Travel-size products and dedicated doubles mean I never have to raid my bathroom the night before a flight. Nothing gets forgotten or left behind, and I never land somewhere without SPF because I didn’t make the time or remember to decant. It’s a small investment that pays off every single time I travel, which, at this point, is often enough that an unprepared toiletry bag would be genuinely inconvenient.

The Sephora Sale is one of the few moments a year where stocking up on this stuff actually makes financial sense. Travel sizes are already a premium, so a discount on the ones I actually use is not something I ignore. This is my edited shortlist: everything I’m buying or restocking this sale, filtered through the only lens that matters: does it work and travel well?

Read on for 10 travel-size picks worth buying in the Sephora Sale including:

• The SPF I’ve been evangelizing for months

• Sephora’s best skin-scent fragrance

• For hair: a flyaway fix, overnight hair serum, and a blowout in a bottle

• A cool-toned eyeshadow palette that takes up little bag space

• Refillable containers that make your toiletry bag look intentional

• And more

The sunscreen I’ve converted all my friends to. I am EXTREMELY picky about sunscreen. The bar is high: fluid consistency, no white cast, looks good under makeup, doesn’t burn your eyes or smell weird, and of course: actually protects your skin. Most formulas fail at least one of these, but this one clears every bar and then some. This is one product I’m incredibly evangelistic about.

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On April 23, Marriott Bonvoy and Amex are recreating Rao's legendary Harlem dining room inside JW Marriott Essex House. For $300 per ticket, you’ll get a choice between two seatings, each offering a multi-course dinner featuring the restaurant's signature dishes. For context: Rao's has 10 tables and a years-long waiting list for regulars so this might be the closest you ever come. The sign-up list for tickets will reopen on Friday, April 10 at 10 am EST (text 917-540-2868). Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card Members will get priority.

United Airlines turned 100 this week and marked the occasion with some limited-edition drops: for one, an adidas Samba in United Blue, with the airline's globe logo on the left heel and a gold "100 years" stamp on the right. Just like Delta’s centennial sneaker drop last year (which I think they did better, if I’m being completely honest), it's an employee exclusive, available only through internal channels. United also released a special vinyl pressing of Rhapsody in Blue, the Gershwin composition that's been the airline's sonic identity for decades.

One thing about me? I always have a candle burning. It's the single easiest way to make my space feel intentional. My current rotation covers every room and every mood, from the daytime burn on my desk to the evening scent I light if I have friends over. A few favorites I like to keep stocked:

• Smoked Cherry by P.F. Candle Co.: From their Hi-Fi collection, inspired by hotel lobbies and audio lounges. Earthy, fruity, and a little gourmand. It gives a whiskey-tinged maraschino cherry. My favorite for a sultry evening.

• Prinsesstårta by Flamingo Estate: Inspired by Sant Ambroeus’ famous Principessa cake. Breezy, resinous, and just a tinge of sweet. My daytime burn.

• Into the Forest by Nette x Tata Harper: Inspired by shinrin-yoku, the Japanese practice of forest bathing. This has an intoxicatingly bright and fresh scent that I love for my bedside.

Portrait Milano — Milan, Italy

Milan Design Week is coming up later this month and if you're going (or need a reason to), how about a stunning hotel? Portrait Milano is a former Archiepiscopal Seminary, one of the oldest examples of Lombard Baroque architecture in the world, renovated into a 73-suite luxury hotel at the heart of the Quadrilatero della Moda. For this year’s Design Week, Zaha Hadid Architects x Audi are installing a titanium-colored fiberglass portal set over a reflecting pool directly in the hotel's courtyard. Why wouldn’t you want to be headquartered directly inside one of the installations?!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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Everyone will tell you Kyoto has too much to see. They’re right. It’s a trap.

I went in with an impossibly long list—temples, shrines, bamboo, monkeys, food and drinks—and came out with the wisdom that the best version of Kyoto, like any great trip, is one that is earned through discovery instead of checkmarks on a list.

My Kyoto trip had many detours: a tiny eel restaurant down an unmarked alley, a Zen garden I almost skipped, a hotel I booked same-day to escape another, a cocktail bar with a core-memory-worthy view. Other itinerary items felt underwhelming, and places I was told time and time again were “must-see” had their magic dulled by the constant swarm of crowds. Of all the magical things I still think about from that trip three years later, the one thing they all have in common is that none of them were planned.

Kyoto, more so than other places, rewards wandering. It rewards the traveler who is willing to put the list down and see what finds them. Here's everything I'd tell a friend before they go.

Read on for:

• The hotel I booked same-day to escape a horrible one—and why it became my favorite hotel in the world

• Three hotels on my list for next time

• My honest take on what’s worth it, what’s overhyped, and what I’d skip entirely

• The tiny alley restaurant that was the best meal of the trip, my favorite pay-what-you-want omakase, and the cocktail bar with a view that stopped me mid-sentence

• Everything I wish I'd known before I went (and a few things I'd do completely differently)

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To celebrate it’s 60th anniversary, the Amex Gold Card dropped a collection with cult-favorite fashion brand STAUD. The collection is inspired by resortwear and travel motifs; they sent me the Timmy bag, scarf, and one of the tees from the collection (dying that it has an airplane on it) and it’s all just so ME. I love a brand that does collabs right. Two notes: you can earn a $90 statement credit if you spend $350+ at STAUD on your Gold card ‘til June, and I genuinely recommend you get a Gold card if you don’t have one. This will be my 10th year as an Amex Card Member and the Gold Card is one of the hardest working in my wallet because of the 4x points you get on dining and groceries, which tend to be two of the biggest spending categories.

Alaska Airlines unveiled its first-ever International Business Class this week and it looks promising. The hard product: fully lie-flat suites with privacy doors (!), direct aisle access, and 18” HD screens are launching on new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners on routes from Seattle to Rome, London, Seoul, and Tokyo, plus Starlink WiFi rolling out on the 787-9 fleet this fall. The soft product: Filson bedding, Salt & Straw sundae service at dessert, route-specific menus by Seattle chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, and amenity kits in two exclusive Filson colorways with Salt & Stone skincare. Would genuinely love to experience it!

Remember the new Sidecar Lounge by American Express? We’re getting another at Charlotte Douglas! I’m so pleased to see this concept expanding. But that’s not all for Centurion—we’ll also see a two-story lounge with an outdoor terrace at Boston Logan (2029) and a nearly 50% larger space at Dallas Fort Worth with a second full bar and a walk-up ice cream window (2027). The Centurion Lounge has always been the card benefit that gets people to finally get the card, and the Sidecar format is interesting because it solves the overcrowding problem without sacrificing the elevated food-and-drink experience that made the original worth waiting in line for. I’m here for Amex doubling down on the lounge as the centerpiece of its travel value proposition, and the Sidecar rollout signals they’re thinking about scale without compromising the thing that made it special.

Delta just announced it’s partnering with Amazon Leo to bring high-speed satellite WiFi to 500 aircraft. It will promise up to 1 Gbps speeds and gate-to-gate connectivity free for SkyMiles members but there’s quite a big catch: installations don’t even start for two years. In the meantime, United, Alaska, and Southwest are all already mid-Starlink rollout. In-flight WiFi is quickly becoming a deciding factor in airline choice for the kind of remote-working, always-connected traveler that makes up a growing share of premium cabin bookings. Delta’s bet on Amazon may pay off long-term, but the two-year gap is real—and the connectivity gap between carriers is only widening in the meantime.

@toriambersAll my travel essentials I bring whenever I'm flying on a plane ✈️✨ @LoopEarplugs @Belkin @goodonyaorganic @Aesop @TUMI @lemme #travelessentials #packing #travelvlog #travelbag

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I filmed an updated travel essentials kit video on my way to LA (so keep in mind this is just my kit for shorter transcon flights), and it popped off a bit on TikTok, so I thought I would share the list here, too.

Bag (cheaper alt here, here) | Charger with kickstand | Earplugs | Electrolytes | Stress relief rollerball | Melatonin | Glasses | Jacket

I asked people in the comments what they’d add: compression socks, no-water headache relief, disinfectant wipes, Wisps, multi-cable power bank

Also, I didn’t know this, but you can take your Tumi to a store and get your initials embroidered, so I’ll be doing that too!

Capella Kyoto — Kyoto, Japan

Capella opened its first Japan property on March 22, and it managed to time the arrival almost perfectly with cherry blossom season, which feels less like a coincidence and more like the brand understanding exactly what it's doing. The 89-room hotel sits in Miyagawa-cho, the most storied of Kyoto's geisha districts, steps from Kenninji Temple and the Kamo River, inside a building that was once a neighborhood elementary school. Details I love: the restaurant is a 12-seat counter done in the format of a private ochaya teahouse; there are six onsen suites that have private hot spring baths. Kyoto is one of my favorite places I’ve visited (and is home to what ranks as my top hotel), so I’m eager to stay here and see how it compares.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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I’d already been in Los Angeles for a couple days thanks to a United Airlines media event, which meant a full day of flying across the country (plus a demo flight!), back-to-back presentations, hands-on experiences, and pretty much non-stop socializing. On top of that, it’d been actual months since I’d felt the sun on my skin. So when I had the opportunity to tack on a couple more nights after the work just to be in the warm embrace of LA, I had exactly one agenda: get horizontal somewhere next to a pool and stay there as long as possible.

