What I Packed: Baltics

Here is my packing list for my solo trip to the Baltics...

Days: Eleven
Weather: Fall weather with some light rain, in general days of 65-75*F and nights cooling to as low as 50*F
Conditions: lots of walking in a city and a couple bar crawls
Pieces of luggage: One backpack and one backpack-style purse (to use as daypack)

The items listed are including what I wore on my person during the flight to the destination. I didn't have as much room as I did during my Central Asia trip, but I also didn't buy many souvenirs. It was more important to me to travel lightly since I was constantly packing up and moving to a new destination.

Another note: I could easily use what I packed here for a 20- or even a 30-day trip...I would take the same amount of items (with more shampoo and conditioner) but it would require me to do more laundry.

I like to pack my things in smaller bags to make everything more organized. For this trip, I used my new packing cubes for the first time that I received for my birthday (thanks, Mom & Dad!), which helped me save on space. All of my clothes fit into one little cube, and I could stuff more in there if I needed! Packing cubes are good, albeit a little dangerous, since you might just want to pack more than you need just because you can!

Here is how I split everything up among my backpack and purse.


Backpack Purse:

• movies on USB drives to entertain me on the long flights
• SD card to USB converter (to look at pictures on my tablet)
• 2 pens
• camera and case, with 4 extra batteries and 2 extra memory cards
• reusable shopping bag (this came in handy when I needed to carry my tablet with me, or go to the farmer's market)
• sunglasses
• mini notepad (with addresses of my friends so I can send postcards)
• granola bar
• lip balm
• Starbucks giftcard (I don't even like Starbucks, but I occasionally get them, and then save them for free eats at the airport)
• reusable earplugs (much more eco-friendly than those disposable ones!)
• solid perfume
• small pill case with prescription meds, vitamins and ibuprofen
• Point-It book (in case I need to buy some horse sausage in a language I don't know)
• glasses/glasses case
• over-the-ear headphones with microphone ($5 bin at Target)
• bandana (multi-purpose!)
• passport (duh!!!)
• boarding passes
• the usuals (phone, wallet, keys)

On My Person:

• Chrysalis Cardi (as a scarf)
• Timberland hiking boots (Similar)
• chambray longsleeve shirt
• short sleeve active tee (similar)
• black skinny jeans
• 2 pairs of socks
• 1 pair underwear
• convertible bra
• compass (clipped onto hairtie) --Shoutout to Nicolette for the most-used birthday present ever! THANKS!

Carry-On Backpack:

Exterior backpack clips:

• compact water bottle, clipped to the outside*
• spare carabiner clip
• cute little luggage lock (acquired in Copenhagen)
• Packing Cube containing
• Toiletry Bag (see below for details)
• Faux leather jacket

Toiletry Bag:

• toothbrush
• mini deodorant
• extra contacts case and pair of contacts
• cornstarch (multi-use: as dry shampoo, or as baby powder)
• sunscreen stick
• floss (in a pinch can be used as sewing thread!)
• moleskin and bandaids
• additional ear plugs (for providing to bunk mates, in apology for sneaking in late last night)
• compressed towels (you never know when you may need them, and they're especially handy for heavy makeup removal)
• hairclip
• barrette
• small jewelry pouch: dangly earrings, 2 pairs of studs, one long necklace, one short.
• lipstick and lip liner
• brown eye pencil
• eye shadow and brush
• mascara
• chapstick
• Melatonin tablets (Talk to your doctor. I got them in case I needed to get my body on the right sleep schedule. Never used them once.)
• Ciproflaxin, aka anti-diarrhea medication. (I got prescribed these before Central Asia and I've never had to use them. But the moment you don't have them when you need them...that would be a problem.) 
• eye mask
• shower cap
• wide tooth comb
• compact hair brush (acquired in Copenhagen, similar)
• compact travel towel
• DIY sewing kit
• sink stopper (for doing laundry in sinks)
• doorstop (I saw the tip on here, but it never came in handy)
• extra pill case with additional prescription meds, vitamins, ibuprofen, and antihistamines
• cough drops (can never ever EVER have enough)

Main and side compartments:

• umbrella*
• kleenex*
• homemade oatmeal mix in a jar (a mix of quick oats, maple sugar, dried cranberries and nuts. Functions as a free breakfast on the go...all I need is hot water)
• chelsea boots for going out (similar)
• deck of cards (for making friends at hostels!)
• 3 extra ziploc quart size bags
• extra pair of sunglasses (If mine break, I don't wanna buy more if I have a spare)
• plastic bag for dirty laundry
• Ziploc gallon snack bag: 10 tea bags, 4 energy bars, 2 small boxes of dried cranberries

"Practical" Items Packing Cube:

• sleep sheet in drawstring bag, also containing padlock (for hostel lockers) and pillow case
• gorilla pod tripod*
• camera battery charger
• tablet charger*
• international plug converters
• foreign phone and charger (which I discovered was of no use to me on this trip)
• earbuds*
• camera to USB cord (in case my SD card reader fails me)
• pocket flashlight* (great for when you need to pack in the wee hours)
• running belt to use as money belt (go to the $5 bin at Target for a knockoff)
• small purse for going out at night
• extra packing cube, rolled up (never needed it, but it fortunately didn't take up a lot of room)

"Clothing" Packing Cube (yes, this all fit into ONE):

• 4 pairs of socks
• 8 pairs of underwear (no fancy "travel underwear" necessary, just go to the 5 for $25 at Victoria's Secret and pick out mesh, lace, or a quick dry Nylon blend, since you'll be doing hand-wash)
• light scarf (to wear when my Chrysalis Cardi is being used as a dress and I need extra warmth)
• 2 bras
• tights
• sash for Chrysalis Cardi
• long sleeve travel shirt (similar)
• dress pants/leggings
• bikini
• yoga capris (to use as pajama pants/lounge wear)
• flip flops (for hostel showering)

Ziploc Quart-size bag of liquids:

• artificial tears/eyedrops
• hand sanitizer*
• liquid peppermint castile soap (it's body wash, toothpaste, laundry detergent, deodorant...ALL IN ONE)
• contacts case
• mini shampoo and conditioner (I have blue hair...I gotta use fancy stuff to keep it lookin' good!)
• contact solution
• sunscreen (it's just sunscreen, but also works as hand lotion or face lotion)
• homemade cream (it's face cream, makeup remover, hand cream, and lip balm ALL IN ONE)

Backpack back flat pocket:

• Wired magazine
• book (I chose The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath...but being so busy, I got through about 6 pages)
• notebook
• tablet computer* -- on it, a couple movies, all my hostel information, saved maps of the area around my hostels, transit directions and itineraries for travel

Poly file envelope (it doesn't rip even after heavy use)

• currency card/language phrase reference card*
• small envelope for receipts
• 1 photocopy front/back of each: driver's license, debit cards, credit cards, health insurance card
• 2 extra passport photos (you never know when you may need them)
• photocopy of passport (to distribute to daypack, backpack and mini purse)
• ferry, train, airplane, bus tickets and itineraries
• hostel information
• maps (I put them in this folder as I accumulate them)

*Upon arriving at my destination, I transferred these items to my daypack/backpack purse or on my person to carry around with me all day.