Window shopping #56

A suitcase redesign that's been a long time coming, the return of the Negotiator, and a Lake Como hotel that finally speaks a different language

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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Away and July both launched hard-shell suitcases recently with flat-opening lids and a single deep compartment, breaking from the clamshell design that’s dominated the category for decades. July’s Capsule Carry-on Pro flips open from the top (not the side), has a front sleeve large enough for a laptop you can access standing upright, a built-in AirTag tracker, and a one-button brake. Away’s version, called Topside, launched in both carry-on and checked sizes that include a dedicated laptop sleeve, wheel brakes, and a compression system. The clamshell suitcase has always been a little annoying with how much space the two unfolding sides take up while trying to keep everything organized inside once its closed. Both brands identified the same friction point at the same moment, which means we’re seeing a category shift more than just product launches.

Priceline Brought Back the Negotiator and the timing is perfect. Nearly half of Americans say summer travel feels out of reach right now. And yet 73% say a summer vacation is too important to skip. This is the tension at the heart of what Priceline is calling “vacation inflation,” and their answer is to resurrect one of the most recognizable characters in travel advertising history: The Negotiator (now starring Randall Park after an official handoff from William Shatner). The campaign anchors Priceline’s “Unbummer Your Summer” sale with discounts up to 60% off across hotels, flights, rental cars, and experiences, running across broadcast, streaming, and social all summer.

I just got back from a week in the Cayman Islands (my third visit!) and my first real beach trip of the season. Here's what actually earned its place in my bag:

• The scarf: I’m not being hyperbolic when I say a silk scarf is the single most useful thing you can pack for a warm-weather trip. I tied mine around my bag, knotted it at the waist over a simple dress, wore it as a headwrap on a boat…so versatile and creates zero extra weight in the bag.

• The wedge sandal: I know. Stay with me. The 2026 wedge is slimmer, sharper, and more proportional than the cork-and-canvas version that killed the category a decade ago. When a wedge is good, it’s the most comfortable, elevated shoe in a closet.

• The basket tote: Holds everything and looks great doing it. My go-to is this luxe braided leather version in a rich chocolate brown. It’s the kind of bag that works from the beach to lunch without needing a second thought.

• The Resortwear Set: I hate having to think about what I’m going to wear on vacation—especially on a beach trip—so I love a matching set moment. A well-chosen two-piece reads intentional without requiring any effort. Bonus points if you can mix and match the separates with other pieces in your wardrobe.

Lake Como Edition — Lake Como, Italy

The Edition's arrival in Lake Como merges the brand's minimalist, contemporary aesthetic with the region's classical Italian grandeur, and in a destination this saturated with old-world tradition, it's exactly the breath of fresh air the lake needed. The 148 rooms, 25 suites, and two penthouses are set inside a 19th-century palazzo in Cadenabbia, directly across from Bellagio, anchored by two restaurants: a sun-drenched terrace for long Mediterranean lunches, and Cetino, the Italian debut of three-Michelin-starred chef Mauro Colagreco. The Longevity Spa rounds it out with a menu that runs from biohacking and LED therapy to DNA testing and bespoke sleep programming, which is either too 2026 or very necessary, depending on what your flight over was like.

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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.