What followed was one night each at The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air: both part of the Dorchester Collection, both arranged through my partnership with . The Dorchester Collection, a very exclusive group, operates some of the world's most significant hotels in cities like London, Paris, Milan, Rome, and Dubai. In the United States, they have exactly two properties. The entire American footprint of one of the world’s most selective hotel collections fits within a single Los Angeles zip code—and I stayed at both within 48 hours.

One is the kind of place you go to see and be seen. The other is a private estate that also happens to offer room service. Both are legendary, but nothing about them is alike.

Read on for:

• A full review of both stays, including the pool experience at each property and why they’re not interchangeable

• The room upgrade that wouldn't have existed if I'd booked direct

• The one property between the two I'd return to without hesitation, and why

• What you can expect when you book through SmartFlyer

At a Glance

🌴 The Beverly Hills Hotel: The Pink Palace on Sunset Boulevard, aka Old Hollywood’s living room. There’s nearly a century of mythology built into this property between the banana leaf wallpaper that anyone would recognize, the Polo Lounge, and a pool that has probably witnessed more industry deals than most boardrooms. On property: a full-service hair salon, the iconic Fountain Coffee Room, cabana dining at the Cabana Cafe, and 23 private bungalows dotted throughout the gardens. This is the buzzy one, a place to see and be seen. (starting rates ~$1,200/night)

🦢 Hotel Bel-Air: Tucked into 12 acres of landscaped gardens in the hillside overlooking Beverly Hills. You cross a footbridge over a stream that opens to a small pool of swans to get to the entrance; it feels as if it functions like a moat, which really sets the tone. The city seems to stop existing almost immediately. You feel insulated, like you’re half a world away. Luxury here looks like king-sized beds dressed in Fili d'Oro Egyptian cotton, an iconic oval pool heated to 82 degrees year-round, a patisserie, and dining that moves seamlessly from the elegant restaurant to the al fresco terrace to the piano bar. This is the private one, a place to relax and recuperate among nature. (starting rates ~$1,000/night)

Both are part of the Dorchester Collection: one of the most selective luxury hotel groups in the world, with just over a dozen properties chosen for cultural significance and individual character rather than scalability. You’ll find them in London, Paris, Milan, Rome, Dubai. And in the United States, there’s just two: both in Los Angeles, both on my itinerary. Beyond their shared collection, the two properties have almost nothing in common, which is exactly why staying at both, back to back, is such a revealing exercise in understanding what luxury actually means to you.

Booking through an advisor

Booking through a advisor gets you things that booking direct won’t. Like early check-in, which at both of these properties I was able to secure by noon and 1pm respectively. This alone makes all the difference when you’re only staying one night at a property and want to maximize your time there! They were also able to secure a room upgrade for me at Bel-Air, which moved me from a deluxe room into the Canyon Suite: a MASSIVE difference. There can also be welcome amenities on arrival, and critically, your reservation is flagged before you arrive, which means the hotel knows who you are and has thought about what your stay should look like before you walk through the door.

Unfortunately, none of that is guaranteed when you book direct, even at this price point. That’s the practical use case for choosing to work with an advisor when staying at properties like these—not the fantasy of having someone else plan your trip for you, but the concrete difference it makes to what you actually experience and feel when you get there. I’ve learned that personalization in hospitality makes all the difference between a 5-star stay being memorable or mid.

Two properties, one amazing trip. Here's what two nights actually looked like, and what they taught me about what I'm really looking for in a hotel stay.

The Beverly Hills Hotel: the buzzy one

It’s truly wild to try to wrap your head around the fact that The Beverly Hills Hotel has been part of Old Hollywood lore for over 100 years now, since before Beverly Hills was even officially incorporated as a city.

Before you even realize you’ve driven under the porte cochere, your car door is whisked open by a bellhop who makes your luggage disappear on a golden valet cart. Like a magic trick, it arrives at your room the same time you do. A long carpet outstretched before you leads you up to the entrance; all that’s left to do is strut. And given the hotel’s guest list, it makes sense that of all colors, it’s red. For some guests, it’ll be their first and only time on a carpet this color. But in this town, for most, it’s old hat.

And it tracks that such a mythological hotel feels larger than life, even for those who haven’t stayed here. The sunny pink facade on Sunset Boulevard. The banana leaf wallpaper that’s sparked a thousand imitations. The Polo Lounge and poolside cabanas, where Hollywood’s been closing deals for a century. This is one hotel you feel you know before you ever step foot inside.

I was arriving from another hotel in town, so I was able to drop-in early. At any other hotel, you’d have to wait until the afternoon—sometimes as late as 4pm—for your room to be ready. But because I booked through Smartflyer, I was able to check in at Noon. I cannot emphasize enough: when you’re only staying somewhere for one night and want to make the most of your time, this kind of thing makes all the difference.

I was escorted up to the third floor to room 302, a deluxe room, and made myself at home. The details I loved: fruit platters and juice waiting for me alongside handwritten welcome notes, a king bed tucked into a cozy nook, a marble bathroom, and the logo crest embroidered on the robe and slippers. After dropping my things, I made a beeline for the pool, which I’d recommend you spend most of your stay here at.

The pool at BHH is social in the best way. There’s a buzz to it, a sense that something is always slightly happening, without feeling chaotic. I didn’t jump in, but had I dove under the water, I would have likely heard music, thanks to the pool’s underwater speakers. Instead, I went the gastronomy route, enjoying a truly massive club sandwich and splitting truffle fries with my friend who came to join me.

That evening I knew I had to go to Polo Lounge for dinner. Whether to sit inside or outside was a tough call—each offers a special kind of ambiance—but I opted for the courtyard to expose myself to as much of the lovely California weather as I could. (It was the right call.) This dinner was also a small milestone for me, being the first time I’d gone out to dine at a restaurant alone. I know! But there’s something about the Polo Lounge specifically that made it feel less strange. It’s a room that has absorbed a century of people being very absorbed in themselves. You really fit right in.

The next morning, I went back to the pool to get some work done before checking out (rough life!) and ended up staying longer than I planned just to keep soaking in the vibes. The energy there is infectious in the best way.

Hotel Bel-Air: the private one

Hotel Bel-Air is the other kind of LA luxury entirely: private, peaceful, personal. This place has its own kind of cinema, just with the pomp & circumstance stripped away. Here, serenity takes center stage.

It’s Dorchester, so of course the same luggage magic trick happens when you arrive. But instead of the red carpet beckoning you inside, there’s a footbridge that crosses over a stream. The moat-like feeling is the first sign that you’re stripping the city away; it’s the first layer of privacy you’ll see, but won’t be the last. To your right as you cross, if you’re lucky, you’ll spot swans. Which, to me, amplified the tranquility.

Around you: twelve acres of gardens, winding stone paths, flowers blooming in every direction, twinkling fairy lights wrapped around citrus trees heavy with fruit. You don’t feel the city at all—its traffic, noise, and chaos have all but vanished—which in Los Angeles might be the rarest luxury of all.

I checked in at 1pm and was delighted to hear I was upgraded from a deluxe room to the Canyon Suite: all limestone floors, wooden ceilings, and—incredibly—a huge outdoor terrace complete with a private spa pool and a fireplace, which I was not emotionally prepared for and which has since recalibrated my expectations for all future hotel stays. Where Beverly Hills Hotel is more old Hollywood glamour, Bel-Air is more Earthy, calm contemporary, which is very much my speed (Park Hyatt Kyoto & Chicago have similar design sensibilities). Other delights in the room were the TOTO toilet (IYKYK) and the bed dressed in Fili d’Oro Egyptian cotton, truly the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in (and I don’t say that lightly). Upon waking, I felt changed.

As an aside, I also need to mention: the macarons that were in my room as a welcome gift were the best I’ve ever had. I say this as someone who has eaten them in Paris. I don’t know what they’re doing in that patisserie but I felt like I was stealing eating them for free.

After a proper inspection of the room and all its offerings, the first order of business was, of course, to head straight to the pool. It's not the most famous hotel pool in Los Angeles—that title belongs to its sister property down the hill— but I think it has a better origin story. Its particular oval shape is distinctive: it follows the exact footprint of what was once a horse-riding ring.

After reading a few chapters in my book and finishing off a truly stunning poolside quesadilla (why does everything taste better next to a pool?), I got ready for the evening. As I had a late lunch, I skipped dinner and went straight for drinks.

The bar at Hotel Bel-Air is an old Hollywood institution in the truest sense. It was the sexiest backdrop for a night out: leather alcoves, large-scale portraits of famous personalities on the walls, someone playing jazz on the piano. I ordered the Ophelia (a delicious combination of mezcal, Aperol, pineapple, lime, and habanero) which I enjoyed with another friend who kept me company. A note: dinner at the bar is just as good as dinner at the restaurant, and the atmosphere is better. Sit close to the piano.

