Window shopping #9
The most indulgent treatment I’ve ever had, a look at how hotels are designed for romance, and an Italian retreat carved from volcanic stone
This is Window Shopping, a weekly mini-letter from Window Seat—your stylish scroll through what’s new, noteworthy, and next in the world of travel. Each issue blends timely headlines, personal favorites, and design-forward hotels to keep your wanderlust well-fed.
“People make love in hotels more than anywhere else.” This article from Tatler isn’t new, but I loved hearing from the interior designers behind Aman, Rosewood, Grand Hyatt, and other luxury hotels about how they design their properties to inspire moments of intimacy. It’s a reminder that great hotel design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about emotion, atmosphere, and creating the kind of environments that invite you to slow down and connect.
Westin Hotels and Goop launched a new content series designed to help travelers sleep smarter. The Sleep Well with Goop series covers everything from bedtime rituals to how to recover after long-haul travel, tapping into a broader shift in hospitality; travelers don’t just want a comfortable bed—they want tools, routines, and environments that help them truly unwind. Whether it’s blackout curtains, herbal teas, or Gwyneth-approved tips, sleep is becoming one of the most sought-after amenities in luxury travel.
One thing about me: I love to indulge. Scanning a menu and opting for the wagyu beef. Ordering room service and choosing to eat it in the bath instead of the bed. Planning an entire vacation around staying at a hotel from my vision board. Booking the nicer seat, buying the better robe, choosing the massage that sounds borderline ridiculous—just to see if it delivers.
So when I heard about the Four Hands treatment at Raquel New York, I needed to try it for myself1. If you’re wondering if it’s exactly what it sounds like… yes. You’ll get a facial from Raquel, who will expertly assess everything your skin needs, while Sophie massages all of your limbs. Both happen simultaneously, in perfect rhythm, resulting in the kind of serenity that lingers in your body long after you’ve left the room.
It was the kind of experience that reminds you what luxury really is—the ability to slow down and bliss out. A sense that, for once, you don’t have to do anything except receive. And let me tell you, I needed that.
Parco Dei Sesi—Pantelleria, Italy
Black volcanic stone merges effortlessly with olive groves and caper fields at this adults-only retreat, set within a 5,000-year-old archaeological park overlooking the Mediterranean. With just 12 rooms, Parco dei Sesi feels intimate by design. Guests gather for farm-to-table meals under a communal pergola, lounge by a sea-view pool, and unwind with yoga or massages. With deep roots in sustainability, art, and slow living, it’s a tranquil escape for those seeking inspiration and a deeper connection to nature.
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.
I was generously offered this treatment as a gift with no expectation of sharing.
wow this hotel is stunning 😍