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Ed. note: This trip was hosted by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism. As always, I only share experiences that I genuinely love, and all opinions and recommendations are entirely my own.

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There are trips you plan, and then there are trips that find you. My third visit to Grand Cayman began as the latter, an invitation from the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism with timing felt almost suspiciously perfect: five days on a Caribbean island dedicated to the art of slowing down, arriving just before my birthday and the start of a new year of life.

And I almost didn’t make it.

Four airports. Two planes. A lost bag. And then: an emergency landing for an elderly man—a cancer patient, I later learned—flying with his wife to what may have been their last vacation together. The cabin bristled with impatience: delayed connections, disrupted plans.

About an hour later, after EMTs assessed him and cleared him to continue, we took off again. He and his wife were moved into my empty row, where they settled into the two aisle seats.

Once we reached cruising altitude, the sky transformed. It was golden hour, and it had taken on this hazy quality that made it feel like we were suspended somewhere between reality and a dream. Pastel clouds stretched endlessly toward the horizon, glowing in shades of peach, lavender, and pale gold. I’d never seen anything quite like it. Naturally, I started taking photos.

Despite how enchanted I always am by the view from the window seat, no matter how many flights I take, sometimes I feel a little ridiculous for it and get self conscious. But then I noticed him leaning slightly toward the window, watching the sunset too. Pure awe on his face. It struck me that this man, who had every reason to focus on pain or discomfort, or uncertainty, was still captivated by beauty.

And then all I could think about was how lucky we were to be there at all. My hellacious travel day was put into perspective. The lost bag, the delays, the endless rerouting…my problems became very small.

We all need the occasional reminder that the opportunity to travel—to see the world, to share a sunset with someone you love, to board a plane bound for somewhere beautiful—isn’t something we’re owed.

Read on for:

• The hotel that’s become one of my favorites anywhere in the world

• The beach that has ruined almost every other beach for me

• The under-the-radar experiences most visitors miss entirely

• The wellness experience that ended in a room full of snow

• The spots I’ll be returning to on trip number four

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Orient Express is reviving the Grand Tour for a generation exhausted by rushed itineraries. Orient Express has unveiled its new Grand Italian Tours for summer 2026: six sprawling itineraries spanning rail, hotel, and sailing yacht travel across Italy and the Mediterranean. Guests will move between destinations aboard La Dolce Vita Orient Express, stay at the newly restored Orient Express hotels in Rome and Venice, and sail on Orient Express Corinthian, the brand’s forthcoming luxury yacht. The routes stretch from Venice to the French Riviera, Rome to Valletta, and Dubrovnik to Marseille, all rooted in one central idea that feels increasingly aspirational in modern travel: Italy is meant to be experienced slowly.

A very specific subset of people are having a great week: the aviation nerds who grew up on Pokémon (me). Nintendo and All Nippon Airways are celebrating Pokémon 30th anniversary with two new Pokémon-themed jets, continuing ANA’s long-running tradition of special liveries dedicated to the franchise. The launch also marks the 40th anniversary of ANA’s international flights, with the new red and green aircraft nodding to Pokémon Red (787-8) and Green (787-9), the original games released in 1996. Rimowa also announced a limited-edition sticker set, wheel set, and luggage tag launching June 2nd. The accessories are styled alongside the RIMOWA Essential line in Orange and Magenta plus the aluminum Original Cabin in Silver.

So, unfortunately, I suffer from the affliction where I need to always have at least one new outfit for every trip I go on. When I wasn’t traveling as much as I am now, this was a less expensive habit. But now that I’m gone more than I’m home, it’s become something I need to manage more. This is where my favorite secondhand shopping app comes in: I’ve been using Poshmark since 2011, and honestly, few things scratch the pre-trip shopping itch better. There’s something deeply satisfying about finding one perfect piece before a vacation, especially when you know you’re not gonna see it all over the place because it’s not on any “latest arrivals” page. Lately, I’ve been using it to hunt for fun skirts, vintage designer bags, and kitten heels, plus experiment with trends I’m not fully ready to commit to at retail prices yet (looking at you, shield sunglasses and capris).

It’s also become my favorite place to search for hyper-specific fashion cravings: a beaded summer bag in the particular flavor of the YSL summer one I’ve been lusting after, or a pair of vintage sandals that would otherwise haunt my brain for weeks. The authentication and buyer protection make it feel much lower stakes than traditional resale sites, and I love that I can also clear out pieces from my own closet to fund the next obsession.

The Hari — London, England

London has been calling to me lately in a major way. I’ve somehow never been, which feels increasingly ridiculous considering how many people whose taste I trust insist it’s one of the best cities to visit with all of its charming bookstores, pubs, hotel bars, great shopping, beautiful neighborhoods…the list goes on. The hotel currently fueling the fantasy is The Hari in Belgravia, which has built a reputation for polished yet unpretentious luxury. I love that it feels more intimate and residential than grand and overly formal, with contemporary interiors, a stylish terrace restaurant, and a location tucked between Knightsbridge, Chelsea, and Hyde Park that seems ideal for aimless wandering. Exactly the kind of place I imagine returning to after a full day of walking London with no real agenda besides seeing where I end up.

