Arabian Travel News editor Monika Canty joins an agent fam and discovers how to travel the Sunshine State in style

We have just checked in to the L’Ermitage Hotel in Beverly Hills — the first port of call on our whistlestop tour of California - when Angelina Jolie casually strolls in to the lobby (sadly there's no sign of Brad Pitt).

While we all do our best to remain calm and collected in the presence of one of Hollywood's most famous movie stars - the truth is it's impossible not to be dazzled by the glitz, glamour and all-pervading 'wow-factor' that sums up our entire trip to the Sunshine State of California.

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Our group is here on a fam trip hosted by The Travel Collection which represents several luxury properties in California; and Delta Airlines which operates a daily non-stop service from Dubai to its hub in Atlanta, with onward connections to over 236 US destinations including Los Angeles.

Despite the long distances from the Middle East; popularity for US destinations among Gulf travellers is skyrocketing. According Sheena Thomas, sales manager - UAE & Oman at Delta Air Lines, load factors for its daily Dubai-Atlanta flight is in the “high 80s range”.

“Despite the challenging global economic environment, Delta is very pleased with the performance of our Dubai-Atlanta flight. Demand for our service shows positive growth year-on-year," she adds.

The Sunshine State
It's easy to see why California is such an appealing destination for Gulf travellers. The weather is amazing all year round; the lifestyle is glamorous; the shopping and eating out options are top-notch and there are so many family-friendly attractions to choose from — from Disneyland to behind-the-scenes-studio tours — that you will never be stuck for something to do.

Our trip begins in Los Angeles and takes us to the affluent coastal city of Newport Beach in Orange County which means we also get to experience the famous sunny beaches along the Pacific Ocean.

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