Perfect Charleston Girls Trip

At a Glance

Charleston, SC, USA
Mar 27 - Mar 30, 2025
3 Nights
Level: 2
We rate all trips on a 1 to 5 scale. A designation of 1 would be trips with the least amount of activity, such as our beach trips, where it's up to you if you'd like to be active. Our adventure trips (such as the Inca trail hike) are a 5. Most of our trips are rated 3, for people who don't mind a fair bit of walking.
8-12 Travelers

Starting At

$1,999

Deposit: $300

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Trip Description

About This Trip

Bonding, gospel brunch and barrier beaches: These are a few of the highlights of this long weekend in one of our favorite towns: ever-gracious Charleston. You’ll also meet authors and artisans, and enjoy the famous Low Country cuisine.

For several years in a row, the gorgeous Southern city has been voted the number one destination in the country by readers of Travel + Leisure. It has history, stunning architecture, amazing shopping, and a food scene that is ridiculously good. Join the fun!

Watch the recording of our first information session and learn more here.

We work with NextTribe women who live in Charleston to open doors to places and people you could never see if you went to Charleston on your own or with any other group. It’s part of our Locally Sourced Travel series, where women just like us in destination cities help plan the trip, showing us the best attractions, getting us beyond the “tourist” wall to have a true insider experience.

NextTribe co-founder Jeannie Ralston has written about Charleston for several publications, including the New York Times and for NextTribe (about a recent trip). This is a town close to her heart.

NOTE: NextTribe members receive a $100 discount on price. 

5 Reasons We Love This Trip

  • The beautiful architecture and swaying palmettos
  • Visits to private homes and barrier islands
  • Exploring the famous Charleston Night Market’s artisan goods
  • Enjoying an authentic Low Country Boil on an unspoiled beach
  • Toasting new friends at a gospel brunch

Meet Your Guide: Ellesor Holder

Ellesor Holder is a South Carolinian through and through and knows Charleston almost as well as her own hometown farther upstate. Ellesor graduated from the University of South Carolina and has friends and family in the Low Country around Charleston. When you hear Ellesor speak, you’ll know how deeply and charmingly Southern she is. When you’re around her for even a few minutes, you’ll know how fun and welcoming she is.

"I am so glad I spent three days with 11 wonderful, fun women who are now my friends, and I had an incredible experience seeing a fascinating, beautiful city. It's one of the best things I could have done for myself."

- Katherine Adams

Photos

Map

Itinerary

THURSDAY, March 27th

Welcome to Historic Charleston

Once we've all arrived at the beautiful Kings Courtyard Inn, we'll meet our guide, Ellesor Holder, and get acquainted with the group. We'll step out the door on to the iconic King Street, home to some of Charleston's most stylish boutiques and world-class restaurants.

A carriage ride and leisurely stroll will take us through historic Charleston followed by rooftop cocktails with a view of the city. We'll cap off the night with dinner at one of Charleston's many fab foodie restaurants.

FRIDAY, March 28th

Middleton Place and Farm to Table Experience

Our morning will be spent touring Middleton Place. Located on the Ashley River, it is a rare survivor of the American Revolution, Civil War and natural disasters. This National Historic Landmark exemplifies the complex nature of our nation's history, focusing on the contributions of the Middleton family as well as the enslaved Africans and African Americans who lived and worked there. We'll spend our time here touring the manicured landscaped gardens and vast garden rooms while learning the history and stories of this exceptional place.

This afternoon we will meet one of Charleston's best chefs and be guided through an authentic farm to table experience, culminating in a delicious chef prepared dinner.

Later, we'll explore the Charleston Night Market where artisans sell their unique handcrafted wares.

SATURDAY, March 29th

Sullivan's Island and Low Country Boil

After a leisurely morning, we'll have lunch overlooking the marshes of the Intercoastal waterway and a glorious view of Charleston’s iconic Ravenel Bridge. We’ll be in the home of a NextTriber who lives on Sullivan’s Island, which will give you the chance to see inside one of the spectacular island structures. After lunch one of Charleston's authors will share their creative process and speak about their work.

