Window shopping #17
Janu comes to the Western Hemisphere, Pan Am takes off again, and Florence gets a fresco-filled Auberge
This is Window Shopping, a weekly mini-letter from Window Seat—your stylish scroll through what’s new and noteworthy in the world of travel. Each issue blends timely headlines, personal favorites, and design-forward hotels to keep your wanderlust well-fed.
The Americas is finally getting its first Janu hotel. Aman’s more vibrant, social sister brand is making its Western Hemisphere debut in 2026—with a beachfront resort in Turks & Caicos. While Aman is known for its luxurious seclusion, Janu leans into connection with wellness programming, open architecture, and vibrant dining spaces built to spark interaction. Personally, I’m interested in seeing how this opening influences lifestyle-first hospitality among the ultra-luxury set.
Last July, I wrote about how Pan Am was returning to the skies—and this week that flight finally took off. For the price of $60,000 per ticket, travelers are experiencing (or reliving!) the golden age of aviation on a 12-day journey tracing Pan Am’s original transatlantic routes: departing from New York and stopping in Bermuda, Lisbon, Marseille, London, and Ireland. The trip is limited to just 50 passengers aboard a privately chartered 757-200 outfitted entirely with lie-flat seats. (It’s really hard watching other people live your dreams…)
I recently got to experience Luxury Escapes—an Australian-born travel platform known for offering exclusive, limited-time offers with premium hotels and resorts around the world. Now, they’re focusing on U.S. expansion, particularly around their Signature Series, which are expert-led journeys built around passion, perspective, and place. Each Signature Series trip is co-designed with a cultural insider who brings their world to life through one-of-a-kind itineraries.
I was invited to a NYC-based Signature Series, hosted by fellow Substacker Jess Graves, where we started with a private appointment at The Webster, explored the stunning Lalique Townhouse (totally new to me), and got a first look at Violet Grey’s chic new Upper East Side outpost. The day ended with dinner at Bar Boulud and an overnight stay at the Mandarin Oriental’s Central Park View Suite. My dream Signature Series? A 25-day, nine-city journey aboard a privately chartered A320 that shuttles you directly to all the best hotels across Europe.
Collegio alla Querce—Florence, Italy
Newly open in the hills above Florence, Collegio alla Querce is Auberge Resorts’ latest Italian jewel: a Renaissance-era estate reimagined as a lush, design-forward retreat. You’ll find original 16th-century frescoes, cypress-shaded gardens, and sweeping views that stretch from Brunelleschi’s dome to the hills of Tuscany. The property strikes the perfect balance between sanctuary and scene: sip seasonal spritzes in the vibrant bar and cigar lounge, reset by the oak-fringed pool, or unwind in the Aelia Spa with treatments by cult-favorite brand Furtuna Skin. My dream room? Suite Giardino, a garden-level hideaway where hand-painted walls and a freestanding tub beneath restored frescoes make it feel like a private palazzo.
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.
This PanAm news is incredible