My boyfriend and I recently had the opportunity to spend a weekend at The Box House Hotel in Greenpoint, a neighborhood we frequent as residents of Long Island City just minutes away. If you ever find yourself passing over the Pulaski Bridge in New York, this hotel is likely the first thing to catch your eye. With a bold black exterior and gorgeous glass-encased rooftop space, The Box House is a standout building among Greenpoint's quiet streets.

The first thing that struck me about our loft suite at the hotel was its size. It was at least double the size of any other New York hotel room I have stayed in and fully equipped with all kitchen necessities, a cozy lounge space, and a bedroom separated by a closet partition. With two TVs and natural light that flooded into the room, it was the perfect space for relaxation all weekend.

If you read my last post you'll know that my friend Van and I recently went on a weekend adventure to the beautiful Puerto Rican city of Old San Juan. As I mentioned there, the city has been resilient since the devastation of Hurricane Maria and is ready to welcome tourists back to its colorful streets. The best way to support its recovery is with your travel dollars, and in turn you will enjoy a trip of energetic culture, amazing food, and an overall friendly atmosphere. 

I can't stress more the importance of visiting Old San Juan now more than ever, and luckily getting there is generally low-cost and hassle-free. Hopefully these photos will convince you to book a trip to explore and support this colorful, incredibly unique city.

Four years ago, my friend Van and I traveled to Old San Juan separately with our boyfriends before  knowing each other outside of Instagram. We recently had the chance to return to this colorful Puerto Rican city, which now more than ever is worth the visit for anyone looking to plan a new trip. Following the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria, tourism is extremely important to Puerto Rico's ongoing recovery efforts. 

Old San Juan especially is ready to welcome visitors, with streets as vibrant as ever and cultural experiences to remember. We spent just a weekend in the city this time around, but will no doubt be making another trip soon. It is a place that continues to hold some of our best memories, and one that continues to create more. I highly encourage any travelers to pay a visit to Puerto Rico soon, as your tourist dollars help rebuild and restore the island. 

I will be sharing our Old San Juan itinerary in a separate post soon, but in the meantime scroll on to find out our suggestion for the best accommodations in town:

With winter still going strong and turning snowstorms into bomb cyclones, a trip to the beach felt more than necessary. My family and I spent five days in January traveling between Miami and Key West to enjoy some Floridian sunshine before finishing out New York's greyest season. The Florida Keys had been on our travel lists for quite some time, with its mix of beautiful views and quirky charm and not much hassle to get there. For anyone planning a quick east coast trip that rewards with relaxation, read on for highlights from our road trip through south Florida.