You’re all set for your dream vacation with your ticket in hand and hotel bookings done, but the hard part is yet to come. The ever niggling doubt about what to pack for your trip. Winter destinations are probably a lot easier to pack for as it’s more or less standard attire to keep out the cold. However, when it comes to a summer destination, picking out the best dress for travel can be quite a dilemma. While you definitely want to look your best, you don’t want to be lugging around extra baggage because you’ve decided to pack your entire wardrobe because you can’t make up your mind!
When choosing the best travel dress it’s always advisable to look for something that’s versatile. Something that’s easy to slip on yet stands out. Whilst the ‘little black dress’ is the go-to dinner attire for most travelers, there are plenty of other good syles and colors to choose from. You’ll find many of the best dresses for travel can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. For a more formal outing, you would want to match your dress with a good pair of heels or boots but if you’re going to be walking a lot check out our list of the most comfortable women’s sandals for walking.
How To Choose The Best Travel Dress
Like we mentioned earlier, the main criteria for choosing the best dress for travel is versatility. A dress that can be worn at the beach and a night out should definitely be in your bag. Whilst a wrinkle-free dress is ideal, you could also carry along one of the best travel steamers to iron out the creases. Other pointers that you need to keep in mind when choosing the best dress for travel:
Fabric
For those summer destinations make sure that the fabric is light and natural. Organic cotton is best but any other cool fabric will also do. Make sure the fabric is not going to cause any discomfort by being too clingy and that it’s lightweight and easy to pack.
Local Customs
It’s always a good idea to be aware of any cultural restrictions on your attire when you’re traveling to a foreign country. You don’t want to be wearing something flimsy and transparent in a country where women generally cover themselves. So choose your travel dresses according to the climate as well as the culture.
Comfortable
A travel dress should be easy to slip on and not have too many bells and whistles. A dress that can be accessorized to be worn to a fancy dinner or dressed down for the beach is a great choice. Make sure that the dresses you choose are the right fit. Something that’s too big or too small will end up causing more anxiety than a dress that’s the right fit.
Columbia Women’s PFG Freezer lii Dress
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Specifically designed with anglers in mind, the Columbia Women’s PFG Freezer lii Dress is the best dress for travel if you’re going to be out near the water or in the sun. This dress, designed from high-quality fabric makes this a travel staple. With the wicking fabric material, and the signature cooling technology you can be sure that you’ll stay cool with this item of clothing. Besides the cooling effect, the dress also features UPF 50 sun protection to keep you safe from those harmful UV rays. You’re also spoiled for choice when it comes to the range of colors with over 30 colors to choose from.
Crafted from a combination of polyester and elastane-blend fabric, the dress provides an active fit that stays comfortable throughout the day.
Pros:
- Cool and comfortable
- Available in over 30 colors
- Rolls up small and does not wrinkle
- Features UPF 50 sun protection
Cons:
- The thin fabric may not suit all body types
DB Moon Women Summer Casual Short Sleeve Dresses
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Another dress that sits high in our ranking of best dress for travel is the DB Moon Women Summer Casual Dress. This light, casual dress is available in a good variety of prints and plain colors. However, the white and ‘sunflower white’ colors are a bit transparent so you would probably need to wear something underneath. One reason why this is a good travel staple is that it can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion. A few accessories will up the ante on style if you’re hard-pressed for what to wear on a night out.
Pros:
- Soft, lightweight material
- Available in solid colors and prints
- Has pockets
Cons:
- The high waistline can look a bit unflattering for someone with a big bustline
VintageClothing Women’s Floral Maxi Dresses Boho Button Up Split Beach Party Dress
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This Floral Maxi Dress from VintageClothing ticks the right boxes for travel as it’s super comfortable and lightweight. If a beach party is on your travel itinerary, you’ll definitely want to take this dress along with you. With the beautiful fabric and gorgeous prints, this dress is a definite head-turner. The easy flow dress is also a good buy for expecting mothers. However, one thing to note is that the dress will shrink slightly after the first wash.
Pros:
- Soft and comfortable
- Lightweight
- Two layers prevent the dress from being transparent
- Has a slimming effect on all body types
Cons:
- Not the best quality fabric
KORSIS Women’s Summer Casual T Shirt Dresses
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The simple Korsis Women’s Summer Casual T Shirtdress is our ‘go-to’ dress for travel. Though it feels extremely lightweight, the fabric is heavy enough to keep the dress from flying up in a strong breeze. It dries quickly and does not require too much care while washing, which is why it sits high on our list of the best dress for travel.
The Swing style also provides a perfect fit for someone with large hips. You can wear this to the beach or even dress it up for a casual evening. It even pairs well with different styles of footwear.
Pros:
- Casual style with pockets
- Super stretchy fabric
- Comes in a variety of colors and prints
- Dries quickly and does not require too much care
Cons:
- Fabric is very thin
- Colors don’t match the pictures
Hybrid & Company Women Versatile Fold Over Waist Maxi Skirt/Convertible Dress
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If you’re looking for something versatile to take on your next trip, the Hybrid & Company Women Versatile Fold Over Waist Maxi Skirt/Convertible Dress fits the bill perfectly. The reason why this is the best dress for travel is that you can wear it in two ways. When you want something flowing and casual, wear it as a long maxi skirt or pull it up to wear as a dress. The adjustable waistband allows you to adjust the length to wear it as a strapless dress for that night out on town. Alternatively, you can also wear it over your swimsuit.
