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Air Canada dropped its 2027 international routes this week with—you guessed it—a codebreaker video, following the trend set off by United and then American. They did put a fun spin on it by inviting GeoGuessr Rainbolt to break down each of the codes hidden in their video. As for the routes, highlights include direct routes to Oslo, Shannon, and Basel on their new A321XLRs, alongside widebody service connecting Vancouver to Guangzhou and Montreal to Dubrovnik.

Earlier this year I wrote about JetBlue’s new BlueFirst domestic first class product, and now we have a first look.

The World’s 50 Best Hotels just unveiled its 51–100 ranking for 2026 ahead of the official top 50 reveal on September 15. Asia dominated with 20 inclusions, including five separate properties in Tokyo alone. Excited to see my beloved Park Hyatt Tokyo on there as a new entry.

I haven’t had much of a shopping itch this year, but then September hit, and suddenly I’m craving a back-to-school-style refresh of my wardrobe. I’ve realized my style is basically ‘90s minimalism with exaggerated proportions and a slightly utilitarian edge, which, this fall, means lots of black, cream, navy and brown, very wide trousers, rigid denim, drapey layers and slightly strange shoes. I’m trying to focus on pieces that make what I already own feel new rather than buying an entirely new wardrobe, but I’ve already found a few things that were too good to resist.

St. Clement — London, England

I got a preview of the hotel while they’re in their soft opening during my recent trip to London, so you can take it from me: I think it’s on track to be the new “it” hotel in the city. Set inside the 180 quarter along the Thames, this 90-room property (which also has 15 loft-style apartments with arguably the best views in London) actually achieves the feeling of pure residential ease that so many other properties chase. Some of my favorite features are complimentary N/A minibars and free laundry and steaming (!), but the one that takes the cake by far is the “bathroom apothecaries” filled with full-sized luxury products.

But it’s not just the rooms that impress. For food, Café Clement is a must-visit regardless of whether you’re a guest at the hotel, serving French/Italian dining under River Café alum Danny Bohan. And a massive subterranean spa is currently in the works, too, set to feature a pool, hot and cold plunge circuits, infrared saunas, steam rooms, and treatment rooms linked directly to neighboring 180 The Strand. This is definitely one to add to your London list.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

If last year was defined by change, this year has been all about rapid expansion. The past eight months have flown by in a whirlwind of last-minute departures and long-haul turnarounds. While the pace has been intense, it’s also given me a well of new industry insights, travel lessons, hotel discoveries, route strategies, and perspective to share. Consider today’s Q&A my way of saying thank you for helping me make this my job, and passing that knowledge back to you.

Read on to learn:

• The one hotel that’s earned a perfect 5-star rating from me this year

• How swapping corporate life for a life in the air redefined my spontaneity

• My unfiltered thoughts on AI in the travel industry

• My non-touristy 24-hour itinerary for a perfect day in New York City

• Practical tips on upgrading to lie-flat seats without spending a fortune

What’s the best hotel you’ve stayed at this year? And you can only pick ONE. —KC

I’ve been so fortunate to stay at some truly exceptional properties this year, including two that have been revealed on the World’s 50 Best Hotels list for 2026 (only half of which is currently released). For my own ranking, I’m taking aspects like the service, the comfort, the food, the amenities, and the hospitality into consideration. And there’s only one that’s gotten easy fives across the board for me.

Has becoming a travel writer made you more or less spontaneous when you travel? —Reid

Definitely more spontaneous! Many of the trips I’ve taken have come with a week or two of notice, and one even had just 24 hours. I’ve also done 5 long-haul trips this year so far (7+ hour one-way flights), all of which, except one, had just 48-72 hr turnarounds.

I used to be someone who needed to research relentlessly for months on end before a trip, ensuring I had a really tightly curated itinerary. I didn’t want to miss out on anything. But the kind of travel I do now does not allow for that. So I just do as much research as I can, and then hope for the best.

There’s also the added benefit of accumulating miles and points at a much more accelerated rate, so I can call up a girlfriend in Miami and say, “hey wanna meet me in West Palm for the weekend?” and make it happen, which is really cool.

Would you ever go back to a full-time corporate job for the right opp/$$, or do you feel like that chapter of your life is over? —Eleanor

I don’t think any amount of money could lure me back to a desk job after the year I’ve spent being a free agent. Working in corporate is definitely a chapter I consider over. I made the mistake of putting on golden handcuffs once before and learned the harsh lesson that money isn’t everything, even though living in a city like New York can lead you astray in that way. I value my autonomy, freedom, and the ability to build something that’s mine so much more, and I’m so proud of myself for getting to that point.

Favorite souvenir from this year? —Devon

I have a couple huge bulletin boards behind my desk in my office that are home to all of the ephemera I’ve collected from my travels since I started Window Seat. Hotel key cards, name tags, media credentials, handwritten notes from hoteliers welcoming me to their properties, airline trading cards, the like. It’s a living, breathing wall of gratitude that serves as a daily reminder for me to dream bigger.

Biggest “holy shit, this is my job now” moment? —Isa

I had to actually think about this for a bit—there’s been quite a few this year! But I think THE moment happened this spring on a Riva yacht speeding through the Gulf of Naples. Champagne in hand, sun shining, music blaring, not a care in the world. I was there on a press trip being hosted by a family who owns a 200-year-old hotel that’s since become one of my all-time favorites. It was a career milestone for sure—checking a new country off the list, being invited to stay at a hotel of such grand scale and legendary stature—but it was also just pure bliss incarnate. It was an “I made it” moment for sure.

I would LOVE to hear more about the business side of Window Seat. Do you think of yourself as a writer first now? A creator? I feel like you’ve built something that doesn’t really fit neatly into any of those boxes and I’m curious how you describe what you do when someone asks. —Anonymous

I definitely consider myself a writer first. Although I also create content, it’s not my bread and butter or something that comes easily to me at all. Plus, if I decided to stop creating content tomorrow, I think Window Seat could still survive as a respected publication. The converse is not true. So to answer the last part of your question, I introduce myself as a travel writer or journalist depending on the environment, or simply as the creator of Window Seat, a newsletter about luxury travel, aviation, and the culture of modern hospitality.

I’m a creative director working corporate so we’re inundated with “AI” everything. As a travel writer and brand builder, how is it, if it is, affecting you or the travel you write about? —Ashley

I toggle between two modes, travel storytelling here and brand strategy in my consultancy, so I really view AI without the panic or blind hype.

In my day-to-day, I use it as an operational engine: negotiating brand deal terms, troubleshooting issues in programs like QuickBooks (bane of my existence lol), fixing a recipe I think I screwed up, optimizing a route for errands I need to do in the city. It’s been an incredible tool that I use, essentially, as an administrative assistant. But when it comes to travel writing and brand building, we know AI can’t capture the sensorial nature of a place or offer real human discernment.

The industry split that’s happening right now is really interesting to me. On one side, you have fearmongering about getting “left behind,” and on the other, an absolute denunciation (which, I’ve found, most often comes from certain travel advisors whose pushback seems motivated by protecting their own business interests).

Have you seen that image comparing AI doing laundry and dishes to art and writing? I think the sweet spot is pragmatism: using AI for all the menial tasks and inbox management that eats up so much of our time so we have more of it to dedicate to creativity and all the human pursuits AI won’t ever be able to really replicate.

Do you have any tips for upgrading an existing ticket? Is it even possible? Backstory: I booked a nonstop to Venice on United for a wedding aka inflexible date, upgrade for lay flat for one way was $6300 and now $8500!! I have some Amex and United points and I am also willing to pay $$ but not THAT much $$$$$!! —Ally

You know, it’s funny: the first time I ever flew in business, it was because I made friends with a flight attendant who, out of the goodness of her own heart, decided to upgrade me from my economy seat to a Delta One lie-flat (the good kind, on the A330neo. I am forever indebted). But this was several years ago, and I know better than to expect this incredible stroke of luck to ever strike twice.

Another way I’ve upgraded an existing ticket was on an Air France flight. I had a Premium Economy booking, and completed my first leg of the flight. A day before my return flight, I got a push notification from the airline app offering a $300 upgrade to business. Many airlines will release last-minute paid upgrade offers to fill these seats closer to departure, so set a reminder to check the app a day or two before departure just in case.

But let’s talk United specifically: United lets you to request an upgrade to Polaris using MileagePlus miles plus a cash copay (usually ~20-35k miles + ~$500 for Europe routes). Even if you get waitlisted, you won’t pay anything upfront unless the upgrade clears (and if it fails, your cash/miles are refunded). And you mentioned you have some Amex points lying around. Unfortunately those don’t transfer directly to United, so your best move is booking through Star Alliance partners. However! If you already hold a cash United ticket, keep in mind that you can use your Amex points to cover the cash portion of a MileagePlus copay via your statement credits.

Check out this guide I wrote for more tips!

How do you choose your next vacation/travel destination?—Ally

I’m someone who typically lets a hotel anchor a trip. For example, in the past I really wanted to stay at Les Roches Rouges, so to the South of France I went. There are exceptions, of course: like Japan, which is just a place I needed to go. But the impetus for the part-time job that is planning a trip is an exceptional hotel more often than not.

24 hours in NYC this weekend - what do I do? (Not touristy!) —Emily

I’ve been dying to do a Red Hook day. Here’s my ideal route: Starting with a coffee at Black Flamingo, moving on to shopping at boutiques like Jamieri and Open Invite, grabbing a danish pastry at Frø, then pre-dinner drinks at Pony’s before a meal at Cafe Kestrel. And then picking up a key lime pie from Steve’s to take home for later, of course.

What’s your first United new route stop?! —Jamie

We’ve been blessedddd with so many new routes out of Newark! I had never heard of Ljubljana, Slovenia before the United media event announcing the new routes, and now I’m very keen to go. It looks like such a picturesque place, apparently has an amazing culinary scene, and there’s even great hiking in the Julian Alps. So basically my perfect place.

