Reader Q&A: Freelance growth, food cities, and the power of nostalgic joy

Answering questions like why I never use a travel agent and what I love even more than aviation

Hello from Amsterdam! I’ve completely fallen in love with this effortlessly charming city. I’ve somehow been mistaken for Dutch in nearly every shop I’ve walked into, which weirdly makes me feel kind of at home here? I simply can’t wait to share everything I’ve uncovered—the vintage shops, the cafes, the restaurants, the food—and why it all feels so special. More soon!

In today’s Q&A:

• The card in my wallet I’ll never cancel

• The one hotel that changed my standard for luxury stays forever

• How I’ve kept a full freelance calendar without pitching a single client

• My lifelong obsession that has nothing to do with travel

As always, these reader Q&As are not just for travel questions, they’re a chance to get to know me a little better, too.

The kind of weather that makes you so happy to be alive

I’d love your advice on travel credit cards. I live in Minneapolis - a Delta hub - so I’m quite loyal to Delta. I also have their reserve card which provides me with points and status. But the annual fee is becoming crazy ($650). Is there a better card about there you’re familiar with? —Alyssa

Given your loyalty to Delta and that you’re based in a hub city, the Reserve can still make sense for Medallion status, lounge access, and the companion certificate, but if you’re not using those perks often, there are better all-around cards out there.

My top alternative would be the American Express Gold. It earns more flexible points (which you can transfer to Delta and other airlines), has a much lower annual fee ($250), and gives you great earning power on high-spend categories like dining and groceries. You lose Delta-specific perks like Sky Club access and MQD boosts, but you gain more value overall if you’re open to booking award travel or business class flights through transfer partners. I have this card and it’s one I’ll always keep in my wallet.

Would niching down to serve industries like music or fashion be disadvantageous? My goal is to build my personal brand while helping clients achieve the same thing. I see a lot of people say you need to build a portfolio website or use platforms like TikTok to attract clients. What's your opinion on this? —Anonymous

Not disadvantageous at all. In fact, I think picking a niche or two will actually help you to stand out even more. It gives you an area and audience of focus, which is incredibly useful when it comes to both your marketing content and word-of-mouth referrals.

As for attracting clients, I do think it’s important to advertise your services online. Having a portfolio site (even something simple with just three strong case studies, let’s say) goes a long way in showing potential clients what you do and why you’re worth the investment. But once your site is live, you need to make sure people are seeing it. That’s where social comes in.

The platform itself is less important than your consistency. If TikTok feels intimidating, you could use Instagram, LinkedIn, or Substack instead—whatever feels best—but you do need to post regularly to keep your work top of mind.

How is freelance going? —Brianna

It’s going better than I ever imagined. Since leaving my corporate job in May, I’ve had a steady stream of client projects ranging from comprehensive brand strategy & visual identity refreshes for Substack newsletters to graphic design projects, UGC, and sponsored content for various brands.

Continuing the themes of self-prompotion from the previous question, I try to post about my services once every week or two, and that rhythm has helped keep my lead pipeline healthy without me having to do any cold outreach. I’m grateful people have been able to see the value in what I can provide and that this has enabled me to live out one of my dreams.

Do you use a travel agent? —Carter

I don’t! I genuinely love the process of planning my own trips, from the flight strategy to hotel research to building out my itinerary. I also find that having control over the points bookings gives me more flexibility. That said, I do see the appeal of not having to worry about anything, and can point you in the direction of a couple serious travel advisors I trust (as opposed to people who seem to be doing it just as a fun hobby).

Best hotel experience you’ve ever had? —Carter

Park Hyatt Kyoto still takes the crown for me. Everything from the design to the service to the meals felt so intentional. The location was perfect, the room was spacious and comfortable, the food and drinks were beyond, and the staff intuited everything I could ever need before I knew I needed it. It was an introduction to a new tier of hospitality for me.

Do you pack travel-size or full-size toiletries? —Courtney

I’m a travel-size packer. I will buy specific travel sizes of products I use as a first option, with the second option being decanting products into Cadence Capsules/Ries bottles. I prefer to travel with products I’m familiar with instead of relying on whatever the hotel has available.

What are your favorite food cities? —Veronica

Paris and Tokyo are at the top for me, hands down. I love French and Japanese cuisine, and both cities excel at everything from high-end meals to humble bakeries and convenience store gems. That said, I also fell unexpectedly hard for Spanish food when I was in Menorca. I didn’t realize the island had such a distinctive culinary identity, but dishes like Caldereta de langosta, sobrasada, and even the local cheeses were unforgettable.

Is there something you’re super passionate about that’s totally unrelated to your job? —Alexis

My biggest passion besides aviation is actually Pokémon and has been since the franchise first came to the US in 1996. I’ve owned every mainline game, have collected the cards since the base set, and even briefly competed in the trading card circuit. One of my earliest moments of working towards a dream and achieving it was having my Pokémon artwork published in Nintendo Power magazine. It was really my first love, and to this day it remains one of the deepest, most joyful ways I stay connected to my inner child. 🥹❤️

Last everyday purchase? Like something you actually use every single day —Lin

Looking at my Amazon history, my last order included three things that are pretty essential for me:

• La Roche Posay Tinted Sunscreen: I’ve completely ditched foundation in favor of this, which has been doing wonders for my skin. The turning point was actually in packing for the trip I’m currently on—I left my foundation at home for the first time ever.

• Tarte Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump: The perfect daily lip. Non-sticky, hydrating, and just enough shine. I never leave the house without it.

• Tangle Teezer wet brush: In a recent post, I talked about my hair struggles as of late, so it’s imperative for me to be as gentle with my hair as possible. I just upgraded to the “extra gentle” version, and it’s made a huge difference in reducing breakage out of the shower.

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If this sparks even more questions, you can always come hang out in the Window Seat chat where I and plenty of other travel lovers are swapping tips, recs, and answers daily.

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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.