Comfy Women's Travel Shoes - 9 of the Best

Stylish and easy-going shoes for town and country sightseeing

If it looks like there are a lot of Mary Janes on my list this season, that's because they make such great travel shoes. They have just the right profile for hiding loads of cushioning, inside and out. They're casual enough for jeans and trousers but they're also smart enough to team with a skirt.

These, in waterproof black and terra cotta leather, or "espresso" nubuck, have a classic look and a bit of a lift on the cork wrapped mid-sole (also great for cushioning). The elasticized strap is comfortable but also easy to slip on and off at airport security checkpoints. Here's a tip - if you're coming to the UK, give the nubuck a miss. It's water resistent but not waterproof and you can never tell what the UK weather will deliver.

These all purpose shoes are comfy and secure for walking, full of the sorts of moisture-wicking and flexibility features that have patent and trademarks attached to them and easy to slip on and off.

Wear them through airport security checkpoints. They're soft enough for a long flight yet detailed and feminine enough to pair with a skirt or smart trousers. I've always been a big fan of Clarks and their various offshoots and they seem to have come through on the comfort front again. They're in loads of colors and come in half sizes up to size 9, whole sizes to 11.

Well I did say I liked Mary Janes. Every year they make a come back and they also seem to be sneaking back in style so it was only a matter of time before someone decided to make them ultra-comfy for walking. Arcopedico makes totally comfortable travel shoes in Portugal and these are set to become classics. They are anatomically designed and feature Arcopedico's patented "Foot Mattress" for all day support. Dreamy for your feet. They're smart enough to wear with skirts and all but the glitziest outfits and they come in lots of sophisticated colors. I want a few pairs!

These look just like ballet pumps. But if you've ever pounded the pavements in those, you know they can be murder on your feet. The designers have actually managed to sneak a bit of a wedge onto these so they're not real flatties at all but sit on a 1 1/2 inch lift. And that makes all the difference in the world. They have a removable, contoured foot bed with an arch support and heel cup as well as gel pads in all the right places. All together it's meant to ease shock and disperse foot pressure. The anti-skid outsole is also designed for maximum shock absorption and the shoes bend naturally with your feet.

A higher heel can, surprisingly, make shoes easier to walk in for many women. We aren't talking stilettos here - but a modest (and sturdy) 1 1/2 to 2 inch heel. They also make them more versatile for urban travel - stylish enough to go from day to night. This shoe has a shock absorbing outer sole and the cushioning of a foam insole and a contoured footbed. The cross-over straps are comfortably stretchy. And the whole package is pretty enough to wear out to drinks and dinner yet relaxed enough to team with trousers.

In the UK we call this kind of styling "smart casual", which sort of says it all. The stitching details and combination of nubuck and leather give this a tailored look that will work with almost anything in a traveler's wardrobe. The stacked heel is just a smidge over an inch - a very comfortable height for city or town walking. And this shoe has a nice extra comfort secret. The "egg-crate" cushioned footbed - with extra arch support - slips out so that you can put in your own comfort insoles - maybe some of those cooling gel inserts that you can buy at a pharmacy, for example.

A good pair of sandals is always useful for travel and in the UK, where snow is rare, these can be a year round choice for the town and country visitor. Smart enough for dining out in restaurants, casual enough for poking around at antique fairs and flea markets. Designed by Naot, they have suede covered, shock absorbing insoles, Italian leather uppers and light, flexible, non-skid soles. I'm also a fan of the inch-high heel which a lot of women find more comfortable for long hours on their feet.

Looks just like a basic pumps on a medium heel - always useful but not very exciting. But listen carefully - here comes the science part. These have an insole designed by a podiatrist that apparently shifts your weight from the front of your foot to the heel so you can stand in high(ish) heels all day without even noticing. The stacked-look heel is a shock absorbing material and there are various hidden elastic bits to make the shoe fit better. They also have a padded Achilles notch so they don't rub and are easy to break in. I like the idea that you can spend all day in these and still have enough energy to go out dancing - in the same shoes.

I'll be honest here - I'm not a great fan of clogs and clog-styled shoes for walking around and sight-seeing. All that gripping with the toes to keep them on may be great for your legs but murder after a few hours of museum hopping and shopping.

But these sporty yet smart, clog-style slip-ons, with a removable "egg-crate" footbed, come in handy at the end of a long day touring. How many times have you stayed in rather than put on painful shoes to go back out for dinner? These easy numbers feel like slippers but are respectable enough for most urban dining out. (If it's four star, bring the stilettos in a tote bag and change when you get there.)