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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Airline marketing teams have officially abandoned traditional press releases in favor of viral, internet-fueled scavenger hunts and stunts to announce their 2027 route expansions. Leading the charge, United dropped a social video packed with cryptic easter eggs to tease its largest-ever expansion, adding 10 new international destinations across Europe and Asia like Okinawa and Ljubljana, Slovenia. The announcement was paired with a media event (that I got to attend!) at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, along with a tour of their all-new A321XLR, a narrowbody that will serve half of the new routes and come outfitted with 20 Polaris lie-flat seats. Later in the week, American Airlines jumped in with its own social campaign, dropping a riddle-filled "menu" loaded with ciphers and codes for us to decode, eventually dropping their three new international routes: Vienna, Reykjavik, and Porto (with 7 new routes total). Interesting that both airlines decided we need to be codebreakers all of a sudden? Taking a completely different approach, Alaska Airlines sent out PR boxes containing business-class tickets, allowing creators to actually visit one of their two new 2027 destinations, either Paris or Athens.

Boeing sent out PR mailers this week in celebration of the 787 Dreamliner’s 15th anniversary.

Delta and American Express just announced new limited-time welcome offers for their co-branded card. Starting August 27 through November 4, 2026, new Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Card Members can now earn two round-trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates plus 50,000 Bonus Miles after spending $10,000 in their first six months. Premium business travelers can also score up to 200,000 Bonus Miles on the Reserve Business Card. The offers complement summer perks like the new Second Bag Free benefit for Basic Economy ticket holders and rideshare credits for Gold Card Members.

Japanese streetwear brand BEAMS teamed up with All Nippon Airways for an aviation-themed collaboration collection called “FLOW.” Directed by Kohei Okita (VINYL ARCHIVE), with playful artwork by German artist Stefan Marx, the lineup includes five graphic tees, a multi-shoulder pouch, and a sleek 3-piece compression packing set.

If you’re heading to London anytime soon (I literally just got back), you’ll want to know about this hotel I stayed at. The Hari, a stunning luxury hotel in Belgravia, is releasing 10 rooms for just £10 in celebration of its 10th anniversary. Available for one day only, bookings open at 10:00am (GMT) on August 31st on a first-come, first-served basis (blackout dates & conditions apply).

Giveaway Winner: Massive congratulations to Erin!! Check your DMs to claim your new piece. Can’t wait to match.

Next Week: I’m finally publishing a 2026 reader Q&A edition next week. Send me any and all questions, whether you want the raw truth about being a travel writer, Substack tips, my holy-grail packing products, my thoughts on recent industry news—anything goes! Leave a comment here or drop a DM (anonymous queries welcome).

Hotel Lucille — Silver Lake, California

One of LA’s most interesting upcoming hotel openings is hiding inside a nearly century-old church in Silver Lake. It’s rare that a stateside hotel catches my eye in this kind of way, but then again, this is a property that has an interesting origin story. Originally a 1931 Romanesque church, the team behind Surfrider in Malibu, Casetta Hotels, preserved much of its character while transforming it into a very intimate neighborhood hotel. Now it has 25 guest rooms, a pool, a rooftop with sweeping views of the city, and a restaurant in the main sanctuary, and an eclectic design that’s given the old church an entirely new life.

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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Ed. note: Flights and accommodations for this trip were provided by Alaska Airlines. As always, I only share experiences that I genuinely love, and all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own.

The feeling of standing atop a sprawling glacier streaked with black volcanic ash, floating through pure glacial water between two tectonic plates, the distinct profundity of witnessing the sky turn black and then bright again, as if someone simply flipped a switch—there is really only one way I can describe the experiences I had in Iceland, and that is pure and utter awe.

Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s leading experts on the science of human emotion, defines awe as the sensation of encountering something so vast that it transcends your understanding of the world. Neurologically, it actually silences our ego and overthinking, replacing it with the “small self” effect: self-importance diminishes, your day-to-day worries disappear, and you feel profoundly connected to the world around you—suddenly aware of how truly small you are within it.

Before this trip, I was aware of the concept of awe; loosely knew its definition as a word. But I don’t think I had ever really experienced it so viscerally. What started as a quick long-weekend getaway quickly turned into a masterclass in letting go of control and learning an essential, grounding truth: being small in a vast world isn't terrifying. It's absolute freedom.

Read on for:

• The non-negotiable layering system you need for Iceland's summer weather

• The ultimate arrival ritual to reset your circadian clock before your trip even begins

• How to cover the South Coast’s most dramatic landscapes in a single day—without renting a car

• What it feels like to snorkel in 35°F glacial meltwater

The reason I went to Iceland was to experience Alaska Airlines’ seasonal route connecting Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) directly to Reykjavík’s Keflavík International Airport (KEF), perfectly timed for the solar eclipse, as Reykjavík was in the path of totality.

The most interesting thing about this specific route is that it represents the longest nonstop flight operated by a US carrier on a 737. If you’re like, wait: isn’t that a single-aisle plane that you’re flying for seven-ish hours in? The answer is yes. And I understand the impulse to find that concerning; from a passenger perspective, it does sound counterintuitive using a smaller plane for a longer international route. But just know that what you lose in space you make up for in more efficient boarding and de-planing processes.

Another interesting aspect of the Alaska in-flight experience: you won’t find any seatback screens. This was actually more surprising to me than using a narrowbody for a transatlantic long-haul route, and I’ll admit: at first I found it confusing. But after some research, I began to understand the decision. Seatback screens are costly to install; they add weight to an aircraft, and if they don’t work, you’ll have some really angry customers. That’s a lot of variability for entertainment when 99% of today’s passengers travel with at least one source of entertainment themselves, usually right in their own pocket. To compensate, Alaska does its part to help you out: there are built-in seatback clips to hold your phone or tablet at eye level, and every seat has fast-charging USB-C ports to keep your tech juiced up. Add Starlink Wi-Fi to the mix, and a robust library of over 1,000 free movies and TV shows streamed right to your browser, and I bet you’ll forget anything was ever missing.

As for what the cabin experiences were like, I got a complete sampling over the course of the four individual legs of my journey:

• Domestic First (SEA<>EWR): Spacious recliner seats with cozy Filson blankets, a generous 41” seat pitch, and a footrest (Alaska’s newest 737 MAX 8s and retrofitted 738s also have a calf rest). With this ticket, you can also access the gorgeous flagship Alaska Lounge in Terminal N, which is well worth the quick train ride even if your flight departs from another concourse.

• Premium Class (SEA>KEF): Premium Class (rows 6–10) gets you the exact same seat as Main Cabin, but bumps the pitch up 4-5 inches, which, on a 7-hour flight, is make-or-break for your ability to work comfortably on a laptop or sleep without your knees jamming into the seat in front of you. Extra perks here: complimentary alcoholic beverages and priority boarding.

• Main Cabin (KEF>SEA): My favorite feature here: unlike older airplanes where USB ports barely charge a phone, Alaska’s MAX 8 Main Cabin features fast-charging USB-C ports alongside 110V AC outlets.

  

Iceland is NOT one of those trips where you just throw a bunch of clothes into a suitcase. It is a place that demands a specific, intentional packing list. Even if you don’t partake in any adventurous hiking or excursions (in which case, I ask: why are you even going??), the weather is its own kind of unpredictable beast that you need to be prepared for or you’re gonna have a Bad Time.

The weather was the thing I couldn’t quite wrap my head around until I got there. My trip was in early August, and the forecast was calling for rain and temps in the mid-50s and 60s. It was the height of summer, yet I found myself packing winter gloves, hats, thermal underwear, and fleece layers for the brutal wind I’d heard so much about in my pre-trip research. I kept thinking I would be so hot—no way would I need all those layers with the sun so high in the sky and the activity level I’d have, right? Dear reader, heed my warning: pack the layers.

Here’s my complete packing list:

Technical clothing

• You need a waterproof jacket, no exceptions. Not water-resistant. This is your single most important piece of gear. Mine was an absolute lifesaver against the whipping wind and waterfall spray. This is a piece worth investing in! To that end, waterproof pants are just as essential as the jacket. Otherwise, you WILL be walking around soaking wet. Finally, sturdy hiking boots are a nice-to-have, not an essential, as you can rent boots at a lot of the activities that require this footwear. Otherwise, bring a hiking shoe (preferably Gore-Tex).

• I’d also recommend getting a comfortable 20L–30L backpack. I’m recommending something at least this big because you’ll need space to carry any extra layers you want to bring or shed. Plus snacks for long outings, your camera gear, portable charger, etc.

How to layer appropriately

• Dressing in layers is the key to surviving and thriving during your trip here. You need three layers: a base layer, a mid layer, and your shell (the waterproof jacket we covered above). The base layer is the most important part of this equation, as it sits closest to your skin. It needs to be moisture-wicking, so the material is extremely important: make sure yours is merino wool or a synthetic material. I packed this lightweight long sleeve. The next layer is your mid layer, which can be some kind of sweater or fleece—something that insulates. For mine, I packed a quarter-zip fleece.

Additional clothing

• Regardless of the time of year or the weather, pack a swimsuit and some flip-flops so you can enjoy one of Iceland’s many geothermal lagoons. It’s a must-do.

Tech & accessories

• If ever you’re going to invest in a camera that isn’t your phone, this is the time. I had my film camera and my DJI Osmo Pocket 3 with me on every outing. I’d also get a waterproof phone pouch so you can bring it into the lagoons without worrying.

• I’m a water snob, so you can take it from me: Iceland has the purest, crispest drinking water on Earth. Pack a reusable water bottle so you can bring some home. It’s that good.

• The sun doesn’t set until reeeeeally late in Iceland (midnight sun is a thing here, too, during the summer), so you need an eye mask for sleeping whether you normally wear one or not. To that end, bring sunglasses. I’d recommend getting a pair specifically for hiking that's a bit more protective and supportive.

• Iceland uses European-standard plugs, so bring a plug adapter.