Which one I’d return to

If you're asking which one I'd return to again first, it's Bel-Air without hesitation. I'm drawn to places that are quiet and private, that feel tied to a specific sense of place even when, as is the case here, they exist slightly outside of it. The design sensibility is more my speed: warm, contemporary, the kind of interiors that feel considered rather than decorated. The Canyon Suite was unbeatable. The bed was the most comfortable I've slept in, and I travel enough that I don't say that lightly. The macarons. The TOTO toilet. Sipping mezcal to the soundtrack of live jazz piano. The Polo Lounge is iconic, but I think the bar at Hotel Bel-Air is better. Hotel Bel-Air is the kind of place that accumulates on you, detail by detail, until you realize somewhere in the middle of your second drink that you don't want to leave. The Beverly Hills Hotel is a legend worth experiencing, but to me, Hotel Bel-Air is the one worth going back for.

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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Lie-flat beds in economy have existed on international airlines for years, the US just never had one—until now. United announced the Relax Row this week, and they hold exclusivity on the design in North America (which I was in the room for—more on that below). Starting in 2027, planes will feature 9-12 groups of three economy seats that fold into a full lie-flat surface, with a mattress pad, extra pillows, and blankets included. Works solo, as a couple, or as a full family setup, with a stuffed toy thrown in for kids. The Relax Row will be rolling out across 200 planes by 2030.

British Airways is about to have the biggest business class cabin in the sky. The airline is retrofitting its entire A380 fleet with a new Club Suite cabin and an all-new First Class, with the first aircraft expected to return to service in mid-2026. 110 seats taking up the entire upper deck—nothing else flying comes close (Emirates, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines top out at just under 80 on their A380s). Total capacity drops from around 469 seats to 421 to make room for all of it.

Hotel pajamas are having a moment, and I will be championing this forever over the robe agenda. London sleepwear brand Desmond & Dempsey has teamed up with Ash Hotels on a pajama collection titled “Idle Hands,” timed to the upcoming opening of Shenandoah Mansions in Richmond, Virginia. The print: gouache-painted mythical creatures, ghostly spirits, magnolias, and a whisper of Virginia tobacco.

This week, I was invited to attend United’s first-ever Elevated event: a two-day media affair at their hangar at LAX that I genuinely did not want to leave. (I used to dream about attending events like these!) Day one: a demo flight to test Starlink in the air, looping up to San Francisco and back. Day two: a full slate of announcements, a fireside chat with CEO Scott Kirby, and a tour of a 787-9 outfitted with their new interior (where I met Rachel, a Dreamliner pilot around my age—we basically became best friends immediately).

The news came fast. The A321XLR (replacing the 757 on transatlantic routes) will be the first narrowbody aircraft to ever carry a full Polaris cabin, which means lie-flat business class on routes that have never seen it. Then there’s the Coastliner, United’s new transcon aircraft, which will get its own distinct livery painted on the underside (a fun little detail an avgeek like me appreciates). And United is pulling three economy seats to make room for a proper snack bar—something most airlines would never greenlight—and that’s a detail that seriously impressed me. Oh, and attendees were the first to hear about the Relax Row, which is so buzzy that it’s gone viral well beyond the aviation industry.

Six Senses London — London, England

Six Senses finally made it to London—three years late, worth the wait. The brand's first UK property opened early March inside The Whiteley, a Grade II-listed Edwardian landmark and former department store in Bayswater, steps from Hyde Park and Notting Hill. The spa is one of the largest in the capital at 2,300 square metres, anchored by what's believed to be London's first magnesium pool, plus a Finnish sauna, cold plunge, flotation pod, cryotherapy at -110°C, and a full biohacking and longevity zone. There's also Six Senses Place, the brand's first-ever private members club, which is very much giving Soho House a run for its money on the wellness front. The wellness hotel London has needed for years, in the neighborhood everyone forgot about. Bayswater's moment is here.

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

Not logistically, but emotionally. There’s a version of departure that feels frantic and depleting, and a version that feels like you’re leaving for something you’ve actually prepared for. Leave in a rush, half-prepared, and you'll come home to the same energy you left with. But leave intentionally—with your space sorted, your bag ready, and yourself actually taken care of—and the whole arc of the trip changes.

I know it’s not a universal experience to not dread coming home from trips. From the pile of laundry to the overflowing inbox, the transition back to reality can feel brutal after days of pretending none of it exists. But at some point I realized that treating the day before I leave as seriously as the trip itself changed everything, including how I feel when I walk back through my own door.

I’ve refined my pre-travel ritual over years of figuring out exactly what future me needs the one who’s going to land somewhere new, and eventually come home exhausted. This is what that day looks like.

Read on for:

• The exact order I do everything (and why it matters)

• The travel kit I never leave home without and what’s inside

• The outfit planning method that got me to carry-on only

• Why packing is the last thing I do, not the first

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I love a destination that makes me feel like I’ve traveled far. But I love it even more when I haven’t.

Montreal is a 45-minute flight from New York. You’re barely in the air long enough to finish a coffee, and yet when you land, it feels like you’ve crossed an entire ocean. Suddenly you’re walking past stone facades and wrought iron balconies, ordering in French, and lingering over wine like you’re somewhere much older than North America.

It’s charming in a way that feels effortless, with cafes tucked into corners, vintage shops hidden down quiet streets, and restaurants that hum late into the night. It feels European, but approachable. Romantic, but relaxed. And somehow, I still think it’s underrated. Montreal is the easiest way to feel half a world away without actually going anywhere at all.

Read on for:

• The boutique hotels worth booking in Old Montreal and beyond

• Where to eat, from unlimited cornichons to charcoal-grilled pastas

• The coffee shops and vinyl bars I would fly back for

• The fashion and design stores that feel distinctly Montreal

• The spa-on-a-boat experience that feels straight out of Europe

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London’s iconic grand café The Wolseley is coming to New York. Minor Hotels just announced the global launch of The Wolseley Hotels, with its inaugural property set to open in New York City in early 2027. The 76-room hotel will occupy the landmark 1905 building at 130 West 44th St, a building long associated with Broadway's creative community and New York's cultural elite. At its heart will be The Wolseley New York, the brand's first U.S. restaurant, carrying forward the grand café tradition of the London original with all-day dining and a vibrant yet refined atmosphere. A cellar-level speakeasy bar rounds out the offering.

The founder of Aman is opening a new nature retreat concept in rural Japan. Azuma Farm Koiwai is set to open spring 2026 in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, in partnership with JR East with a premise that’s a farm resort rooted in over 130 years of symbiosis between humans and nature at Koiwai, built around what they're calling "Farm Life:” horses, forest walks, fresh dairy, and deep engagement with the land. The 24 villas are scattered across an 8-hectare grove and built from red pine and cypress grown on the property itself.

Sooo now is the time to book your Summer flights. Since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran began last month, jet fuel has more than doubled (from $85–90 per barrel to as high as $200), and airlines have already started passing on that cost. Cathay Pacific is roughly doubling fuel surcharges starting March 18. Qantas and Scandinavian Airlines have followed. The exposure is worse for U.S. carriers specifically: most major American airlines stopped hedging fuel costs years ago, meaning there's no buffer between a barrel price spike and your ticket price. The advice from travel experts is simple: don't wait on summer bookings, and don’t skip travel insurance.

One month since moving into my new apartment and I am unwell. I'm someone who needs their space to feel like a sanctuary, and living out of boxes while waiting for things to come together is a specific kind of hell for me. Every day it's not all done is a day I'm not operating at 100%.

This is especially true when it comes to my bedroom. In my last apartment, I’d recently redone it to be exactly what I wanted: limewashed walls, rose-colored floor-to-ceiling drapes, and Hue bulbs on a timer so the mood lighting was always just right. Now, it just feels cold and white and sterile and, crucially, not mine. I still had my six-year-old mattress and the bed I once shared with my ex. Not ideal!!

I think a new chapter and a new space deserve, at the very least, a new bed. But thankfully, Thuma reached out and offered to gift me both their mattress and their Classic Bed, which, amazingly, doesn’t require any tools to assemble (as someone learning to use power tools for the first time in her life, the convenience of this is not to be overstated). Finally, one big thing I can check off the list.

The Silo Hotel — Cape Town, South Africa

Last night I had dinner with some of the most accomplished female hoteliers in the world, including Liz Biden, founder of The Royal Portfolio, and her daughter Ali McAdam, Chairperson of The Royal Portfolio Foundation, the team behind this iconic South African hotel. Safe to say this one is no longer just on my list, it's at the top of it. The Silo is a reimagined 1920s grain elevator on Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, its facade a geometric grid of convex, pillowed glass windows that catch the light differently at every hour of the day. Inside, raw industrial bones are softened by vivid color, eclectic textiles, and over 300 works of contemporary African art, with a rooftop pool and views stretching from Table Mountain to the Atlantic. It sits directly above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa—the continent's largest collection of contemporary African art—meaning you are quite literally living on top of a cultural institution. Cape Town has been on my list for an embarrassingly long time—this hotel might just be the reason I finally book the trip.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

I've been chasing that feeling for as long as I've been traveling, and trying to help you find it too, ever since I published Terminal Velocity: a guide to achieving maximum efficiency at the airport. It became one of the most-read letters I’ve written and something a lot of people resonated with (Hailee Steinfeld told me it was a personal favorite, which I think about more than I should!) and the reason, I think, is that it gave people permission to take the airport seriously. To treat it like a system you can actually get good at rather than something that just happens to you.

