CASA LAS TORTUGAS.

The backdrop to our shoot with Ashley Benson took place in the stunning bohemian island of Isla Holbox, Mexico off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, where we had the pleasure of spending 5 beautiful days at an eco-chic boutique hotel called Casa Las Tortugas (www.HolboxCasaLasTortugas.com). Designed by Francesca Golinelli, originally from Italy, and managed by her and her husband Patrick Wiering, a former pro kite surfer from Holland, the hotel is a cozy respite along the white sandy beach of the Gulf of Mexico. Consisting of 23 rooms, all uniquely designed and inspired by the local surroundings, we truly felt as though we were cast away to our own private paradise.

Isla Holbox is an experience line no other. The sandy lanes that take you from one part of the island to the other (there are no cars on this island and the only mode of transport is by bicycle and golf cart), all big city dreams seem to melt away the second you get off the 20 minute ferry from the mainland. Though the town center is small, there are plenty of restaurants and local bars to explore in the daytime and at night - the whole town vibe is reminiscent of Tulum about 15 years ago, before it got packed with New York fashion folks looking for a tropical escape.

The biggest draw of the island is the nature. From crystal blue waters everywhere you look, to turtles and flamingos freely roaming the coast, the nature provides a feast for the senses and the biggest form of entertainment while there. In August, when we were there, one of the biggest draws of the island is the Whale Shark Tours, which allow travelers to get up close and personal with the largest sharks on the planet - who also happen to only eat plankton.

Just a short 3.5 hour flight from New York to Cancun followed by a 2 hour drive from Cancun + a 20 minute ferry to the island, Holbox really feels like a world away... one that we couldn't help but love getting lost in.