This Reversible Bikini is Perfect for Travel

Hey, Alanis Morissette, how is this for irony? The most expensive piece in my travel wardrobe is made with the least amount of fabric. I’ve collected Maaji bikinis ever since 2016 when I visited Colombia, where they’re made. Sure, each top and bottom ranges from $70 to $125 at Nordstrom. But I justify the price because many of the styles are reversible, which means that I get four swimsuit looks for nearly $200.

That said, my current clothing budget doesn’t allow me to get away with this kind of girl math. So, for a trip to Tropical North Queensland, I recently ordered this $33 reversible bikini from Amazon. Honestly, I was skeptical and prepared to return it before it even arrived. How could something so affordable compare to the beautiful, more expensive bikinis that I was accustomed to? Fortunately, my fears were moot. Not only do I think that the Cupshe Reversible Bikini is as good as my bougier bathing suits, but I’ve also noticed that it gets me way more compliments from my fellow beachgoers.   

Cupshe Reversible Bikini Set

Like most bathing suits, this bikini is made with a blend of nylon and spandex. While the Amazon product photos aren’t as professional as they could be, in person, this suit doesn’t look cheap. Nor does it feel cheap. I have sensitive skin and have had low-quality fabrics give me rashes before. Fortunately, I don’t have any problems with this suit. Yesterday, I did a Dreamtime Dive and Snorkel Tour at the Great Barrier Reef and wore this bikini beneath my favorite cover-up for the boat ride, alone for sunbathing on the top deck, and under a wetsuit for snorkeling. Even after 10 hours of continuous wear, I didn’t experience any chafing.

Although I’m not an influencer, I take tons of photos on my trips and I love that the bottoms of this bikini are reversible. Not only does this mean that I don’t have to pack two bikinis if I want two looks, but if I’d wanted to make it look like I spent more days on the boat yesterday, I could have easily reversed the bottoms. Another thing that I love about the bottoms is that there are drawstrings on the sides; they make the mid-rise bikini bottoms adjustable. So, if you want a lower rise, or care to show a little cheek, you can just tighten the drawstrings and change the fit. 

The scoop-neck top, however, is what got me the most compliments recently at Tangalooma Island Resort, where guests were disappointed when I told them that it didn’t come from the resort’s boutique. The beautiful braided back is intricate without being uncomfortable. The straps don’t dig into my skin, and the ties allow me to adjust it as needed. The top also features removable padded cups, something that I appreciate since I’m small-chested. I do wish it was reversible, or that it had detachable straps like my Carve Designs bikini that turns into a bandeau when I remove the straps. But I think to do that, you’d have to lose the eye-catching design in the back. And with all of the attention that it gets me, there’s no way I’d give that up!

Cupshe Reversible Bikini Set

Apart from being incredibly flattering and comfortable, the Cupshe Reversible Bikini is a can’t-miss deal in itself because you get both the top and the bottoms together for $33. Tell me, when was the last time that you were able to pay less than $40 for a full bikini set that didn’t fall apart or shrink after the first wear? This two-for-the-price-of-one steal makes it worth every penny, in my opinion. Had I gone with a new Maaji bikini — let’s say the Enchanting Emerald one, I’d have to spend $79 for the top and $70 for the bottoms — leaving me with a $149 cart (and not a lot of budget room left for another suit). 

Even if I wasn’t shopping on a budget, I still would have chosen this one because I believe where there’s smoke (in this case more than 7,000 five-star ratings), there’s fire. Not familiar with Cupshe? I wasn’t either. Just know that the brand has five styles ranked on Amazon’s top 15 best-selling bikinis. This reversible style is currently no. 14.

I also read the reviews. As someone who normally likes to try bathing suits on in brick-and-mortars (don’t get me wrong, I still loathe fitting room lighting and mirrors), I especially appreciated the candor from this shopper, who wrote, “I like it better than anything I found in the department stores.” And of course, I honed in on comments from fellow travelers, like this one, who said that despite packing three other swimsuits on their trip, they wore this one the entire time. They also addressed a very valid concern of mine in their review: “The white is definitely not see-through, which is one thing I worried about.”

Cupshe Reversible Bikini Set

If you’re worried about the quality, check out this review from a jet-setter: “I wore it every day on vacation for a week and it is still like new.” And if you’re the opposite of me, and you’re blessed in the chest, one shopper was happy to report that “the top (with removable pads) not only holds my 36Ds, but it does so without putting extra stress on my neck like halter tops.” That same shopper said they might need to get it in another color.

As much as I want one, I definitely don’t need another bikini. I’m a full-time travel writer who lives out of a suitcase, so I’m always pretty limited on space. But if you’re in the market for a comfortable, versatile, and cute bikini, I can’t recommend the Cupshe Reversible Bikini Set enough. 

And, if you love the under-$50 price tag but you’re looking for a triangle top, thong bottom, or lace-up design, below are a few more affordable options with thousands of five-star ratings.

Shop More Reversible Bikinis at Amazon:

Zaful Reversible String Bikini Set

Moshengqi Brazilian Spaghetti Strap Thong Bikini 

Cupshe Reversible Lace-up Bikini Set

At the time of publishing, the price started at $33. 

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