Don’t get me wrong, I am a girl and like to look good and be healthy. I also like to work out: my stair stepper has been my friend for years..until I broke it and now I am friends with my FitBit, keeping track of my steps. But that doesn’t mean I am always wearing make-up or a dress, for that matter.

So, what is the packing list for an unsophisticated woman (or shall I say, tomboy)?

Clothes and shoes

First of all, the trusty blue jeans (which sometimes can be another color too, such as black). Yes, I know they are quite bulky BUT if I travel during spring, fall or winter I wear them on the train or plane (so, yes, space saved, see?) During summer I typically wear either very light jeans or shorts (yes, no capris, I am too short and they make me look even shorter).

Another bulky item is the jacket. During spring and fall, the fake-leather jacket is my friend. And mine is not very bulky either. During winter, I have two jackets I like (one is for the windy/wet weather and the other for the rest of the days). The bulkiest never gets to travel.

I love t-shits. So no matter what season I travel, I pack them. Why? Long sleeve shirt + t-shirt = warm & fuzzy during any season.

Those are just some of the clothes (skip the lingerie and other small items, cause everyone packs them, right?).

The walking shoes are my very good friends. I usually wear a lighter pair in the summer and a bulkier one during spring, fall, and winter. Sometimes I do pack a pair of sandals (see, I am a girly girl…)

Toiletries and personal-use items

Let’s move on to the rest of the things.

At least for a vacation lasting maximum of 2 weeks, you won’t catch me packing: tweezers, make-up or any other girly-girl thing. At home, I use wax strips but while I travel the razor blades are enough.

Tampons (tmi?) are always in my backpack regardless of the time of the month I travel. They can double for a lot of other useful things, trust me!

If I stay in a hotel I never pack toiletries except for my toothbrush and toothpaste. The hair comb is always on the list though along with my trusty Lady Speed Stick. I love perfumes, but not when I travel (the goal is not to smell, which can be done with water and soap LOL).

Electronics

My cell doubles as camera, mp3 player, netbook and many more, I am sure 🙂 So technically I don’t need anything else. Practically, I may bring the camera but I listen to music on my cell, as well as read on it usually.

No, I don’t forget the chargers (plus Alex always reminds me of them).

Should I be working or staying for longer than two weeks, my ultrabook also travels with me. Luckily, it is very light.

Remember that if you travel within Europe you’ll be able to buy pretty much anything you forget to pack. There are many discount stores available in European cities and you can always go by the flee markets, too.

So, really, there’s no need to haul around too much luggage. Really.

Note: article written in December 2011 and updated in August 2014, May 2016, update & republished in Aug 2019.
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