Window shopping #1
Three insane hotels on my radar, products I'm loving lately, and an airline you can no longer fly naked on (sorry!)
Anyone else feeling like they could use a little levity? The world has felt especially heavy as of late, and I, for one, could use a distraction. I always think to write the kind of content I want to read, so I’ve been toying with the idea of implementing a more low-stakes content vertical for a while now. With that said, I’m excited to introduce you to Window Shopping, your stylish scroll through what’s new, noteworthy, and next in the world of travel. Each week, expect an issue that blends timely headlines, personal favorites, and design-forward hotels to keep your wanderlust well-fed. Inside you’ll find:
This week in travel: Curated news and observations at the intersection of travel, design, and culture
As of late: Products, places, and pieces of content I’ve been loving lately
Hotels on my radar: Design-forward stays I’m dreaming of
This may evolve over time, but this is the format I’m sticking to for now. I hope it brings you just a small spark of joy. <3
It feels wrong to write about any travel-related news without acknowledging the horrific aviation accidents that have occurred in the past couple of weeks. In the case of American Airlines Flight 5342, it is incomprehensibly sad that such a preventable tragedy happened, especially considering we’ve been fortunate not to see a plane crash on U.S. soil since 2009. I have many, many more thoughts about this that I am developing a larger personal essay around, so I’ll save my feelings for that letter. In the meantime, my heart is with everyone affected by the tragedies—families, loved ones, airline crews, and airport personnel. If you’re flying soon, please treat everyone from your gate agents to your flight attendants with extra kindness.
In other news:
Have you heard of Real ID? You’ll soon need it to travel1, and TSA finally confirmed that deadline—and it’s coming up fast. As of May 7th, your state-issued driver’s license or ID card will need to be upgraded to a Real ID to pass through airport security in the U.S. You can look up how to get on in your state here.
Do you swear by booking flights on Tuesdays, or other old travel myths? Many were recently debunked. Expedia just released their 2025 Air Hacks report and it includes some fascinating findings: Sunday is actually the best day to book both domestic and international flights. Interestingly, they found August is the cheapest month to travel, while March is the most expensive. My favorite finding? Ideal booking windows. For domestic flights, they say to book 34-86 days out. For international, 18-29 days! Personally, I don’t think my planning anxiety can abide that last one.
Sorry to everyone who was flying naked or barefoot on Spirit. They recently updated their “Contract of Carriage” (aka rules for passengers) to include language that passengers will be denied boarding if they are "barefoot" or "inadequately clothed," which it defines as "see-through clothing; not adequately covered; exposed breasts, buttocks, or other private parts.” Glad we finally got that covered!
Thought I’d finally get around to sharing my favorites of 2024:
Better late than never, right? Last year was big for me in a lot of ways—one being that I completely rebuilt my wardrobe from the ground up. Without realizing it, I built it around a philosophy that was perfectly articulated in, “The One Perfect Thing Rule”
There’s something incredibly chic—freeing, even—about having just one of everything. But not just any one. The best one. The best hair mask, the best foundation, the perfect white tee, and your signature scent. Your taste is exquisite, your collection is intentional, refined, and curated.
Of course, “best” is entirely subjective, but that’s part of the fun—it’s up to you! I’ve been having fun finding my “best one” of everything, and I’ve rounded up some of my favorites for you above. If you want to know why one of these things made it to the top of its respective category, sound off in the comments and I’ll gush.
The Twenty Two—New York, New York
This might be my favorite recent opening in the city. The Twenty Two—originally only found in London—has brought its signature blend of luxury and exclusivity to New York’s Union Square. More than just a hotel, it’s also a member’s club housed in a nine-story brownstone. If I ever finally caved to joining a members’ club, this would be the one.
This ticks all my boxes: elegant, intimate, and effortlessly cool. It’s calling to me for a staycation—one I’m hoping to take later this year.
ROMEO Roma—Rome, Italy
New bucket list goal: sleep in a room designed by Zaha Hadid. I plan to achieve this someday by staying in this stunning hotel, situated steps from the Piazza del Popolo in a historic palazzo dating back to the late 16th century.
But would I ever leave? Between the Michelin-starred restaurant, Neapolitan-inspired bistro, pools, rooftop lounges and The Spa Sisley Paris? I can’t be sure.
Villa Foz Hotel & Spa—Porto, Portugal
I’m heading to Portugal for the first time later this year for a friend’s wedding, and I’ve been looking for hotels for what feels like a year. None have really captured me until I recently stumbled upon this 19th-century manor house. I love when a boutique hotel does old-meets-new really well, and Villa Foz expertly hits the mark.
20 minutes outside Porto with a location right on the water, it features 68 guest rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a spa that boasts the works— a sauna, steam room, and hammam. What more could I need? My trip might not be until September, but I’m not letting another minute pass by without having this booking to look forward to.
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.
Travelers can still use other forms of identification for air travel, such as a U.S. passport, a U.S. passport card, a DHS trusted traveler card (Global Entry, Nexus, Sentri, or Fast), a permanent resident card, an acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized Tribal Nation or Indian tribe, an HSPD-12 PIV card, or a passport issued by a foreign government.
Damn, there goes my brilliant tuesday strategy.
By the way, can you write about why hotel room bathrooms seem to be exclusively designed by total freaks? Looking at the glass walls at Romeo!
You know I clicked allll the links ❤️ love the only buy the best philosophy!