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Wander WellSOLANNA NERI A practical companion for thoughtful travel A practical companion for thoughtful travel
For the wanderers, the daydreamers, and people who pack courage first. Travel isn’t just about ticking off countries—it’s about noticing how wide and generous the world can be. Every trip reshapes you a little. You start to see that “home” can be many places: a warm meal, a shared laugh, a sunrise from a bus window.
What’s Ahead Planning the Perfect Trip Packing Light, Packing Smart Itineraries & Travel Days Getting Off the Main Path Staying Safe and Sane Capturing and Remembering Coming Home Changed
Chapter 1 WANDER WELL Planning the Perfect Trip Every great adventure starts long before the airport gate—it starts with a decision: Where to next? When I plan a trip, I start with how I want to feel. Rested? Inspired? Brave? That feeling shapes the destination more than any travel ad ever could.
Chapter 1 WANDER WELL Choosing your destination Before you open a single booking site, pause. Close your eyes and ask yourself: What am I seeking? Maybe it's the stillness of watching sunrise over rice terraces. Maybe it's the electric buzz of a night market where you don't speak the language but somehow understand everything. Maybe it's simply permission to do nothing but read on a beach for five days straight. Questions worth sitting with: What emotion do I want this trip to give me? Do I need to escape or to discover? Am I craving solitude or connection? What stories do I want to bring home? I once spent an entire evening comparing flights I couldn't afford to places I wasn't even sure I wanted to go. Bali looked beautiful but everyone was already there. Iceland was blowing my budget before I even clicked "book." Mexico felt safe but predictable. What actually helped? Asking myself what I was actually chasing. Not the perfect photo or the place everyone said I had to see. Just—what did I want to feel?
Chapter 2 WANDER WELL Packing Light, Packing Smart Packing is where good intentions meet reality. You think you’ll wear seven outfits in five days — you won’t. You think you need three pairs of shoes — you don’t. You think that “just in case” item will save the day, but it’ll sit at the bottom of your bag, reminding you that less really is more when you’re on the move. I've overpacked. I've underpacked. I've hauled bags up four flights of stairs in a country where elevators apparently don't exist and sworn I'd never make that mistake again. (I did. Twice.) Here's what I know now: packing light isn't about deprivation. It's about freedom. It's about not being weighed down—literally and metaphorically—by things you don't actually need. Here's what actually makes it into my bag: Clothing Toiletries Tech Documents Tops (4-5) Toothbrush Phone & charger Passport Bottoms (2-3) Toothpaste Universal adapter Copies of documents Underwear Deodorant Portable battery Travel insurance Socks Sunscreen Headphones Credit cards Jacket/Layer Medications Camera Cash Comfortable shoes Basic first aid Nice shoes (optional)
Chapter 2 WANDER WELL Packing mantra: If it’s not a 10/10 need, it stays home.
Chapter 3 WANDER WELL Itineraries and Travel Days There's a fine line between having a plan and being trapped by one. I've done both extremes. I've showed up in a new city with zero plan and spent half my trip just figuring out where to eat. I've also color-coded a spreadsheet with every hour accounted for and felt stressed when a museum visit ran twenty minutes over schedule. Neither felt like travel. One felt chaotic. The other felt like work. Here's what I've learned: the best trips have structure, not rigidity.
Chapter 3 WANDER WELL What Actually Needs Planning One or two anchor activities per day—the museum you really want to see, the hike you came for, the restaurant that needs a reservation. Rough neighborhoods you want to explore. Anything requiring advance booking. General timing like morning in this area, afternoon in that one. Everything else? Leave it open. The space between your plans is where the magic happens. Building Your Days Start with your non-negotiables—what you actually came to do. Book those first, then build around them. Morning person? Stack important activities early when museums are less crowded. Night person? Sleep in and save evening activities for when you feel alive. Don't fight your natural rhythm. Group things geographically. If two places are in the same neighborhood, do them on the same day. Don’t crisscross a city unnecessarily when you can save time and energy by planning smart and keeping your route efficient. When to Plan vs. When to Wing It Plan ahead for: Popular attractions with timed entry, restaurants everyone raves about, day trips needing transport, activities with limited spots. Wing it for: Casual meals, walking around neighborhoods, shopping, markets, random exploring. Book the big things before you go, then leave at least 50% of your time unscheduled.