The ultimate jetlag cure

Read more

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A belief I’ve long held (and shared with !) is that more international airports should have saunas. Sweating out toxins seems like the ideal way to spend a brutal layover and beat jet lag. Unfortunately, only a handful of airports have them, and now, one is closed thanks to people who quite literally can’t keep it in their pants. At Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, Air France has permanently closed its popular, wood-paneled sauna in the T2E lounge. Staff confirmed the reason for the closure: passengers repeatedly used the private, single-party room for sexual activity and inappropriate behavior. This is why we can’t have nice things.

Away launched a new social series called Actually Away. They put out a call to source wild travel stories from their community, and now they’re turning them into mini movies. The first one just dropped featuring two strangers who are forced to bond after getting locked inside a train station overnight. Cute!

A special subscriber giveaway!!

Fun fact about me: I’m a big watch girl. But up until now, my "collection" has technically been just one. A few years ago, I splurged on a two-tone piece to celebrate a major milestone project/professional achievement. I’ve worn it basically every single day since; I love the history it holds for me and the weight of it on my wrist. But I’ve been on the hunt for a platinum piece to balance it out.

Which is why I was sooo excited when the team at Citizen sent over their new Zenshin Three-Hand x Hypebeast for me to check out. Created to celebrate 20 years of Hypebeast and 50 years of Citizen’s Eco-Drive light tech, it’s a 1-of-600 piece worldwide. The entire 39.5mm case and integrated bracelet are sculpted from Super Titanium™ and treated with an extensive DURATECT Platinum finish.

And the best part? They also sent me a second, brand-new piece to gift to one of you! Here’s how to win:

1. Make sure you’re subscribed to Window Seat.

2. Leave a comment on this post sharing which destination you’d rock this sleek watch in.

I’ll randomly pick one winner (announced in next week’s issue)!

One&Only Moonlight Basin — Big Sky, Montana

Marking One&Only’s first-ever alpine resort in the US, this ultra-luxe retreat brings sleek, modern architecture into the rugged wilderness of Big Sky. It’s secluded as it is visually stunning and has a little something for everyone: ski-in/ski-out access in the winter and direct access to Yellowstone National Park’s northern boundary in the summer. You’ll also find a massive subterranean spa, outdoor heated pools overlooking the stunning mountain scenery, and an indoor ski lounge with custom equipment fittings.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

My travel schedule this year has been…chaotic, to say the least. With how many new passport stamps I’ve accumulated, you’d probably wonder when I have time to sleep in my own bed (spoiler: not often). Between the long-haul flights and learning to live out of a carry-on, I’ve had to reevaluate my routines to create streamlined processes for more efficient travel. This includes, of course, my beauty routine.

When you spend hours marinating in cabin air as I do, your skin and hair can take as big of a hit as your nervous system. Throughout this year, I’ve built a routine that keeps me looking and feeling good no matter what time zone I wake up in.

Here’s every item that’s made the cut in my travel bag, from staying hydtrated to my ultimate post-flight shower ritual.

Systems & organization

Whether you’re living out of a carry-on or just want to make sure all your stuff stays neatly organized:

• Leak-proof magnetic capsules that snap together in your bag, perfect for holding anything from creams to jewelry to supplements.

• A modular organization system designed to keep everything together and visible.

• Airless pump bottles engineered to handle liquids without leaking under drastic cabin pressure changes.

In-flight defense & rest

For those who want to land looking genuinely rested and protected as opposed to being completely drained by 30,000-foot cabin air:

• Sunscreen to help protect against the strong UV rays I’m exposed to sitting in the window seat—this formula is my favorite ever and gives me heavy-duty protection.

• A rich lip balm to create a protective cushion that lasts through entire long-haul legs.

• Melatonin gummies to beat jet lag before it even starts (especially helpful when adjusting to new time zones and trying to sleep while the sun is still shining).

Post-flight shower ritual

Does anything feel as good as a luxurious shower straight off the plane? Especially if you bring products you know will truly elevate the experience. You know I’m a huge proponent of treating yourself, so why stop when you’re traveling?

• Dove Serum+ Oil Body Wash with Almond Oil & Sandalwood is my favorite body wash to rinse away the fatigue of a long travel day. The scent is so good, it makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a 5-star spa instead of an unfamiliar hotel room bathroom. And the formula includes glycerin, which deeply attracts moisture to counteract high-altitude dehydration, preventing that itchy, tight skin feeling you might get post-flight. Treat yourself to the ultimate travel shower—shop it now on Amazon.

Hair, skin & makeup

When the time comes to head out to dinners or client meetings, my routine here centers on high-impact tools and formulas to give an effortless look:

• This hair styler gives me a salon-level blowout in minutes, tucks away neatly in an organized travel pouch—and it’s dual-voltage.

• These makeup brushes are ultra-soft (and I just love the way they look in my kit). I pair them with this blush for a fresh, lit-from-within flush that gives the perfect no-makeup-makeup look that I’ve been loving lately.

• I haven’t let a towel touch my face in years. Not in my own home and certainly not in any hotel. I bring these along instead.

Oral care

For all the other lists I’ve seen similar to this one, no one ever mentions oral care, and I think that’s a huge miss. Keeping on top of as many of my routines as possible while traveling is so important to me, and this one is top of the list:

• A sustainable, ultra-slim sonic toothbrush that has a case that not only keeps it clean but charged, too.

• Elevated, mineral-rich toothpaste that protects enamel without harsh chemicals and looks as great sitting on your vanity as it makes your smile. The new (better) Marvis.

• A textured, expandable (a must!!) dental floss that grabs up to 55% more plaque makes me feel like any floss I’ve ever used before this just wasn’t doing its job correctly.

Finishing touches

These are the personal, sensory details that bring everything together before I step out the door:

• A warm, comforting fragrance with notes of black tea, fig, and cedar that I get compliments on literally every single day. My signature.

• A long-wearing, high-shine polish that not only keeps my manicures looking fresh, but it sets touch-dry in just a couple of minutes.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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American Express Travel announced the addition of 350+ premium hotels to the Fine Hotels + Resorts and The Hotel Collection programs this week, expanding its curated portfolio to more than 3,400 properties across 116 countries. As a Platinum Cardmember, you already know I’m an evangelist for FHR—between the early check-ins and room upgrades, guaranteed 4pm check-out, daily breakfast, and $100 property credits, the perks are simply unrivaled. (Plus, you can get up to $600 back per year on eligible bookings, which almost pays for the entire card). Some new additions I’m excited about: La Valise Mazunte in Mexico, The Carlyle in New York, and Le Marne Relais in Italy.

Cathay Pacific just launched an N/A version of their cult-fav Betsy Beer, making it the first airline to create its own alch-free beer. When the airline first released Betsy—a craft pale ale specifically brewed with higher carbonation and ingredients that actually taste good at altitude—it became an instant, in-flight hit. The new N/A version was brewed in collaboration with Hong Kong’s Gweilo Beer, which mixed a light malt base with bright yuzu lemon notes and a crisp, hoppy finish. As someone who loves a proper inflight beverage program (and appreciates sober-curious options in the sky), this is something I love to see.

Luggage giant Samsonite just announced it's acquiring an 85% stake in BEIS, the travel and lifestyle brand founded by Shay Mitchell. Since launching in 2018, BEIS has been redefining aesthetic, internet-viral luggage for the modern traveler, so watching it join the legacy powerhouse Samsonite is a big milestone. Shay will be staying on as Chief Creative Officer to run the design side, but expect to see this brand scale up in a massive, global way.

After spending the last few days navigating horizontal rain, heavy waterfall misting, and intense Icelandic wind gusts atop a glacier, my post-trip gear verdict is officially in. While I brought a full lineup of layers (which you saw me share last week), the absolute MVP of my trip was this jacket. I’d go so far as to say that a true waterproof shell is the single most vital item on your Iceland packing list. The weather is wildly unpredictable, and you need something heavy-duty that will actually hold up against the elements—emphasis on waterproof, not just water-resistant. It rained almost the entire time I was there, and when it wasn't raining, I was getting drenched by waterfall spray. But this goes for anyone planning any cold, wet, or high-wind adventures this year: consider this your sign to invest in serious technical outerwear.

San Luis Retreat — South Tyrol, Italy

I have quite a few mountainside stays on my radar, but there are the ones that are massive resorts and the ones that are more secluded. If you’re after the latter, this woodland village might just be the blueprint. Instead of a single building, it’s made up of 42 standalone chalets and treehouses tucked inside a private forest that surrounds a massive lake. Private hot tubs and in-room saunas are a couple of the amenities on offer, but what I really love is how your room service arrives: a little wooden carriage pulls up to your door with fresh local pastries and cheeses. What could be better?

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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In a culture obsessed with doing more faster and faster, Steph Hon approaches travel with a different ethos: effortless harmony. She sees the items we carry with us not as simply “stuff in a bag,” but rather the physical baseline for how grounded we feel when everything around us is suddenly different.

As a former dancer turned founder, Steph looks at movement through a lens of total spatial awareness and beauty. That’s what led her to build Cadence, creating a sleek, magnetic ecosystem that solved one of my biggest issues with travel: the cheap, disposable containers we’ve been forced to tolerate for decades.

And I’m far from a neutral observer here! I’ve been a Cadence evangelist since my first order three years ago. It’s one system that has stripped away so much friction and anxiety from my packing routine. And Steph’s obsession with solving real-world friction shines through everything she touches, from her sharp product philosophy to her laid-back flight rituals.

Read on to learn why she thinks spontaneity requires structure, how to turn airplane hours into creative fuel, and the personal reason behind her aisle seat loyalty.

Tell us a little about yourself.

“As a person, I value flexibility, autonomy, and putting myself in new, unexpected situations. I'm grateful to be the founder of Cadence, a design company built for people going places. We make it easy to bring the products you use every day with you, so you can focus on the moment you're actually in instead of what you forgot. I used to be a dancer, and I've carried that love of movement and how we interact with the world around us.”

I’ve been traveling with Cadence for over three years now, and I always tell people that you cured me of a very specific kind of travel trauma. When you were living out of your tote bag in New York dreaming this up, was it a single catastrophic leak in your bag that broke the camel's back, or was it just a slow-burning frustration with how incredibly ugly and thoughtless that entire category of products was?

