The Blonde Abroad • Female Travel & Lifestyle Blog

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Travel Bucket List for 2023

From jet-setting around the globe to seeing where your favorite TV show was set, renting vacation homes with friends, and making memories under the stars, here is my travel bucket list for 2023!

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Solo Travel View All

Solo Travel 10 Safest Destinations
for Solo Female Travelers

Solo Travel 10 Tips for Taking
Your First Solo Trip

Solo Travel Best Destinations for
Solo Travel

Solo Travel 10 Experiences for
Solo Female Travelers

Solo Travel Best Cities to Travel Alone
in the USA

Solo Travel How to Get Awesome Photos
as a Solo Traveler

Solo Travel Why Solo Female Travel
Isn't "Safe"

Girls Trips Best Girlfriend Getaways
Around the World

Girls Trips Ultimate Best Friend
Travel Bucket List

Girls Trips Mother-Daughter Getaways
Around the World

Girls Trips Best Party Cities
Around the World

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Destinations

Girls Trips Girls' Guide to
California Coast Road Trip

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Packing Guides Ultimate Travel Gear
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a Tropical Vacation

Packing Guides What to Pack for
an African Safari

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Summer in Europe

Packing Guides What to Pack for
a Conservative Country

Packing Guides Best Luggage, Bags and
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Blogging Ultimate Guide to Starting
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Blogging Best Photography Equipment
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Blogging How to Run a Blog
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Blogging Best Apps for Bloggers
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Blogging Tips for Brand New Bloggers
(Wanting to Up Their Game)

Couples Travel 10 Perfect Weekend Getaways
for Couples

Couples Travel Ultimate Couples' Travel
Bucket List

Couples Travel 10 Places to Visit
When You're In Love

Couples Travel Top Adventurous Trips
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Couples Travel Best Tropical
Honeymoon Destinations

Couples Travel Most Romantic Hotels
Around the World

Couples Travel 10 Essential Trips for
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Couples Travel The Most Romantic
Destinations in Europe

Budget Tips 10 Budget-Friendly Travel
Destinations Around the World

Budget Tips How to Make Money
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Budget Tips Budget-Friendly Destinations
for 2020

Budget Tips 10 Budget-Friendly
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Budget Tips Best Budget Destinations
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Budget Tips How Much to Budget for
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You can call me Kiki! I'm a California native who left my career in corporate finance to become a world traveler. I now call Cape Town, South Africa home and have traveled to over 70 countries around the world!

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So long summer ☀️
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Honestly, it feels like I’ve been living in an eternal summer.

I took a girls trip to Bermuda in January, then we went back to South Africa for 6 weeks, then we spent 6 weeks traveling Italy and Mallorca, then I took my first big “solo” trip to the Galapagos Islands, THEN came home to the middle of California summer and it’s been busy busy busy.

Because Oliver was born last June, I sort of missed summer entirely last year. Going from “omg I’m so pregnant I can’t leave the house” to an all-consuming “omg life with a newborn I can’t leave the house” multi-monthlong period.

Boy did we make up for lost time.

Though I am definitely a summer girl, autumn is my favorite season. Give me all the coziness and fall flavors. I can’t wait for pumpkin patches and the changing leaves and even earlier sunsets (ew I know lol—but Oliver hasn’t seen a sunset because he’s asleep by 7 PM and I can’t wait to experience them with him)!

If you’ve been following me for any length of time you know I have 2 speeds: exotic travels and Halloween ;)

We’re decorating the house next week!
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#solongsummer #summer #travel

Romanticizing life through travel ❤️ •••

Romanticizing life through travel ❤️
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For me, travel isn’t just about checking off destinations from your bucket list; it’s about weaving stories into the very fabric of your existence.

It’s about savoring the intoxicating aroma of freshly baked croissants on a Parisian street corner, feeling the warm, golden sands of a far-flung beach between your toes, and losing yourself in the kaleidoscope of colors at a bustling Marrakech market.

It’s not just about where we go, but how we let these journeys shape our hearts and souls.

I think that these experiences can transform us from the very youngest age. He might not remember it, but I will. And we are both forever changed by it.
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#mallorca #deia #babytravel #thebabyabroad #familytravel

Trying to freeze time 🕰️
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I’ve been really emotional about this stage of Oliver’s young life.

