Tuesday 9 May 2017

Review: Madonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, CA

Have you ever been somewhere that you thought only existed in dreams or in other peoples worlds?
Santorini was a moment for us, we were in the pictures we had seen and it as a dream come true. But before Santorini there was Madonna Inn (http://www.madonnainn.com/).


A recent Buzzfeed video reminded me of our visit.

Madonna Inn was like nothing we had ever seen or will be likely to see again. This hotel is like every kids fantasy except it's for adults and it's not fantasy. With 110 rooms and each room individually decorated with a different theme this place is special. Add on the bright pink tennis and basketball courts and the amazing pool complete with jacuzzi area's, oh and horse trails and this place is out of this world.


Check it out here:


We spent the night at the Madonna Inn on our California Road Trip after driving Highway 1.

Our room of choice was the pink glitter room - that's right a room covered in pink glitter wallpaper, with pink door frames, pink bedding, pink robes, a very pink bathroom and pink accessories. It was delightful. The room itself was called the 'Merry' room and was part of the Merry Go Round set.


After checking in and getting over the excitement our first stop was the pool, we had it to ourselves and it was the perfect way to wind down from our Highway 1 drive.


Our romantic swim was briefly interrupted by a couple with a boom box but we took that as our cue to head for dinner. Everything at the Madonna Inn is opulent. The rooms, the doorways, the public areas, the restaurant, even the goblets they serve dessert in. You can't fail to feel special here. It's like a fairy tale.


After dinner we danced, the in house band was playing a mix of swing and slow dances and the other hotel guests were already getting down. We ballroom danced (kinda) and then sat and people watched. With the grand chandeliers and dance floor we were transported back in time. 

There are actually four different restaurants at the hotel each offering something different but don't leave without checking out the bakery! The cakes are famous and delicious - although we had to share a slice.


Madonna Inn has been open for over 50 years and is described as a resort-like retreat. With an onsite spa as well as the facilities mentioned before you can see why it would be easy to escape here for longer than a night. You can eve hike, bike (yes the bikes are pink) or do onsite wine tasting! We were sad to leave. 
madonnainn.com
Add in the amazing service and this place will provide you with memories however short your visit. 

You can check out all the rooms here or see a few in the Buzzfeed video shared on our Facebook page. Here's some to get you started:

And in case you are wondering this place has nothing to do with 'Madonna', it is named after Mr Alex Madonna the guy who built and designed the hotel. A brief history can be found here but the bits I found most interesting were that it sits on over 1,000 acres and the surrounding rocks were used in the construction. It started as a much smaller hotel and the rooms have been added over time but the original suites were actually destroyed in a fire in 1966.  

Alex Madonna was quoted as saying "Anybody can build one room and a thousand like it. It's more economical. Most places try to give you as little as possible. I try to give people a decent place to stay where they receive more than they are entitled to for what they're paying. I want people to come in with a smile and leave with a smile. It's fun'

In case you needed any more reasons to visit San Luis Obispo was also voted as the happiest town in the USA. Buzzfeed checked it out here! The article also looks at tips to keep you happy so it's worth read. 

So if you are ever planning to do Highway 1 and fancy spending an unforgettable night in an amazing place check out Madonna Inn. Even if you just stop by for dinner, a game of tennis or to admire the stunning location.


1 comment:

  1. OH MY GOSH!!!! This place looks amazing- definitely putting this on my wish list.
    Thanks for sharing ladies.

    Love Coco xxxx

    ReplyDelete

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