Everything I’ve packed for a 17 night trip around the Balkans

I absolutely love reading posts about what people pack, especially when they’re travelling light, so I thought I’d share the joy of this sort of post with my readers too. J and I are about to set off on a 17 night, 5 country trip around the Balkans (Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Bulgaria) and, for the first time in years, I have a hold suitcase. What a treat! Unfortunately, it’s a small one, to be shared between the two of us, so I still need to travel light. Read on to find out what I’ve packed, and I’ll do a follow up post when I’m back covering how it went!

Everything I’ve packed for 17 nights away

Solo trips were always easier for me to travel light, as I never cared what I wore. Trips with J mean I want to look nice, especially when we go out in an evening, and so I’ve really had to be pickier with what I pack. I’ve spent a lot of time on Vinted, trying to save money and also the environment by buying second hand, and I think I’ve nailed it.

Clothes

I’ve gone for things that are easy to roll up, won’t crease and are lightweight, comfortable and I look good in. The below list is everything clothes wise.

• Leopard print baggy trousers (not pictured)
• Two black vest tops, one pink vest top, one red vest top, one white vest top
• Strappy playsuit (not pictured)
• Zebra print shorts, green shorts
• Grey jersey dress, striped jersey dress, nude jersey dress
• Beige shirt, black cropped shirt, white polka dot shirt
• Black birkenstocks, rose gold sliders (not pictured)
• Small black bag, denim tote bag (not pictured)

I’m travelling in grey jeans, with white pumps, a pretty, evening suitable top and a light cardigan that will go with everything I’ve packed. I suspect I won’t need the emergency poncho I’ve packed, if I’m honest, but it feels silly to not take one just in case. I’ve also got a couple of pairs of sunglasses in the suitcase and one in my hand luggage, because I’m bound to lose of break a pair.

I’ve sorted clothes into small packing cubes, so that I can take one out at each destination (I’ll likely properly unpack in Tirana, as we’re there for five nights, but I’ll live out of cubes in the cities where I only have two nights) Each packing cube has two days worth of clothes including underwear, and then there’s a separate cube with my dressy night time tops, and one with pyjamas too.

Toiletries

Toiletries is where I really struggled. I’m used to only being able to take a small clear bag through security, and washing my hair once whilst I’m away, but the benefit of a suitcase is full size toiletries. I’ve counted hairdryer and straighteners in this section for ease of planning, but if you have better hair than me you might not need either.

• Hairdryer and straighteners, hairbrush, bobbles
• Gel nail lamp and polish
• Makeup bag (foundation with spf30, blusher, two eyeshadow sticks, brow gel, lip balm, two lipsticks, setting powder)
• Face wash, cleanser, mini toner, moisturiser, mini AHA serum, mini facial SPF30
• SPF30, SPF50, aftersun gel
• Perfume, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner

I absolutely could have bought some stuff at the airport or whilst away, but I had the space and weight left in my suitcase so it was easier to take the products I’m used to, that my hair and skin like.

Technology and gadgets

We’ve actually travelled pretty light in terms of technology and gadgets, I used to take a laptop, an ipad, my DSLR and multiple lenses…this time we’ve got J’s laptop and our chromebook (because he will need to work for some of the trip, and I want to blog) his kindle (instead of the multiple books I normally take) and my smaller camera, my Olympus Pen. All the tech is in our hand luggage, though, so it doesn’t get broken.

Other stuff

I’ve packed a small bag full of snacky stuff-nutri grain bars, cereal bars and some protein bars, for those times when I’ll be hungry and not necessarily have much/any food on me, like whilst travelling between countries. I’ve also packed a porridge pot and some mini cereal boxes for a couple of quick breakfasts, and a noodle pot for an emergency meal. Travelling with Fibromyalgia means always having emergency food, in case of a flare up.

What about hand luggage?

My hand luggage has what looks like far too much stuff, but actually is the really important bits. I’ve got a small packing cube bag for both me and J with a days worth of spare clothes and another days worth of underwear. I’ve got a clear bag with the ultra essential toiletries (deodorant, toothpaste, cleanser and toner, and a bar of soap) and then I’ve got toothbrushes, a hairbrush and bobbles. I’ve also got snacks, for both the plane and the first morning in our hotel room, and then I’ve got the below.

Two adaptors / two charging cables / two charging banks / camera / spare camera battery / tote bag / collapsible water bottles / UNO / a pack of cards / a mini medicine kit (plasters, painkillers, anti anxiety meds, my inhaler) / mini luggage scales

I’m really impressed that I’ve only used half a suitcase and about a third of my hand luggage bag, which is travelling really, really light for me. Hopefully this post is helpful if you’re planning a bigger trip-it’s definitely helped me to write it!

What are you like when it comes to packing, do you travel light or always take a big suitcase?