Since that letter, I've been logging more miles and refining my own system. Consider this the updated edition: same philosophy, more material.

But first, the one principle that sharpens everything else in this letter: Your travel-day self is operating at a deficit. You’re tired, you’re carrying things, and there’s enough to keep track that a low-grade stress automatically becomes an ambient condition of the entire day. Instead of trying to make better decisions in a state like that, why not try to make as few as possible? Do the work before you ever get to the airport so that, once you’re there, you don’t have to decide anything. You’re just following a plan that your more rested, more rational self already made for you. That’s the through-line. Everything below is an expression of it.

The lounge problem, and the solution

Here’s something I’ve been sitting with since the original letter: the airport lounge, as a category, has a design problem.

Most lounges were built for dwell time. They assume you have multiple hours, that you think a buffet is the pinnacle of gastronomy, and that you're perfectly happy serving yourself a lukewarm plate of food that'll probably make your stomach hurt. That model made sense when the airport was merely a waiting room. But the travelers I write for aren't waiting. They have a specific window and want to use it deliberately.

Which is why, when American Express invited me to Las Vegas last week to be among the first to experience their new lounge concept, Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge, something clicked. Here, finally, was a lounge built for the second kind of traveler. Here, finally, was a lounge built for the second kind of traveler: the one without hours to kill, who wants to feel reset before a flight, not just fed or given a slightly better spot to sit.

@toriambersThe most innovative new concept in airport lounges just opened yesterday at LAS: Sidecar by @American Express 💙💳 #airportlounge #airport #travelvlog #travelday #travel

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Sidecar was designed specifically for solo travelers and shorter pre-flight windows, and it completely rethinks the lounge format. No buffet, table service only. You sit down, scan a QR code, and a server comes to you. One decision, made once, handled. The menu was developed by James Beard Award-winning chefs and the dishes are specifically composed to make you feel good before a long travel day.

The space itself has a speakeasy energy; intimate, beautifully designed, and genuinely more like a favorite neighborhood haunt than what you’d expect to find inside an airport. It’s located near gate D1 (right down the hall from the original Centurion Lounge!), and it’s complimentary for Amex Platinum cardholders within 90 minutes of departure. Here’s a pro tip for you: because the space is intentionally small (we’re talking around 30 seats), check the Amex app ahead of time for availability and get your name down before you head over (the pre-planning principle, always!).

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American Express just opened a genuinely innovative new airport lounge concept at Las Vegas Airport this week called Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge. Designed specifically for solo travelers and pairs with shorter pre-flight windows, it features a speakeasy aesthetic, intimate atmosphere, and a vibe that feels far more like a great neighborhood spot than anything you’d expect to find at an airport. The real draw, though, is the service and food. It’s table service only—no buffet, no wandering around with a plate. The menu is crafted by James Beard Award-winning chefs and features dishes that are well-portioned, nourishing, and designed to actually make you feel good before a long travel day. Sidecar is located near gate D1, right down the hall from the original Centurion Lounge, and is complimentary for Amex Platinum cardholders within 90 minutes of departure. It’s an intimate space, so check the Amex app ahead of time for availability and to get your name down before you head over.

United Airlines just updated its Contract of Carriage to add headphone use as an enforceable condition of travel, meaning passengers who take calls or watch content on speaker can now be denied boarding, removed mid-flight, or permanently banned. I appreciate that this is an actual contract clause instead of a polite suggestion. Truly a great day for those of us who have ever sat next to someone blasting TikTok at 30,000 feet.

A handful of major global airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa Group, Air India, Scandinavian Airlines, and more, have just integrated Google's Find Hub into their official baggage recovery process. The mechanic is simple: if you're traveling with a Find Hub-compatible tracker on your bag and it goes missing, you can generate a secure location link directly from the Find Hub app and hand it to a baggage rep, giving them a live, updating view of exactly where your bag is. The link expires after seven days, can be revoked at any time, and all location data is encrypted throughout. It's a genuinely smart application of technology that already exists (the Find Hub network runs on over a billion Android devices) deployed against one of travel's most reliably stressful moments. Qantas and others are expected to join soon.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began over the weekend, more than 21,000 flights have been cancelled across seven major airports, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. The State Department is organizing military and charter flights for Americans who want to leave, and advises those needing emergency assistance to call 1-202-501-4444 or register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updated information about evacuation opportunities (step.state.gov).

Lately I’ve been less about big purchases and more about finally getting the small things right. Here are a few things currently earning their place in the rotation:

• Dona x Hario Matcha Set: I’ve been a vanilla matcha latte girl for a long time, but I’ve never had the right tools to make one at home myself properly. Until now!

• Super High Rise Mini Boot Denim: I don’t say this lightly: these sculpt like nothing else I own. A forever find for tall girls (I’m 5’11” and these are LONG on me).

• Long Sleeve Turtleneck Dress: It is short, so the built-in bodysuit is non-negotiable. The long sleeves balance everything out perfectly, and the deep espresso hue is just chef’s kiss. The dress to end all dresses, IMO.

• Tumi Split Travel Kit: A gift from my American Express family and officially my favorite thing I came home with. I have been wrangling tech cables in a sad pouch for longer than I’d like to admit. That era is over.

Four Seasons Tamarindo — Jalisco, Mexico

The first thing that hits you at Four Seasons Tamarindo is the architecture: monolithic, sand-colored concrete rising out of dense jungle on Mexico's Costalegre. The property sits on a secluded Pacific Coast peninsula within a 3,000-acre private nature reserve, designed by five celebrated Mexican architects in the tradition of Luis Barragán, with the hotel itself occupying just 2% of the land. Of the 157 rooms, 63 are suites (many with private infinity pools facing the Pacific), and the food program is just as considered: chef Elena Reygadas, named World's Best Female Chef in 2023, runs Coyul restaurant here—her only outpost outside Mexico City. Architecture that earns its setting, a chef worth flying for, and a nature reserve as your backyard…this one has been at the top of my list for a long time and it's not coming off anytime soon.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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Pia Mance built Heaven Mayhem on the belief that finishing touches are the whole point. The Los Angeles-based jewelry and accessories brand she founded and leads as creative director is a world of considered details—the kind that don't complete a look so much as make it feel like it couldn’t have ever been worn any other way. That eye was shaped early, through years of traveling with her artist father, moving through galleries, patisseries, and cities where history had a way of showing up in unexpected places.

And it still shapes how she travels now. Whether she’s studying the curve of a coat hook in a Florentine side street or cataloguing the branded cinema tickets at a Tuscan castle, Pia collects the kind of details most guests forget by checkout. For her, travel is as much about research as it is resetting—and occasionally, it’s the best version of both.

Read on to learn which city she's visited four times that’s home to a dream stay she’s targeting next, the one object she'd place in every hotel room if given the chance, and the travel habit she refuses to negotiate on.

Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I’m Pia Mance, Founder and Creative Director of Los Angeles-based jewelry and accessories brand, Heaven Mayhem. I want Heaven Mayhem to feel like your one-stop shop for all finishing touches, those pieces that truly make you feel ready for the day and put together. To us, that means everything from jewelry, eyewear, watches, and even a laptop case and cute little knick-knacks. I’m also obsessed with cultivating a fun, inclusive, and inspiring community, and when I’m not working specifically on the brand, I’m working on a community event, activation, or meeting with members of the community to hear what they really want. I love traveling, trying new places, and immersing myself in different cultures. I travel 4-5 months out of the year and wouldn’t have it any other way; I am always on the go and I love it. As well as that, I love investing in my health both mental and physical and prioritize ‘me time’ for journaling, mindful walking, working out, and creating healthy recipes.

Heaven Mayhem has such a strong visual identity. How does travel influence your design language? Things like color, material, or mood?

Travel has always been one of my biggest sources of inspiration creatively. Growing up with my Dad as an artist, we did a lot of traveling and going to interesting places, historical landmarks, galleries, and patisseries that had been around for decades was something that came as second nature to my parents. As I have grown up and begun traveling on my own, I always prioritized seeking out the special places and immersing myself in the culture, specifically architecture and any vintage aspects I can come across. Unique hardware details and silhouettes that still feel modern decades later often inspire our shapes and finishes. Think door handles, coat hooks, tiles on the footpath, arches of windows, I really find inspiration everywhere. I also gravitate toward timelessness, especially in European cities where history and modernity coexist so effortlessly. This translates into our sculptural designs, mixed metals, and accessories that feel collected rather than trend-driven.

If you had to build Heaven Mayhem as a hotel instead of a brand, what would the experience feel like from check-in to checkout?

