t make it quite as quickly as you do. It’s also wise to pack a change of clothes in a tote or weekender, Law says, just in case. The best luxury tote bags for travel align with the vibe of your trip and your wardrobe. Seek out a sportier option if you’re taking an active vacation. Or if it’s a business trip, a tailored and chic design might be best. For a solo vacation or a mother-daughter trip, a versatile weekender can be ideal.
Regardless of where or why you’re traveling, the best travel totes and weekenders come with ample pockets that allow for easy access to the essentials. Comfortable straps and/or handles, laptop pockets, pass-through bands that attach to luggage handles (AKA a “trolley sleeve”), and secure closures all earn bonus points in our ratings system.
Shop the Best Travel Totes for 2024
Best Large Travel Tote Bag
Béis The East to West Tote
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Best Eco-Friendly Travel Tote Bag
Dagne Dover Daily Tote
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Best Travel Tote Bag That Can Double as Luggage
Solgaard Voyager Weekender
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Best Luxury Travel Tote Bag
Rimowa Never Still Vertical Tote
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Best Designer Travel Tote Bag
Bottega Veneta Medium Andiamo
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Best Large Travel Tote Bag
Béis The East to West Tote
Best Large Travel Tote Bag
Béis The East to West Tote
Pros
Removable padded shoulder strap and tote handles
Easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth
Four color options
Large capacity (31 liters)
Cons
Some users might not be fond of the noticeable metal logo on the front
Constructed with recycled polyester and a recycled faux leather trim, this travel tote comes in black, beige, maple, and atlas pink colorways. Inside the tote, you’ll find two water bottle pockets to help you stay well-hydrated, as well as a 15-inch padded laptop pocket so your tech tools can come with you anywhere. Outside, you’ll find a handy zipper pocket and a trolley sleeve that easily slides over your roller bag’s handles for convenient carrying.
Best All-Weather Travel Tote Bag
July Carry All Weekender
Best All-Weather Travel Tote Bag
July Carry All Weekender
Pros
Premium leather handles and a detachable cushioned shoulder strap
Can be customized with your monogram
Gender-neutral design
Large capacity (28 liters)
5-year warranty
Cons
Some reviewers say internal zipper prevents laptop from fitting correctly
You’ll likely be charmed by all of the thoughtful details and the clever construction of this water-resistant weekender. While it looks compact and tucks nicely atop your carry-on or checked luggage (via a trolley sleeve), the interior has plenty of space for a 16-inch laptop, dividers and zippered pockets for easy access to all of the essentials, and an internal key hook so you won’t have to dig through the bottom of the bag. Bonus: This, like all July bags, comes with a 100-day return policy so you can test it out to confirm that you love it.
Best Commuter Travel Tote Bag
Away The Everywhere Tote
Best Commuter Travel Tote Bag
Away The Everywhere Tote
Pros
Classic and timeless design
Can be customized with an embroidered monogram
Available in four colorways
Lightweight
Cons
Smaller capacity than some other travel totes (21 liters)
Choose from jet black, salt white, navy blue, or coast blue, then add a monogram for just $35 more. Then your zipper-topped, pocket-packed Away tote is ready to join you as your flight carry-on or commuter bag to and from the office (or to run errands). A snap-secured padded pocket fits up to a 15-inch laptop, and the bag is made with water-resistant nylon and leather trim.
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Best Eco-Friendly Travel Tote Bag
Dagne Dover Daily Tote
Best Eco-Friendly Travel Tote Bag
Dagne Dover Daily Tote
Pros
100% vegan design
Cons
Smaller,13-inch laptop pocket
Only two color options
Structured, chic, and practically runway-ready, this travel tote proves that Dagne Dover can excel at much more than fanny packs and backpacks. (Those are among their most popular bestsellers.) Mother Nature will approve of this vegan leather tote, too. Open the zipper top and you’ll spy the recycled REPREVE® lining that’s made from six recycled plastic bottles, along with several pockets, a vegan leather key chain, and a small padded laptop pocket.