“This made my day knowing you have been using Cadence for three years. Thank you for your support of Cadence – you help us innovate and bring dreams to life!

And, I know exactly the travel trauma you mean. It’s death by a thousand cuts. I was traveling constantly, and not just for trips or long weekends. I mean to and from dance, to my boyfriend’s place, back home. Yes, there were leaks. And, there was the feeling of being a bag lady while wanting to be the woman at the airport with nothing in her arms, totally calm. I could not get there. I was buying travel sizes constantly, which is wasteful, and living with objects that were badly designed and didn’t reflect anything I cared about.

What it all added up to was mental weight. I couldn’t say yes to things quickly. I’d go into a whole mode days before a trip. And that felt completely contrary to being a person who’s always moving. We all want to be spontaneous, but spontaneity needs support.”

I read that it took you 207 prototypes, 4 patents, and going through 10 different engineers who told you the magnetic connection was 'impossible' before you finally launched Cadence. For anyone who has ever had a random idea in the middle of the night, what kept you from quitting after, say, prototype number 150?

“I had a burning conviction that the world deserved better products, and that mission fueled me then, and fuels me now. If you believe it to your core, nothing will slow you down.

I generally don’t believe in the word “impossible.” Put the right minds in a room and it almost never is. And if it is, I also prescribe by the mantra “do your best”. If you do your best, give it 100%, and it’s not possible, then you have nothing to feel bad about. But, I will say, this is rarely the case that something cannot be done.

If you truly believe in something, it does the work for you. It’s what lets you raise money. It’s what lets you pitch someone into joining your team. Belief attracts the right people and the right resources.”

You’ve built a brand around making movement seamless. When you step onto a plane, what is the one friction point in modern aviation that still drives you completely insane? Anything you wish you could take a stab at redesigning from scratch yourself?

“My dad immigrated from China, and I grew up drinking hot water and tea. It's just what we did. So before every flight I fill my bottle with hot water and cut it with cold, because hot water is the one thing you can't reliably get in an airport. Then I run out mid-flight and I generally avoid tiny plastic cups and not very clean hot water boilers. Maybe one day Cadence will solve this :)”

What’s been your most memorable stay?

“There have been incredible places and stays (Bonaire, where I got Scuba certified; Phi Phi Island in Thailand, where I went after visiting our manufacturers…). That said, I most love architecture that brings people together.

We did our off-site in Hilton Head last year in a beautiful house right on the beach, and Hilton helped make it happen. Getting that familiar, uninterrupted time with the team is rare, and that’s the stay I keep coming back to.”

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

“I've spent time in China but never in Japan, and it's at the very top of my list. The design is something I deeply admire and am inspired by. The level of invention and problem solving is truly unrivaled. In the USA, I believe we are used to a world of businesses that invent problems to solve, or don’t actually solve a problem. In Japan, the products are world class, and so inspired they go above and beyond what you think is possible. I nerd out on this, and it gives me a sense of hope when it comes to great product.”

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

“Rimowa carry-on. I love it.

Then the Cadence system, which is my 25 Capsules organized into 2 Parcels. One parcel for liquids, so skincare and haircare. A separate parcel for wellness, supplements and emergency medication, Advil included. And a third parcel for all my tech, which keeps everything neat instead of loose in the bag.

My go-to carry-on bag, which is Nothing Written, fits perfectly under my seat. I’ve used this on at least 50-75 flights and had to get the leather straps stitched a few times because I love it to death.”

What is your go-to airport outfit?

:Air Jordans. A COS set, black zip-up and matching pants, a t-shirt underneath for flexibility if it gets hot. Then a sweater tied around my shoulders rather than my waist, which is very Tibi and also practical for me, because I throw my neck out easily and I want something to put over my shoulders on the plane. Topped off with the Frankie Shop trench (thank you to Amy Smilovic in her creative pragmatist way of dressing, which recommends this).”

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

:If I’m working, I treat a flight as some of the best creative time I get. The Wi-Fi may or may not cooperate, which honestly helps. It’s rare to have uninterrupted hours, so I use them.

After I get caught up, and if I still have time, movies back to back. Where else would you ever do that?

The rest is ritual. Full skincare routine on an overnight flight. Compression socks.”

Last question: aisle or window seat?

:Aisle, always. I had scoliosis surgery when I was younger. I'm completely fine now, but I wore a brace for two years, sixteen hours a day, and it left me minorly claustrophobic in certain situations. So I will live and die by the aisle. My team knows. And if I can, extra legroom. Always worth it.”

For more from Steph, 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).

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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Aman’s newest property is already plagued by drama. I was initially thrilled to see Aman’s long-awaited Mexican resort, Amanvari, finally open its doors this past week, but just days into operations, a bizarre PR nightmare is raising serious red flags about how the ultra-luxury brand handles its guests. An independent luxury hotel reviewer showed up for his confirmed reservation only to be turned away at the gate—and then have the cops called on him by the property. Operational oversight is one thing (which honestly should not be happening when you’re paying $6,000/night), but treating your guest like a trespasser is an unreal misstep for a brand whose entire goal is, according to their own about page, “To provide a level of service and experience that is peerless in every way.” Aman has yet to publicly comment, but the damage seems to be done (comments are currently either disabled or limited on Amanvari’s Instagram account).

Lufthansa just unveiled a campaign and merchandise centered around modern flight etiquette. While the merch doesn’t appear to be available for public purchase just yet (the brand commented “more details coming soon”), I like seeing an airline reinforce some of the industry’s most hotly debated takes (like the middle seat gets the armrest—duh). I would like to personally hand some of these out to certain people I encounter in the terminal…Lufthansa, call me.

I’ve been talking a lot on here lately about leaning into my nature era, and my next outdoors-focused adventure is officially taking me to Iceland this weekend courtesy of Alaska Airlines, which I’m excited to be flying for the very first time. I’m flying out to catch the total solar eclipse and take on a few ambitious activities—the latter being the reason I needed to make some recent gear upgrades.

I’ve been in Ohio this past week, so I figured I’d do some in-person shopping for once in my life and try to hunt down what I needed at some local stores. I struck out at three different stops before finding the hiking heaven that is REI. I managed to find every single thing on my list, and it actually felt good spending the money because I genuinely loved what I picked up. (Not sponsored, by the way—I'm just seriously impressed.) Here’s everything I picked up:

• A cozy beanie to keep my ears warm against harsh winds

• Touchscreen-compatible gloves to keep my hands warm without forcing me to take them off every time I want to snap a photo (which I’m sure will be very often)

• A long-sleeve base layer for mid-range temps

• A versatile fleece that can function as a mid-layer under a rain shell or as a standalone top

• Wool toe socks that prevent friction and blisters between toes during long, wet hikes

• Waterproof pants which are an absolute non-negotiable if you plan on visiting any waterfalls without getting completely soaked

Once I get back, I’ll of course be publishing an Iceland guide which will include my comprehensive packing list. In the meantime, shop my full hiking wardrobe here.

Villa Le Corail, a Gran Meliá Hotel — Nha Trang, Vietnam

Hidden in a secluded bay on Vietnam’s central coast, Villa Le Corail is Grand Meliá’s flagship property in the country. The entire estate is a design study in high-end fusion: sweeping, modern Mediterranean villa architecture paired with traditional Vietnamese hospitality. Beyond the design, the culinary program really caught my eye—it features Hispania, a signature Spanish restaurant spearheaded by Michelin-starred chef Marcos Morán. Add in floating pool breakfasts, private catamaran excursions through Ninh Van Bay, and an on-site coral restoration project where guests can help plant reefs, and it looks like the ultimate luxury base camp for exploring coastal Vietnam.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

But perhaps what’s most exciting is what’s waiting for us on the other side of the hotel room door: no unfinished projects, no unopened mail, no corners left to clean—only a fraction of a life demanding of our attention. Permission to turn off notifications. To be unreachable for a while. If we want it: radical stillness. Traveling gives us permission to simply exist because the environment has been curated for tranquility.

For pretty much this entire year, I’ve treated my own home as a staging ground between departures. Life continued to accumulate in small, neat piles, and each time I returned home after a trip, I’d be reminded of everything left undone, everything yet to do. Over time, this reminder became something harder to confront and easier to run from.

We tell ourselves that genuine rest requires a new latitude, a change of scenery. (Also in my case: a five-star lobby.) But I’ve found that the paradox of running away to rest is that you end up untethered—a tourist in foreign cities, yes, but also a stranger in your own life. The real luxury isn’t in leaving; it’s in building a space you don’t feel the overwhelming urge to flee from.

Deconstructing the hotel illusion

When you open your hotel room door and pass through the invisible threshold that finally flips the “vacation” switch, you might feel an involuntary, immediate urge to exhale. Something about the crisp white bedding and the orderly, everything-earns-its-place decor practically forces you to relax in a way that might feel impossible back at home.

It’s the radical absence of noise. Acoustic, mental, and visual. A hotel room demands nothing of you. The laws of your home simply do not apply here. Hell, eat dinner in bed! Leave the sheets unmade! Pile your clothes on the chair in the corner with reckless, guiltless abandon! There’s no messy history hiding in the sheets to confront, or knickknacks of past lives lining the shelves staring ominously back at you. Just a blank canvas upon which you can project. It offers us something home rarely does: pure, unearned permission to just be.

The illusion, however, is believing that this state of mind requires a key card and a nightly rate. That peace and permission are geographical locations to be found rather than environments we can engineer for ourselves. So the question becomes: why do we fight so hard to buy tranquility on vacation only to abandon the right to it the moment we unlock our front door?

The reclamation

Following the implosion of my ten-year relationship (all while navigating my recent transition from corporate to freelance life), I moved into a space that was mine and mine alone for the first time in my life. Up until now, the concept of home had always meant a shared canvas. A blend of mutual compromise and the weight of cumulative history.

Picking up the keys to the first apartment I’d ever live alone in was both thrilling and disorienting. In a room that felt at once both impossibly quiet and vast, I reflected on my current circumstances, my love of travel, and the urge to escape my own life—and realized for the first time how all of it might just be interconnected. I was navigating a period of profound destabilization. Of course I wanted to run! I desperately needed a space that didn't reflect back to me the grief of who I used to be or the weight of what I was trying to rebuild.