If Heaven Mayhem were a hotel, you would feel transported to our world from the moment you check in to checkout. The rooms would be designed around finishing touches, including interactive objects placed throughout. Lots of silver trays, wood accents and of course some animal print. Bookshelves with book boxes stacked in every corner you look. We would arrange thoughtful activities with intentional details; think movie screenings with chic tickets and branded popcorn, cocktails named heaven-sent or 222, angel hair pasta dishes. Our floral choice would be Calla Lilies displayed in vintage-sourced vases. Most of the details would be vintage and uniquely sourced; each room would be individual in some way. Every hotel guest would leave with lots of goodies, Heaven wine, olive oil, jewelry, jewelry storage, and whatever else we provided during the immersive hotel experience. Hotel Heaven would be a destination rather than a place to stay.

Your brand has collaborated with hotels before. What makes a hotel partnership feel aligned versus opportunistic?

We have previously collaborated with the Cara Hotel in Los Angeles, California, and it felt like a very natural partnership from the beginning. The Cara Hotel has been extremely supportive of the brand from the start; you can even find our book boxes in the hotel foyer. It has to feel organic and reflect a similar lifestyle and aesthetic to the brand. Cara already felt like a place our community would naturally spend time, so it never felt forced. It is my dream to have our book boxes in hotels around the world.

If Heaven Mayhem were to design an object specifically for a hotel room, what would it be and why?

If Heaven Mayhem were to design something for a hotel room, it would be an elevated getting-ready piece, designed to sit on a vanity or bedside table. When you’re constantly taking jewelry on and off, organizing small essentials, or getting ready quickly before heading out, having something functional but beautiful to wake up in Heaven. This would be a piece also available to purchase or take home with you, as no doubt guests would fall in love with the design and functionality.

What’s been your most memorable stay?

My most memorable stay was in Tuscany, Italy June 2025. I spent the weekend at Castello di Reschio with my husband Cody for a quick getaway and it was truly perfect from start to finish. The property was stunning and the entire staff was so kind and made our stay so lovely. We laid out in the sun and played backgammon prior to enjoying sunset dinners each day. Finished our last night watching The Roman Holiday outside on a projector, for the perfect memory. This is without a doubt the most special hotel I have stayed in, the backdrop and scenery is gorgeous, the grounds are stunning but truly it was about every tiny detail that made it feel so special. The branded cinema tickets for the movie showing, cocktails produced with produce from the property, an open mini bar with a gluten free chocolate cake, made purely with property ingredients, bone broth at the breakfast buffet… I could go on. This place has a truly special place in my heart.

Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?

Many places—I would love to stay at AMAN Tokyo. I have been to Tokyo four times and it’s one of my favorite cities in the world, but I would love to experience the AMAN there.

What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?

My Black Rimowa Trunks and Carry-on come with me on every trip. Packing everything in packing cubes is the true travel game changer; it keeps everything neat and organized. I pack all my Kroma products to make sure there’s always something delicious with me. I also love using my Etoile and Emi Jay toiletries cases for all skincare and makeup. On the plane, I can’t travel without lip balm, a hair brush, and compression socks. Of course, it’s nice to do the face masks and make it a whole experience, but my non-negotiables are those three.

What is your go-to airport outfit?

My go to airport look has been a tracksuit recently! I love this new black hoodie and sweat set from Brûlé, it’s so cozy and warm for a long travel day. I always wear my heaviest coat to avoid having my bags overweight, my travel hack! Shoes are my Khaite Ponyhair loafers or my Salomon Sneakers. My favorite travel bag is my Row Margaux, it fits all my essentials for the flight.

Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?

I pack an empty water bottle to fill after security to make sure I stay hydrated and I wear my compression socks on every flight I take. My Kroma Bone broth and Matcha Sachets come with me as well, for the perfect on-the-go caffeine or protein boost!

Last question: aisle or window seat?

Window! It feels way cosier.

For more from Pia, follow her on Instagram. Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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The internet’s favorite Canadian cottage is officially open for bookings. After months of Heated Rivalry obsession, the three-bedroom Barlochan Cottage in Muskoka, Canada is officially coming to Airbnb, with bookings opening March 3rd. Priced at $248.10 CAD per night (an IYKYK wink to fans of the show) the listing taps into a bigger travel trend: booking the places we first fall in love with on screen. Consider this your sign to romanticize cottage country, ideally with someone special.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has partnered with designer Johanna Ortiz for an exclusive takeover aboard Ilma. At the center is a custom print inspired by Caribbean flora and woven with Ortiz’s signature sailing rope motif, nodding to travel as something to be felt, not just seen. Debuting for Ilma’s Winter 2026 Caribbean sailings and continuing into Summer 2026 in the Mediterranean, the collaboration signals a broader shift toward fashion-forward, design-led cruising where the setting is as styled as the guest list.

Travel in Mexico is returning to normal after days of unrest tied to cartel violence, but broader travel logistics travel remain unsteady. While flight schedules have largely stabilized, travelers are advised to double-check their airline status and consider backup routing options if a direct flight to the U.S. is canceled. Layer onto that a partial U.S. government shutdown—which has suspended Global Entry and could mean longer-than-usual security or customs lines—and this becomes a week to arrive early and monitor airport wait times closely.

As of late, I have been thinking less about destinations and more about how I arrive. The older I get, the more I want the journey itself to feel designed: not rushed, but immersive from the very first moment. For that reason, sailing keeps coming up. There is something about waking up on the water, moving slowly between ports that feels aligned with this softer, more sensory chapter I’m in.

Nautica Collective has been on my radar for exactly that reason. Their charters feel intimate and design-forward, more like a floating boutique hotel than a typical boat rental. Thoughtful routes, beautiful vessels, and an emphasis on social connection. If I’m going to romanticize the journey this year, this is the exact energy I’m after.

Orient Express La Minerva Hotel — Rome, Italy

The very first hotel ever launched under the legendary Orient Express brand opened just last year and to say it’s a stunner might be the understatement of the century. Tucked steps from the Pantheon in Rome's Piazza della Minerva, the property is a 17th-century palazzo given new life by designer Hugo Toro that features 93 keys, a bar under a dramatic glass skylight, and a rooftop restaurant with jaw-dropping 360° views of the city. Stendhal, Melville, and George Sand once called it home—new guests are in equally good hands.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

I have always cared as much about the journey as the destination.

If you know me, you know aviation is something of an obsession of mine. Nothing exhilarates me quite like the feeling of propulsion speeding down a runway toward takeoff—those seconds of pure anticipation before being lifted off the Earth. I’m always in the window seat, grinning ear to ear, marveling at the complicated choreography of getting from point A to B that so many of us take for granted.

For a long time, this felt like a quirk. Most people treat travel as a means to an end: the flight is an obstacle, the hotel is just a base, the destination is the goalpost. I’ve never quite been wired to think that way. I’ve always revered the liminality of breaking through clouds as much as I’ve appreciated arriving somewhere entirely new. Those in-between moments are where I’ve always found something worth paying attention to.

As it turns out, the rest of the world is finally starting to feel the same.

Romanticizing the journey is having its moment

Prioritizing the experience of transit is having such a cultural moment this year that trend reports have given it a name: romanticizing the journey. Driven by nostalgia and a growing appetite for genuine luxury, travelers are rejecting high-speed, stressful transit in favor of something slower and far more memorable: scenic journeys—specifically via rail and sail—that allow for genuine connection with the places you’re passing through and the people you’re passing through them with.

Luxury rail travel, with its storied overnight routes through mountain passes, restored vintage dining cars, and private sleeper cabins, has evolved from a nostalgic novelty into a genuine luxury category of its own. On the water, the shift is equally significant. The demand is for smaller, more intimate vessels: boutique yachts, bespoke itineraries, coastal access that a larger ship simply can’t offer. “Blue health,” the measurable psychological benefit of spending time at sea, is becoming a legitimate reason people plan trips, not just a byproduct of them.

What makes 2026 feel particularly exciting is what’s actually launching: Belmond’s Britannic Explorer in the UK, new sleeper routes threading across Europe, the expansion of the La Dolce Vita Orient Express through Italy, Aman at Sea. The golden age of travel isn’t being revived so much as reimagined—with modern comfort and historic soul arriving in the same cabin.

When it comes to luxury sailing specifically, the experience I’m most excited to try is with Nautica Collective. They offer fully hosted boutique group sailing experiences designed for the way modern travelers actually want to move through the world: time on the water woven together with genuine land-based moments, not one at the expense of the other. Everything is taken care of (onboard meals prepared by a private chef, thoughtfully curated itineraries—truly, the works!), so the only thing you’re really responsible for is just showing up and being present. But what draws me in beyond the logistics is the focus on community; these are intimate, small-group experiences, which means the people you sail with are likely to become people you actually stay in touch with long after coming back to shore.

The sail & rail destinations on my radar right now

Everything on my list has one thing in common: it’s best experienced slowly, and best arrived at by rail or sea.