Pros:
- Available in a wide range of colors
- Made from premium ultra-stretch fabric
- Adjustable high waisted foldover waistband
Cons:
- The fabric is a bit too thin which can result in your underwear being visible
prAna Yarrow Travel Dress
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While many may call this a shirt, the prAna Yarrow Travel Dress doubles up as both. Just put a belt over the waist and boots on your feet to give it that extra oomph or wear it with a pair of skinny jeans for that casual look around town. The dress also has side seam pockets.
The combination of cotton, hemp, and nylon makes the fabric light and easy to pack. With a relaxed fit, traveling literally becomes a breeze!
Pros:
- Versatile style
- Organic cotton, recycled nylon, hemp blend
- Relaxed fit
- Side seam pockets
- Available in four different colors
Cons:
- The style may seem a little too shapeless for those that prefer cuts and curves
Amazon Essentials Women’s Tank Maxi Dress
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There are many great products from Amazon Essentials but we were pleasantly surprised with their Women’s Tank Maxi Dress. It ticked all the boxes for the best dress for travel with its material and style. The stylish tank-style sleeveless maxi dress is perfect for a day out and comfortable for travel too. It falls well because of the soft material and has a good fit too. One of the best things about the dress is that it’s extremely affordable.
Pros:
- Extremely affordable
- Available in a good range of colors and patterns
- Can be worn for a casual occasion
Cons:
- Some customers complain about the fabric clinging to the body but a larger size should fix that problem
GRECERELLE Women’s Casual Loose Pocket Long Dress Short Sleeve Split Maxi Dresses
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When a dress has over 25,000 ratings on Amazon with over 65% being five stars, you definitely sit up and take notice. The GRECERELLE Women’s Casual Loose Pocket Long Dress Short Sleeve Split Maxi Dresses hit the right notes for us with its style and fit. Available in over 20 colors and prints, the lightweight dress is not only stylish but extremely comfortable. It’s no surprise that it sits high on many rankings as the best dress for travel.
Pros:
- Machine washable
- Lightweight
- Spandex material
- Soft and comfortable
- Over 20 colors and prints
Cons:
- Quite transparent
Mother Bee Maternity Women’s Knee Length Wrap Dress with Belt for Baby Shower or Casual Wear
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Expecting mothers will love the Mother Bee Maternity Knee Length Wrap dress with its wide array of prints and colors. The company was established with the simple goal of providing expecting mothers with unique maternity wear and this dress does just that. It stands out as the best dress for travel for expecting mothers with its style and comfortable fabric. Though the dress is advertised as being a wrap dress it’s not exactly a wrap dress but has a sash at the side.
Pros:
- Comfortable fabric
- Trendy design
- It’s not low cut which is a rare find in a maternity dress
Cons:
- The dress is a little short in front so would
- It runs half a size small
Zattcas Women’s Summer Contrast Maxi Dress
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Combining a solid sleeveless top with a damask printed skirt, Zattcas Women’s Summer Contrast Floral Maxi Dress is a good choice to hide any unnecessary curves. The boho maxi dress can be worn for several occasions and can also be paired with a jacket in cooler weather. You can choose from 18 vibrant prints with intricate details. The jersey knit material makes it a cool choice for summer. A good thing about the dress is that it’s not sheer.
Pros:
- Soft, stretchy breathable material
- Flattering floral print skirt
- Not sheer
- Can be paired with a jacket in cooler weather
Cons:
- The dress is a bit too long for shorter women
- You may need to wear a slip underneath
VIISHOW Women’s Short Sleeve Empire Waist Maxi Dresses Long Dresses with Pockets
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The VIISHOW Women’s Short Sleeve Empire Waist Maxi Dress also caught our attention with over 28,000 ratings on Amazon. We just had to see for ourselves what made this the best travel dress and we weren’t disappointed. The first thing that stands out about this dress is the number of options available. With 40 styles and colors to choose from, you can’t go wrong.
This dress is a travel essential as it’s lightweight and easy to pack. You can also dress it up or down to suit the occasion or the purpose for wearing it. It also has pockets which is an added advantage.
Pros:
- Stretches enough to be worn as a maternity dress
- Soft fabric, perfect for summer
- Can be dressed up or down to suit the occasion
- Has pockets
Cons:
- Some colors are transparent
Women’s Long Sleeve Pocket Casual Loose T-Shirt Travel Dress
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A dress that really stands out as the best travel dress is the Women’s Long Sleeve Pocket Casual Loose T-Shirt Dress. This lightweight, jersey-knit tunic dress is extremely comfortable and versatile. Though it looks a bit plain, the dress is perfect to take along for your travels as it can be accessorized to look quite chic. The style and fit make it extremely versatile to use for various purposes. Another great thing about the dress is the pockets that will hold your phone or small essentials.
Pros:
- Loose flow style
- Can be accessorized for a more formal occasion
- Pockets
- Affordable
- Available in a wide range of colors and prints
Cons:
- The sleeves are a little tight
Halife Women’s Vintage Ethnic Style Printed Tassel Tie Neck Loose Fit Bohemian Tunic Dress
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If you’re traveling to a beach destination, the Halife Women’s Vintage Ethnic Style Printed Bohemian Tunic Dress is one of the best travel dresses to take along with you. The casual style and vintage prints make it the ideal choice for a summer vacation. It’s a great dress to wear as a beach cover-up but can also be worn as a tunic top. Dress it up with a pair of wild boots to up the style quotient.
Pros:
- Interesting vintage prints
- Soft, superior material
- The material is thin but not sheer
Cons:
- Tends to shrink by two sizes after a wash