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

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

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Few hotels feel as instantly recognizable as Palazzo Avino. The pink facade, the striped umbrellas, the martini bar with 100 variations, the sense of romance suspended above the Amalfi Coast. Perched dramatically on a cliffside in Ravello, the Pink Palace has become one of Italy’s most beloved properties not simply because it is beautiful, but because it feels deeply personal. Sisters Mariella and Attilia Avino have spent years infusing the hotel with their own sensibilities, transforming a legendary family property into a layered world of art, fashion, vintage treasures, emotional memory, and unmistakable Italian glamour.

Read on to learn how Palazzo Avino became infused with “pink soul,” why memorable hotels are about emotion, not perfection, and what escape actually looks like for two hoteliers.

Tell us a little about yourself.

MA: I am a dreamer with a rational side. I live for beauty and love creating beauty around me. I love design and its different shades. I am a food lover, passionate about traditional recipes and ingredients. I love art and the way it makes me feel, although I am not an art expert. I love fashion; I think it is a strong art manifested in so many ways. I am a vintage ceramics collector and vintage clothing collector. I am obsessed with Valentino vintage pieces. I indulge in research in so many ways.

AA: I live between the rhythm of the hotel and the Amalfi Coast, where I was born and where I still feel most at home. At Palazzo Avino, I work across Sales and Marketing, but in a family property, the roles are never really fixed. You end up being part of so many different stories, from the guest experience to the way the hotel is seen around the world. What matters most to me is authenticity. I love beautiful things, but I am more drawn to places that have a soul. For me, hospitality is not just about perfection. It is about emotion, memory, and what people carry with them after they leave.

Your father built a successful hotel. You built a pink palace with a boutique, an art program, and a martini bar with 100 variations. At what point did Palazzo Avino stop being his and really become yours?

MA: When I started working at Palazzo Avino, back in 2010, it was the magnificent property it is but there was an imprint missing, a more personal touch. Thanks to my family who gave me support and trust, I was able year after year to infuse my soul in it from art to design to the food proposal, from the color palette to the umbrellas, from the boutique to the tableware. I was able to really make it the home I have always dreamt of and of course, more and more the sweet giant (what I call the Pink Palace) became full of pink soul!

AA: I don’t think it ever did. In many ways it will always carry his vision, his courage, his instinct. What changed over time is that we started adding our own layers to that story.

You have different titles and presumably different instincts. When you travel together, who's in charge?

MA: I am in charge of restaurants and shopping blitzes of course!

AA: I am the practical one, so I’m in charge of not getting lost!

You grew up on one of the most coveted coastlines in the world and never really left. Does that make you more appreciative of a place when you travel, or has it made you harder to impress?

MA: I did live between Rome, Milan and Lausanne before heading back home but there is no other place I would love to live!

AA: Probably both. Growing up here gives you a strong sense of beauty, but it also teaches you that beauty alone is never enough. The Amalfi Coast is extraordinary, but what makes a place unforgettable is the feeling it gives you.

You spend the entire season curating other people's idea of escape. What does escape actually look like for you?

MA: I love being home! But I also love to travel to exotic destinations! India was one of my favorite trips, and I cannot wait to go back!

AA: Silence, mostly. The season is intense, full of people and movement and decisions. So when I escape, I want something very simple. Being at home with my cat, a good book. That’s enough.

What’s been your most memorable stay?

MA: Singita Boulders in South Africa

AA: San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel. For me, a stay becomes memorable to me when I can still remember the scent, the light, the breakfast, how I felt in the room, and the people who made me feel genuinely welcome. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to stay with you

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

MA: Fogo Island Inn

AA: Japan!

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

MA: I am not an efficient traveler! I carry both a carry-on where I keep all my valuable items (bags!) and a checked bag. There are some pieces I cannot travel without: 1) my red lipstick by Mac; 2) a compact foundation by Mac 3) a mini bag where I carry my mobile and passport (I have a pink Mini Chanel which lately became my absolute must); 4) depending on the season, either Chanel ballerinas (I collect them!) or Valentino Boots

AA: Pink suitcase, always. My book of the moment, headphones, and a cap. I usually travel with at least one checked bag and a carry-on from Béis, plus my personalized Away carry-on. I like luggage that feels practical but still very me, and pink makes everything a little more fun. For my personal items I need something spacious. Book, headphones, beauty pouch, lip balm, hand cream, and all the things I convince myself I cannot live without.

What is your go-to airport outfit?

MA: I rarely wear jeans or a sweat suit, so I tend to keep my style even when traveling. I tend to use black more since it feels easier to match when traveling.

