Plus, how I stuffed it all into one suitcase (with room for souvenirs!)

I love to travel. Packing on the other hand? Not so much.

Nonetheless, I’ve become quite the expert at the latter while checking 29 countries off my travel bucket list, most of which I visited with just a carry-on. My most recent excursion took me to Albania for 10 days, where my daily activities included a 14-mile hike, a relaxed day on the coast, wandering through a historic city, and an evening vineyard tour. 

The only problem with this itinerary was packing pieces that I could rewear for drastically different occasions. I found versatile styles that kept up with every stop that you can shop at Amazon for as little as $15. 

Versatile Fashion Travel Essentials at Amazon

• Beach-to-City Style: Prettygarden Elastic Waist Shorts, $20 with coupon (orig. $40)
• Mix-and-Match MVP: Prettywear V-Neck Tank Top, $15
• My Easy-to-Replace Travel Sunnies: Sojos Retro Panto Polarized Sunglasses, $16 (orig. $20)
• Breezy Enough for 90-Degree Days: Kumufenc Short-Sleeve Athletic Shirt, $20
• Wrinkle-Free Staple: Btfbm Sleeveless Sweater Top, $15 (orig. $20)
• Euro Summer Denim Pick: Luvamia Long Jean Shorts, $31
• Quick-Dry Fabric: The Gym People High-Waisted Running Shorts, $25
• No-Fuss Dinner Outfit: Hde Smocked Midi Sundress, $34 (orig. $45)
• Dress and Cover-Up in One: Halife Swimsuit Cover-Up, $27
• 10,000-Step Day Approved: Gola Delta Sneakers, $63 (orig. $125)
• The Most Versatile Water Shoe: Chaco Zx2 Classic Athletic Sandals, $65 (orig. $95)

Related: Shoppers Took 12-Day Trips to Spain with This Roomy Duffel Bag That’s Less Than Half the Cost of Similar Versions

Prettywear V-Neck Tank Top

$15 at Amazon

Statement blouses are great to have in your closet, but with limited space, there’s no room for wear-once styles on vacation. Instead, I opted for tops that I could mix and match with different bottoms to create multiple outfit options. I have a baby pink version of this breathable cotton-blend top which was easy to throw on for lunches at the beach and dress up for sightseeing days. 

I followed that approach for all of the tops I packed, including leveled-up basics like sleeveless sweaters and T-shirts. 

Kumufenc Short-Sleeve Athletic Shirt $20 at Amazon	Btfbm Sleeveless Sweater Top $20 $15 at Amazon

Luvamia Long Jean Shorts

$31 at Amazon

Temperatures lingered around 90 degrees nearly our entire stay in Albania, so I skipped pants altogether in favor of cooler shorts. Almost all of the European tourists and locals opted for Bermudas rather than short-shorts, so I was glad to have packed a longer pair of versatile denim. 

The other styles I packed joined my suitcase with space-saving in mind, including a drawstring and athletic pair that demanded far less space than denim and structured options (and didn’t wrinkle en route). 

The Gym People High-Waisted Running Shorts $25 at Amazon	Prettygarden Elastic Waist Shorts, $20 with coupon $40 $20 at Amazon

Related: 10 Wrinkle-Free Tops That Stay Fresh in Your Suitcase After Marathon Travel Days — All Under $20 at Amazon

Gola Delta Sneakers

$125 $63 at Amazon

Narrowing down my shoe collection to just a few well-rounded pairs is where I struggle the most — since they take up the most room, I had to be conservative with my selections. I opted for my trusty Gola sneakers for travel days and walking tours, as they’re stylish enough to pair with cuter outfits yet still provide ample support. 

For our long hiking day, I chose my Brooks Anthem 8 Shoes, which provided surprisingly good grip on the slippery, loose gravel descent. For water activities, I wore my Chacos instead of flimsier flip-flops, which supported me on a short hike to a waterfall and stayed secure in the fast-moving Shala River. 

Chaco Zx2 Classic Athletic Sandals $95 $65 at Amazon	Brooks Anthem 8 Sneaker $90 at Amazon

Hde Smocked Midi Sundress

$45 $34 at Amazon

It isn’t Euro summer without a few fun sundresses, but they don’t have to be one-and-done outfits. I wore styles similar to these for winery tours and sunset dinners and then repurposed them as swimsuit cover-ups for boat trips and beach days. 

Another important piece I didn’t pack? My expensive sunglasses. I love to travel with this affordable pair instead, which protect my eyes but are easily replaceable if they get  lost or damaged. 

Halife Swimsuit Cover-Up $27 at Amazon	Sojos Retro Panto Polarized Sunglasses $20 $16 at Amazon

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