EDITOR'S LETTER:

In this, our annual family travel issue, we inspect the trend and look at some of the hotel brands that are getting it right. Joe Mortimer pens the luxury family travel feature (page 52) and not only inks his long-form analysis but highlights some great escapes to consider.

Elsewhere, we stay close to home with in-depth travel features on Bahrain, where we check into five-star stalwart The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain (page 62) and the all-new, simply irresistible The Abu Dhabi EDITION (page 70), written by Danae Mercer.

For this month’s cover story, we couldn’t resist a touch of Thailand. The Far Eastern enclave has never been more popular with Gulf travellers, with the bulk alighting in the nation’s capital, but we take things beyond Bangkok with a closer look at Koh Kood (page 78), where Maryanne Haggas embraces her inner gourmand and melts away her pre-wedding stress on the white sand beaches.

We also sit down for an interview with the CEO of JA Resorts & Hotels, Tim Ross, who is steering the Dubai-born brand into uncharted waters, with expansions into East Africa, Sri Lanka and China (page 36).

We hope you enjoy the issue. Safe travels and, if in doubt, buy the ticket.