AA: Something comfortable with layers, because planes are always freezing. I usually go with black, but there’s always a touch of pink somewhere. Sneakers are non-negotiable when I travel. I want to feel easy and free to move, but still like myself.

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

MA: I barely eat—this is the only thing I do and I do prefer not connecting to the wi-fi. Airplanes are the only space where it feels normal not to get connected and I feel it is a mind opener. I can think a lot when I travel.

AA: Before every flight I send a message to my family group chat and to my closest friends. It has become a ritual, especially because I am not the most relaxed flyer. Once I sit down, I fasten my seatbelt, put on my headphones, and go straight to my playlist. Music helps me feel a little more grounded before takeoff.

Last question: aisle or window seat?

MA: On long flight window, on short flights aisle!

AA: Aisle, always. I like to pretend I have some control over the situation, even though I clearly don’t.

For more from the Avino sisters, you can follow Mariella and Atillia on Instagram. Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.

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

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

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On June 7, three days before Copenhagen's 3 Days of Design festival, Delta is running a one-time "Flow State Flight" from JFK to CPH. Every passenger gets a curated "Flow State Essentials" kit, intentional in-flight programming designed to prime creative focus, and access to a dedicated Delta lounge inside the festival's Symposium courtyard. It also marks Delta's 35th anniversary of flying the JFK–CPH route, which gives the whole thing a rare double hook: milestone + forward-looking cultural play. This is one I hope I can experience!

Delta's JFK–Olbia (OLB) flight took off May 20th, making it the first-ever nonstop service from the US to Sardinia. The route was born from Delta's "Route Race," in which SkyMiles members voted Sardinia their top pick among three Mediterranean finalists. Delta is also launching JFK–Malta on June 7th, giving American travelers two previously unreachable Mediterranean islands in a single summer. Everybody say thank you, Delta!!

For five days only (May 22–27), KLM is bringing its most iconic brand object—the miniature Delft houses given to business class passengers!—to New York's oldest museum. Eighty years ago this week, KLM became the first European airline to launch scheduled transatlantic service, touching down at LaGuardia and changing the course of aviation history. Now, the airline is marking the anniversary with a limited-edition Delft house and a five-day pop-up at the New York Historical Society (May 22–27), where visitors can trace KLM's history through archival menus, in-flight magazines, and vintage footage, ending with the unveiling of a new miniature house modeled on the museum itself.

Rimowa's new global flagship, RIMOWA Köln Dom in Cologne, is the brand's biggest statement yet, and the centerpiece isn't the shelves. It's the mezzanine: home to the newly launched “Crafted For You” program, a bespoke personalization atelier where you can build any piece from the ground up. Custom-colored wheels, handles, personalized leather luggage tags, city-specific stickers, tailored finishes. It's a full luxury service experience built around the idea that your luggage should be as well considered as everything else you travel with (and I’m 100% here for that, personally).

I’ve been a Living Proof dry shampoo fan for years. Most people I know are, too. It actually works (meaning: no chalky residue, no sad flat hair), and I’ve kept at least one in my home and/or luggage more or less permanently.

They just dropped a limited edition sun-kissed pear scent and it is, genuinely, the closest thing to smelling like you’re on vacation when you are decidedly not. If you’ve been Living Proof-curious, this is a good entry point. If you’re already a fan, just get it before it’s gone.

Hotel Cala di Volpe — Sardinia, Italy

Designed by French architect Jacques Couëlle to look like a Sardinian fishing village, it's one of the great pieces of architectural theater in Mediterranean hospitality. James Bond (Roger Moore) stayed here in The Spy Who Loved Me. The international jet set followed for decades. The hotel has been renovated twice in the last decade: once by Parisian firm Moinard Bétaille (who also did the Plaza Athénée) and most recently with the Harrods Suite, a three-floor, 2,690-square-foot masterpiece designed by Harrods Interior Design Studio with an infinity pool on the roof that appears to spill directly into the sea. Dining includes Matsuhisa (the only Nobu in Italy, accessible only by boat), Beefbar, and the fine-dining Le Grand. The private beach is also boat-access only, which tells you everything you need to know about the vibe here.

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

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

A huge milestone, to be sure. I took the biggest leap of faith of my life so far—quitting a cushy six-figure job to bet fully on myself and go all-in on a passion project with potential. Now it’s become something much bigger: a respected outlet with a real audience and influence. But typing that still triggers a flicker of imposter syndrome. Not because it isn’t true, but because I’m still catching up to the reality of my own life.

This month marks one full year of doing Window Seat full-time, which felt like a good excuse to pull back the curtain a bit: the numbers, the opportunities, the identity shifts, the things I still wrestle with, and what happens after you build the life you spent years fantasizing about.

