Triumph Hotels has come to my rescue once more. Two years ago, when my accommodation plans for New York Fashion Week fell through, Triumph was kind enough to host me at their TriBeCa budget hotel, The Cosmopolitan, for the two nights I needed it the most. I loved my time there and couldn’t wait for my next Triumph experience. They’re one of those companies that I’m just genuinely happy to partner with—they have a phenomenal social media presence.

February fashion week this year was rough for me. I was quite ill for most of it, so between that and the bitterly cold temperatures and harsh winds, it wasn’t the best time I’ve ever had in New York. The cherry on top of my sob sundae was that I completely forgot my favorite actor, Kelsey Grammer, had a part in the Broadway production Finding Neverland. I was tucked into Adriana’s guest bed on my last night in the city when I realized, and by then, it was too late.

Instead of getting mad at myself for forgetting to book tickets and experience my favorite actor’s live stage performance while I happened to be in town, I made a quick decision to return to Manhattan two weekends later after a week-long jaunt in Mexico. This time, Triumph offered me a room at their midtown hotel, the Washington Jefferson, just blocks from the Lunt-Fontanne theatre where all of my Kelsey Grammer dreams would come true.

I’ll save the story of how my Kelsey Grammer dreams were dashed for a Life post, but despite some disappointments, Adriana and I had a killer weekend to remember thanks to the Washington Jefferson. Triumph is an amazing line of budget-friendly hotels in Manhattan that make you feel like you’re spending a lot more than you actually are.

The Washington Jefferson is striking to see from the street. Their serif-script neon initials glow brightly in glorious contrast against the classic red and white brick of the building. Both the front desk and sales staff were eager to welcome me as soon as I walked in the door, and I know as well as anyone it’s refreshing to meet hospitality staff that truly seem to enjoy their work.

Our room, at first glance, is everything you would expect from a $200/night hotel in Manhattan, but what I love about Triumph Hotels is their attention to detail. The bathtub might be a regular bathtub, but surrounded by beautiful high-contrast tiles, luxury toiletries, and beautiful lighting and sconces, you forget that you’re not at a 5-star. It’s not a bare-bones room, but the elements within are what make it feel special. The Washington Jefferson falls into a category I like to call "budget luxury," which might be the most accessible way there is to travel.

The Washington Jefferson is ideally located between a quiet corner of the West Side and the bustle of Broadway and Times Square. There are something like a million restaurants down 9th Avenue, which overwhelmed Adriana and I with choices for dinner each night. Make sure you stop by Vivi for bubble tea, Bibble & Sip for coffee and unique pastries, and Gotham Pizza for a late-night slice. Bar 9 is a cool scene for nightlife, but prepare to weave around a few younger/college crowds inside.

After my experience at the Washington Jefferson, I’ll surely continue to work my way through the property roster that is Triumph Hotels. I can’t wait to see what neighborhood is next.

Thank you so much to Triumph Hotels for hosting us!

I have always loved the idea of a stay-cation, but I never convinced myself to take one until Le Meridien Chambers invited me to spend a night in their penthouse suite. I didn't get a chance to do much research before going, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but my expectations were definitely exceeded. 

As you can see by the Snapchat story I posted below, my mind was pretty much blown by the light and bright luxury of Le Meridien's corner penthouse. From the huge patio space and wraparound balcony to the deepest plush mattress, the night was nothing short of paradise.

Even if you're not in the market to spend penthouse prices on your weekend getaway, Le Meridien is a cool place to hang. The hotel is heavily involved in the Minneapolis art scene, and even boasts 200 original art pieces right within its walls. The Walker Art Center, arguably the most popular museum in the Twin Cities, is just a mile away and you get in free with your Le Meridien room key!

The day I enjoyed at Le Meridien started with cupcakes and champagne with my sister, thanks to the team who set up my stay. Once Caitlin went home to her husband, I invited my blogger bestie Lindsey to spend the night! We enjoyed late night room service and breakfast the next morning at the attached Marin restaurant—I was under the weather, and their green smoothie + delectable Irish oats hit the spot perfectly.

Thank you to Le Meridien + the team at Diamond PR for this fun experience!

Catch the inside Snapchat scoop:

It’s a satisfying thing to say I’ve been to the Caribbean. I’ve spent a good part of my adulthood intrigued by island life, mostly inspired by the idea of getting it away from it all. Quitting my full-time desk job was a step in the right direction, but life in Minnesota is a far cry from the friendly sunshine and warm faces that greet you on the shores of St. Thomas.

It took all of ten minutes for me to begin breathing a little deeper and walking a little slower between the waves of tourist madness. When we stepped ashore, my mother and I boarded an open-air taxi with about twelve other people en route to the beach at Magen’s Bay, which has been the highlight of our voyage with Princess Cruises so far. The drive was no different than the wild, back-road taxi rides I’ve taken in New York or Rome, all of which can be quick to cause more motion-sickness than the constant sway of the Regal Princess, but the views across the island were well worth it.

The beach started to fill up about noon, but arriving at ten o’clock in the morning we found a perfect little corner to post up with only two or three people nearby. Magen’s Bay Beach was gorgeously peaceful with water too warm to be real, and Mom and I spent every minute of our two-hour break letting the sand fill our shoes and the sun fill our souls. I left more relaxed than I would have after a massage at a world-class spa.

The purpose of this entire trip, of course, is to live as much Pirates of the Caribbean as I can, so our tour continued with a walk-and-talk history lesson at Blackbeard’s Castle. With a 500-year-old lookout post and a center-stage statue of the man himself (Blackbeard stood 6’4” and 280 pounds, according to our informative tour guide), I was easily transported into the world of Elizabeth Swann and fictional pirate Jack Sparrow, which was all I wanted on our day-long excursion in St. Thomas. The Pirates movies are truly one of my favorite ways to escape reality—so much so that I find myself passing off every story of piracy that I hear to be fantasy. I forget that these crazies took their pillaging and plundering quite seriously, and are a major part of history on the high seas.

It was by far my favorite shore excursion we've experienced through Princess. I'm not surprised it's one of the most popular selections on this eastern Caribbean route.

Have you been to St. Thomas or find piracy completely fascinating? Have a favorite beach on the island? Leave a comment below—I love hearing travel tales!

Thanks a million to Princess Cruises for sponsoring this post!