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I’m no fashion expert – far from it. I wouldn’t even call myself a travel expert or true expat at this point, having only recently moved to San Salvador. But I am definitely an expert in one thing: comfort. Specifically, comfortable travel shoes, thanks to years of commuting to work via public transportation in Washington, DC.
Prior to moving abroad, I wanted to make sure that I had some comfortable, non-nerdy yet fashionable travel shoes.
You know what I’m talking about: Something more substantial than a flip-flop but not quite into sneaker/hiking-boot territory. I have three pairs that I really like, but my best travel shoes for walking are Crocs (What?! I know – don’t judge me) Crocs Women’s Carlie Flat
.
Comfortable and Fashionable Travel Shoes
I actually just purchased my third pair because I have worn through two pairs in about a year and a half – that’s how much I wear them! These shoes have taken me all over Washington, San Francisco and Chicago, just to name a few cities. And now, they’re helping me navigate the streets of San Salvador.
The peep toe gives them a little bit of style, but the upper part is made of a silicone-like material called TPU (I had to look that up because I didn’t know what it was –thanks, Wikipedia), which means they can get wet or dirty and wash off very easily.
I also like that they can be dressed up or down and can transition from “day at the beach” to “drinks and dinner.” I’ve worn them with jeans, shorts and dresses.
They were my shoe of choice to hobble around the city celebrate with dinner and cocktails after running the Chicago Marathon last year. They truly are ideal womens travel shoes.
Find out more about the Crocs Women’s Carlie Flat.
PLEASE NOTE: A common complaint from women that love Crocs shoes is that they cause feet to sweat and smell.
Merrell Pure Glove Mary Jane Shoe
For something a little more substantial – say, an easy hiking trail or other terrains where you might want a closed toe, I like the Merrell Pure Glove Mary Jane Shoe
, which has a Vibram sole for sure-footing and Lycra mesh uppers for a breathable shoe that still keeps rocks and debris out. I own them in the “Castle Rock” color:
They may be little dorky, but I still think they’re better than some of the reinforced-toe alternatives that are out there. They’re billed as a running shoe, but I haven’t actually used them for running. However, it’s nice to know they’re good for it in case there’s trouble …
Click here for more info about the Merrell Pure Glove Mary Jane Shoe.
Finally, another one of my favorite womens travel shoes are the Merrell Women’s Serene Glove Flats
. I love ballet flats, but with no arch support or structure, most pairs are not made for long treks on foot. I own these Merrells in black, and they’re cute enough to be dressed up for a nice meal but substantial enough to support your feet on a walking tour. (I wear them without the strap around my ankle.)
Find out more about the Merrell Women’s Serene Glove Flats
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So there you have it: My top shoe picks for stylish travel. What do you consider to be the best fashionable travel shoes?
TFG Recommends: No matter what your choice of fashionable travel shoes, Dr. Scholl’s Gel Insoles are a must for the ultimate in added comfort! They make insoles cut specifically for a woman’s foot so they fit your flats, trainer, or boots just right. Their High Heel Insoles
are a total life saver if you plan to travel with heels. I love these insoles – they are the perfect comfort solution!
What are your favorite fashionable travel shoes? Comment below!
For more cute walking shoes for travel, please read:
- How to Choose Travel Shoes
- Where to Shop for Cute Comfort Shoes
- 10 Cute and Comfortable Ballet Travel Flats
- The Best Sandals for Travel
- Travel Shoes: The Ultimate Shopping Guide
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Share your favorite travel shoes in the comments and don’t forget to share the love on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Loved this blog! Shoes are so important and I love to bring just 2 when possible… 1 to wear and 1 to spare.
I always find my feet sweat a lot in crocs. And if these are peep toe, you can’t exactly wear socks with them. Have you had any trouble with this?
Baby powder or a spray deodorant work great to combat this! But obviously, finding what is comfortable for you is most important!
Vivonics sandals have great supporters for a more casual look. I have plantar fasciitis and they are the only sandal or flip flop type shoe I can wear….. but beware of counterfeit sellers on eBay and Amazon .