The center of gravity

If a hotel room is a sanctuary engineered for rest, the bed is the undeniable centerpiece. It is where design directly impacts human recovery, serving as the physical anchor for the entire room. In rebuilding my own space, I knew that if I wanted my own home to restore me in the way a 5-star stay does, I had to start with where rest is felt most deeply, approaching my bedroom with the same design discipline as the boutique hoteliers I travel the world to find.

That meant stepping away from piecemeal furniture and approaching the bedroom as a complete system. With this in mind, I chose to anchor the room with designs by Thuma, opting for a unified setup comprised of their classic bed, (along with the mattress and cotton percale bedding) flanked by two matching nightstands. The wood tones of the furniture feel grounding in a way that delights my Taurus sensibilities, while the crisp percale bedding is exactly what I was going for in trying to recreate that elusive ultra-fluffy texture I previously thought you could only find in a hotel.

More than just a place to sleep, the system has become the room’s center of gravity. Sliding into a bed built for pure sanctuary turns the end of the day into a quiet ceremony. A nightly physical reminder that everything I used to travel miles to find is finally right here.

The ritual of returning home

The point is: you don’t have to travel thousands of miles to find luxury. You don’t have to book a hotel room somewhere just to feel like your peace is worth being guarded.

I still love the thrill of departure, but I know now that the true measure of a well-designed life is how it feels when the trip comes to an end. Passing through the threshold of your front door and feeling that same involuntary, immediate urge to exhale as the hotels you used to escape to.

I no longer travel to escape my life. I travel simply to see the world, knowing the most luxurious destination is the one waiting for me right where I left it.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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If you’ve been considering canceling your Amex Platinum—but you also love a fantastic hotel—put the scissors down. Earlier this week, American Express added Leading Hotels of the World as a transfer partner, which, IMO, is now one of my top reasons to keep it in my wallet. The LHW portfolio is home to some of my favorite hotels in the world (like this one), and cardmembers can now transfer Amex points to book award stays at 400+ independent luxury boutique hotels in over 80 countries.

JetBlue is officially entering the domestic first class arena with the launch of BlueFirst. If you’ve ever flown “First Class” and been disappointed your seat wasn’t a lie-flat, welcome to what we in the biz refer to as domestic first class. Prior to this announcement, JetBlue only had two premium seating options: EvenMore (extra legroom), and Mint, their lie-flat suites.

Starting August 5th, Delta and Starbucks are changing how members earn miles on their morning coffee. You’ll now earn one SkyMile per dollar directly at the register, but you’ll have to make sure you’ve flown a qualifying Delta flight in the last twelve months to earn. (Pro tip: order the secret, off-menu drink inspired by the Biscoff cookie.)

I’ve been home for the last month and just as I’ve gotten back into a familiar routine, it’s time to get back on the road! I’ll be spending some time with family before heading off to exciting trips in Iceland and London, all back-to-back. What’s exciting about these trips compared to others I’ve done recently, though, is that I have no itinerary once I land.

I’m spending a quick couple of days in Iceland to see the total solar eclipse (Reykjavik is in the path of totality), and while I’m there, I have grand plans to see as much of the otherworldly landscapes as possible, preferably through all-day hikes. Although I might want to take it up a notch and try ice climbing instead? (Who would have ever thought.)

As for London, it’ll also be a breezy trip and my list of things to do, see, and eat is looooong. I’m still trying to figure out which hotel I should stay at to maximize my ability to get around (I’m a huge proponent of a centrally located stay). If you have recommendations for full-day itineraries for neighborhoods I should prioritize, I’m all ears!

The Reykjavik EDITION — Reykjavik, Iceland

Iceland isn’t exactly short on cozy escapes, but the Reykjavik EDITION takes the country’s natural elements and transforms them into something shockingly sexy. Sitting right on the Old Harbour, it trades classic Nordic rusticness for deep charcoal hues, glowing fireplace nooks, and smooth volcanic stone. It seems to achieve this rare balance where the location gives you this beautiful, harborfront nature right outside of your bedroom window, but delivers a very scene-y social vibe inside. You can spend an afternoon in their underground plunge pool, grab a table at Tides for local arctic char, and then end your night sipping mezcal under the glass ceiling at The ROOF while scanning the harbor for the Northern Lights. If you ask me? That’s a dream evening in an even dreamier setting.

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

Ed. note: This trip was hosted by the property mentioned below. As always, I only share experiences that I genuinely love, and all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own.

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I don’t ski. I don’t think I ever will.

It’s not something I did growing up, and I’m at an age now where I feel like I missed the proverbial boat. Kids have less fear and more malleable bones. At 34, I’m much harder to put back together after a hard fall and, let’s be very honest, it is not my idea of fun to willingly fling myself down a mountain. I’m good!

Maybe that’s a big part of why I never found myself in a place like Whistler, which has a reputation for being a winter destination. So when I was invited to stay at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Whistler last month, I paused. What would a resort known for its winter adrenaline have to offer someone like me in the summer?

The drive in

Usually I loathe stepping off a plane knowing I have a ways to go before I get to my destination. Leaving the Vancouver airport, you still have to endure a couple hours in a car before getting to the resort. But as someone who could genuinely run for president of the carsickness club: the time flies. In fact, you might not even mind if it took longer. The breathtaking scenery that awaits you is such a treat it might as well be an official amenity on your trip. It was my first IRL look at these almost unreal vistas—glacial lakes in the most shockingly vibrant turquoise, framed by lush meadows dotted with blooming wildflowers, and snow-capped peaks soaring above it all. I couldn’t quite believe what I was seeing. I’d spent a lifetime identifying as a city-or-sand traveler, but taking in that landscape for the first time, I was instantly, irrevocably converted.

By the time the highway crested into Whistler, any residual travel fatigue had given way to sheer awe, and my jet lag had turned into pure adrenaline. If the drive here had been so inspiring, I couldn’t wait to see what else was in store.

Tucked into the Upper Village at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, the resort occupies a geographical sweet spot. It’s just a touch removed from the bustling pedestrian energy of Whistler Village, but if you do find yourself craving a bit of civilization, a leisurely ten-minute stroll down a shaded forest path delivers you right to the heart of town.

An alpine palace

At some luxury hotels, a suite can easily be too big for its own good—so cavernous you feel completely swallowed up by the space. Especially for me, traveling alone with my little carry-on suitcase. But at roughly 850 square feet, despite being one of the bigger rooms I’ve ever stayed in, my Deluxe Executive Suite struck the right balance. Yes, there was space, but it was put to good use: I had a dedicated dressing room and a massive walk-in closet (hotel unpackers, rejoice), a proper soaking tub in the primary bathroom, and a powder room for guests (with a second shower!), making settling in feel less like staying at a hotel and more like moving into a proper residence—one that happens to be larger than my actual place in NYC.

Each morning started on the balcony with a coffee, taking in one of the best views I’ve ever experienced—an uninterrupted wall of granite, deep evergreen canopy, and snow-dusted peaks. In the evenings, had it been chillier, I would have delighted in using the working fireplace inside. And as always, the bed delivered: you all know how much I love a Four Seasons bed, and I stand by the fact that you simply do not get a better night's sleep anywhere else on earth.

Special sips & bites

Something I learned on this trip is that Pacific Northwest seafood sets a very high bar. The Vancouver Island oysters served on property were a revelation, which I don’t say lightly as an East Coast oyster truther. Paired with a pour from the region’s surprisingly sophisticated wine list (B.C.’s Okanagan Valley produces world-class, cool-climate vintages), it made for an effortless afternoon lunch at Braidwood Tavern.

My personal culinary high point of the stay, though, happened in the privacy of the Residences for “The Art of Sushi,” an exclusive, multi-course omakase dinner prepared by Chef Jaime Magadia. With wagyu and torch-seared salmon on the menu, it was easily some of the best sushi I’ve enjoyed anywhere. And for mornings, their signature breakfast tower—a three-tiered, decadent spread layered from sweet to savory—arrived like an edible sculpture.

Getting grounded

When I first learned about the practices of forest bathing and earthing, I have to admit they sounded kind of gimmicky to me; more performative wellness boxes to check. But if you read my last article about my trip to Ireland, you know I’ve been on a journey to reconnect with nature, so I decided to fully lean into the experiences. Spoiler: I’m so glad I did.

Our guide led us into the forest near the resort where we were asked to remove our shoes and socks, which, for a city person accustomed to stomping on sidewalk concrete day after day, felt equal parts liberating and vulnerable. The idea is to connect—literally, physically—to the earth, to allow your body to absorb electrons that proponents say provide a whole slew of mental and physical benefits. The same is said of shinrin-yoku, aka forest bathing: the practice of allowing yourself to be fully immersed in nature through all your senses.

I remember what a beautiful morning it was. I tried to memorize the patterns the sunlight made as it filtered through the canopy while the sounds of the glacial stream rushed around us. It could have all easily felt too staged, too carefully curated for a luxury itinerary—but instead, it felt just right. In that moment, dipping my bare feet into the icy glacial stream, I was overcome with gratitude that I was able to experience moments like this. For the second time that month, the ever-present ambient mental chatter that usually follows me all but dropped away.

My new personality

Out of all the activities on the itinerary, the one I was most looking forward to was hiking. For those who know me, this may come as a bit of a surprise; I’ve never been much for outdoorsy adventure. And yes: theoretically, I could have always just gone upstate and hiked there, but standard-issue forest trail was never the draw for me. The unlock was the specific, surreal alpine scenery—that exact high-summer convergence of snow-capped granite peaks, lush green mountain grass, and glacial lakes so violently electric blue they look photoshopped.

There was a stirring I felt during my pre-trip research that gave way to an irresistible pull when I imagined a version of myself pushing through the burn in my legs, earning every single step of elevation gain, only to round a final bend to stand before a landscape so impossibly vast and vibrant that it makes you doubt your eyes. That combination of physical exertion and ethereal beauty is not something I can get at home at a Barry’s class.

