Seatmates: Aja Frost & Aliza Sir
On an unforgettable Japanese ryokan, traveling across New Zealand in a van, and the one thing you should always do when taking a red-eye flight to Europe
This interview is part of Seatmates, a Window Seat series where tastemakers, travelers, and creatives share how they move through the world—what they pack, where they stay, and the travel rituals that shape their lives.
There’s been a lot of exciting things to celebrate in my world recently. I just celebrated my birthday on the 12th, which called for my favorite thing in the world: a lavish staycation! My husband and I spent a night at the iconic Hotel Chelsea where we split an incredible burger at Café Chelsea and enjoyed the life-changing “Respira” massage treatment at the hotel spa (which, side note, makes you feel like you’ve been transported straight to the French countryside). It’s well worth a visit even if you’re not a guest of the hotel.
And…Window Seat reached 1,000 subscribers! 🎉
This passion project is only about five months old, and I’m so proud to reach this milestone—it’s the best birthday gift I could have asked for. To celebrate, I’m offering a 20% discount on paid subscriptions until the end of the month.
Now, onto the letter! This is a very special edition of Seatmates, as we’re lucky to have not one but two guest features! For this issue, I was thrilled to speak to Aja Frost & Aliza Sir, authors and co-founders of one of my favorite newsletters, Platonic Love: a Substack bestseller for women in the messy middle: navigating the transformation from “twenty-something” to “Adult with a capital A.”
Read on for hotel areas to avoid in popular tourist locales, get intel on the best monthly techno party in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and learn the surprising places where in the world they enjoyed some of their best meals.
Tell us a little about yourself.
Aja: We actually wrote each other’s bios for Platonic Love (I recommend doing this with a friend or coworker; it’s fun!) Here’s what Aliza said about me:
“Aja feels like a long-time friend—or even better, big sister—from the first time you meet her. She knows how to skip the small talk, dresses like she lives in Brooklyn, and listens to your stories with care and compassion. When Aja’s not catching up on podcasts during a long walk through Cambridge or meeting friends at a hip new restaurant for dinner, you’ll find her at home with her wonderful partner, Sam, nestling up on the couch with her Kindle.”
And here’s what I said about Aliza:
“Aliza is a trier of new things, wonderful friend, and hot yoga twisty pretzel. She’ll never show up to a costume party in a lackluster outfit. She loves a sweet nighttime treat, especially chocolate, and her ability to find parking spots is unmatched. Aliza lives with her lovely and always supportive husband Sam, adorable son Jude, and playful dog Oliver near Cambridge, Massachusetts.”
Aliza: A lot of people assume that Aja and I were best friends before we started Platonic Love—but our relationship has actually grown in tandem with our creative (or “business”) partnership. We initially bonded over books, but quickly found we never ran out of things to talk about (despite being at pretty different life stages!).
How do each of you approach planning travel? What inspires you to visit somewhere new?
Aja: I’ve learned that having too much booked in advance makes me claustrophobic and angsty—not the way I want to feel on vacation! On the flip side, if I land in a foreign place with zero plans, I inevitably waste a ton of time figuring out what to do. My Goldilocks answer: I’ll do a lot of research beforehand on activities, places, and neighborhoods. I trawl Reddit, Substack, and personal blogs for tips from locals to get the most unbiased and informed recs and add everything that intrigues me to a color-coded Google Map. Once I’ve gotten to my destination and am ready to explore, I’ll choose a general area and use my map as my guide, popping into whatever’s accessible and sounds appealing. This approach also allows me to go off-course whenever: If I see an interesting street, I’ll go down it; if I get hungry, I’ll find the closest bookmarked restaurant, etc.
Aliza: I like to know where I’m sleeping that night and have a rough idea of the top tourist sites or places I might need advance passes (like Frida Kahlo’s home in Mexico City or a popular museum), but otherwise, I love seeing where the vacation takes me, whether that’s through conversations with locals or exploring a neighborhood. I think lowering expectations (you’re never going to hit it all!) makes for a more fulfilling experience.
This is a hot take: I typically enjoy a lower-key restaurant over the Michelin-starred place that all the travel blogs are raving about. (The best oyster I’ve ever eaten was at a small dive on Miyajima, an island just over an hour off the coast of Hiroshima, and all my unforgettable meals in Mexico City were from stalls and food stands.) There are exceptions, but this relieves some of the pressure around planning ahead and making reservations.
As residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts, what are your favorite local spots to recommend to out-of-towners?
Aja: I love this question because I love Cambridge. I rarely go into Boston proper, there’s so much here. To eat: Pammy’s. To drink: Rebel Rebel. To dance: Middlesex (where my fiancé throws a techno party once a month!)
Aliza: Ditto to all of Aja’s recommendations. I’ll add… To eat & drink: Cicada Coffee Bar or Dear Annie. To be outside: Night Shift Brewing has several beer gardens open during the summer, or just take a walk along the Esplanade; it’s beautiful.
What’s been your most memorable hotel stay?
Aja: In March 2023, my now-fiancé and I took a three-week trip to Japan. We stayed in some incredible places, but the highlight was indisputably Beniya Mukaya: a Relais and Chateaux ryokan tucked into the hillside of a sleepy town. Every detail—from the incredible multi-course meals made with local produce and some of the best fish I’ve ever had to the contemporary art scattered across the property and open-air hot spring bath—was considered. We’re already trying to find a reason to go back.
Aliza: My most memorable vacation “housing” arrangement was actually on wheels. In late 2019, my husband and I spent a week of our honeymoon traveling across New Zealand’s South Island in a van (similar to this one) and I couldn’t recommend it more. The van was incredibly comfortable, and we loved changing locations and exploring new camping locations (like Lake Tekapo and Arthur’s Pass) each day.