Read on for:

• Exactly what I earned in my first full year, compared to the year before, broken down by revenue stream

• Why I turned down free trips to beautiful places, and why I’d do it again

• How my identity is changing and the aspects I’m still wrestling with

• Where I’m focusing my energy going forward

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Away and July both launched hard-shell suitcases recently with flat-opening lids and a single deep compartment, breaking from the clamshell design that’s dominated the category for decades. July’s Capsule Carry-on Pro flips open from the top (not the side), has a front sleeve large enough for a laptop you can access standing upright, a built-in AirTag tracker, and a one-button brake. Away’s version, called Topside, launched in both carry-on and checked sizes that include a dedicated laptop sleeve, wheel brakes, and a compression system. The clamshell suitcase has always been a little annoying with how much space the two unfolding sides take up while trying to keep everything organized inside once its closed. Both brands identified the same friction point at the same moment, which means we’re seeing a category shift more than just product launches.

Priceline Brought Back the Negotiator and the timing is perfect. Nearly half of Americans say summer travel feels out of reach right now. And yet 73% say a summer vacation is too important to skip. This is the tension at the heart of what Priceline is calling “vacation inflation,” and their answer is to resurrect one of the most recognizable characters in travel advertising history: The Negotiator (now starring Randall Park after an official handoff from William Shatner). The campaign anchors Priceline’s “Unbummer Your Summer” sale with discounts up to 60% off across hotels, flights, rental cars, and experiences, running across broadcast, streaming, and social all summer.

I just got back from a week in the Cayman Islands (my third visit!) and my first real beach trip of the season. Here's what actually earned its place in my bag:

• The scarf: I’m not being hyperbolic when I say a silk scarf is the single most useful thing you can pack for a warm-weather trip. I tied mine around my bag, knotted it at the waist over a simple dress, wore it as a headwrap on a boat…so versatile and creates zero extra weight in the bag.

• The wedge sandal: I know. Stay with me. The 2026 wedge is slimmer, sharper, and more proportional than the cork-and-canvas version that killed the category a decade ago. When a wedge is good, it’s the most comfortable, elevated shoe in a closet.

• The basket tote: Holds everything and looks great doing it. My go-to is this luxe braided leather version in a rich chocolate brown. It’s the kind of bag that works from the beach to lunch without needing a second thought.

• The Resortwear Set: I hate having to think about what I’m going to wear on vacation—especially on a beach trip—so I love a matching set moment. A well-chosen two-piece reads intentional without requiring any effort. Bonus points if you can mix and match the separates with other pieces in your wardrobe.

Lake Como Edition — Lake Como, Italy

The Edition's arrival in Lake Como merges the brand's minimalist, contemporary aesthetic with the region's classical Italian grandeur, and in a destination this saturated with old-world tradition, it's exactly the breath of fresh air the lake needed. The 148 rooms, 25 suites, and two penthouses are set inside a 19th-century palazzo in Cadenabbia, directly across from Bellagio, anchored by two restaurants: a sun-drenched terrace for long Mediterranean lunches, and Cetino, the Italian debut of three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. The Longevity Spa rounds it out with a menu that runs from biohacking and LED therapy to DNA testing and bespoke sleep programming, which is either too 2026 or very necessary, depending on what your flight over was like.

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

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

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Six months ago, my marriage ended. Before that, passport stamps were always collected in pairs, and destinations visited were joint decisions. Traveling internationally alone was a novel idea.

And somehow, the first time I did it just a couple of weeks ago, I ended up in Sorrento, Italy. Which is, by any measure, one of the most romantic places on earth. I sat with that irony for about five minutes. But then I arrived at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. And arrival at a place like that feels grand, indeed.

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Spirit Airlines, the pioneering discount carrier that genuinely reshaped how Americans fly, ceased operations in the early hours of May 2nd. Even if you never flew them, it's worth pausing on what that actually means. Spirit wasn’t aspirational, per se. But it was important, offering cheap baseline fares that kept the whole market honest. They were the invisible pressure that stopped legacy carriers from pricing out an entire category of traveler. I worry this will no longer be the case. This is the first major U.S. airline in 25 years to go out of business, and the ripple effect won't just be higher fares. It'll be fewer people who can afford to fly at all.

Speaking of things leaving…Later this month, Delta is cutting onboard food & drink service on short-haul routes under 350 miles. We’re talking domestic hops like LA to San Francisco, JFK to Boston, and Atlanta to Charlotte. Delta framed the policy as standardization rather than a cutback: passengers on routes 350 miles and above will now receive full beverage and snack service, while shorter flights will receive nothing. (Delta First remains unaffected regardless.) Two things worth noting here: First, it positions Delta as the most restrictive among the three major U.S. legacy carriers on short-haul service. Secondly, Unfortunately for those who fly these shorter routes, you’ll need to take on the burden of curating the in-flight experience yourself.

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday. For the mother who travels in her imagination even when she's not on a plane, below I’ve curated a handful of things that bring the feeling home. And in the spirit of Taurus season (my personal favorite), these are deeply, unapologetically sensory:

• Perfume or Candle: A spring fragrance to mark the shift in season.

• Olive Oil: Opt for the personalized label so she thinks of her favorite child every time she cooks.

