Rosarito Beach

Why not travel out to Rosarito Beach in Mexico for a real Mexican vacation? Only about 15 minutes farther than Tijuana, it's roughly three hours by drive from Los Angeles. This destination is known to be one of the best weekend getaways from L.A.

This beach resort has a long, wide beach as well as a substantial number of resort hotels. It serves wonderful fresh fish and delicious, authentic Mexican meals. Visit the Baja Studios, where Titanic was filmed, then take a detour to Puerto Nuevo, a little fishing community.

It's easiest to park on the American side of the border (there is a sizable parking lot), enter into Mexico, and then hail a cab or request a rideshare vehicle to get to Rosarito. The majority of rental car agreements forbid driving the vehicle into Mexico, and the majority of American auto insurance agreements do not apply here. The fee is roughly $30 per carload directly to Rosarito Beach, and there is a line of taxis waiting there on the Mexican side of the pedestrian border crossing.

The Rosarito Beach Hotel, the first resort hotel in the region, is a legendary building. The modern condo wing is more popular with guests than the original, historic building that was constructed in the 1930s. It is in the heart of town, directly on the beach. The 500-room mega-resort features a private beach, a number of pools and hot tubs, a fitness center, a spa, and a few different on-site eating options, in addition to the typical range of amenities.

Location: Rosarito, California peninsula