Fri 12 Jun 2026 • Bonanza Collective
A love letter to Bonanza: Alex's story
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Alex joined us back in 2024 for a beautiful midsummer week with a very special group of ladies! This is her story written after a year of reflecting on her own experience.
As someone who is painfully nostalgic, I’ve spent the better part of the last year since leaving the Bonanza villa reminiscing about my dreamlike week in Biarritz.
A Warm Welcome in Biarritz
From the moment I arrived at the breathtaking Bonanza villa last June, it became clear that Amanda and Elin (and their lovely right-hand gals, Theresa and Frida) were going to make each of us girls attending the retreat feel right at home. It felt like visiting family—the way they opened up their home and community to us all, introducing us to their friends and acquainting us with their favorite local spots.
They showed a genuine interest in our lives, asked thoughtful questions, and fostered an inclusive and lighthearted space for connection. I found it remarkable how quickly they opened up to us and how down-to-earth they were. As a whole, I was enamored with the life Amanda and Elin have created for themselves and felt immense gratitude for their generosity and selflessness in welcoming us into it.
Getting to know them, even briefly, was such a pleasure. Though I know they host many retreats, it never once felt like our edition was “just another.” Our week felt special and uniquely ours.
A Community That Inspires
Throughout the week, Amanda and Elin made an outstanding effort to connect us with inspiring people. Upon reflection, this is one of the aspects of the trip that stands out to me the most.
In addition to the amazing girls I attended the retreat with—whom I sincerely enjoyed getting to know—we were also introduced to many other inspiring individuals, each pursuing their own authentic passions. From our surf instructors to brand and store owners, photographers, creatives, and entrepreneurs, I marveled at the guests we welcomed to the villa and the larger community that Biarritz hosts—one that Amanda and Elin are so seamlessly integrated into.
A Lasting Impact
Looking back, the combination of meeting so many motivating personalities with the warm, uplifting, and open-minded environment Amanda and Elin have made intrinsic to the retreat itself left a deep impression on me.
I attribute the renewed sense of confidence in myself and my ambitions that I felt upon leaving the retreat to this powerful mix. I returned home with a self-assuredness and wanderlust that the entirety of my Bonanza Collective experience inspired.
Even now, I continue to reflect on my week in Biarritz with contentment, often thinking about the impactful people I met as I refine both the person I aspire to become and the path I’ll take to become her.
For Anyone on a Journey
I feel lucky to have spent the last year yearning for my very own memories. I would consider Bonanza Collective to be inspiration at its finest for a twenty-something girl figuring out what “be yourself” really means to her.
If you’re also on a journey of self-discovery, or in a phase of curiosity, I highly recommend making the Bonanza villa your next destination.
Sending love from Canada!
Xoxo,
Alex <3
