From the moment Isabelle greeted me after a long transatlantic flight, she was an exemplary host (taking time out to talk about the property, on hand for any requests). The provençal-meets-eastern-spiritual decor of her house is tastefully styled, but it's the hushed tranquility of her spacious pad that really gets you - there are few things more perfect than sitting out on her terrace (overlooking the Topanga mountains) and/or going to bed with no other sound other than the bleating crickets and the wind chimes rustling in the breeze. Hard to believe that the madness of Los Angeles is only 10 minutes away. I was only here for two nights but I emerged feeling I'd just had a relaxing yoga session.

Whether you want to laze on Malibu beaches, hike in the nearby canyons or explore Topanga itself (like a Socal Woodstock, with its metaphysical bookstores, healing mist shops and hippy relics), Isabelle's house makes the perfect base.