We'll then hop on a chartered boat from Isle of Palms to the uninhabited Capers Island, getting a good look at the waterways and its inhabitants. If we're lucky, porpoises will appear near us. Once at Capers, we’ll explore the beach, known for its spectacular collection of driftwood. We’ll be eating a traditional Low Country Boil (local shrimp paired with house smoked sausage, sweet corn and small potatoes simmered in a flavorful seasoned mix) that's prepared for us right on the beach. As we make our way back to civilization, we'll watch the sun setting over the water, casting everything in a sparkling gold light.

SUNDAY, March 30th

Gospel Brunch at Hall’s Chop House

At Hall's Chophouse, two Sunday rituals come together: brunch and worship. Near the piano at the front door, a singer croons “Amazing Grace” and other gospel standards. Upstairs, the hungry sit on leather banquettes and dig into crab cake eggs Benedict, or shrimp and grits. Yum!

Departure – LATE AFTERNOON. If possible, please book an outbound flight at 3 p.m. or later.

Disclaimer: This is travel. Sh*t happens. If we have to replace any hotel, restaurant or activity we'll make sure it's of equal value.

Logistics

Fly into and out of Charleston (CHS) Ideally, arrive 2:00 pm or earlier and depart after 2:00 pm

Airport transfers: Ride Share, Shuttle, Rental Car or Taxi

Before the trip, we will be gathering for a Zoom meet and greet and you will also get a schedule of everyone's flights, so you can see if there will be someone on your flight you can share a taxi with from the airport.

Our hotel info is:
Kings Courtyard Inn
198 King St.
Charleston, SC 29401

We will ask everyone going on the trip to download WhatsApp, so that we can use it for communication before and during our trip. Please familiarize yourself with WhatsApp.

If you want to extend your stay before or after, we can work with the hotel to arrange this.

If you have questions, please direct them to Marcy Mitchell, our travel manager, at travel@NextTribe.com.

What's Included

  • Accommodations

3 nights at the historic King’s Courtyard Inn

  • Welcome Drink

At a rooftop bar, overlooking the city

  • 3 Dinners

  • Breakfast Each Morning

  • Carriage Ride

  • Sunset Boat Ride

Boat ride and Beach Cookout on Capers Island

  • Author's Lunch

In the home of a NextTriber who lives on the intercoastal waterway onSullivan's Island

  • Farm-to-Table Experience

With a local chef

  • Middleton Place Tour

Stroll the beautiful gardens of this historic property

  • Gospel Brunch

At Hall's Chop House

  • Lunch Sullivan's Island

At the Private Home of a NextTriber

What's Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Airport Transfers
  • Alcohol not mentioned above
  • Gratuities

To local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff, travel insurance, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees and any items not expressly listed above as included.

Additional Add-Ons

Hotels

King's Courtyard Inn

Charleston

Our travelers love us (yay!)

Colleen M., California

What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.

Courtney M., Texas

What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.

Donna B., Washington

I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.

Connie B., Pennsylvania

I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.

Leslie M., Georgia

I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.

Teresa S., Kentucky

NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.

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Let’s Do This!

Starting From

$1,999

Did you know we have easy payment plans for our trips, interest free? Think of this as a layaway plan to feed your soul.

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What to Expect Traveling with NextTribe

You’ll be embraced by a tribe of travelers, starting with smart, fun women who lead our trips. We even have a code of community for both travelers and guides.

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Terms & Conditions

Here’s the boring stuff we encourage you to read so there are no surprises.

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Travel Insurance – Do You Need it?

Short answer: Yes! We strongly suggest you buy trip insurance to protect your investment in the trip.

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Frequently asked questions

What’s different about your trips?

We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.

Where do you go?

We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!

What do you mean by transformational travel?

NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!

What if I travel solo?

If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.

What if I don’t like group travel?

We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.

What’s the price range of your trips?

We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.

What’s included in the price?

Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.

Do you have payment plans?

We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.

How do I get trip discounts?

Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.

What’s the average age of women on the trips?

We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.

What’s the activity level of the trips?

Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.

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