Celebrating The Blonde Abroad Blog's 4th Birthday at the Madonna Inn • The Blonde Abroad

The Madonna Inn has made a name for itself with its over-the-top themed rooms and extravagant decor reminiscent of Vegas in the 1950’s. Though I’d driven the California Coast countless times before, I had yet to rest my pillow (in a room covered in pink glitter) at this landmark hotel.

For the 4th birthday of The Blonde Abroad, I decided to make that dream a reality. So, I booked a night’s stay to celebrate and let my “pink” flag fly.

Situated in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California, the Madonna Inn was the perfect stop on my recent girl’s road trip up the California Coast!

Each of the 40 rooms is uniquely decorated to suit different tastes — from rock rooms to waterfall showers to grand fireplaces to glittery walls.

We were lucky enough to stay in the Austrian Suite.

As one of the biggest rooms, this suite was SO big you could to do cartwheels through it. It was also adorned with gold and blue accents throughout, making it feel as though you were a royal guest.

The property includes large horse pastures, a pool and spa, wine cellar, bakery, coffee shop, dining room, cocktail lounge, banquet rooms, and shops.

The most breathtaking room is probably the Gold Rush Steakhouse. The hand-carved marble railings in the dining room came from Hearst Castle! The ceiling is also something to marvel at, boasting giant flower sculptures, glittering vines and gold foil.

Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the vibrant pink dining booths!

Last, but not least, Madonna Inn is known for their tasty cakes straight from their in-house bakery. We got a Pink Champagne cake for the blog’s big, birthday celebration — and it was to die for! I am not exaggerating. It might have been the best cake I’ve ever had.

So, naturally, we ate the rest for breakfast!

SHOP my Madonna Inn-inspired style!

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Just a girl who wants both… luxury AND adventure. 🏔️✨

And Gardena Grödnerhof in Ortisei might be one of my favorite examples of exactly that!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We spent our days exploring some of the most iconic sights in the Dolomites, then came back to the comforts of an incredible five-star hotel. Even traveling with a four-year-old, getting out and exploring felt surprisingly effortless.

A few things that made our stay so special:

📍 THE LOCATION: Right in the heart of Ortisei, a charming, walkable mountain town with easy access to Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, and some of the Dolomites’ most beautiful scenery.

🛏️ THE ROOMS: We stayed in the Chalet Seceda Suite, complete with a huge balcony, mountain views, a fireplace, and even our own private sauna!

🧸 FOR THE KIDS: A fantastic kids club, kid-sized robes and slippers, play areas, and thoughtful little details that make traveling as a family so much easier.

🧖🏼‍♀️ THE WELLNESS: A beautiful spa with an indoor pool, outdoor whirlpool, saunas, and plenty of ways to relax after a day in the mountains.

🍝 THE FOOD: Two restaurants, including Michelin-starred Anna Stuben, and an incredible breakfast spread (complete with a juicing room).

What made this hotel so special was how accessible the adventure felt. We could have these huge days exploring the mountains and come back to somewhere so comfortable, with incredible food, a beautiful spa, and everything we needed to relax.

It was the perfect way to end our time in the Dolomites!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Save this one for your next trip to the Italian Alps! 🇮🇹

@gardenagroednerhof #gardenagrödnerhof @kiwicollection #carewhereyoustay #Dolomites #Ortisei

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18116831827799474

Just a girl who wants both… luxury AND adventure. 🏔️✨

And Gardena Grödnerhof in Ortisei might be one of my favorite examples of exactly that!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We spent our days exploring some of the most iconic sights in the Dolomites, then came back to the comforts of an incredible five-star hotel. Even traveling with a four-year-old, getting out and exploring felt surprisingly effortless.

A few things that made our stay so special:

📍 THE LOCATION: Right in the heart of Ortisei, a charming, walkable mountain town with easy access to Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, and some of the Dolomites’ most beautiful scenery.

🛏️ THE ROOMS: We stayed in the Chalet Seceda Suite, complete with a huge balcony, mountain views, a fireplace, and even our own private sauna!

🧸 FOR THE KIDS: A fantastic kids club, kid-sized robes and slippers, play areas, and thoughtful little details that make traveling as a family so much easier.

