Travel Purse

I've been hunting down the same thing. I have three recommendations based on my own hunt, but great and stylish are in the eye of the beholder - so my advice is worth what you paid for it.

1. go to ebags.com. The choice is endless and the prices are good.

2. PacSafe = dead UGLY. I bought one and sent it back. It was big, stiff, not much capacity for the size and did I mention UGLY???

3. You don't need excessive security features in Germany, just a cross-body bag to reduce opportunity. I eventually settled on super lightweight (nylon) cross-body bags. The ones I liked were Derek Alexander hobo bag, Baggallini Around Town Bagg, and eBags Piazza Day Bag (not as stylish but practical). All weigh less than one pound. I stared at them for a week then picked the Derek Alexander.

HTH

Another vote for Lesportsac. I always use them as my Eurpope travel bag. A current model that I have has an outside pocket that exactly holds a water bottle. It has a zipper on top and as poster above says it is VERY light to begin with. I like the small tote/large bag size as I can put the guidebook and even a light sweater/wrap inside.

Laura - I use the LLBean Travel Touring bag. I agree with the others, lightweight is the most important feature.

I have both a Baggallini New Yorker and a PacSafe Toursafe. I love them both, but bring one or the other depending on my travel destination/what I want it to contain. If you know you're going to an area where thieves slash at purse straps, then consider a PacSafe. Yes it's ugly, but it's for peace of mind, especially if you don't want to wear a moneybelt and are without an in-room safe. It will hold a netbook and kindle. The New Yorker (Baggallini) will hold a kindle if you don't stuff the purse. Good luck!

I have a "regular" purse that I use for travel ... no special security features.

What I do like to look for in a bag for travel is the following:

1) A zipper rather than a flap for the main compartment.

2) An interior pocket with a zipper. I keep things like keys and my Ipod in the interior pocket.

3) An exterior pocket that can be easily accessed without opening the whole bag. I like to keep things like maps, etc. in the exterior pocket.

4) A long strap so that you can wear the bag across your body.

I got a PacSafe bag for Paris last year and thought it worked great. I don't know how you could consider it ugly. It's completely plain. Not beautiful or trendy, but not ugly either. It doesn't hold a lot, but I don't carry much with me (camera, phone, small notebook, pen and chapstick), so it was perfect for me. I also had a money belt for my passport, credit cards and money.

Thanks so much everyone! Got a tip from another person on the board who suggested a camera bag or diaper bag....went out looking tonight at diaper bags and found the PERFECT "purse"! It's an olive green Columbia diaper bag that doesn't look like a diaper bag at all! Tons of pockets inside and a zipper top with a perfect length heavy duty strap! I am so thankful this reader came to my rescue and made me think outside the box! I advise it to anyone! What a great idea! It's not bulky and I think will quickly become my everyday purse!