• Ibiza has always been high on my list, and before you say anything, I already know what you’re thinking! But the Ibiza I’m after has nothing to do with house DJs or dancing on tables. I want the northern part of the island: the finca roads and the fishing villages and the markets in the hill towns. Ibiza by sail with Nautica Collective (offered this year June 6–9) is a completely different experience than Ibiza by flight, and that’s exactly the version I want. Plus, Nautica Collective pairs its Ibiza sails with Formentera, which would allow me to check off two more of Spain’s Balearic islands after my Menorca trip last year (they also offer both east and west coast Mallorca sails!).

• Singapore is the one long-haul on the list, and the Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express is the reason it’s here at all. The E&O runs through Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand—through unbelievable jungle and rice paddies and colonial-era stations—in a way that turns what could be a simple city trip into a proper journey through Southeast Asia. Singapore as a destination is endlessly fascinating on its own; Singapore as the starting point for one of the great rail journeys in the world is something else entirely.

• Kyushu, Japan via the Seven Stars is perhaps the most ambitious item on this list, and I mean that in the best possible way. The Seven Stars is Japan’s most acclaimed luxury sleeper, offering a four-day journey through the island of Kyushu that is, by most accounts, nearly impossible to book and completely worth the effort. Japan has always romanticized the act of train travel in a way no other culture quite matches, and the Seven Stars is that ethos at its most refined: a moving hotel, an introduction to a region most visitors never reach, and one of those travel experiences that people describe as genuinely life-changing.

​​The year the list becomes the calendar

I’ve kept versions of this list for longer than I’d like to admit. Destinations get shuffled around, experiences deferred, tabs left open in browsers that eventually get closed without being acted on. The Seven Stars booking that felt too complicated. The sailing trip that was always “next year.” Hopefully, this can be the year I’m done doing that.

If nothing else, Nautica Collective’s Ibiza & Formentera sail is the one I’m closest to pulling the trigger on, partly because the Balearics feel unfinished after Menorca, and partly because it’s the most accessible entry point into a kind of travel I’ve been circling for too long. And if you’ve been curious about sailing but didn’t know where to start, Nautica Collective is genuinely the answer I’d give a friend. Small groups, extraordinary routes, and the kind of experience that doesn’t end when you step off the boat.

Because at the end of the day, the memories that stay with you longest are rarely just about where you ended up, they’re about everything it took to get there.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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STARLUX Airlines has unveiled the core visual for its AIRSORAYAMA project, expanding its collaboration with legendary Japanese artist Hajime Sorayama beyond aircraft livery into full brand mythology. Sorayama’s iconic chrome robot soars alongside a STARLUX jet against a deep blue sky, subtly anchored by the airline’s North Star emblem, with a gold STARLUX ring engraved on the robot’s leg as a literal fusion of art and airline. True to form, he hand-drew every metallic highlight, preserving emotion beneath the hyper-polished sheen. As someone who used to lead strategy at Complex (and has the tiiiiiniest inner hypebeast), loves aviation, and happens to be a designer, I so appreciate the distinct visual universe and cultural cache this partnership creates.

Capital One just opened a new Landing Lounge at LGA in partnership with Michelin-starred chef Jose Andres, bringing elevated Spanish-inspired small plates to Terminal B. The space blends Capital One’s polished, design-forward aesthetic with a chef-driven menu, adding yet another signal that airport lounges are evolving into destinations rather than just transit points (more on that in an upcoming podcast with !). The opening was paired with an announcement that Shay Mitchell has signed on as the brand’s official Travel Ambassador, which signals to me that they’re looking to compete directly with Amex on identity, not just perks. And in my opinion, at least when it comes to lounges, they’re winning.

Away has named Fora Travel its official travel agency partner, marking Fora’s first large-scale consumer brand collaboration. The partnership connects Away’s design-forward customer base with Fora’s global network of advisors to create a more unified, end-to-end travel-planning experience built on real traveler insights. The first rollout will center around a wedding capsule this spring, tapping into the rise in engagement-to-honeymoon bookings.

Happy Lunar New Year and WELCOME to the year of the fire horse! We made it.

I have been out in the world a lot lately, bouncing between events, meeting new friends, discovering new hotels, and testing new products. For the first time in a while, I feel like I’m not just moving through the city, but actually taking advantage of all it has to offer. I’m also finally starting to feel a bit settled in my new apartment (turns out getting all the boxes out was half the battle).

One of the events I attended introduced me to a new-to-me brand called 100ml, which curates travel pouches filled with the best in beauty and wellness. The concept is simple but smart: perfectly sized essentials, thoughtfully edited, all in one chic pouch. They carry an impressive mix of brands, and the edit feels genuinely considered. My favorite product on offer: SIDIA’s Braless—it smells incredible.

Pompey — Jamaica

On 50 acres in Portland Parish, Jamaica, you’ll find Pompey: a hotel conceived by Diplo and brought to life by Brooklyn studio Freecell Architecture alongside Gia Wolff. Taken all together, it’s a masterclass in tension: raw brutalist concrete set against dense jungle green, sharp lines softened by filtered rays of light. At its core sits a 2,000-square-foot recording studio, but the experience doesn't stop there: cold plunges, sauna, yoga, rock climbing, water sports, and an in-house chef sourcing straight from the land fill out the rest. The result is somewhere that takes creativity seriously without forgetting the body needs tending to as well.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

• of is a CPA and Fractional CFO advising business owners, high-net-worth individuals, creatives, and influencers.

• of is a travel writer and founder covering the art of flying well, standout hotels, and the business of travel.

This is your no-gray-area guide to travel and tax season: what W-2 employees need to know, what actually changes when you’re self-employed, how to document trips properly, and what actual business travel has looked like behind the scenes.

The Reality of Work Travel as a W-2 Employee

Let’s start simple. Are you a W-2 employee going on a cute little work trip? I hate to say it, but the IRS does not care. You don’t get a write-off. I’m sorry. I don’t make the rules.

Flights, hotels, meals, Ubers, conference fees, etc. all became non-deductible because of the 2018 tax law changes. Even if your job literally requires you to hop on planes weekly. Even if you’re fronting thousands of dollars and getting reimbursed later. From a tax standpoint, that travel is simply part of having a job. And yes, it’s annoying.

But there’s good news. While you can’t deduct work travel anymore, you can still turn it into one of the biggest financial perks of being a corporate employee.

The first thing every W-2 traveler should ask (or politely email HR about) is who actually gets the rewards from company travel. The answer varies wildly by employer and the difference can be worth thousands of dollars per year.

Some companies allow employees to book flights and hotels on their personal credit cards and get fully reimbursed. When that’s the case, you’re not just getting your money back — you’re also keeping the airline miles, hotel points, and credit card rewards. The reimbursement itself isn’t taxable income because it’s a business expense your employer is covering. Meanwhile, you’re stacking free points on the side. This is the holy grail scenario, and if you have it, never take it for granted.

Other companies require a corporate card but still allow employees to attach their personal frequent flyer and hotel loyalty numbers to each booking. Even though the company pays for the trip, you’re earning miles toward free flights and nights toward elite status. There is even a chance your employer allows you to transfer the points to your own account for a fee.

I’ve seen people hit airline status tiers and luxury hotel tiers entirely through work travel. They didn’t spend a dollar of personal money to get there, yet they reap the benefits every time they travel for fun. That’s not a tax deduction, but it is very real money saved.

Elite airline status can mean free checked bags (which add up shockingly fast), priority boarding, complimentary seat upgrades, and lounge access that saves you from $22 airport salads. Hotel status can translate into room upgrades, free breakfasts, late checkout, and entire free nights on personal trips.

Over a year or two, this can easily turn into thousands of dollars in value. All funded by your employer’s travel budget. And none of this is taxable. Yay.

What Changes When You Travel for Your Own Business

When you’re self-employed, travel stops being a perk and starts being a strategy. As a W-2 employee, your company owns the deduction. You might optimize points and status, but from a tax perspective, the story ends there.

When you run your own business, everything shifts.

Now the tax treatment hinges on one deceptively simple concept in the IRS code. The trip must be “ordinary and necessary” for generating income. Not inspirational. Not aesthetic. Not “good for the brand.” It needs a real business purpose.

The IRS doesn’t care if your hotel is five stars or a roadside motel. It doesn’t care that the trip sparked creativity. It cares whether the primary reason you went was to make money.

That primary purpose is usually determined by time. If more than half of your days are legitimate business days (meetings, content production, client work, conferences, deliverables) the transportation to and from the destination is generally fully deductible. Flights, trains, rental cars to get there can qualify. That doesn’t magically turn the entire trip into a write-off, though.

Your hotel is deductible for the business days. Meals connected to business activity are generally 50% deductible. Ground transportation between work obligations counts. The personal days you tack on afterward don’t. The spa appointment doesn’t. The cute excursion you booked because you were already there doesn’t.

Business and personal travel can live in the same trip—you just have to split it cleanly.

This is where a lot of people can get sloppy, and I highly advise against it. Posting one Instagram story doesn’t convert a vacation into a business expense. But producing sponsored content, filming contracted deliverables, meeting with partners, scouting locations for monetized projects, or attending revenue-generating events can absolutely qualify. The difference isn’t intention. It’s documentation and income connection.