• Loungewear: Comfortable and pulled together. For travel days, slow mornings, and everything in between.

• Hand Creme: Functional, beautiful on a nightstand, and exactly the kind of thing she’d never buy herself. The perfect gift formula, IMO.

• Goose Down Comforter: Hotel-bed energy, without the hotel price tag. The gift that pays off every single night.

Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo — Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Family-owned by the Boustany family and steps from Casino Square, it sits just far enough from the performative glamour of Monaco to feel like somewhere you'd actually want to stay. With its landscaped gardens, Belle Époque lobby, and two Picasso lithographs in the bar, the Métropole is one of the most distinctive hotels in Monaco. Inside: a two-Michelin-star restaurant, a Karl Lagerfeld–designed pool anchored by the Odyssey for poolside dining, and a Guerlain Spa that is reason enough alone to book. It's Monaco without the theme park energy.

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

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

I spent the better part of my career as a strategist (most recently as head of strategy at Complex) but travel planning is where that instinct was always most at home. Long before I was applying it professionally, I was the one in my friend group with the organized spreadsheet, the deck of options, all the strongly held, deeply researched opinions.

When it comes to travel planning, I’m of the mindset that people fall into two camps: people who enjoy the process of planning, and people who would literally rather do anything else. Me, personally? I’ve always thought planning a trip should feel as good as taking one. But I do see the other side–especially when the trip you’re planning is one for a group. Links fly around in DMs and emails and multiple text threads and it becomes impossible to keep track of. Screenshots pile up in your camera roll. What should feel exciting starts to feel like a second job. But the more I’ve traveled, the more I’ve realized that instead of this being a people problem, it’s really a systems problem.

This is where Adobe Acrobat’s PDF Spaces comes in.

What a good system actually looks like

The way I plan any trip starts well before I’ve booked anything. After all, I’m nothing if not a researcher. I want to know the neighborhood before I pick the hotel, the restaurant scene before I build the itinerary, the cultural context before I put together a list of things to see. I keep notes on destinations I’m not even actively planning to visit yet, because the best trips I’ve ever taken started as an idea I’d been sitting with for a while.

For my most recent trips, this process has mostly existed in a loose constellation of saved posts, phone notes, and Pinterest boards that ultimately cohere into some kind of digital outline by the time I land. For group trips, that system breaks down immediately, because it relies entirely on me being the only one who needs to access it.

A good group trip system has a few things in common: everything lives in one place, it’s visible to everyone, it updates in real time, and it doesn’t require a tutorial to use. And that last one matters a lot more than people realize. I’ve built a few itineraries in Wanderlog, which sounds great until you’re fielding calls from four people who have never heard of the tool before in their entire life, much less know their way around it. A Google Doc works until six people are editing it at once and nobody knows which version is current and oh god someone just accidentally deleted the entire thing?? The tool has to be frictionless for people to actually use it.

The tool I wish I’d had sooner

I’ve written before about the tools I use to plan trips: the apps, the references, the systems that keep an itinerary from becoming a notes app nightmare. But I’ve never written about the one piece that was always missing, aka a tool for planning with other people. Enter: Adobe Acrobat PDF Spaces and its new sharing capabilities. I’m no stranger to the Adobe ecosystem. I’ve actually been using Adobe Photoshop & Illustrator daily for my brand identity work for over a decade at this point. (If you’re curious what that looks like in practice, you can see some of it over at my creative arm, V1 Projects.) So when Adobe brought this to me, I was already curious as I’ve long been a power user.

PDF Spaces is a shared, guided, and interactive experience where you can collect and organize everything relevant to a trip: hotel options, restaurant shortlists, saved itineraries, confirmed bookings, neighborhood guides…anything you’ve accumulated in the research phase. It works for group planning specifically because it’s genuinely easy to share and navigate, even for the members of your group who are not, shall we say, the spreadsheet people. Additionally:

• It’s not like other AI tools that train on your inputs. The platform is super secure so you can feel 100% confident that uploading any personal info like hotel and flight bookings will stay private.

• The new sharing capabilities offer new ways to collaborate with whoever you’re traveling with. Anyone can view a PDF Space for free—no account or sign-in required.

• Oh, and you can turn your entire PDF Space into a podcast-style summary. As in, an audio overview you can listen to hands-free: either a quick summary or a full deep dive, depending on how much you want to absorb at any given moment. (I did not have "Adobe gives me a travel podcast" on my 2026 bingo card but I am fully here for it!)

• You can give the AI Assistant a distinct personality, customized to be as brutally honest or “I’m gonna hold your hand when I say this” as you want, with room to get even more specific from there. I set mine to full type-A, pro-level travel planner mode and have, frankly, never felt more seen.

The group trips that need this ASAP

• The bachelorette. Large group, compressed timeline, someone whose preferences you’re trying to honor while keeping at least part of it a surprise, and approximately one person doing 90% of the planning while the rest of the group sends the occasional (hopefully not passive-aggressive) thumbs-up emoji. A shared PDF Space gives the planner somewhere to organize the full picture and share selectively. So, you can make confirmed details visible while hiding options still under consideration.