🧖🏼‍♀️ THE WELLNESS: A beautiful spa with an indoor pool, outdoor whirlpool, saunas, and plenty of ways to relax after a day in the mountains.

🍝 THE FOOD: Two restaurants, including Michelin-starred Anna Stuben, and an incredible breakfast spread (complete with a juicing room).

What made this hotel so special was how accessible the adventure felt. We could have these huge days exploring the mountains and come back to somewhere so comfortable, with incredible food, a beautiful spa, and everything we needed to relax.

It was the perfect way to end our time in the Dolomites!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Save this one for your next trip to the Italian Alps! 🇮🇹

@gardenagroednerhof #gardenagrödnerhof @kiwicollection #carewhereyoustay #Dolomites #Ortisei

Our @tbaescapes Maldives trip is back for its third year — April 10–17, 2027! 🐠🌴
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There aren’t many trips I’d happily do over and over again, but this is definitely one of them.

We spend seven nights on our own private yacht with an incredible group of women, diving and snorkeling some of the most beautiful reefs in the Maldives, eating way too much good food, doing yoga, getting massages and basically living on (and in) the water for a week.

And you do NOT have to be a scuba diver to join us!

That’s one of my favorite things about this trip. You can pick whichever package sounds most like your ideal week:

🤿 Scuba: 12 dives + 2 spa treatments
🤿💆‍♀️ Scuba + Spa: 6 dives + 4 spa treatments
💆‍♀️ Spa: 8 spa treatments + no diving

Want more of either? You can add extra dives or spa treatments during the trip too.

***

📍 Maldives
🗓 April 10–17, 2027
👯‍♀️ Private, all-female yacht charter
🐠 Incredible snorkeling
💆‍♀️ 300m² spa spread across two decks
🧘‍♀️ Daily yoga
🍽 All-inclusive dining
🌅 Sandbank sunsets + a moonlit beach BBQ
🛥 Just 20 women

***

Some cabin categories are already SOLD OUT, and we don’t currently have another departure scheduled.

So if you’ve always wanted to go to the Maldives but the whole honeymoon-resort thing isn’t exactly your vibe… this is YOUR Maldives trip. 💙
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
👇 Click the link below for the full itinerary, available cabins + pricing, or comment MALDIVES and I’ll send you all the details!

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 17951570499276180

Our @tbaescapes Maldives trip is back for its third year — April 10–17, 2027! 🐠🌴
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
There aren’t many trips I’d happily do over and over again, but this is definitely one of them.

We spend seven nights on our own private yacht with an incredible group of women, diving and snorkeling some of the most beautiful reefs in the Maldives, eating way too much good food, doing yoga, getting massages and basically living on (and in) the water for a week.

And you do NOT have to be a scuba diver to join us!

That’s one of my favorite things about this trip. You can pick whichever package sounds most like your ideal week:

🤿 Scuba: 12 dives + 2 spa treatments
🤿💆‍♀️ Scuba + Spa: 6 dives + 4 spa treatments
💆‍♀️ Spa: 8 spa treatments + no diving

Want more of either? You can add extra dives or spa treatments during the trip too.

***

📍 Maldives
🗓 April 10–17, 2027
👯‍♀️ Private, all-female yacht charter
🐠 Incredible snorkeling
💆‍♀️ 300m² spa spread across two decks
🧘‍♀️ Daily yoga
🍽 All-inclusive dining
🌅 Sandbank sunsets + a moonlit beach BBQ
🛥 Just 20 women

***

Some cabin categories are already SOLD OUT, and we don’t currently have another departure scheduled.

So if you’ve always wanted to go to the Maldives but the whole honeymoon-resort thing isn’t exactly your vibe… this is YOUR Maldives trip. 💙
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
👇 Click the link below for the full itinerary, available cabins + pricing, or comment MALDIVES and I’ll send you all the details!

Turns out you can fit a lot of life into one year. 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Moving abroad with a four-year-old while running multiple businesses from the road has been equal parts incredible, chaotic, exhausting and unforgettable.

For the past six months, my AMD Ryzen AI-powered laptop has come along for all of it… from Cape Town to Europe and everywhere in between.

It’s lightweight enough to travel with me, powerful enough to keep up with my million open tabs, and the battery life has genuinely exceeded my expectations.

There are definitely easier ways to live 😂 But I wouldn’t trade this adventure for anything.