But of course, life has a way of humbling your best-laid itineraries. The iconic Peak 2 Peak Gondola was closed while I was there, as were the two trails I was most l looking forward to (the Harmony Lake Loop and High Note Trail). So instead, we rode the Blackcomb Gondola up the mountain where we trekked through actual snow while admiring the views from above.

Now, I’m not about to move out of my apartment and go live off-grid or anything. But this trip did leave me with a strangely persistent itch.

Back in New York, the aftermath has been almost comical. My TikTok algorithm—once a steady stream of interior design, fashion, hotel reviews, and city dining—has completely pivoted to technical hiking shell reviews and backcountry trail prep in the Dolomites and the Swiss Alps. For the first time in my life, I’m actively planning a trip where the entire point is to walk up a mountain to sweat on a glacier.

I still don’t ski. But I guess I get it now.

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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Popular award-booking platform Seats.aero (my personal favorite tool for searching award availability) launched a new Chrome extension that overlays award flight pricing and transfer partner availability directly inside Google Flights. Instead of jumping back and forth between tabs, travelers can now cross-reference award redemption rates across multiple loyalty programs while searching for cash fares. It’s a free extension (!) that includes custom filters for specific award programs and point caps, though early testers note occasional login bugs and recommend double-checking availability directly on airline sites before transferring points, as once they’re moved you can’t transfer back.

New York City is finally getting a Relais & Châteaux hotel: The Nell New York, opening in 2027. Brought to Manhattan by the team behind Aspen’s legendary Little Nell, it will mark the first and only hotel located inside Rockefeller Center. For the uninitiated, Relais & Châteaux isn't a typical luxury chain, but a global association of independent properties evaluated on the "5 c’s": character, charm, calm, courtesy, and cuisine. Expect a heavy focus on high gastronomy, historic architecture, and white-glove service.

I’ve been talking a lot lately about how being back at home has meant settling back into the rhythm of daily life and finding new routines, and part of that for me has always meant asking, “How can I upgrade something small and make it feel a little more luxurious?”

Blame it on being spoiled so much by hotel luxury lately, or just my firm belief that you should treat yourself every day regardless. I think a really easy place to start is in the shower. Now, I keep a lamp in there just for ambiance, so it really shouldn’t be any surprise that I’m trying to make the whole experience feel as spiritually 5-star spa as possible.

Lately, that means reaching for products that give me that elevated feel in as few steps as possible, which is why I’ve been loving the new Dove Serum+ Oil Body Wash with Almond Oil & Sandalwood. It has that rich, silky texture you want from an oil-based formula, but rinses clean without leaving a heavy, greasy film. Even in the summer, my skin gets surprisingly dry; I love that the glycerin here works to attract and lock in hydration where I need it most.

Combining what used to be a two-step routine into one, it leaves my skin feeling deeply hydrated, smooth, and noticeably pampered. It’s a small, practical upgrade, but it turns an ordinary shower into a daily ritual. (Available now at Dove.)

At Sloane — Chelsea, London

The Window Seat chat popped off when I admitted I still have yet to visit London. And rightfully so! But I am seriously hoping to change that by year’s end.

I’ve seen so many great properties across the city, but one I haven’t been able to stop thinking about as of late is At Sloane. Looking at its facade, you’d barely know it’s a hotel—and once inside, the energy leans far more toward a private townhome than a traditional lobby. The layout moves effortlessly between extremes: a bright, sixth-floor space serving unpretentious French classics, down to an intimate, Arts & Crafts basement bar tucked away on Holbein Place for late-night Champagne and DJ-spun sets. Simply put, it’s a design masterclass—the sort of place that, I think, would make me look around and immediately rethink my entire apartment layout.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

Ed. note: This trip was hosted by Marriott Autograph Collection. As always, I only share experiences that I genuinely love, and all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own.

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“You’re very welcome.”

When I first heard this expression after landing in Ireland, I mistook it for being an overly well-mannered response to thanks. And it certainly can be that, but the more I heard it, the more I realized it has a broader meaning, too.

When you arrive somewhere, the expression is more like an invitation. It’s a heartfelt greeting insisting to you, “we’ve been expecting you and we’re so happy you’ve made it.” And, contrary to many times you might hear a similar greeting in America, you really believe it when you hear it. It may seem silly, but coupled with how genuinely warm I found the Irish people I met to be, I found it profound in its sincerity and simplicity.

It stuck with me partly for that reason, but also because I’d never heard those familiar words arranged in quite that way. It was oddly charming: a language I speak, spoken in such a manner I’ve never encountered, but meant in a way I rarely ever felt. Which was especially fitting considering the purpose of my trip was to experience two hotels—one in the countryside, one in the city—so hospitality was always going to be central to the experience. I just didn’t expect this one small phrase to end up defining it so perfectly.

Read on for:

• One of my favorite hotel stays of the year

• The Michelin-starred dinner worth booking in advance

• The Dublin hotel with one of the city’s best locations

• Ireland’s quirks + the travel essentials you need for them

• How to experience the Irish countryside and Dublin in one trip

Into the countryside

First of all: who knew Ireland was such an easy flight from New York? Apparently I’m the last to know. But despite my swift red-eye flight, sleep was not on the menu. It’s only six hours, which makes dozing off at all pretty difficult. But this particular flight wouldn’t have allowed it anyway: half the cabin was lit by seat-back screens aglow with the NBA Finals, erupting in claps and roaring whoops when the Knicks secured their historic win.

Fresh off the mid-flight excitement, a private town car whisked me away into the countryside, where, 90-minutes later, we arrived at a sight that genuinely left me awestruck. Obviously I always research the properties I’ll be staying at before I arrive; I’m nothing if not an obsessive pre-trip researcher. I’d stalked every inch of Mount Juliet online, but somehow none of it prepared me for the sight of the real-life Manor House in front of me—especially under a rare, cloudless blue sky on a day where Ireland completely defied its rainy reputation.

And the scale of the place was equally remarkable. The property spans 500 sprawling acres—to put that in perspective, that’s more than half the size of Central Park!—all set along the tranquil banks of the River Nore. You actually drive for five minutes past ancient trees and rolling pastures after entering the main gate before you even see the front door. With zero highway noise and miles of private trails, civilization all but completely disappears.

Surrendering to stillness

I've lived in New York City for nine years now, so my relationship with nature has been limited to whatever park happens to be near my apartment—and only if the weather isn’t being oppressive, which feels increasingly rare these days. I’ve gotten used to concrete gray making up most of my life’s color palette. Truthfully, I hadn’t pined all that much for green.

But that started to change on this trip. At Mount Juliet, you’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to on-site activities. On our itinerary? Fly fishing and horseback riding, two things I wouldn’t sign myself up for under normal circumstances. But that’s the magic in trips like this: pushing outside your comfort zone to try new things that might just unlock new parts of yourself.

Horseback riding, although a little intimidating at first, turned out to be spectacular. You’re able to see parts of the estate that are otherwise inaccessible, revealing entirely new vantage points. At one point, looking out over the landscape, I genuinely felt like I had teleported straight into Breath of the Wild—the scenery was that unreal.

The real surprise, though, was fly fishing. If you’d asked me before the trip what I was most excited about, this would not have been my answer. Yet at our final dinner, as our group went around the table to share our favorite moment, I recalled standing in the middle of the stream—waders up to my hips—and the sense of serenity that came over me in the middle of all that nature. It’s not something that is available to me where I live, no matter how nice the weather or how big the park. As someone who normally thrives on the fast pace of a busy life, I was surprised how much I loved being still.

To me, this is the mark of a great hotel: giving you access to an experience like that. Something unexpected that can change your perspective, yes. But also something you might never have planned on your own, only to come away understanding why someone else might build an entire trip around it.

Into the city center

After a few blissful days at Mount Juliet, I found myself leaving with a newfound appreciation for stillness and the sense that, somehow, my vision was able to register so many new shades of green.

Arriving in the heart of Dublin, that tranquil countryside hush quickly gave way to cobblestone clatter, the hum of city chatter, and the vibrant tempo of a capital in full swing. But pulling up to The Shelbourne, the shift doesn’t feel jarring. It felt like—at least for me—coming home.

If Mount Juliet is about surrendering yourself to nature, The Shelbourne is about stepping straight into Dublin’s living history. Standing proudly directly across from the lush canopy of St. Stephen’s Green, the 200-year-old hotel has an undeniable air of grand authority. (And actual, incredible history: more on that later.) Yet for all its high-society history and imposing façade, the immediate warmth when you step through the doors is what I learned is classic Ireland: a grand, warm welcome delivered with a smile.

And the location alone is second to none. Step out onto the street, and you’re a short, ten-minute stroll from any number of landmarks: Trinity College, the National Gallery, the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin Castle, and the Book of Kells.

Stepping into living history

I’ll admit, I’m not a huge history buff. My interaction with it has usually been pretty passive—something I look at for a moment from behind glass. I might admire it briefly from afar, but maybe this is because rarely do I ever feel like I’m actually inside of it.

The best museums accomplish this, of course. I’ve felt it touring well-preserved history like The Concorde at the Intrepid, or at the TWA Hotel. But staying at The Shelbourne was a different kind of immersive: it hands you history of monumental scale, and then lets you reach out and touch it.

I realized this during my property tour when we stepped into Room 112. At first glance, it seems like any other. But back in 1922, a group of men spent weeks in that very spot drafting the original Irish Constitution. The exact table and chairs they used are still there. Many hotels might anchor themselves in place through design or menus, but none quite like this. The Shelbourne is woven into the literal fabric of modern Ireland, and the exact place where history happened isn’t preserved beyond a velvet rope—it’s just furniture on the floor plan.

That tactile connection to the past carries downstairs, straight into Afternoon Tea at the Lord Mayor’s Lounge. During the 1916 Easter Rising, stray bullets actually flew through the windows, prompting the staff to simply move afternoon tea deeper into the hotel for safety. More than a century later, that same unflappable spirit still defines the room. With glittering chandeliers looming over pressed white linens, the whole scene could very easily become a stiff high society performance. But instead, the energy is warm and convivial. The crowd ranges from international tourists to multi-generational Dublin families celebrating milestones to businesspeople talking shop. Everyone is far too focused on buttering warm scones and choosing exotic teas from a very, very long list to worry about pretense.