• The family trip. I’m sure you can picture the planning thread for this one: multiple rooms, different dietary needs, activity options across a wide range of ages and energy levels, and at least one family member who will absolutely call you nonstop if the tool is even slightly confusing to use. A shared PDF Space holds all of it in one place and is simple enough that no one needs tech support to find the dinner reservation.

• The friend group city trip. A few friends, one long weekend, everyone has one non-negotiable and strong opinions about at least two things they’d rather not do. This is where a single organized link–itinerary, reservations, the hotel address, whose non-negotiable falls where–saves everyone from a major miscommunication the morning of.

  

Ultimately, the best group trips won’t feel overly planned, they’ll just feel easy. Because when the right system is in place, planning a trip with others should feel exactly like what it is: the first part of an amazing vacation, not a stressful group project.

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

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Some people treat their hotel like a launchpad, a place to drop bags before running out the door to see and do things. I simply cannot relate to this. I am, and have always been, a person who books a hotel and then builds a trip around it. I structure entire itineraries around singular properties. I research the spa menu before I research the flights. I want to know which restaurant is worth the reservation, which suite has the soaking tub, whether the pool situation is actually good or just good on Instagram. A hotel, for me, is not just a place to sleep. It’s often the impetus for an entire trip. Which means that when I book one, I want to make sure I’m maximizing the value of my stay.

I’ve been using my Amex Platinum when booking travel for years (the points accumulation alone makes it worth it, which you know if you read my travel hacking series), but a while back I started booking through American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, which is a curated collection of over 1,600 luxury properties bookable directly through American Express Travel with your Platinum Card. It’s just a smarter way to book hotels you were going to book anyway—no extra step or seperate membership required. The difference is in what you get when you arrive. And in my opinion, it’s a very meaningful difference.

And what you get is consistent across every property in the collection: guaranteed noon check-in when available, a complimentary room upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, a $100 experience credit to use toward spa or dining, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a guaranteed 4pm late checkout. Once you start getting perks like these consistently, booking any other way starts to feel like leaving something on the table.

Here’s what my experience at FHR properties looked like across three trips at the Waldorf Astoria New York, The Wynn Las Vegas, and The Langham Chicago.

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Icelandair Is hiring a really bad photographer (yes, really). They’ll spend ten days shooting in Iceland and get paid $50,000 for it. The idea, which is both a stunt and a very real job offer, is that the landscapes are so visually impressive that they’re essentially foolproof. The campaign was partly inspired by focus groups who said images of Iceland look “too good to be true,” which is such a good insight. This is what smart airline marketing looks like: a clear point of view, a cultural conversation built in, and a hook that writes itself. Applications to apply are open until 4/30!

Louis Vuitton was a travel brand before a fashion house, and reminded everyone at Milan Fashion Week. Louis Vuitton transformed Palazzo Serbelloni into a layered exhibition of immersive interiors, presenting the latest Objets Nomades collection alongside historic trunks with scenography in one room evoking a 1920s train carriage, placing the whole thing explicitly in the context of travel. It’s a brand reminding you that it’s always been in the business of how you move through the world.

Earlier this week I was lucky enough to sit down with the lovely GM of Hôtel Métropole Monte-Carlo, and he left me with bottle of Cuir Béluga (Guerlain’s leather-and-vanilla EDP from their L’Art & La Matière collection) and I’ve been wearing it every day since. It’s been around since 2005 but I’m newly obsessed with its soft, powdery vibe.

Guerlain, it turns out, is also the house behind the hotel's spa, the only Guerlain spa in Monaco, which only opened last July. I haven't been yet, but the bottle is doing a very effective job of making me want to go.

Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria — Sorrento, Italy

The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria has been perched on a cliff above the Bay of Naples since 1834. It’s been family-owned for nearly 200 years with countless offers to sell and not one accepted. The mythology of the hotel might only be outdone by the visual spectacle it offers: frescoed ceilings, a Michelin-starred restaurant, a private elevator carved into the cliff that takes you straight down to the marina for day trips to Capri, and five acres of citrus groves.

I’ll be there next week, for my first time in Italy, no less, and if I had to guess, it’s going to be the nicest hotel I’ve ever stayed in. Full review coming soon!

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

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

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When we think about travel, there’s typically a clear hierarchy that comes to mind. You go somewhere for a reason, right? Maybe there’s a historic museum, a world-renowned restaurant, or if you’re me, usually a gorgeous hotel that beckons from across an ocean. That’s the thing that ignites the spark, justifies the transatlantic flight, anchors the itinerary. Shopping, as a travel activity, has always lived somewhere in the “everything else.” Commonly done and enjoyable, but secondary. Something for the white space in between. But that hierarchy is flipping.