Pros
Structured and secure design
Interior water bottle pocket
Trolley sleeve
Stands up on its own
Cons
The laptop sleeve isn’t padded
No shoulder strap
Small capacity (16.4 liters)
Some users note that it can get heavy to carry once full
Featuring scratch-resistant vegan leather on the outside, a sturdy zipper top, and a soft cotton twill fabric interior, the Metro Tote is available in four timeless hues: carbon black, ivory, saddle tan, and mahogany. The long tote handles can be carried by hand, of course, but they also are spacious enough to slip over your shoulder. Inside, a water bottle pocket, a small laptop sleeve (14 inches), and several small pockets await to help corral your wallet, pens, passport, keys, and other staples.
Best Travel Tote Bag That Can Double as Luggage
Solgaard Voyager Weekender
Best Travel Tote Bag That Can Double as Luggage
Solgaard Voyager Weekender
Pros
FlowCloset system promises to hold up to a week of clothes
2-year warranty
Detachable padded shoulder strap
Gender-neutral design
Trolley sleeve
Cons
Smaller capacity (20 liters)
If Alder could only choose one travel tote to be his plus one on all of his global adventures, it would be this Solgaard weekender. Available in Baltic black, Galway green, or Atlantic navy durable Shore-Tex fabric, Alder—who “travels nonstop for work”—has taken this bag on all of his trips for the past year.
“It works as my main piece of luggage for short trips due to the amount of clothing it can fit, and its compact size makes it a perfect carry-on,” Alder tells us. The built-in shelving makes it sneakily spacious, Alder adds, and it has plenty of interior and exterior pockets that are easy to access, including a fleece-lined 16-inch laptop sleeve and two expanding side pockets that are ideal for toting an umbrella and a water bottle.
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Best Budget Travel Tote Bag
Open Story Signature Weekender Bag
Best Budget Travel Tote Bag
Open Story Signature Weekender Bag
Pros
5-year warranty
Trolley sleeve
Large capacity (35 liters)
Detachable shoulder strap
Water-repellent exterior
Cons
Some users report that it’s heavy while empty (3 pounds) and may wear out quicker than other travel totes
As for Law, she was shocked by this budget bag. The trolley sleeve initially lured her in, and the price point made her think that she had nothing to lose. “I've had this bag for 2 years, and I use it almost every time I travel (which, as a travel advisor, is frequently),” Law says.
One huge highlight? “So. Many. Pockets,” she says, including a fleece-lined one for jewelry and a padded 15-inch laptop sleeve. The water-resistant nylon exterior makes this ideal to double as a gym bag, Law adds. “This is, by far, the most functional bag I have ever owned.”
Best Luxury Travel Tote Bag
Rimowa Never Still Vertical Tote
Best Luxury Travel Tote Bag
Rimowa Never Still Vertical Tote
Pros
2-year warranty
Chic minimalist design
Stands up on its own for easy loading and unloading
Thin travel strap to slide onto luggage handles
Cons
Pricey
No shoulder strap
Outside laptop sleeve, no interior laptop sleeve
Only two color options
Smaller capacity (19 liters)
You can feel like you’re in the Mediterranean every day with this stylish made in Italy bag. Thoughtful details like the bespoke logo-emblazoned metal handle clips and the grooved leather external laptop pocket are the epitome of quiet luxury. For shorter excursions, such as to the office and back or for a flight where you checked a bag, this efficient travel tote could be a stellar travel companion. The spacious leather straps are ideal for sliding over your shoulder or carrying by hand. Choose from black or petal pink.
Best Designer Travel Tote Bag
Bottega Veneta Medium Andiamo
Best Designer Travel Tote Bag
Bottega Veneta Medium Andiamo
Pros
Comes in eight chic colors
Beautiful craftsmanship
Cons
Pricey
No zipper for top of bag
No trolley sleeve
Made in Italy from Intrecciato nappa leather and finished with brass detailing, this luxe bag is a must for the traveler who appreciates the finer things in life. A leather top handle and cross-body strap allow you to carry the bag two ways, and an interior zipper pocket keeps valuables secure while traveling.
Karla Walsh
Freelance Writer
Karla Walsh is a Des Moines, Iowa-based freelance writer, editor, freelance writing coach and level one sommelier who balances her love of food and drink with her passion for fitness (or tries to, at least!). She has over 15 years of professional experience covering food, wine, travel, nutrition, health, fitness, psychology, beauty, relationships and beyond.