EDITOR'S LETTER:

There are few things better than kicking off your shoes on touchdown in a holiday destination, and discarding them blithely until you depart again, because being barefoot grounds you in such a pure way that it sets a, perhaps subconscious, precedent for the holiday mood that follows.

After the year that was, one destination is reaping the rewards of travellers wanting to connect with their souls (and soles, in this case) – the barefoot beauty that is the Maldives. The first Indian Ocean destination to re-open its borders, the archipelago is enjoying an influx of travellers with itchy feet looking to the cerulean paradise and its beautiful properties for relaxation and respite from the day-to-day. So, this month, we’ve rounded up 14 of the most exclusive Maldivian enclaves, private islands and luxury villas big enough to house the whole family.

I also go in search of serenity at the new Ozen Reserve Bolifushi resort, while Sarah Freeman travels to Zanzibar to discover Omani overtures, spices and a vibrant Swahili culture, and Christian Sylt lives life in the fast lane with a 24-hour stay in Monaco ahead of next month’s Grand Prix.

I’m ready to kick off my shoes again… are you?