More and more, the thing drawing people to a particular place isn’t the world-famous must-see– it’s a store. Or something that might look like one, but functions more like an environment: a world you step into and spend time inside of, leaving with the feeling that you’ve experienced something instead of just purchased it.

People are flying to Osaka for Louis Vuitton’s Visionary Journeys exhibition. Afternoons are being built around Hermès’ traveling mystery experiences. The anchor item on a day’s itinerary might be the Dior flagship on 57th Street, because beyond the shopping, even the building itself feels worth seeing. You can book a table at New York’s Tiffany Blue Box Café weeks in advance, long before you’ve decided anything else about your trip. And if you want any chance of going, you’ll need to.

The store is no longer the afterthought. It’s the reason you went. But it’s not a shopping trip, it’s a cultural experience. The store just happens to be the venue.

What’s worth going for

I’ve noticed this shift in my own travel habits. Sure, I still very much care about where I stay and eat. That won’t ever change. But now, I find myself carving out time for places that exist somewhere between retail, architecture, and cultural installation. Neighborhoods defined not just by what you can buy, but by how they make you feel while you’re there. Ginza in Tokyo. Parts of SoHo, still. These are places you choose to stroll through even if you don’t plan to buy anything. They’re worth seeing for the spectacle, the design, and the sense of immersion they create. In places like these, each storefront feels like its own kind of self-contained universe. What’s changed isn’t just the scale of these spaces, but their ambition; luxury brands are no longer designing stores, they’re constructing environments.

Hermès, notoriously guarded with its brand experience, turned a New York retail activation into something closer to an immersive detective story: a spatial narrative designed not to sell product, but to deepen the mythology of the house. You don’t leave with an orange bag, you leave being able to say you’ve been inside the world of Hermès in a way that a campaign or a lookbook could never replicate. Bulgari’s spa in Paris, housed within the brand’s historic Hôtel de Crillon, turns a beauty treatment into a form of brand citizenship. What these experiences share is a fundamental rethinking of what retail is for. The transaction, if it happens at all, is almost beside the point. The point is the encounter.

ICONIC Magazine, which covers the business and culture of luxury retail, dedicated its tenth issue to exactly this shift. Reading it feels less like discovery and more like confirmation: a name for something you’ve already been noticing. The magazine is published by ICONIC Collection, a group of shopping destinations across the US that are, in many ways, the living version of what Issue 10 describes.

The logic landed at the airport

If you need evidence that this logic has extended beyond luxury fashion into the broader architecture of travel, take Changi Airport in Singapore.

Changi is consistently rated among the best airports in the world, and the reasons why have nothing to do with gate efficiency. There are experiences you’d never associate with airports, like a butterfly garden, a rooftop pool, a massive waterfall that consistently goes viral on social media. And beyond that, a shopping and dining experience that operates at a level most city centers don’t reach. This airport became a destination because someone decided that transit itself deserved to be designed as an experience worth having. People build layovers around it on purpose. They arrive early and don’t want to leave when it’s time to board.

But here’s something new: Heathrow just took the Skytrax award for world’s best airport shopping, beating out Changi and Doha Hamad, the two hubs that have defined the category for years. Heathrow! An airport most people associate with long security queues and the specific exhaustion of a transatlantic connection. It now sells a bottle of perfume every twenty seconds. A bottle of whisky every thirty.

That’s not a retail stat, that’s a behavior stat. It tells you that people want to be inside these spaces, and that, if given the right environment, the time between departure and destination can become part of the experience, not dead air to simply survive. The brands and properties who pay attention to this shift are the ones who will build something more durable than a transaction.

Built for more than a transaction

ICONIC Collection’s portfolio of shopping destinations across the US is doing something that deserves more attention than it typically gets from travel media: it’s building environments that function less like retail infrastructure and more like cultural spaces.

These are places where luxury retail, design, and dining converge, not in the way that every mixed-use development claims to converge them, but in a way that creates a reason to be there. To spend time, orient a weekend around. New York’s Crown Building and the Miami Design District are two examples, but they’re representative of a broader approach across the portfolio–an understanding that the best shopping destinations aren’t really shopping destinations at all. They’re places that happen to have great stores.

This is likely already how you travel, even if you haven’t articulated it that way. You’ve planned a trip and built in a half-day at a neighborhood because of a specific store, or a café attached to a bookshop, or an architecture worth standing inside. You weren’t shopping, you were experiencing.

The itinerary has inverted. The industry is just catching up.

The new travel question

I think the most interesting travel question right now isn’t where you want to go. It’s what you want to experience once you get there.

That’s a different kind of planning. It requires a different kind of curation. It asks you to think less about logistics and more about the texture of experience; what something will feel like, not just what it will look like in a photo.

ICONIC Issue 10 is a useful lens for this. Not as a shopping guide, but as a document of where luxury brands are putting their ambition right now. And increasingly, that ambition is spatial, it’s experiential. It’s designed to make you feel like you went somewhere, even when you’re technically just shopping.