I’ve also, for better or worse, ended up in some less-than-ideal (but memorable!) hotel stays because of my lack of advanced research. Some hotels that I’d actively avoid: anything too close to the Tokyo airport (non-smoking is not a thing that’s been adopted!), as well as a town called Lloret de Mar on Spain’s Costa Brava (unless you’re looking for a Euro bachelor party vibe). The towns and natural beauty along the coast a bit further north of Barcelona are truly magical, though!
Is there a destination or property at the top of your wishlist?
Aja: So many! I’m going to have a day alone in Paris this summer, and I’m thinking about staying at Hotel Particulier Montmartre—the vibe is Secret Garden meets Alice in Wonderland, and apparently feels like it’s in the middle of the French countryside rather than a 15-minute walk from the Sacre Coeur.
Aliza: I’d looooove to get to Oaxaca. Everyone who visits raves about the food and nearby beach towns like Puerto Escondido. Some of the best trips I’ve taken have been to other parts of Mexico (Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, Tulum, and the Baja Peninsula) but I’ve not yet had the opportunity to travel further South. I really need to make that happen…
I’m also trying to visit as many National Parks as possible. I used to work in a role that had me traveling around the US nearly every month (which I loved!), and Parks were always a good “bonus” destination.
What are your must-haves when it comes to luggage and items you travel with?
Aja: A portable charger is crucial — I always use my phone a lot when traveling (for directions, the aforementioned Google Maps, etc.) so being able to extend the battery life is always handy. Plus, you never know when you’ll get stuck on a long flight without access to an outlet.
I’m also a huge fan of my Tom Bihn backpack. I became a one-bag packer last year (for our three-week trip to Japan; the stakes were high!) and have never looked back. I wrote about the lessons I’ve learned for Platonic Love.
Aliza: I have a toddler, so anytime we’re traveling with him, I’ve started using a large Calpak suitcase (similar to this one) which gives me enough space to dedicate one side to my items and the other half to his. He’s only been alive for a year and a half, but we’ve already taken him on at least twelve flights, and this shared bag system has made it much less intimidating and easy to maneuver through an airport. (When I’m traveling alone, I’m an Away Bigger Carry-On girl. I’ve had mine for at least seven to eight years and it’s hardly aged.)
I know this isn’t rocket science, but I also love packing cubes—they make unpacking and repacking so much faster each time, especially with said toddler and all the items he requires—and my travel stroller (which lives in my trunk most days for easy, daily use).
What are your go-to airport outfits?
Aja: Lately, it’s been all black to better hide my sins: a Cotton Citizen t-shirt (so soft!) underneath a Hey Gang sweatshirt and SET Active leggings. Plus the most important travel accessory of all… my (black!) Platonic Love baseball cap.
Aliza: Comfort is key. This might also be a good time to plug my favorite walking shoes—the slip-on On Cloud sneakers. (They’re decidedly not cute, but work great for a long travel day or just walking the dog.)
Do you have any rules or rituals when it comes to air travel?
Aja: Never check a bag. Buy food before you get to the airport. Take an early flight to avoid travel delays, issues, etc. And maybe my most controversial tip… If you’re landing in Europe after a red-eye, book your hotel for the prior night so you don’t waste six hours walking around zombie-eyed, craving a shower and a nap while trying not to get annoyed at the people you’re traveling with. (IMO, always worth it.)
Aliza: I hate checking a bag, but traveling with a toddler has forced me to adjust my expectations. That being said, I still try to travel as lightly as possible. I at least haven’t required one of those luggage cart things… yet. And I always pick up enough food, snacks, and water for the flight. Nothing is worse than arriving at your destination dehydrated and hangry.
Last question: aisle or window seat?
Aja: Aisle.
Aliza: Always aisle. (This preference was especially heightened when I was pregnant, oof.)
From the flight deck 🛫
Bringing you a 30,000-foot view of need-to-know travel industry news
Travel is becoming more spontaneous. For its “Travel in 2024: The New Traveler” report, PMG surveyed 1,800 internet users 18 years and older. The full report is worth a read, but what I found most interesting as a type-A planner is that across the board, travel planning is becoming more spur-of-the-moment. The report found that 42% of travelers choose to embrace spontaneity; 44% percent of travelers only begin planning their leisure travel one to three months prior to a trip—the most common range to start planning.
Delta will soon be adding the CRJ-550 to its fleet. United has had this aircraft in commission since 2019, and Delta’s will have the same configuration—including the small, self-serve refreshment area stocked with soft drinks and snacks that will be accessible to first-class passengers. I often fly first on Delta regional jets, so I’m particularly excited about this development.
Flamingo Estate is partnering with JW Marriott to “guide travelers on a sensorial journey rooted in well-being.” While hotels bearing signature fragrances aren’t anything new, this partnership is unique in that it has three sensory experiences at its core: scent, sound, and taste. Guests will be welcomed in by their co-branded scent, “Expansion”, which is an “herbaceous and uplifting scent” with notes of White Lotus, Rosemary, and Holy Basil. There will also be four playlists that each correspond to a distinct time of day, along with a signature honey that will be incorporated into cocktails and dishes by each property’s chef. Now through June 14th, JW Marriott Essex House New York is hosting a pop-up shop that provides guests the opportunity to experience the collaboration and purchase the products, like the Bergamot & Tulsi honey and the co-branded Expansion candle, along with a curated selection of travel-friendly Flamingo Estate products.
For more words of wisdom from Aja & Aliza, make sure to subscribe to Platonic Love! Interested in being featured in Seatmates or know someone who should be? Drop me a line here.
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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.
amazing collab
next thousand by next month calling it now