Under any other circumstances, staying at a property with two centuries of history like this might feel a bit precious, like a glass relic you’re afraid to fingerprint. But here, you can stand at the head of the original antique table where the Irish Free State was born, palms flat against the wood, and let the history leave a mark on you instead.

The invitations

We know that in Ireland, hearing "You're very welcome" is like an open invitation. At Mount Juliet, it was an invitation welcoming me into the green, unhurried stillness of nature, pushing me to try new pursuits and simply sit with the quiet. At The Shelbourne, it was an invitation welcoming me into the living weight of history, letting me stand in the very room where a nation was drafted and physically touch the past. I didn't come home a totally changed person, and I wasn’t trying to be. But in embracing those welcomes, I uncovered a few truths about myself and left with something that stays long after the bags are unpacked.

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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The Ritz-Carlton launched not one, but two very Window Seat-coded collaborations this week. The first is a collaboration with MERIT, bringing in-room amenities, pop-up activations, and limited-edition travel kits to select North American properties. The second is a washable silk sleepwear collection with Eberjey for The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection that will roll out aboard Evrima, Ilma, and Luminara.

United Airlines is testing a new Economy Plus layout that eliminates the middle passenger, though it will initially be limited to a single row on its new Airbus A321XLR fleet. The center seat will be converted into a shared console table, giving aisle and window passengers noticeably more elbow room. It is a setup you might be familiar with if you’ve ever flown European intra-continental business class, where those carriers routinely block middle seats. While United expects to be the first major U.S. carrier to formalize the concept, the limited rollout underlines a broader trend: airlines searching for incremental ways to monetize standard economy footprint through personal space.

Rosewood launched Guided by Rosewood, a new series of highly curated, multi-destination itineraries designed to connect travelers more meaningfully with the places surrounding its hotels. The inaugural routes span Mexico and an Alpine itinerary covering Austria and Bavaria—a six-day route connecting Vienna, Lake Fuschl, and Munich. The package pairs Rosewood stays with private museum visits, artisan studio appointments, and regional dining. It’s a logical evolution of the brand’s longstanding focus on local context, reflecting how luxury groups are increasingly looking to control the entire itinerary rather than just the hotel stay.

Furnishing an apartment is an exercise in patience, and lately the focus has shifted to rugs. Finding pieces that establish structure and weight without overwhelming the rest of the furniture is deceptively difficult. Ruggable has been an unexpected solution here—the patterns are surprisingly subtle (which is more my speed), and I’m excited to have something with a washable construction because I’m guessing it’ll last 10x longer than other rugs I’ve had. I am currently considering this number for my office space (pictured above). What do we think?

El Cortés — Mexico City, Mexico

This hotel only just started welcoming guests in Mexico City last month, and I’m already desperate to check in. Set inside a restored 1915 mansion in Roma Norte that once served as a presidential residence, the intimate 15-room hotel combines stained glass, ornate moldings, sculptural furniture, Mexican art, and a deliciously moody palette of oxblood, warm wood, and muted neutrals. It comes from Namron Hospitality (the group behind La Valise) and is now part of Relais & Châteaux, with a scale and residential atmosphere that make it seem like you’re stepping into a private residence, which is always a welcome design marker for me. Add a location within walking distance of Roma Norte’s restaurants, galleries, cafes, and boutiques, and this might be one of the openings I’m most excited about this year.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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In a steady stream of lifestyle content constantly coming at us from all angles, Diana-May stands out for one very simple reason: her immaculate taste.

Taste is a funny thing. It’s difficult to pin down—even harder to define—but you know it when you see it. And Diana-May has it. Her style feels aspirational without being intimidating, pairing high and low pieces in a way that makes getting dressed look effortless. Even her simplest outfits feel elevated because she understands the small details that pull everything together. And that same point of view carries over into the way she travels. Whether she’s checking into a countryside estate in England or a boutique hotel in Italy, you can trust that wherever she’s staying is immediately worth adding to your list.

Read on to learn how a recent health diagnosis changed the way she approaches traveling, the reality of balancing work and wanderlust as a full-time creator, and whether London or New York comes out on top after living in both.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I am a full-time creator living in NYC and loving every moment of it. My content revolves around my passion for travel, fashion, and all things lifestyle. I have a taste for special moments, places, and outfits that I enjoy sharing across social platforms and with the people close to me.

Looking at your year so far, you’ve already been everywhere from Switzerland to Sardinia. What sacrifices, tradeoffs, or priorities have allowed travel to become such a big part of your life?

The most notable tradeoff is the task of always being on. It is, of course, not required, but for the goals I want to accomplish, it is a necessary tradeoff. That being said, I make sure to keep a balance of screentime dedicated to work and time off from any screen. The second tradeoff would then be the time spent capturing and curating content during said trips. In order to work with these different hotels and brands, it’s helpful to show them the type of content I can create for them and the analytics behind. This takes away from the trip a bit by not being fully present all the time, but it all comes back around when I can also afford to take these trips as I please.

Having lived in both London and New York, what does each city do better than the other?

I always say pub culture is better in London and is essentially a third space for many people. However, New York nightlife and access to anything late-night (stores, food, soccer pitch, anything!) can’t be beat. I also have to shout out the tube and bus system in London. Definitely superior.

Your followers have come to trust your taste in everything from fashion to travel. What’s something you’ve learned about your own taste from spending so much time exploring the world?

I’ve certainly learned that it’s expensive! That being said, I’ve learned to care deeply about detail, service, and function when it comes to where I travel (hotels) and what I wear.

You’ve spoken openly about your recent MS diagnosis. Has it changed anything about the way you approach travel, whether practically or emotionally?

I actually think about this often! My diagnosis reminded me that I have truly been living a life that is worthwhile. I didn’t feel the need to all of a sudden start checking things off of my list because I am already doing what I’d like to be doing. Emotionally, I may be a bit more sentimental and really relish in the trips I take, but I’m so lucky to feel even-keeled about it all.

What’s been your most memorable stay?

I have to say Villa San Giuliano. The property itself is so stunning including everything it offers like the pool, garden, and tennis court, but it’s rich with history, which I think makes it even more memorable.

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

The next time I am in Paris, I’d love to stay at the Saint James.

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

I’ve used my Beis luggage for years, but my must-haves in the suitcase would be the Clarins Cryo Face Mask, Bose QuietComfort headphones, and Josie Maran Body Butter because hotels rarely carry a good body lotion.

What is your go-to airport outfit?

I will always go for a loose pant like the GAP Easy Wide Leg or J.Crew Luna Cotton Poplin paired with a white tee (usually Leset) or tank (Aritzia) and a sweater (Reformation cardigan or The Row Ophelia). If not that, it’ll be a maxi dress (usually Doen or COS), and of course a sweater.

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

Not really! I just make sure to stay highly organized prior to my trip to make it feel as seamless as possible.

Last question: aisle or window seat?

Window always!!

For more from Diana, follow her on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. 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).

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

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My favorite travel app just rolled out a massive new update that tackles the most stressful part of flying: layovers. Flighty, an app I’ve been obsessively using since 2021, now gives you a custom, step-by-step breakdown of your exact connection that’s tailored to your passport—telling you whether you can use e-gates, recheck bags, or skip security, with time estimates between gates. Plus, their new Gate Predictions tool forecasts your arrival/departure gates before the airline even posts them. If you travel a lot and still don’t have this on your home screen, what are you doing??

reported that cult-favorite beauty brand MERIT is teaming up with The Ritz-Carlton on an upcoming collection. All we can expect so far is jet-set-approved beauty designed for five-star carry-ons. Personally very excited to see what comes of this.

After two months of what felt like nonstop traveling, I am finally back home and aggressively trying to get back into some semblance of a routine. There is truly no better feeling than unpacking your suitcase for the last time in a while and channeling all that post-trip energy into a deep reset. Naturally, that spiraled straight into a spring cleaning binge and a few little home updates:

• Crisp cotton sheets: I came home from my last trip to brand new sheets waiting for me in my mailroom. THAT is luxury. These are my new favorites; ultra-breathable, structured, and give that freshly-laundered hotel bed crispness.

• Home Accents: I picked up a few pieces to both elevate my living space and add some function. Namely, a woven basket that keeps throw blankets neatly tucked away and a large decorative tray that’s the perfect size for my ottoman.

• Artwork: I almost exclusively buy vintage art, which means sourcing pieces takes forever, and I was getting so sick of staring at my blank white walls. Luckily, I finally found the perfect piece for a surprisingly tricky spot in my living room, and it ties my existing color palette together seamlessly.

Villa Magnan — Biarritz, France

Behind a monumental iron gate above Lake Mouriscot, Villa Magnan is the antithesis of a standard beach resort. A 1920s Neo-Basque estate originally built for Spanish nobility, the property lay sleeping under wild brambles for decades until it was rescued and restored by a film set designer and cinematographer. Today, it operates as an ultra-bohemian, 14-guest pension de famille set across three hectares of wild parkland where donkeys and peacocks roam freely. There are no TVs and intentionally no Wi-Fi in the bedrooms, forcing you into the kind of offline surrender that true luxury usually promises but rarely delivers. It seems like the antidote to cookie-cutter luxury, and I’m already dreaming up a French coast itinerary just to experience it.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

When you spend that much time navigating TSA lines and living out of hotel rooms, your relationship with the products you travel with changes. Anything that isn’t absolutely vital or life-simplifying simply cannot be packed. Every single item on this list earned its spot through pure endurance after a genuinely brutal travel schedule.

As this is the third edition of my annual travel essentials list, I’m bringing back the key from last year so you can see exactly how my rotation has evolved:

• Still a favorite: An item that was on last year’s list and hasn’t been replaced.

• Longtime staple: Something that wasn’t on last year’s list but I’ve been packing for a year or more.

