How Do I Travel With My Luxury Handbags Without Stress and Worry?

Dear PurseBop:

I want to take my Hermès, Chanel, and Celine bags on vacation this summer but I worry they will get damaged, make me a target, or worse get stolen. How can I travel with my beloved handbags so I can enjoy them, look chic, but not stress over using them while on vacation?

Dear Travel Stress-free:

Taking luxury handbags on vacation can be done safely with some precautions and awareness. We offer the following tips:

Choose the Correct Bags From Your Collection

Choose bags with more durable leather such as epsom, togo, clemence, caviar leather which do not scratch easily;
Avoid more delicate leathers such as box, swift, exotics, or limited editions unless the destination or event attending is appropriate such as a formal wedding or occasion;
Consider non-quota Hermès bags (Picotin, Evelyne, Herbag, Lindy, etc.) or more everyday bags for destinations where you will be doing a lot of sightseeing, outdoor adventure activities, music festivals or similar. Consider one or two evening bags that are more carefree such as a Constance To Go or Wallet on a Chain.

Pack and Carry Luxury Items Carefully and Thoughtfully

Use a handbag insert to protect the interior of the bag and to help maintain its structure during transit.
Always travel with the handbag dust bag. Keep each handbag in its own dust bag when packing, traveling, or not in use. The dust bag will protect the handbag from coming in contact with other objects in the suitcase that may scratch or stain the bag.
Never, never, never pack any luxury bags, jewelry, or other important items in your checked luggage. If your carry-on luggage must be checked because there is no room on the airplane, remove your luxury items from that bag and place them in your personal carry-on tote bag. We recommend always packing your luxury items in a personal tote bag that zips close to avoid these potential situations.
To the extent possible, next the smaller bags inside larger bags to save space.
Never let your carry-on luggage or personal tote bag be away from your body or out of your site for even a split second. Do not trust anyone you are traveling with to monitor your bags for you.
Bring a soft, foldable non-luxury, indiscreet nylon tote (e.g. Longchamp or similar) to carry your luxury items safely on your person while in transit or during inclement weather.
Store the tote bag containing luxury items under the seat in front of you for maximum security. If placed in the overhead compartment, it may be crushed by larger bags and/or stolen or taken while sleeping during a long or overnight flight. If you must store your items above, consider using the compartment on the other side of the aisle so you may keep an eye on the area if someone opens the compartment. Also lock the tote or luggage before placing it in the overhead compartment.
Consider purchasing travel insurance but make sure it covers personal luxury items. Also, check with your home insurance policy for coverage of luxury items while traveling domestically or abroad.

At Your Destination

In your hotel room, store your luxury bags in their dust bag in a locked suitcase if they are too large to fit inside the room safe.
Rotate the bags on the trip to minimize wear.
Us a crossbody and/or mini bag that holds your essentials close to your body (do not use a backpack unless you wear it on the front of your body), while sightseeing, using public transportation, or in places with many people.
Never place your bag or tote on the floor or ground or on the back of your chair for any reason. The bag should remain on your body or on a purse hook away from other people.
Pack a handbag raincoat or other transparent handbag protector to use if the weather changes or you are on a boat and there is potential for water to come in contact with your bag.
At the end of each use, wipe down the handbag with a soft cloth to remove any dust, dirt, or residue that may have collected on the bag during the excursion.

Final Tips:

Take photos of each bag before leaving home.
Place a copy of the original receipt in each bag to prove to Customs that you did not purchase the bag on this trip if traveling abroad.
Bring the Cites if you are traveling with an exotic bag.
Enjoy using your luxury bags while on vacation. They are meant to be used and enjoyed. Just be thoughtful and careful.

Read:

Traveling Safely with Luxury – 2024 Recap