The Times Luxx - California dreaming and desert cool

Mexico, Los Cabos Peninsula

The combo: The sun shines 365 days a year in Mexico’s Los Cabos Peninsula, and a week’s break is easily combined with the ultimate city break in Los Angeles.

The contrasts: the year-round golden light and dry heat of Los Cabos on the Pacific west coast of Mexico makes it a luxurious antidote to the British winter. Capella Pedregal is a new hotel accessed via a spectacular tunnel in the rocks, but Hemingway used to fish here – there are still marlins to catch – and there’s great snorkelling a short drive away across the peninsula. The flight to LA takes two hours, after which you check into Chateau Marmont, a Hollywood legend. Howard Hughes, Robert Mitchum and Hunter S. Thompson all stayed at this faux chateau on sunset, and hotelier Andre Balazs’s stroke of genius was to polish up this Twenties gem while retaining its aura of silver-screen history.

The details: Exsus offers a seven night package, with four nights at Capella Pedregal, including breakfast and transfers, and three nights room only at Chateau Marmont, including all flights, from £1,950pp based on two sharing (020-7337 9010; exsus.com).