Chapter 4 WANDER WELL Getting Off the Main Path The most memorable experiences happen when you wander away from where everyone else is going. Take the side street. Explore the neighborhood with no tourist attractions. Eat where you don't see other travelers. Ride the bus instead of taking a taxi so you can see how people actually move through the city. You don't have to abandon all the famous spots—sometimes they're famous for a reason. But balance them with exploration. Give yourself time to get a little lost. Follow your curiosity. The “One Neighborhood” Rule Pick one neighborhood that isn't in the guidebook and spend a few hours there. Walk around. Sit in a park. Get coffee. See what you find. Some of my best memories are from saying yes to things I didn't plan.
Chapter 5 WANDER WELL Staying Safe and Sane Nobody wants to think about getting sick or something going wrong. But a little preparation means you can travel with confidence instead of worry. I’m not talking about paranoia or worst-case-scenario planning. I’m talking about the simple, practical basics that let you handle whatever comes up without it throwing you off balance or ruining your trip. Staying Safe Most places are safer than you think. But being aware and smart keeps you out of situations you don't want to be in. Basic Safety Practices Don't flash expensive jewelry, cameras, or large amounts of cash Keep your bag in front of you in crowded areas Use official taxis or trusted rideshare apps, especially at night Trust your gut—if something feels wrong, leave Know the local emergency number (not always 911) Solo Travelers At Night Let someone know your general plans. Check in with a friend or family member periodically. It's not paranoia—it's smart. Stick to well-lit, populated areas. Avoid walking alone in unfamiliar neighborhoods after dark. If you're unsure, take a taxi.
Chapter 5 WANDER WELL Staying Sane Travel can be overwhelming. Homesickness, culture shock, and loneliness are real, especially on longer or solo trips. If You’re Struggling: Give yourself permission to have a quiet day Call or video chat someone from home Find a familiar comfort (a coffee shop chain, your favorite snack) Journal about what you're feeling Remember it's temporary—both the trip and the discomfort It's okay to not love every moment. Travel isn't always Instagram-perfect. Some days are hard. That doesn't mean you're doing it wrong.
Chapter 6 WANDER WELL Capturing and Remembering The trip will end. That’s the hard truth. One day you’ll be back home, back to your routine, and the whole thing will start to feel like a dream you half- remember, something beautiful and distant that lingers just out of reach. But the memories don't have to fade. You just have to be intentional about how you capture them—not just with your phone, but in ways that actually stick.
Chapter 6 WANDER WELL Photos That Matter Yes, take the classic shots—the landmarks, the sunsets, the pretty streets. But also take photos of the small things. The café where you had breakfast every morning. The weird snack you bought at a convenience store. Your hotel room. Your feet. These mundane moments are what you'll forget first. Take fewer photos overall, but make them count. Put your phone down sometimes and just be there. Journal, Even Badly You don't need eloquent essays. Bullet points work. Stream of consciousness works. Even three sentences about what happened that day is enough. Keep a notes app on your phone or bring a small notebook. Write in cafés, on trains, before bed. Don't pressure yourself to write perfectly—just get it down. Collect As You Go Keep ticket stubs, business cards, receipts from memorable meals, maps, brochures. Tape or glue them into your journal later. Instant scrapbook. Create a Ritual At the end of each trip, sit down with everything. Photos, notes, tickets, receipts. Make a folder. Write a reflection. Print a few favorite photos. Some people make photo books. Some create playlists of songs from the trip. Some frame a favorite photo. Find what works for you.
Chapter 7 WANDER WELL Coming Home Changed The trip ends, but the experience doesn't have to. Within a week of getting back, while it's still fresh, sit down with your photos and notes. Make a folder. Write down your favorite moments. Print a few photos. Create something tangible that you can revisit later. Give yourself a day or two to ease back into regular life. Don't schedule anything intense immediately after you return. You'll need time to unpack, do laundry, sleep in your own bed, and mentally transition. Post-trip Reflection Questions: What surprised me most? What would I do differently next time? What did I learn about myself? Where do I want to go next? Start a trip fund immediately, even if it's small. Put something aside each month. Future you will be grateful when the travel itch hits again.
Practical, soulful, and a little unplanned: everything a modern traveller could need.