Window shopping #48

The airport lounge built for the efficient traveler, the rule flyers have been begging for, and the most stunning resort in Mexico right now

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.

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Images courtesy of American Express

American Express just opened a genuinely innovative new airport lounge concept at Las Vegas Airport this week called Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge. Designed specifically for solo travelers and pairs with shorter pre-flight windows, it features a speakeasy aesthetic, intimate atmosphere, and a vibe that feels far more like a great neighborhood spot than anything you’d expect to find at an airport. The real draw, though, is the service and food. It’s table service only—no buffet, no wandering around with a plate. The menu is crafted by James Beard Award-winning chefs and features dishes that are well-portioned, nourishing, and designed to actually make you feel good before a long travel day. Sidecar is located near gate D1, right down the hall from the original Centurion Lounge, and is complimentary for Amex Platinum cardholders within 90 minutes of departure. It’s an intimate space, so check the Amex app ahead of time for availability and to get your name down before you head over.

United Airlines just updated its Contract of Carriage to add headphone use as an enforceable condition of travel, meaning passengers who take calls or watch content on speaker can now be denied boarding, removed mid-flight, or permanently banned. I appreciate that this is an actual contract clause instead of a polite suggestion. Truly a great day for those of us who have ever sat next to someone blasting TikTok at 30,000 feet.

A handful of major global airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa Group, Air India, Scandinavian Airlines, and more, have just integrated Google's Find Hub into their official baggage recovery process. The mechanic is simple: if you're traveling with a Find Hub-compatible tracker on your bag and it goes missing, you can generate a secure location link directly from the Find Hub app and hand it to a baggage rep, giving them a live, updating view of exactly where your bag is. The link expires after seven days, can be revoked at any time, and all location data is encrypted throughout. It's a genuinely smart application of technology that already exists (the Find Hub network runs on over a billion Android devices) deployed against one of travel's most reliably stressful moments. Qantas and others are expected to join soon.

Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran that began over the weekend, more than 21,000 flights have been cancelled across seven major airports, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. The State Department is organizing military and charter flights for Americans who want to leave, and advises those needing emergency assistance to call 1-202-501-4444 or register with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive updated information about evacuation opportunities (step.state.gov).

Lately I’ve been less about big purchases and more about finally getting the small things right. Here are a few things currently earning their place in the rotation:

• Dona x Hario Matcha Set: I’ve been a vanilla matcha latte girl for a long time, but I’ve never had the right tools to make one at home myself properly. Until now!

• Super High Rise Mini Boot Denim: I don’t say this lightly: these sculpt like nothing else I own. A forever find for tall girls (I’m 5’11” and these are LONG on me).

• Long Sleeve Turtleneck Dress: It is short, so the built-in bodysuit is non-negotiable. The long sleeves balance everything out perfectly, and the deep espresso hue is just chef’s kiss. The dress to end all dresses, IMO.

• Tumi Split Travel Kit: A gift from my American Express family and officially my favorite thing I came home with. I have been wrangling tech cables in a sad pouch for longer than I’d like to admit. That era is over.

Four Seasons Tamarindo — Jalisco, Mexico

The first thing that hits you at Four Seasons Tamarindo is the architecture: monolithic, sand-colored concrete rising out of dense jungle on Mexico's Costalegre. The property sits on a secluded Pacific Coast peninsula inside a 3,000-acre private nature reserve, designed by five celebrated Mexican architects in the tradition of Luis Barragán, with the hotel itself occupying just two percent of the land. Of the 157 rooms, 63 are suites (many with private infinity pools facing the Pacific), and the food program is just as considered: chef Elena Reygadas, named World's Best Female Chef in 2023, runs Coyul restaurant here—her only outpost outside Mexico City. Architecture that earns its setting, a chef worth flying for, and a nature reserve as your backyard…this one has been at the top of my list for a long time and it's not coming off anytime soon.

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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.