I’ve been to 15 countries at this point. I know in the world of travel blogging, that’s not many. But for a girl that came from a family that didn’t go anywhere on a plane, that’s a lot. After all the cute Airbnbs, fun hostels, and nice hotels, I have never stayed in accommodations as cool as this one. El Blok hotel in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico has architecture that will keep your mind reeling, staff that are so kind, and an experience you’ll never forget. I absolutely loved my stay here, and I’m not even a hotel person. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’ll be back. Vieques has me in the palm of its hand; I fell in love after just one short night there, and I’d live there some day. I can see myself now propping my feet up in one of the comfy chairs at El Blok and typing to my heart’s content. Here are 6 reasons El Blok is truly the coolest hotel in Puerto Rico and why you should stay there!

1 // the exterior design is incredible

When our driver first pulled up to the hotel, I knew it was El Blok. The exterior architecture is so beautiful and its style is different from anything else on the street. From the moment we pulled up, I knew booking this hotel wasn’t a mistake even though there were Airbnbs for a lower price. It felt like the beginning of an amazing night! Be sure to check out their website for pics of what it looks like!

2 // the rooms are unique

If the design of the exterior and lobby weren’t good enough, our room was incredible. We got a corner king room with a balcony, and the way they designed this balcony was the most unique I’d ever seen. The bathroom is so nice, with full-sized aromatherapeutic amenities. The bed was also one of the most comfortable I slept in our whole trip. You will not be disappointed in this room!

3 // the staff put the customer first

El Blok was going through quite the crisis when we first came to check in. Their water and A/C weren’t working due to some pipe issues, so they were doing their best to keep guests accommodated and fix the issues ASAP. The staff at the check-in desk were so friendly and helpful with recommendations for local restaurants. For the inconvenience, they were also offering free rum punches at the rooftop bar. Even though we were hot, tired, and hungry, this situation wasn’t even frustrating for us because of their great personalities and customer service skills.

4 // the rooftop pool and bar is so, SO nice

We didn’t check out the rooftop until the following morning, so we ended up having it all to ourselves. All I can say is wow. The view of the beach and mountains, the pool with decorative flowers floating in it, the comfy lounge chairs, and the decor make this the such a fun rooftop. And I’m from Nashville! It takes a lot for a rooftop to impress me. El Blok’s made it really high up on my list.

5 // your room includes free breakfast

If I’m going to splurge for a hotel, then it better include nice amenities. El Blok offers free breakfast for guests, including delicious Puerto Rican coffee, eggs, croissants, fruit, sausage for all you meat lovers out there, toast, and a lot of other things I can’t even remember right now. We made sure to grab a bite to eat in their nice restaurant before heading up to the pool. Yum!

6 // it’s only 15 minutes from the ferry terminal

This is one of my favorite things about Vieques in general and El Blok specifically. Vieques is so quaint and laid-back. It doesn’t take a lot to get from point A to point B, which is a breath of fresh air when you’re used to heaps of traffic (*cough* 65 South *cough*). It only took 15 minutes and the transport in a private van was just $5 per person to get to the other side of the island. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so secure in booking a taxi outside of an app!

Moral of the story: go to Vieques, and stay at El Blok. In my Puerto Rico series, I give a guide and review of the Bio Bay tour, what to see, where to eat, transport, and all other aspects of my beautiful experience there!