NOTE (September 2018): Wanderful is no longer a membership organization. However, WITS, Wanderfest and the homesharing network are still going strong!
My Wanderful Story
A little more than two years ago, when I was somewhere in southern India, I got an email about a “women in travel” conference taking place in Boston a few weeks after my return.
I had joined the Wanderful Meetup group but had never made it to one of their events due to my busy work and travel schedule. However, facing the prospect of being back in my snowy hometown, unemployed and with very few people to talk to about my recent travels, I thought that this was one event I shouldn’t miss.
And I was right.
I’ll never forget how comfortable I felt during my first “WITS” – Women in Travel Summit – being surrounded by women who were like me, who wanted to see the world and encourage others to do the same. Being welcomed by this positive and supportive community was exactly what I needed at the time – the contacts I made help ease my transition back to the “real world,” and the knowledge I gained gave me the confidence to launch my blog. Needless to say, I remain incredibly thankful for that experience.
Today, some of my closest friends in Boston are women that I met at my first WITS, and I still keep in touch online with dozens of others around the U.S. and the world. I have (finally) made it to some local Wanderful meetups – most recently at the Boston Globe Travel Show – and I’m gearing up to moderate a panel at WITS ’17 in Milwaukee next month.
clowning around with travel blogger Lillie Marshall (left) and her colleague at the opening party WITS ’15 in Boston
What’s New with Wanderful
Since Wanderful has been such a big part of my life over the past few years, I’m very proud to join with them as they expand their network and membership offerings.
Recently Wanderful launched a new membership program that includes a members-only, identity-verified global homesharing network exclusively for women. How cool is that?! As someone who regularly travels solo, I am looking forward to connecting in person with even more like-minded women – both to find safe and affordable accommodations all over the globe as well as host female travelers here in my own home or show them my city from a local’s perspective.
the crowd at WITS ’16 in Irvine, California (I’m in here somewhere!)
What Wanderful Can Do for You
Beyond a discount to WITS, access to the homesharing network and inclusion in a thriving online community, Wanderful members enjoy numerous benefits like invitations to domestic and international group trips, and discounts to special events in cities around the world. I know I’m already excited for Wanderfest, Wanderful’s inaugural retreat, which is taking place in the Poconos October 6-9.
Here’s the full list of Wanderful member benefits:
Join Wanderful today…
Doesn’t this all sound wonderful? (Or, um, Wanderful?) If so, you can get $15 off an annual membership when you sign up using the code TRAVELINGLIFE at this link before May 1.
… and give back!
Here are just a few of my Wanderful Boston friends at WITS ’16!
Giveaway
You can also try your luck by winning one of 10 FREE annual memberships – worth $119 each – by entering the Giveaway below before March 31. Just leave a comment saying how you would benefit from being a Wanderful member.
Thank you to Wanderful for providing me with a complimentary annual membership.