Clarks booties, plus a heel cup took me walking all over London for days including cobblestones pain free and without twisting my ankle ….like the other lady who commented I did not want to look like an ugly American.
Thanks for the tips Moe! Super helpful!
It would be fantastic if you could add an article on Mary Jane styled shoes. My physical therapy center recommends these for city walking. I like the pair you have above, but they are too sporty for my skirts and such. Here’s my favorite with lots of arch support: zappos.com/arcopedico-shawna-brown-bramble
These got me through 3 weeks in Europe: Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. Plenty of cobblestones!
Hi Shirley! Great suggestion – I’ll add Mary Janes to the list 🙂
While I love this website and all the fabulous tips and information (keep it coming!), I have to disagree on the recommendation of Crocs! Ask a podiatrist and he/she would tell you that they are not good for your feet at all! You’ll thank me when you are in your 40’s and beyond for taking better care of your feet, wearing shoes with proper support, and proper stability. I used to wear Crocs for travel all the time. I ended up developing Plantar’s Fasciitis, and both my podiatrist and physical therapist looked at my Crocs and asked why I wasn’t wearing proper shoes???? Even nurses at my internists’ asked me the same question! If your feet tend to roll (in or out), Crocs offer no stability, as they roll super easy to either side.
I wish I could continue to support this company, but not a single shoe that they offer addresses issues for persons with foot problems, when I last researched for my recent trip to Maui. Hopefully, someone else will read this and avoid Crocs, instead going to a trusted shoe store and getting a recommendation from there based on their foot imprint.
Happy Travels!
I’m sorry you developed foot trouble from wearing crocs. What shoes do you recommend?
I bought a pair of Teva sandals (Tirra, but they have many more) for my trip to Disney last spring. I HATE tennis shoes when I’m walking around that much in nicer weather, and my feet just couldn’t bear the thought of flip flops all day (OUCH!!). They held up amazingly and are super comfy. I also wore them on a four-day trip to New York and plan to take them to Spain with me in March. They can be dressy if need be.
Hi Jessica, I agree. My feet don’t like anything covering them in the heat and in the winter all they are boots. Picky feet! Thanks for your feedback about the sandals!
I would rather walk barefoot than to wear crocs or those merrell shoes that look like water mocassins. Europe will tear you apart for it, you’re just screaming tourist.
try superfeet insoles! they are so much better than dr. scholl’s – the support the superfeet provides has lasted much longer than the dr. scholl’s! think one pair of superfeet a year to three pairs of dr. scholl’s!
Nicole, I agree! I discovered Superfeet insoles while battling plantar fasciitis. I now place them in all my shoes and slippers too. They are so slim that they fit in everything from tieks to uggs.
I just purchased Croc’s Huarache flats. They’re the best. I bought them when I saw another girl in my swim class wearing them when she took them in the shower with her. They’re super cute and comfortable. They double as flip flops since they’re waterproof croc material and they don’t make obnoxious smack sounds when you walk.
Good tip! Thanks!
I bought a pair of these Crocs and loved them–I was standing all day and they were so comfortable! However they did cause massive sweating and after only about a month they smelled SO BAD. Like, worse than any shoe I’ve ever owned. I washed them daily, but by the end of the day the smell was back. Super embarrassing in Asian countries, where you have to take your shoes on frequently to enter places :/
Hi Jenna! That is by far the biggest complaint from Crocs shoe lovers – the smell. I will make sure to add a warning label to all Crocs posts from now on. Thanks for reading!
Loved this post and referenced it when I was picking my three travel shoes for a RTW trip. My final choices were Crocs Kaydee in black, Teva’s Zirra in black and Merell’s Pace glove 2 for hiking and exercise. I am absolutely in love with all three shoes.
That’s great! Glad to hear you found this post helpful 🙂 Are you on your trip now?
I like the styles that Crocs offer, but I’m concern about my feet perspiring in warm climits like Italy in June. Have you had this problem?
