LOS ANGELES/FIJI
Imagine the pleasures of the revamped Hollywood (it really has turned the corner from sleazy past-it theme park to vibrant new district) followed by a few days dipping your toes into the warm Pacific Ocean. The only problem is how to cram it all in - LA covers thousands of square miles and Fiji has a mere 320 islands.
So focus: in LA, try to pack in the beach and pier at Santa Monica, the Getty Museum, Frank Gehry's stunning Disney concert hall downtown (coupled with a drink by the Standard hotel's rooftop pool) and, yes, Universal Studios.
In Fiji you can add fantastic rapids, beautiful mountains and cliffs, great surf and dive sites, lively nightlife (in Suva), food and everything from backpackers' hostels to super-swish resorts. The main island of Viti Levu contains most of the people, but try to take in the string of the Yasawas, which are classic Blue Lagoon territory. Yes, you haven't entirely left Hollywood behind - both film versions were shot here. It is easy to hop between the islands. As an alternative, take an inter-island cruise in the equally beguiling Cook Islands. oLondon-LA-Fiji-Auckland with Air New Zealand, from £1,014 including two nights' hotel in LA and three nights in Fiji. Book with Austravel, 0870 166 2050, www.austravel.com
DUBAI/SINGAPORE
Choose Dubai for a quick dose of guaranteed sunshine by the pool. You get some of the best hotels in the world - food, service and facilities are all first rate, which means you can relax and someone else takes care of it. Children are also very well catered for at the likes of Jumeirah Beach and the Hilton. Shopping is no longer the only game in town - although the gold souk is worth a visit - but don't miss the desert: a 4WD safari will have you marvelling, not only at the dunes, but at what Dubai has built itself from.
Singapore, by contrast, is a venerable institution, albeit one continually reinventing itself. There are fabulous hotels such as the Shangri-La (try The Line restaurant, with its delicious upmarket take on street-stall dishes) and the legendary Raffles, but it has much more culture than many would have you believe. There is even a form of cooking unique to the city-state - Nonya, a marriage of Chinese ingredients and Malay spices. Try the food at Chilli Padi (11 Joo Chiat Place), especially the curry fish. Every taste is catered for: for Indian there is Little India, and for sweet-tooths there is the majestic Fullerton Hotel, which has a chocolate buffet every Friday and Saturday at which everything is made of, well, chocolate. The best night-time view is from the New Asia Bar of the Swisshotel: perfect with a dry martini. o London-Dubai-Singapore-Sydney with Emirates, from £866 including three nights' hotel in Dubai and two nights in Singapore
NEW YORK/TAHITI
There's no doubt what is New York's biggest attraction at the moment: Top of The Rock, the refurbished viewing platform on top of the Rockefeller Centre, with stunning views of the city that never sleeps. After the whirl of non-stop action that is the Big Apple, you need a breather. Tahiti won't disappoint. You'll find thatched rooms above pristine waters, and swim with dolphins, mantas and turtles over coral beds. oLondon-New York (Virgin Atlantic), then New York-Tahiti-Auckland (Air Tahiti Nui), from £1,066 including two nights' hotel in New York and three nights in Tahiti
SHANGHAI
If you haven't got time for a double stopover and want to pick one unforgettable destination, Shanghai is currently the best pick. Twenty years ago it was Hong Kong that showed what happened when Western capitalism collided with Chinese entrepreneurship. Now Shanghai holds that crown, with new sights such as the audacious Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Jin Mao Tower plus a thriving bar scene. There are also more than 1,000 restaurants serving the 16 different styles of food in China.
Stopover hotspots
Imagine the pleasures of the revamped Hollywood followed by a few days dipping your toes into the warm Pacific Ocean.