Wanderful’s 2023
Global Meetup
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND // 7-10 SEPTEMBER 2023
Get out and see the world with other amazing traveling women.
If you’ve always wanted to go somewhere but didn’t want to go alone, here’s your chance.
At Wanderful’s Global Meetup, we’ll visit a new place together.
You’ll have access to lightly curated activities with the freedom and flexibility to explore on your own (or with your new favorite travel buddies).
And, you’ll be hosted by our local Wanderful chapter so you can make global friends while also connecting locally.
This is NOT a group trip.
lightly curated.
We’ll organize 1-2 activities per day, usually around a meal. We’ll also set up a room block so you can stay with other Wanderful members, but you can stay elsewhere too. The rest is up to you. We do NOT plan your travel, airfare, or ground transportation. There are no tour guides.
explore on your own.
Stay at our hostel block to meet other Wanderful women and pair off to explore the city how YOU want to. Plus, you’ll get favorite recommendations from local Wanderful members on places to go and things to see.
hosted by locals.
We’ll be hosted by local Wanderful Edinburgh members, giving you the chance to make valuable local connections and get insider tips during your visit.
our hostess:
Annie Sisson
Wanderful member, Scotland expert, and founder of Into the Bold.
Annie is a fiercely independent explorer, foodie, and fun-seeker who believes in creating travel experiences that are more unique, fun, and affordable without big bus tours, cruise ships, or all-inclusive resorts.
She’s all about indie (or independent) traveler and is a Scotland aficionado. We’re pumped to have her planning our Edinburgh Global Meetup!
Meet our Edinburgh members.
During our Thursday mixer and throughout the weekend, you’ll get a chance to meet and connect with local Wanderful Edinburgh and UK-based members. Plus, access our local chapter group in the Wanderful member portal for tips and advice on your trip from other Wanderful members.
The itinerary.
We’ll regroup with an activity together each day.
The rest is up to you (with some suggestions)!
Thursday, September 7 —
Welcome Mixer
Join us for welcome cocktails and to meet other Wanderful travelers at our opening night mixer. We’ll even do a Scotch whisky tasting with a female distiller. Plus, we’ll walk through what to expect over the next few days during our time together.
Friday, September 8 —
The Real Mary King’s Close + Group Dinner
Explore 400 years of exciting (and sometimes spooky) Edinburgh history by walking through the underground alleyways of old Edinburgh. We’ll take a group tour of the Real Mary King’s Close (with prosecco, of course) and have a group dinner together.
Saturday, September 9 —
Edinburgh Castle + Live Music Meetup
Looming over us is the impressive Edinburgh Castle, and now we’ll get a chance to see it for ourselves! You’ll also get a free 7-Day Scotland Explorer Pass included in your registration so you can explore many other exciting landmarks on your own. After visiting the castle, we’ll reunite for an evening outing of traditional live music.
Sunday, September 10 —
Full Scottish Breakfast
You can’t leave Scotland without a full Scottish breakfast experience, and we intend to keep you honest! Join your new best friends for square lorne sausage, fried egg, baked beans, haggis, tattie scones, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, and more to send you on your way well-fed (don’t worry, we’ll keep things vegetarian-friendly, too).
Some quick itinerary notes.
There are some alcohol-focused activities included in our itinerary to pay homage to Scotland’s whisky culture. However, our intention is to make this event comfortable and fun for everyone, regardless of if you will be drinking, and non-alcoholic options will be made available.
Please be mindful that Edinburgh has varying levels of elevation with many cobblestones, hills, and stairs. This may make it tricky for people with limited mobility. Our host hostel also does not have a lift. We want to accommodate all accessibility needs as best we can so please let us know if you need any additional support!
Where we’ll stay.
Castle Rock Hostel
Castle Rock Hostel is a historic favorite in Edinburgh, and you are going to LOVE its charm and color! It’s filled with art and history — to the point that many guests have called it a museum. It’s situated right in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle and within walking distance of all the main sights of Edinburgh.
On-site we’ll have access to a number of community spaces, including a music room, a full grand piano, an adorable patio, and more.
This is a true hostel experience, with both private rooms and quads available. Restrooms are shared. Linens are included and towels can be rented on-site for £2.
If you haven’t had a hostel experience before, this is a safe, affordable, and FUN way to try it! If you’d prefer a hotel, you can purchase the “meetup only” option and book your own lodging.
Exclusive to members only.
This meetup is exclusive to Wanderful members only. You must be an active Wanderful member at the time of purchase and the time of travel in order to join us.
Not a member yet? Join Wanderful for access to global meetups, 50+ chapters, virtual events, a free ticket to Wanderfest and more.
Reserve your spot.
Spaces are limited to 50 travelers. Reserve your spot now to join us before we sell out.
Meetup Only
$499 USD
Join us for all of our meetup activities; reserve your own lodging.
Included:
— Thursday welcome mixer
—Real Mary King’s Close + group dinner
— 7 Day Scotland Explorer pass + Edinburgh Castle tour
— Saturday night live music meetup
— Full Scottish breakfast Sunday
— Special welcome goodies
Does not include lodging, ground transportation, or airfare.
Non-members: Purchase this ticket with 1 year of Traveler membership included for $798 USD
Meetup + Quad
$599 USD
Affordability meets sisterhood; stay in a room with 3 other Wanderful women at Castle Rock.
Included:
— 3 nights shared accommodation at Castle Rock from 7-10 September 2023
— Thursday welcome mixer
— Breakfast at Castle Rock Friday + Saturday
—Real Mary King’s Close + group dinner
— 7 Day Scotland Explorer pass + Edinburgh Castle tour
— Full Scottish breakfast Sunday
— Special welcome goodies
Does not include ground transportation or airfare.
Non-members: Purchase this ticket with 1 year of Traveler membership included for $898 USD
Meetup + Private
$799 USD
Get a private room at Castle Rock and access to all of our global meetup activities.
Included:
— 3 nights private accommodation with shared restrooms at Castle Rock from 7-10 September 2023
— Thursday welcome mixer
— Breakfast at Castle Rock Friday + Saturday
—Real Mary King’s Close + group dinner
— 7 Day Scotland Explorer pass + Edinburgh Castle tour
— Full Scottish breakfast Sunday
— Special welcome goodies
Does not include ground transportation or airfare.
FAQs.
-
Sometimes you’re looking for a travel experience without having someone plan out absolutely everything. That’s where Wanderful’s Global Meetups come in.
We coordinate a group of Wanderful members to travel to a place at the same time where we have a local hub. We’ll organize a room block and set up 1-2 activities per day to do. The rest is up to you.
We’ll give you access to a private group in the Wanderful member portal so you can find and meet other travelers in advance and set up activities to do together. If you select shared accommodations, we’ll match you with roommates to stay with.
AND we’ll connect you to local members so you can get good tips and advice from local Wanderful women before, during, and after your journey.
-
Unlike a typical group trip where everything is covered in advance, we organize 1-2 activities per day and everything else is up to you.
If you choose to stay with us at Castle Rock, we’ll take care of the cost of accommodations. Any items listed in the official meetup activities are also prepaid and therefore free of charge when you arrive.
Everything else, including airfare, ground transport, and any other activities or meals not included in our primary planning, are costs that you can expect to spend independently.
-
Look no further! Annie is also a travel advisor who can help you plan additional excursions and other activities around Scotland and the UK!
-
This Global Meetup is exclusive to Wanderful members only. You’ll need to be a member at the time of booking your spot, as well as during the trip itself. You can purchase a ticket with membership in order to sign up right away.