It’s that time again, as our correspondents report back from far-flung corners of the globe on the exceptional experiences they’ve discovered for this year’s Escapist. As our new edition gathers speed and climbs into the great blue yonder, editor in chief Tyler Brûlé delivers his verdict on the essence of travel and hospitality. This is your captain speaking...

A Moroccan cop, a Florentine city father and a Greek-Cypriot chanteuse are just a sample of the fascinating folk you’ll encounter as you journey through this latest issue.

We unpack the secrets of the perfect stay, including a Cape Town gem, a surf-tossed Portuguese retreat and a hotel from a famous Japanese brand. First we get a warm welcome in LA.

As hotels adapt to changing tastes, their interior designers are innovating. We meet three young firms equal to the task.

With their start-up thrills leavened by experience, four of our favourite new(ish) businesses tell us what they’ve learned in the past 12 months.

Great atmosphere, enchanting environment and – most importantly – delightful dishes. These openings from around the world have all three.

Monocle meets eight brand owners and bosses who keep you cool, moisturised and comfortable on your global travels.

You stumble off a long-haul flight and there in the arrivals hall is a suited driver waiting for you. It’s a sign that all will be well today.

Whether you’re making for the shore, the slopes or the city, these four dedicated travel shops have enough covetable stock to really stretch your baggage allowance.

Long beholden to industry giants, the luggage sector is now packed with fresh faces poised for market domination. We hear the case for start-ups and meet some of the major players.

We set our editors a task: to prove that they could do all their gift shopping at the airport. Did they wing it?

Summer by the sea demands a particular kind of playlist. We ask three sunkissed selectors to pick their hottest tunes.

Meet the young fashion designers of Biarritz who are determined that their town should trade on more than a storied reputation.

We’ve gathered insights from the designers, singers, artists, writers and entrepreneurs who travel across the globe year-round.

The Yucatán capital is having a moment in the sun as a new wave of artists, architects and restaurateurs put down roots.

This tiny Philippine island is determined to build its tourism industry in a different way to its bigger and busier neighbours.

Morocco can be vivid and unpredictable – we crisscross this dreamy landscape to uncover some of its mysteries.

A blossoming food scene and laidback lifestyle are attracting new faces to formerly seasonal coastal town Yamba, and its surf-paradise neighbour Angourie.

In the Arizona desert, Tucson has an arid climate but a bountiful creative scene – and both are drawing in eager visitors.

Vouliagmeni is Athen’s wealthiest neighbourhood, where old-school rules. And now it has a revived hotel that’s set to pull in a jet-ski set.

Eight globetrotting correspondents muse on developments in both the journey and the destination, be it a Californian cruise, a North Atlantic catch or a controversy at 35,000ft.

This year our Big Interview Series taps into the experience of the men and women guiding the travel industry to new horizons.

The best of the best at putting joy into journeys.

Best-in-collection swimwear, accessories and relaxed seaside attire of brilliant colour and cut.