Ever since he was born, his development has been something I’ve looked forward to and been excited about—starting solids, sitting up, crawling, etc.

But now, at 14 months, I’m faced with closing the “baby” chapter and have been desperately trying to freeze time.

It all goes by so fast.

He’ll be walking any day now. He looks and acts more and more like a little boy every day. Before I know it, his chunky thighs will thin and we’ll be scheduling his first hair cut.

Though, that might be postponed for a few years because how do you EVER part with those curls?!

I knew it was the right time to book a session with a professional photographer for no particular reason other than to hold onto a feeling. Enter @chelseamarasphoto.

Naturally, the day of the shoot, Oliver started cutting a tooth. My always happy baby was grumbly and refusing to let out even the slightest giggle. I left that evening feeling apologetic for wasting her time.

And then, Chelsea sends me a preview of that first photo and I absolutely lost it.

There really are no words, but I am enterally grateful for these photos. The love, the light, the warmth. The feeling of being his mama… frozen in time.
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#14monthsold #mommyandme #babyphotography

#ad I’ve been saving my OneKeyCash for our next

#ad I’ve been saving my OneKeyCash for our next trip! 💰✈️
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I’ve saved up nearly $1500 in OneKeyCash from my trips this year, mostly from our summer adventure in Italy (Vrbo vacation rental and Expedia car rental in Tuscany, Hotels.com booking in Mallorca, etc.)

I most recently booked a 3-night stay at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, CA through Expedia and earned $126 in OneKeyCash to use towards future trips.

One Key Members can unlock immediate discounts and earn and use rewards across @expedia, @hotelsdotcom, and @vrbo, giving you more flexibility.

Now, we’re planning Oliver’s first DISNEYLAND® vacation—I used my OneKeyCash towards our hotel booking!

If you’re planning your next trip, you can use the @hotelsdotcom Smart Shopping comparison tool to find the best properties for you!
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#traveltips

What I learned on a one week sailing charter with

What I learned on a one week sailing charter with an 11-month-old baby (blog post coming soon!) 👶🏼⛵️
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⛵️Charter Details:
Sailing charter with @dreamyacht.global in Sardinia on a Fountaine Pajot Astrea 42’ Catamaran. I recommend a catamaran—more space and more stable than a monohull!

Opt for hiring a skipper AND a hostess. The skipper is essential—they navigate, sail, manage the itinerary, etc. And, a hostess shops, cooks, and tidies so you can fully enjoy your trip!

🌟 Helpful Tip: Confirm the boat is equipped with an inverter to ensure you have power even when the motor isn’t running.

🛑 Safety:
Top priority! Most charters should have the option to add a child safety net (for an extra free). If Oliver was walking, I definitely would have opted for it!

We brought a coast guard approved infant life jacket that he wore on the dinghy and when he wasn’t secured in a seat or held by an adult.

🗺️ Itinerary: Choosing the “right” destination is unique to every family, but choose somewhere you can alternate anchoring vs overnight in a marina. It’s nice to have time on land to get baby moving, burn off some energy, and to restock supplies.

😴 Sleep:
You’ll want to bring a baby monitor that doesn’t require WiFi, a portable white noise machine, and a portable fan to use in the cabin.

You can bedshare (what we did) with a Gloo baby tent. It’s safe sleep rated and I could nap him securely in the cabin while I was on deck. If you have a dedicated cabin for baby, you could opt for a pack-and-play on top of the bed.

🌟 Helpful Tip: Try to motor during or around nap time whenever possible. It can be loud and jarring for baby if the motor starts or stops while asleep.

🚼 Securing Baby:
We brought 2 baby chairs: An Ingelsina table chair provided a secure seat for baby (attached the the outdoor table) while we were sailing and a Hiccapop camp chair for an on-the-go high chair and beach seat. Any time we were at sea, we held baby and when we were anchored or in a marina we let him crawl around (supervised).
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I share TONS of tips saved on @the_baby_abroad highlight “⛵️with👶🏼“!

#sardinia #mydreamyacht #sailing #thebabyabroad #babytravel

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