Which is to say: the trip has already started. You just might not have booked the flight yet.

If you’re curious how this shift is playing out in real time, ICONIC Issue 10 is worth a read. It’s a look at how luxury retail is evolving into something far more experiential, and why retail destinations are becoming places worth traveling for in their own right.

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

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Delta One just got a serious upgrade. Delta has unveiled a next-generation Delta One suite for the Airbus A350-1000 (making it the first U.S. carrier to operate this specific model) and it looks exactly as good as you’d hope. Longer flatbeds with a pillow-top, Delta’s largest seatback screens, a shoe cubby, an always-open self-serve snack station, and suites set in a reverse-herringbone configuration with outer rows facing the windows. The A330-200/300 fleet is getting pulled into the refresh too, with new privacy doors (huge). What’s interesting is that Delta is making a calculated bet that premium is the only lane worth competing in, and when the biggest domestic carrier redesigns its entire premium experience from the ground up, it doesn’t just raise the bar on Delta. It raises it everywhere.

Air New Zealand, ever the innovators, just launched bunk beds in Economy. Air New Zealand’s Economy Skynest—six lie-flat sleep pods tucked between Economy and Premium Economy—will be available to book starting May 18, 2026, and will begin flying on the New York–Auckland route in November. Each four-hour session runs from $495 USD, includes a full-length mattress, fresh bedding, a privacy curtain, and an amenity kit with Aotea skincare. This isn't Air New Zealand's first time rethinking what economy can be: they did it in 2011 with the Skycouch, which turns three seats into a lie-flat surface for couples and families (United is now licensing it as the “Relax Row”). Skynest feels like the next chapter of that same instinct: solve the actual problem (you cannot sleep in economy on a 17-hour flight) rather than just compete on legroom.

Two of my favorite brands just collaborated and it makes so much sense: Soft Services’ cult exfoliating bar now comes scented with Vacation’s signature fragrance of coconut, banana, pool toys, and swimsuit lycra. If you know either brand, you already understand why this works so well. If you don’t: Soft Services makes the most elevated body care on the market, while Vacation makes sunscreen that smells so good you forget it’s sunscreen.

I’ve been thinking about summer skin since I got back from Palm Beach this week, and this is exactly what I’m reaching for before every trip for the rest of the year. Not only will you get the softest skin of your life, but you'll also smell like you're already somewhere tropical. Win-win.

Four Seasons Palm Beach — Palm Beach Island, Florida

There are hotels that look good in photos and hotels that are actually good. The Four Seasons Palm Beach is, fortunately, both—which, in Palm Beach, is a distinction worth making.

Let’s start at the beginning. My room was ready at 10:37am. I’ve said it before, but early room access without having to ask is, to me, an act of love, and this property now holds the record. Then came the junior suite upgrade. (I’ll take it.) The pool food (almost always the weak link at a resort) was unbelievably good: a watermelon salad and chirashi that had no business being that well-executed poolside. Two perfect dishes for eating in a cabana while you soak in the sunshine, if you ask me.

Speaking of poolside: I was brought a tray of complimentary amenities shortly after settling in: a personal fan, face mist, undereye patches, sunscreen, goggles, a sunglass cleaning cloth, and a Four Seasons hat. Sounds like a small gesture until you're actually sitting outside in the Florida sun and realize someone thought of everything before you did. This is the kind of thing I mean when I say anticipatory service (the best kind).

Dinner at Florie’s was another level entirely. Everything was beyond, but a standout was the wagyu steak tartare, which is prepared tableside and finished with potato sticks. Another thing worth mentioning: My friend , who’s gluten-free, was brought GF bread that honestly looked better than the regular bread. Love when a substitution is presented with equal (or better!) care.

Then there’s the superglue moment. My shoe broke, which is the kind of thing that can normally ruin your evening—but not here! The front desk sent maintenance rushing up to my room with superglue so I could fix it. Little things like that make all the difference in separating truly wonderful luxury hotels from just okay ones.

Palm Beach is an easy destination to get wrong: too stiff, too much pressure to perform a certain kind of leisure. This property sidesteps all of it. Warm without being casual, polished without being precious. I got so many DMs from people saying this is a place they love, and now I completely get all the hype.

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

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

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

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

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

• The SPF I’ve been evangelizing for months

• Sephora’s best skin-scent fragrance

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

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

• Refillable containers that make your toiletry bag look intentional

• And more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Portrait Milano — Milan, Italy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read on for:

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

• Three hotels on my list for next time

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Capella Kyoto — Kyoto, Japan

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read on for:

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

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

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

• What you can expect when you book through SmartFlyer

At a Glance

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

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

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

Booking through an advisor

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

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

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

The Beverly Hills Hotel: the buzzy one

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hotel Bel-Air: the private one

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which one I’d return to

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Six Senses London — London, England

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

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

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

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

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

Read on for:

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

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

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

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

Read more