Window shopping #67
A nightmare resort launch, inflight etiquette merch, and gear picks for my trip to Iceland
This is Window Shopping, a weekly briefing from Window Seat. Every issue covers essential news in luxury travel, spotlights one exceptional hotel, and shares personal updates or recent product discoveries.
Aman’s newest property is already plagued by drama. I was initially thrilled to see Aman’s long-awaited Mexican resort, Amanvari, finally open its doors this past week, but just days into operations, a bizarre PR nightmare is raising serious red flags about how the ultra-luxury brand handles its guests. An independent luxury hotel reviewer showed up for his confirmed reservation only to be turned away at the gate—and then have the cops called on him by the property. Operational oversight is one thing (which honestly should not be happening when you’re paying $6,000/night), but treating your guest like a trespasser is an unreal misstep for a brand whose entire goal is, according to their own about page, “To provide a level of service and experience that is peerless in every way.” Aman has yet to publicly comment, but the damage seems to be done (comments are currently either disabled or limited on Amanvari’s Instagram account).
Lufthansa just unveiled a campaign and merchandise centered around modern flight etiquette. While the merch doesn’t appear to be available for public purchase just yet (the brand commented “more details coming soon”), I like seeing an airline reinforce some of the industry’s most hotly debated takes (like the middle seat gets the armrest—duh). I would like to personally hand some of these out to certain people I encounter in the terminal…Lufthansa, call me.
I’ve been talking a lot on here lately about leaning into my nature era, and my next outdoors-focused adventure is officially taking me to Iceland this weekend courtesy of Alaska Airlines, which I’m excited to be flying for the very first time. I’m flying out to catch the total solar eclipse and take on a few ambitious activities—the latter being the reason I needed to make some recent gear upgrades.
I’ve been in Ohio this past week, so I figured I’d do some in-person shopping for once in my life and try to hunt down what I needed at some local stores. I struck out at three different stops before finding the hiking heaven that is REI. I managed to find every single thing on my list, and it actually felt good spending the money because I genuinely loved what I picked up. (Not sponsored, by the way—I'm just seriously impressed.) Here’s everything I picked up:
A cozy beanie to keep my ears warm against harsh winds
Touchscreen-compatible gloves to keep my hands warm without forcing me to take them off every time I want to snap a photo (which I’m sure will be very often)
A long-sleeve base layer for mid-range temps
A versatile fleece that can function as a mid-layer under a rain shell or as a standalone top
Wool toe socks that prevent friction and blisters between toes during long, wet hikes
Waterproof pants which are an absolute non-negotiable if you plan on visiting any waterfalls without getting completely soaked
Once I get back, I’ll of course be publishing an Iceland guide which will include my comprehensive packing list. In the meantime, shop my full hiking wardrobe here.
Villa Le Corail, a Gran Meliá Hotel — Nha Trang, Vietnam
Hidden in a secluded bay on Vietnam’s central coast, Villa Le Corail is Grand Meliá’s flagship property in the country. The entire estate is a design study in high-end fusion: sweeping, modern Mediterranean villa architecture paired with traditional Vietnamese hospitality. Beyond the design, the culinary program really caught my eye—it features Hispania, a signature Spanish restaurant spearheaded by Michelin-starred chef Marcos Morán. Add in floating pool breakfasts, private catamaran excursions through Ninh Van Bay, and an on-site coral restoration project where guests can help plant reefs, and it looks like the ultimate luxury base camp for exploring coastal Vietnam.
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Window Seat covers the intersection of luxury hospitality, aviation innovation, and the culture of modern travel, written by Tori Simokov, a writer and designer based in New York. For partnership opportunities: tori@v1projects.com. You can also connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, or ShopMy.