Here’s to building a life that makes sense to you!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@AMD #ad #AMDPartner #AMDRyzenAIPower

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18105147383615878

Turns out you can fit a lot of life into one year. 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Moving abroad with a four-year-old while running multiple businesses from the road has been equal parts incredible, chaotic, exhausting and unforgettable.

For the past six months, my AMD Ryzen AI-powered laptop has come along for all of it… from Cape Town to Europe and everywhere in between.

It’s lightweight enough to travel with me, powerful enough to keep up with my million open tabs, and the battery life has genuinely exceeded my expectations.

There are definitely easier ways to live 😂 But I wouldn’t trade this adventure for anything.

Here’s to building a life that makes sense to you!
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
@AMD #ad #AMDPartner #AMDRyzenAIPower

We call them “cow wind chimes” 🐄🔔⛰️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
No trending audio could ever compete with this.

Just me and my little guy wandering around Lake Trübsee, surrounded by the happiest cows making their little mountain music.

Sound on for this one! 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
📍 Lake Trübsee, Mt. Titlis, Switzerland

#LakeTrübsee #Engelberg #SwissAlps #SwitzerlandTravel #VisitSwitzerland

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18138260548617510

We call them “cow wind chimes” 🐄🔔⛰️
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
No trending audio could ever compete with this.

Just me and my little guy wandering around Lake Trübsee, surrounded by the happiest cows making their little mountain music.

Sound on for this one! 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
📍 Lake Trübsee, Mt. Titlis, Switzerland

#LakeTrübsee #Engelberg #SwissAlps #SwitzerlandTravel #VisitSwitzerland

Could I pack lighter? Yes.
Will I? The evidence suggests otherwise. 😮‍💨
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Overpacking is genuinely one of my biggest travel shortcomings.

I simply cannot travel anywhere with a carry-on only. Weekend getaway? Beach vacation? Summer in Europe?

Doesn’t matter where or for how long… I will absolutely be arriving with 1–2 checked bags and *so many* regrets as I drag them across cobblestone streets.

I love travel style so much that my wardrobe is essentially costumes. I have the perfect outfit for a small fishing village in the south of France but “nothing to wear” at home.

Beach Kiki, boat Kiki, Paris Kiki, Cotswolds Liki, hiking Kiki, fancy dinner Kiki… they’re all coming and they each packed separately.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Anyways, if this speaks to you, I’ve linked my most-asked-about outfits from our summer in Europe on my LTK!

Comment “LTK” for a link or tap the link below ❤️

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18629738554049110

Could I pack lighter? Yes.
Will I? The evidence suggests otherwise. 😮‍💨
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Overpacking is genuinely one of my biggest travel shortcomings.

I simply cannot travel anywhere with a carry-on only. Weekend getaway? Beach vacation? Summer in Europe?

Doesn’t matter where or for how long… I will absolutely be arriving with 1–2 checked bags and *so many* regrets as I drag them across cobblestone streets.

I love travel style so much that my wardrobe is essentially costumes. I have the perfect outfit for a small fishing village in the south of France but “nothing to wear” at home.

Beach Kiki, boat Kiki, Paris Kiki, Cotswolds Liki, hiking Kiki, fancy dinner Kiki… they’re all coming and they each packed separately.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Anyways, if this speaks to you, I’ve linked my most-asked-about outfits from our summer in Europe on my LTK!

Comment “LTK” for a link or tap the link below ❤️

Cancel reply

Izy berry

Congratulations for 4 years I really love your blog is my favorite

April 20, 2016 at 9:43 am · Reply

LisaLDN

WOW, 4 years is amazing – and a stay at the Madonna Inn seems like the PERFECT way to celebrate! I’ve wanted to stay there since I saw it on Girls Next Door (no judgment, haha), it looks so incredible! 🙂

April 22, 2016 at 2:05 am · Reply

Kiersten Rich

Haha that’s awesome! You definitely have to stay there!

April 23, 2016 at 11:07 am · Reply

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We were lucky enough to stay in the Austrian Suite.

Oh, and let’s not forget to mention the vibrant pink dining booths!

So, naturally, we ate the rest for breakfast!

Read Next: 3-Day California Coast Road Trip

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SHOP my Madonna Inn-inspired style!

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