Points and rewards generally follow a simple logic. If you pay for business travel and earn points, those points usually aren’t taxable. If you redeem points for business travel, there’s no deduction because you didn’t spend cash. If you buy miles specifically for a business trip, that cost can typically be included as part of travel.

A good gut-check is simple: would you have spent this money if it weren’t tied to income production? If the answer is no, it’s likely a business expense. If the answer is “kind of,” it probably isn’t.

And none of this works without recordkeeping. The IRS technically wants you to keep a diary. Little do they know, my diary is a dark, dark place (jk). They mean more of a calendar. Dates matter. Notes about business purpose matter. A dedicated business credit card helps. A calendar trail helps. If someone unfamiliar with your life looked at your records, the business story of the trip should be obvious without explanation.

The difference between aesthetic and income-producing

Tori here–I’ll be taking over from here on! As someone who travels for a living, I think the “income connection” is where most people get confused. A trip isn’t deductible just because it fits into your brand, it’s deductible because it directly ties to your revenue production.

For example, last year I traveled to Portugal. Portions of that trip qualified as business expenses because I had a signed contract with a brand that required on-site deliverables, and I was producing a review for my newsletter tied to publishing revenue.

Those specific days were business days. They were documented, contracted, and connected to income production.

However, the primary purpose of the overall trip was personal. Because of that, the round-trip flight and lodging didn’t qualify as deductible travel expenses. What did qualify were the expenses directly tied to the business activity: transportation to and from what I was contracted to review, and meals associated with those business days.

How I plan trips differently as a business owner

So much changed when I left my corporate job last year to take Window Seat full-time, but a big one is that I stopped planning travel purely around inspo and more around income alignment. Not to force business into every trip, but to be more intentional about when travel serves my business.

For example, I know I want to get out of these frigid New York temps and visit some friends in LA. Now that I have a destination in mind, from there I can ask myself:

• Do I have a brand partnership opportunity there? If not, should I begin outreach?

• Can I schedule meetings with hospitality partners while I’m in town?

• Is there content I can monetize from this trip? Can I turn my flight or hotel experience into interesting social or newsletter content or a future brand partnership?

Sometimes the answer is yes, and the trip becomes primarily about business. And sometimes it’s no, and it’ll just be personal–which is totally okay. The big difference is that I’m being strategic about this before I book anything.

The Bottom Line

There’s nothing wrong with loving beautiful hotels and great flights. Lord knows I do. There’s also nothing wrong with wanting to be smart about your money. It just comes down to knowing whether the trip serves your life or your revenue.

When you respect that line (and document it properly!) travel goes much further than an expense—it becomes part of a real, sustainable business model.

And take it from me: that’s a much better long-term strategy than hoping the IRS loves a good view as much as you do.

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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I have always marked special occasions in hotels.

Birthdays, anniversaries…no matter the kind of celebration, my instinct is to check in somewhere beautiful. There’s something about the choreography of a hotel stay that makes a moment feel official. Someone else making your bed. A cocktail at a swanky bar. Room service eaten in bed guilt-free. A place that exists purely for pleasure and nothing else. Things that aren’t part of my everyday life.

In years past, those stays were always shared. There was always someone else in the room. A suitcase laid out next to my own. Someone to clink glasses or split an order of fries with.

This time, it was just me. And that was the whole point.

A hotel for one

For my first Valentine’s Day as a single woman in a decade, I checked into one of the sexiest new hotels in New York, a place that’s topped my staycation bucket list for months: The Manner.

Tucked into a quiet SoHo side street, The Manner is intimate and mood-driven in a way that feels distinctly downtown. It’s part of Hyatt’s Unbound Collection, which immediately caught my attention as a longtime Hyatt loyalist who has happily structured much of my travel life around that ecosystem. The Unbound Collection spotlights independent, design-forward properties with strong points of view, and The Manner fits squarely within that ethos. It feels layered and residential, evoking its own private world—truly the perfect setting for a solo retreat and a little intentional self-care.

The pleasure of privacy

I checked into a King Studio Suite, which was cozy in footprint but expansive in feeling. Like the rest of the hotel, the design leans sensual and warm, layered with midcentury textures and rich jewel tones. It feels genuinely residential in the way a very chic friend’s SoHo loft might.

My favorite details: nightstands featuring built-in speakers you could connect to your phone, a well-curated bookshelf, and bath products featuring a personal favorite, more under-the-radar brand called Costa Brazil (which doubles as the hotel’s signature scent).

An evening on my terms

For my evening of self-care, I started with drinks at the bar downstairs with a friend before retreating upstairs for a solo room service dinner.

Sloane’s, The Manner’s cocktail bar, is tucked behind a heavy velvet curtain on the guests-only second floor. Inside, you’ll find rich textures and impeccable service. My friend and I both ordered lychee martinis: delicately sweet, beautifully balanced, and easily one of the better cocktails I have had in recent memory.

Later, back in my room, I faced a far more important decision: the salmon or the filet mignon?

I chose the salmon—the safer option—paired with herbed fries and shrimp cocktail. I’m normally very skeptical of room service; too often, the restaurant downstairs shines while what arrives at your door feels like an afterthought. But this was excellent. It genuinely felt like a restaurant meal served privately, which is not often the case when ordering in. It felt intentional, not secondary, like the experience upstairs mattered just as much as the one below.

And that, I think, is what The Manner gets right.

The spaces are romantic, yes, but not dependent on romance. They are designed for mood—for pleasure—whether you are accompanied or not. Mood, as it turns out, does not require a plus-one.

The ritual remains

For a long time, I associated celebration with togetherness. I thought the hotel was about the shared memory—the clink of glasses, the “remember this?” years later. But during my Valentine’s week stay at The Manner, I realized something: the hotel was never about the other person.

I’m still someone who celebrates in hotels. I’m still someone who marks occasions with intention. The only difference was that this time, the room was entirely mine.

Oh—and I didn’t have to share my fries.

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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Despite building some of the most celebrated restaurants in the country, Simon Kim insists hospitality starts by lowering yourself. As the founder of Gracious Hospitality and the force behind Cote, he’s created restaurants where generosity isn’t performative, it’s structural, shaping everything from pacing to service to how guests are made to feel the moment they walk in.

And that mindset travels with him. From what he orders on a plane to how he winds down in a hotel, or approaches a meal at his own table, Simon pays close attention to the small details that signal care—and how those moments shape the way people feel, no matter where they’re seated.

Read on to learn how he would approach a premium-cabin menu, why he thinks perfection is overrated, and the hospitality hill he’ll die on.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m Simon Kim, founder of Gracious Hospitality Management, proud dad of two, and someone who got his hospitality career at a young age. After studying at UNLV and working at MGM Grand, I moved to NYC to learn from legends like Chef Thomas Keller and Chef Jean-Georges. Those early experiences shaped everything I believe about hospitality. In 2017, we opened COTE Korean Steakhouse in New York, followed by Miami in 2021—the only Michelin-starred Korean steakhouses in the country. In 2024, we brought COTE to Singapore, our first international location, and opened COQODAQ, our “Better Fried Chicken” concept. Most recently, we opened COTE Vegas at The Venetian Resort. Not only was it our biggest and boldest project to date, but it was a true homecoming after starting out at UNLV. To me, hospitality is all about people—whether it’s a student or a CEO, everyone deserves to feel cared for. I’m incredibly proud of the passionate team we’ve built and the work we do with organizations like City Harvest and Taste of Asia. Our mission is simple: we delight our customers.

You’ve said before that hospitality should feel generous. What does generosity look like in a restaurant in 2026?

To me, hospitality is twofold: what happens at the table and what happens behind the scenes. Generosity should be felt the moment a guest walks through the door—not only through portion size or luxury ingredients, but through warmth, care, and intention.

In Korean culture, eating with loved ones is as much a ritual as it is a meal. If you want more rice or banchan, it simply appears. That, to me, is generosity. It’s important to me that someone on any budget can walk in, feel genuinely welcomed, leave satisfied, and know they were truly taken care of.

What’s a hospitality hill you will absolutely die on?

I believe that water runs from top to bottom. I always share with my team to position ourselves lower than our customers so that our customers’ love can continuously flow easily from top to bottom.

As the operator of restaurants that have really resonated with people, it’s easy for us to find ourselves standing above our customers. But to me, that’s the beginning of the end. We’re here to serve, not to be praised. And to ensure that our customers always have an incredible experience.

What’s the best in-flight meal you’ve ever had, and what made it stand out? If an airline ever asked you to design a premium-cabin menu, where would you start?

The best in-flight meal I had was on Singapore Airlines. They served amazing dumplings and noodle soups. Since planes are such cold and dry environments, eating something warm, hydrating, and comforting made all the difference.

I spend a lot of time flying as a passenger, so I’ve thought a lot about this question. As a restaurateur, that’s my puzzle—how would I be delighted dining on an airplane? To me, the ideal menu would include a Korean meal. Rice, kimchi, Galbi. Not only would it reheat well, but it would be comforting, hydrating, healthy, and easily consumable.

What’s been your most memorable stay?