• New: A net-new essential from this year’s travels.

• Upgraded: I found something better and that replaced a pick from previous years or an old essential.

In-Flight Uniform

The alter-ego sunglasses (new): At this point, these have officially become my signature. They instantly make me look pulled together and awake, even when I’m running on three hours of sleep and an airport Americano.

The pleated trousers that secretly feel like leggings (upgraded): I recently discovered these and they are a literal cheat code for travel. They genuinely feel like you are wearing loose, buttery leggings, but they look like structured trousers complete with belt loops and pleating. Best of all? They don’t drag on the floor when I’m wearing sneakers. Absolute perfection.

The comfy base layer (longtime staple): It’s always this tank. It’s sleek against the body so it feels cooling, and it never rides up. I buy them in bulk.

The easy-but-chic footwear option (still a favorite): I always love a loafer when I travel. They’re easy to slip off at security if you don’t have PreCheck, and they elevate a casual outfit instantly.

The outerwear rotation (upgraded): I’ve always brought some kind of third layer on a plane with me, but this year I’ve been rotating through three specific jackets depending on the destination and weather: 1) a suede, drapey number to pair with denim when I need to look instantly chic the second I step off the jet bridge; 2) a sporty, zip-up twill jacket with a high neck for that perfect off-duty aesthetic; 3) a lightweight version of the high-neck zip-up for the summer months; 4) a sporty, soft-but-cooling zip-up for ultimate comfort on long-hauls.

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America’s 250th birthday is inspiring a new kind of bucket-list trip. United is seeing a surge in bookings to destinations that tell America’s story, from Philadelphia and Boston to gateways for Yellowstone and Acadia National Park. The airline expects roughly 6 million passengers to fly over the Independence Day travel period, and if you’re lucky, your flight might even be operated by one of United’s newly unveiled “Stars and Stripes” aircraft, a patriotic paint job that’s particularly fitting for the country’s milestone anniversary.

Five-star properties are increasingly outsourcing their lifestyle footprints. This summer, Alo is executing a massive Riviera takeover, embedding its brand identity into Hôtel Martinez in Cannes, Hôtel La Ponche in Saint-Tropez (a personal fav), and building on its previous resort debut at the Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum. It’s a full operational integration; Alo is absorbing everything from beach club aesthetics and property boutiques to curated fitness programming (partnering on beachfront Pilates and run clubs at the Martinez and intimate yoga sessions at La Ponche). For luxury operators, it’s a blueprint for a new era of asset utilization where hotels don't just provide amenities, but partner with outside brands to build entire lifestyle ecosystems. I’m curious: would a branded partnership like this ever factor into your decision-making when booking a stay?

Naturally, now that I’ve gotten a taste of the trail, I have completely lost my mind to the hiking algorithm. My feed is a non-stop loop of jagged peaks and pristine glacial lakes and I’m 100% here for it. I’m currently deep in the research phase of planning a major mountain trek for next summer and trying to decide between Banff, the Swiss Alps, or the Dolomites. To prepare, my online cart has basically become an aesthetic outdoor mood board, which you can see above.

If you’ve done any of these trips, please comment with your hiking tips, tricks, or trail recommendations. I need all the expert advice I can get!

Chez Georges — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Winding all the way up the cobbled hills of Santa Teresa, you pull up to an unmarked wooden gate that looks like a private residence, only to enter through a garage and board a glass elevator that climbs straight up the mountainside. This is the opening act at Chez Georges, a 1970s Brazilian Brutalist estate that turns the idea of a cold concrete fortress completely on its head. The architecture relies on soaring, raw arches, but the genius is in how the space is softened and warmed by deep hardwoods and panoramic views of the Atlantic rainforest canopy. The real kicker here, though, is that the entire house doubles as an active creative playground; it features a full, state-of-the-art music recording studio hidden beneath the pool deck, with every guest suite wired directly into the soundboard via built-in cable patches. If you ever need an excuse to spend your mornings listening to bossa nova on a panoramic roof deck overlooking Sugarloaf Mountain (twist my arm) and your afternoons hiding from the humidity in a mid-century design sanctuary, this is absolutely it.

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

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.

Ed. Note: This stay was hosted by Rosewood Baha Mar. As always, I only share experiences that I genuinely love, and all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own.

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As I’ve gotten older, something I’ve really gotten in touch with about myself is that I’m not really a resort person.

Or at least, I’m not the kind of traveler who enjoys sprawling resorts where finding a quiet corner feels like a competitive sport. My tastes tend to gravitate toward thoughtfully designed hotels that feel intimate and are a little more removed from the crowds. So when I learned my first-ever Rosewood stay would be at Baha Mar—one of the Caribbean’s largest resort complexes—my immediate thought was: could a brand so synonymous with a sense of place maintain that identity in the middle of something so expansive?

To understand the layout of Baha Mar, it helps to know that the sprawling resort complex is home to three distinct hotels: the bustling Grand Hyatt (the largest of the three by far), the buzzy SLS, and the serene, ultra-luxury Rosewood. Together, they form one of the Caribbean’s largest integrated resort developments, complete with the region’s largest casino, dozens of restaurants, luxury shopping, and more than 2,300 guestrooms.

What I quickly learned is that Rosewood doesn't just coexist with the larger resort complex; it acts as a private, deeply insulated sanctuary. Because the casino is architecturally separated at the center of the complex, it doesn't bleed into the Rosewood experience at all. If, like me, you’d rather avoid it altogether, that’s remarkably easy to do. Backed by private pools and a stretch of beach reserved strictly for Rosewood guests, the property provides an intentional, slow-paced respite that feels miles away from the high energy next door.

After three days on property, I left with two major takeaways: first, I was very impressed by my first Rosewood experience. And second, I gained a much clearer understanding of what the brand actually stands for. Rosewood’s greatest luxury isn’t exclusivity; it’s intentionality. Every experience, from the way you arrive to the excursions that take you beyond the resort, feels thoughtfully designed to immerse you more deeply in the destination itself.

The seamless welcome

In my opinion, the true luxury experiences always reveal themselves in the friction points of travel that a great hotel manages to iron out before you even notice them.

At Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport, that friction is erased immediately. Rosewood operates a dedicated check-in desk right at the airport terminal, so that within moments of clearing customs, I was checked in and whisked away for a brief 10-minute drive to the resort.

While standard check-in times across the Caribbean notoriously skew late afternoon, my room was fully ready for me at 12:45 PM. I stayed in Room 722, a Premier Ocean View King Room. The aesthetic is luxurious without feeling ostentatious, polished without sacrificing comfort, and layered with natural textures, curated Bahamian artwork, and a palette that lets the ocean remain the focal point. Even in the guest rooms, Rosewood’s emphasis on a sense of place is evident. The local artwork isn’t purely decorative; it reinforces the feeling that you’re in the Bahamas, not in another luxury hotel that could exist anywhere else.

The culinary standout

The best meals aren’t always the ones with the fanciest ingredients. More often, they’re the ones you keep talking about long after the plates have been cleared.

That was Meza de Juan for me, a monthly communal table held at Costa, Rosewood’s stunning open-air Mexican restaurant. Conceived by Executive Chef Juan Meza as both a culinary journey and cultural gathering, the experience unfolds over multiple family-style courses inspired by heritage corn, seasonality, and time-honored Mexican techniques.

Throughout the evening, the chefs and mixologists behind each course rotated through the dining room to personally explain their creations. Executive Chef Juan Meza remained with us throughout each course, but he wasn’t the only one telling the story. The bartender behind my favorite cocktail, The Milpa, walked us through the painstaking process of making a corn syrup from fresh ears of corn. Other members of the culinary team introduced individual dishes, answered our questions, and shared the inspiration behind their work. Before long, it stopped feeling like restaurant service and started to feel more like an intimate dinner party.

That’s what made the experience so memorable. Yes, the food was exceptional (easily one of the best meals I’ve had all year), but it was really the opportunity to spend several hours with the people behind it that elevated the experience from a great dinner to something far more personal.

The can’t-miss experience

If you’ve followed Window Seat for a while, you know I have a hard time turning down any excuse to get out on the water. Whether it’s snorkeling in the Cayman Islands, spending the day on a boat off the coast of Sardinia, or simply floating in the sea, that’s where I feel happiest. So it probably won’t surprise you that the resort’s Ocean Guardian Experience became the highlight of my stay.

Led by renowned Bahamian dive guide and filmmaker André Musgrove alongside a reef specialist from the Perry Institute for Marine Science, this exclusive monthly excursion takes guests on a five-hour journey by private yacht through the waters surrounding Nassau. A portion of every booking supports the Perry Institute’s Reef Rescue Network, meaning your morning on the water also contributes to protecting it.

Free diving through the BREEF sculpture garden alongside schools of tropical fish was one of those rare moments where I felt profoundly connected to the place I was visiting, not just as an observer, but as a participant. There are few places I feel more at peace than underwater, and for a little while, nothing else existed beyond the sound of my own breathing. It was the kind of travel experience that reminded me why I never hesitate to get out on the water whenever I can.

By this point in my stay, I was beginning to understand what gives Rosewood such a devoted following. The brand’s emphasis on a sense of place isn’t just something written in a brochure—it comes through in experiences like this, where luxury becomes a vehicle for deeper engagement with the destination itself.

(Note: If you are looking for a more easygoing morning, the property also offers Flamingo Yoga alongside the resort’s famous resident birds, which is a fun moment worth mentioning!)

The final verdict

Before arriving, I expected Rosewood Baha Mar to simply be the quietest hotel within a much larger resort. But it’s actually something else entirely. Yes, it offers refuge from the scale and energy surrounding it, but what ultimately sets it apart is how intentionally it introduces guests to The Bahamas itself. Whether through conservation, cuisine, or art, nearly every memorable moment during my stay deepened my appreciation for the destination beyond its beaches.

As someone who has never considered herself a resort person, I left Rosewood Baha Mar realizing I may have been defining “resort” a bit too narrowly all along. Done thoughtfully, a resort can be more than a place to unwind, it can become a meaningful lens through which to experience a destination.

Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.