I’ll let Natasha answer this one and I’ll also post in on facebook to get more feedback 🙂
I went on a two week trip through Turkey/Greece/Israel last year, and I went with only two pairs of flat Ecco shoes, one in a neutral taupe smooth leather and one in a black patent. I wore them walking for hours through city streets, climbing up the steps of the Parthenon, up the desert steps at Masada, wore them with dresses, pants, and shorts. That was two years ago, and I continue to wear the same two pairs, and they show essentially no wear. They aren’t $30, but they are stylish, very high quality, leather uppers, good arch support, and required no breaking in.
Thanks for the tips! good shoes are worth the money in my opinion. Will check them out 🙂 Thanks for reading!
I wish I knew which style you use! I do not like wearing tennis shoes for travel! Our travel adventures sound similar too!
I try a range of styles 🙂
Great ideas! This is perfect timing for me because I just posted on my blog’s Facebook page that I am having trouble finding comfortable travel shoes that look cute. I got a pair of Converse at Target–horrible! So uncomfortable. I have a pair of Merrell Mary Janes but want something that will be more closed in case it rains.
That’s great! Natasha provided great tips and everyone has responded very well to her travel shoe choices 🙂
Just now discovering the multitude of Croc styles so thanks for the tip but how bad is the sweaty feet issue when going barefoot while travelling?
not sure about the sweaty feet…anyone know?
the newer styles sure seem to be popular though as an alternative to the regular travel shoes 🙂
I wore Crocs when I was pregnant because they were the most comfortable shoes I could find, and they seem to resist sweating. Never noticed having sweaty feet with them!
Thanks for the feedback! 🙂
I bought a pair of Merrell San Remo sandals for a 3.5 week trip around the world. They’ve taken a beating (and a dip in the Adriatic) and have held up. I’ve walked miles upon miles without breaking them in first (wrong I know!) and not one blister. I love that they have a supportive, grippy sole without looking like an athletic sandal. I can wear them with shorts or a sundress. I just need to figure out how to clean the footbeds, because after 24 days of almost constant wear they’re a bit stinky. :\
Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment!
Merrell for sure makes quality travel shoes – it’s great that they can do both practical and select shoes that have a bit of style too. That’s incredible that you didn’t get a blister with the San Remos. That’s always one of the worst things about any new shoes. As for the stinky part, they may look nice but they’re still shoes so it’s understandable 🙂
Most of my travels have been done in a $30 pair of Croc sandals. They’re ridiculously comfortable and don’t look bad at all. I mysteriously lost one on the plane to the US last year. I’ve got no idea where it went or how I lost a shoe on the plane. I’d kicked them off under the seat in front of me and on of them just vanished into thin air!! Airhostesses searched the plane with me after everyone had disembarked but no shoe!!! I had to walk through LAX in a pair of purple socks from the comfort kit until I got my luggage!! So embarrassing!!! I went and bought a new pair of the Croc sandals the next day in Vegas and they saw me through my last trip around Asia and are still in good condition. 🙂
Wow, that’s a lot of Croc love and how does one vanish? LOL 🙂
Depending on where my next travels take me, I might get one of their hybrid flats like the Carlie.
I think I sense the need for a Crocs giveaway!
Thanks again for the opportunity for a guest post. I’m glad the feedback has been positive so far … I never thought I would be making fashion recommendations!
Thanks Natasha! Your recommendations were the perfect balance of function and fashion 🙂
Thanks for this post. My husband’s a FSO in the 169th A-100 & I have been considering good DC walking shoes & travel shoes for our first post for a couple weeks. I’ve loved traveling in a pair of croc Jaydas – Just what you need to get through TSA at the airport.
Super helpful post!
It’s surprising to see cuter Crocs – but I now they’re officially in the function and fashion category 🙂
Thank you for commenting!
I always thought Crocs were the very definition of tacky and ugly and I swore never to wear them… but that I find that first pair of shoes actually attractive. I’m in Southeast Asia and my cheap night market sandals just fell apart and I could really use a pair of those right now! haha
Yes me too!~ I’ve seen a bunch of knock offs here at the markets in Thailand and will consider buying a pair before I leave. If you need any tips on Thailand, I live here feel free to ask!
It’s nice to see Crocs stepping it up!
Thanks for your comment 🙂
Not surprised to see two of your three picks are Merrell. I swear by that brand!
I’ve been recommended this several times – I have to try it!