I’ve had many memorable hotel stays, especially when I visited my partners at The Venetian Resort and COMO Hotels. The Venetian in Las Vegas is a tremendous hotel. It’s one of the largest in the world, but still manages to deliver hospitality at an extraordinary scale. COMO Parrot Cay feels like my own private paradise. It’s serene, restorative, and the food is exceptional.

Another unforgettable stay was at Airelles in Saint-Tropez. From the grounds to the uniforms, the spa, and the service, every detail was intentional. It was deeply inspiring.

Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?

Le Sirenuse on the Amalfi Coast is at the top of my list. I’ve also never been on a safari, and I’d love to take my kids on one this year. I love visiting Japan for many reasons, including for the food alone, and San Sebastián is a destination I’m eager to explore.

What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?

My Rimowa suitcase. I have a special-edition camo one that goes everywhere with me. I have a facial lotion I never travel without—Talitha Koum HM+Barrier Face Cream. It’s my secret weapon to stay hydrated while traveling. As long as I have that, I’m good. I also recently started carrying an artisan satchel from Santa Fe. It’s the perfect “man purse,” and holds everything I need. And of course, my Yankees hat. I represent New York wherever I go.

What is your go-to airport outfit?

If it’s a long flight and pajamas aren’t provided, I always bring my own. I treat flights as an opportunity to truly rest. With my schedule, red-eyes are common, and I use them as opportunities to really sleep well.

Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?

Sleep and hydration. I aim for at least two liters of water and prioritize rest above everything else. I don’t eat on the plane unless I need to, sleep always comes first.

Last question: aisle or window seat?

Window seat, always. Fewer interruptions, more comfort.

For more from Simon, follow him on Instagram. Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

There’s the logistics, of course: boxes, supplies, timelines, keys, a seemingly endless stream of online accounts with addresses to update. But then there’s the heavier part—the emotional weight of it all. Packing up a life that no longer fits. Making significant life decisions with no gas left in the tank. Trying to move forward while still processing what you’re leaving behind.

As I was in it, I kept thinking of the airport experience, which can create similar kinds of stress for those who aren’t fluent in its language. Timing your arrival just right. Knowing how to move through the security line. Navigating concourses and gate changes. Keeping up with ever-evolving airline rules and policies. You’re just trying to get from Point A to Point B, but the path between the two is crowded with uncomfortable friction. The difference between a chaotic day and a calm one, I’ve found, is whether you try to navigate the experience entirely on your own, or let the right services do some of the heavy lifting for you.

Over time, I’ve learned that the services we tend to label as “luxuries” are often just systems designed to make hard moments easier. They reduce mental load and remove unnecessary decisions. Whether it’s a smoother airport experience or a move that takes the pressure off, these choices are less about indulgence and more about making stressful moments feel more manageable.

The systems that changed how I travel

I genuinely enjoy flying now, but that certainly didn’t happen overnight. Or by accident. It happened because I built systems around the parts of travel that used to stress me out.

TSA PreCheck was the first domino, stripping uncertainty from security, which meant fewer variables on days when timing already mattered. Global Entry followed. Once I experienced a bit of ease, I sought to design my entire travel days around it. From there came paying for a credit card that grants me lounge access, keeping a second set of my travel essentials packed at all times, and a more intentional approach to upgrades that make long-haul flights more comfortable.

While some of these choices might read as flex-y, they’re less about status signaling and much more about predictability and comfort—the keys to actually enjoying an experience instead of white-knuckling my way through it. Once ease entered the picture, it became the standard.

When the same logic applies on the ground

Preparing for a move in the middle of a major life transition made it immediately clear that the same logic applies well beyond the airport.

Moving is full of inflection points where stress compounds quickly: packing the right way, coordinating timelines, managing logistics, worrying about what might break or go missing, wondering if everything will actually arrive when it is supposed to, among so many other things. It’s the moving equivalent of standing in the wrong airport line, realizing too late that you misunderstood the process.

In the midst of everything else I was dealing with, I knew I didn’t want to navigate all of that on my own. I wanted the same kind of support I rely on when I travel: a system that removes uncertainty, simplifies decisions, and makes a stressful experience feel predictable. In other words, I needed the PreCheck of moving companies.

The moving equivalent of PreCheck

That mindset is what led me to work with Roadway.

What appealed to me was not the idea of a “luxury” move, but of a controlled one. A process that felt considered rather than reactive. Roadway took something inherently complicated and broke it down in a way that made it feel surprisingly straightforward and unfussy.

With the logistics handled, I could focus on the life transition itself. Mentally closing one chapter and opening another. Appreciating the arrival, rather than simply surviving the journey.

My only role on moving day was to supervise (and make the occasional coffee run). That kind of simplification and ease, especially in this stage of my life, is utterly priceless.

Practical luxury

We tend to think of these kinds of services as luxuries—something aesthetic or aspirational—when I think their most meaningful expression is actually practical, found in the everyday. They show up in the decisions that make hard days feel less punishing, and in the support that holds you when you’re already carrying well beyond your limit.

At their best, they create the conditions to arrive clear-headed and present, whether you’re stepping off a plane or unlocking the door to your new apartment. They make arrival feel possible at all.

Today’s newsletter is graciously sponsored by Roadway Moving.

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.

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Sporty & Rich continues their hotel partnerships, this time with Mandarin Oriental Bangkok to mark the hotel’s 150th anniversary with a limited-edition wellness-inspired capsule. The collection spans co-branded crewnecks, tees, pajamas, totes, and caps in Mandarin Oriental’s signature celadon hue, which is a first for Sporty & Rich and a nod to the property’s Thai heritage. Available in March with worldwide shipping. I’ll take one of everything, thanks!

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is opening applications for its first-ever Chief Relaxation Officer: a two-week, fully hosted role designed to reward radical rest. The chosen traveler will island-hop between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac, with the official job requirements including eight hours of sleep nightly, daily time by the water, tech-free sunsets on Seven Mile Beach, and meals with locals to learn Caymanian relaxation rituals. Applications are open now through 2/17, with candidates submitting their worst vacation stories for a chance to finally vacay properly. Best job ever???

Thompson Hotels announced a year-long partnership with BERO, the premium alcohol-free beer founded by Tom Holland. Rolling out across Thompson properties nationwide, the collaboration positions BERO as the hotel’s non-alcoholic beer of choice, seamlessly integrated from check-in moments to cultural programming tied to wellness travel and social rituals that don’t revolve around drinking (love to see it).

By the time you’re reading this, I’ll have moved into my new apartment! I know in a recent letter I said I’d be downsizing from a two-bedroom to a studio, but in a truly wild turn of events, I ended up finding another two-bedroom in my budget (and basically in the same neighborhood I lived in before!). So here’s the upside: I don’t actually have to part with as much as I expected. The downside, though? I suddenly have a lot more space to be intentional about.

Case in point: my bathroom is enormous. Which is a gift! But also a design responsibility. Rather than treating it like a purely functional space, I’m approaching it the way great hotels do: as a room in its own right. One that balances storage, atmosphere, and small moments of luxury that elevate your daily routines. Here’s how I am thinking about achieving that five-star hotel feeling, starting with a few key pieces:

A stool that signals leisure, not necessity. One of my favorite hotel tells is the presence of a stool or small bench that exists purely to slow you down. It’s not there because you need it, it’s there just becuase. A sculptural wooden stool with folded towels or a robe instantly reframes the space from “getting ready” to “taking your time.” It is the difference between a bathroom you pass through and one you inhabit.

Soft lighting where you least expect it. A small lamp in a bathroom is one of the fastest ways to achieve hotel energy. It lowers the emotional temperature of the room, making it feel warmer and more intimate, especially at night. Hotels understand that overhead lighting is for function, but ambient lighting is for mood.

Textiles that ground the space. A rug is non-negotiable for me. A dark, textured rug adds contrast and warmth, instantly making the space feel more like a suite than a standard bathroom.

Closed storage that hides the mess: Wicker or woven storage is a hotel classic for a reason. It conceals the unglamorous stuff—backup products, extra paper goods, cleaning supplies—while still adding texture and visual interest. A lidded basket keeps the visual field calm, which is key. Luxury bathrooms never show everything at once; they curate what’s visible and swiftly tuck the rest away.

Kyoto Marufukuro— Kyoto, Japan

If you’re as big of a Nintendo stan as me, this hotel hits on a deeper level. Part of Marufukuro’s lore is that it occupies a former Nintendo headquarters in Kyoto, dating back to when the company was producing playing cards (long before the consoles or characters they are beloved for today). Designed by Tadao Ando, the 18-room hotel is intentionally restrained, letting history surface in small, meaningful ways rather than turning it into spectacle. Original Showa-era details remain—signage, the green-tiled roof, even the old cage elevator—but the emotional center is the hotel library, where guests can see rare Nintendo relics and archival materials up close. It’s not a museum so much as a quiet moment of reverence, a reminder that this global phenomenon started in rooms like these. For fans, it feels less like a stay and more like a pilgrimage.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase (at no cost to you).

Tori Simokov is a Travel Writer and Graphic Designer/Strategist based in New York. To get in touch, email tori@v1projects.com. Want more? Check out Instagram, TikTok, or shop her curated favorites.