For accommodation, stay at the Harbour Rocks Hotel. This 4-star hotel is in close proximity to other attractions such as the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanical Gardens, Sydney Aquarium and Darling Harbour. Wotif.com showed rates as low as A$149/night.

Let’s start the day by perusing the stalls at an open air market for art and souvenirs.  The Rocks Market which occupies a closed-off portion of George St from Dawes Point Park down to Hickson Rd. Over 150 stalls can be found under the distinctive yellow sails every Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

Next we’ll head to Australia’s oldest Observatory. Built in 1858, Sydney Observatory was essential to ship navigation, meteorology, timekeeping and for studying the southern hemisphere. The Observatory became a museum in 1982. The historic lens telescope in the south dome dates from 1874 and is the oldest regularly used telescope in Australia. In contrast, the mirror telescope in the north dome is fully computer controlled and incorporates the latest technology. The observatory is open daily from 10a to 5p and admission costs A$7.

You may have seen the breathtaking view of the Harbour Bridge from the Observatory. Now let’s head there for a closer inspection. The Harbour Bridge is fondly known as the “Coat Hanger” and is visible from many parts of the Rocks. It is possible to walk over the bridge through a pedestrian walkway. We’ll enter on the western side on Fort St near Observatory Hill. Once on the bridge, let’s climb up the the Bridge Pylon to the Pylon Lookout. For A$9.50 admission fee, the Pylon Lookout offers fantastic views of the city, harbour, and the Opera house.

It’s time to rest our feet and have an oyster & champagne lunch. Let’s head to the Sydney Oyster Cove located on the east side of Circular Quay. This casual spot offers everything from oysters to salmon to lobster. It is also possible to create your own seafood platter for a customized meal. Opt for alfresco dining where you can take in views of both the harbour and the city.

After lunch let’s head to The Sydney Opera House. One of Sydney’s most beautiful and unusual buildings, the Opera House is world famous. It is possible to walk around the building, and some of the foyer areas free of change. For A$35 (or A$29 online), a guided 1-hr tour is available for those interested in seeing the inner workings of the Opera House.

Located a short walk around the water’s edge from the Sydney Opera House, is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful settings you will see anywhere. The Royal Botanics Gardens have more than one million specimens and there is even a hop-on hop-off “train” for speedy access to different parts of the gardens. Entry to the gardens is free and closes at sunset.

Tonight let’s have dinner and enjoy a jazz concert at The Basement Club. Recognized as Australia’s number one jazz venue, The Basement delivers a wide range of styles with bands play almost every night. The dining room offers modern Australian cuisine with a flare of Asian influence. Booking ahead is a must.

View 1-Day Brisbane in a larger map

The home base of this itinerary is situated in two of the oldest and grandest buildings in Brisbane. Formerly the Treasury Building and the Lands Administration Building, these historical structures have been restored and converted into the 5-star Treasury Hotel & Casino. In addition to packaged deals on the hotel’s website, I found A$185/night on wotif.com.

The first stop on this itinerary is the Brisbane City Hall located by the King George Square. City Hall’s 92-meter (~300-ft) clock tower was once Brisbane’s highest point, complete with an observation platform offering a panoramic view of the city. Access to the observation platform is open to public daily from 10:00a to 3:00p. Before leaving the City Hall, take a tour through the Art Gallery & Museum (now Museum of Brisbane) and brush up on Brisbane’s history. Admissions to the Clock Tower & the Museum are free.

Next we’ll head to the Queen Street Mall. Considered the center fashion and retail in Queensland, this pedestrian mall houses over 700 retailers and sees over 26 million visitors each year. On Wednesdays a Farmer’s Market is open on Reddacliff Place, where Queen Street meets the river. As you stroll down Queen Street, stop at one of the many open air cafes for lunch. From your perch, make sure to take note of the victorian-era building facades along Queen Street. Many of these buildings were preserved and restored during the development and construction of the mall.

After lunch we’ll cross the Brisbane River and make our way to The Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA). GoMA is Australia’s largest gallery of modern and contemporary art, and focuses on the art of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Here you’ll also find the Australian Cinematheque, where film screenings are held. Admission to the GoMA is free though certain exhibitions may require an entry fee.

A great way to take in Brisbane’s South Bank water front is a stroll the Clem Jones Promenade. Along the promenade one finds the Wheel of Brisbane, the South Bank Arbour, and a swimming lagoon with  a man-made sandy beach. The sand surrounding the beach is sourced from Moreton Bay and topped up each year in order to maintain its pristine condition.

Cross the river toward the Botanic Gardens. The gardens is open daily (closes at 5p during winter months from April – August), with free guided tours daily at 11a & 1p. Follow the main path that leads through the center of the gardens to Albert Street at the northern end of the gardens. Here you’ll find many tall palm trees, a lily pond, shaded pagodas and benches, tropical plants and flowers.

Restaurant II awaits as you exit the gardens. Cozy up in one of the lounge seats and select a wine to unwind with. One of the top 10 dining establishments in Brisbane, Restaurant II’s wine list offers selections from all over Australia and New Zealand as well as wines from abroad. While they don’t offer tasting flights, feel free to ask for a sample pour if you are unsure what to order.

A visit to Brisbane would not be complete without visiting a live music venue. Take a taxi to Fortitude Valley, a neighborhood known for its night life. Tonight we’ll end the evening at The Troubadour. Opened in 2003, this boutique music venue presents local, interstate and international acts regularly. The venue is open Tuesday – Sunday. Be sure to check its events calendar and purchase tickets in advance as  featured acts can sell out.

View 1-Day San Francisco in a larger map

The hotel choice for this itinerary is the Galleria Park Hotel located in downtown San Francisco. This 3.5-star hotel is a few blocks from Union Square, Chinatown, and offers easy access to the rest of the city. I found rates as low as $90/night on hotels.com. I should also mention that, just like the rest of San Francisco, the hotel is pet-friendly.

Get an early start today and take a 20-minute stroll down 3rd street to Butler and the Chef. The restaurant is tucked away in South Park, a small, oval-shaped park situated in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood. South Park was originally constructed in 1855, modeling after a square in London, as the center of an exclusive residential community. The area flourished during the dot-com boom of the late 1990s, sometimes described as “ground zero” of the dot com, with many start-up Internet companies based in the area. Today the area is still home to many Web-related companies.

After a breakfast of cappuccino and the Niman Ranch Ham Benedict, head up 3rd Street toward the Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA). It is the only museum in the western United States devoted to collecting and exhibiting the full scope of modern and contemporary art according to the museum’s website. Annually, the museum hosts more than twenty exhibitions and over three hundred educational programs. Make sure to head to the 5th floor open-air space. The Rooftop Garden offers dramatic views of both the San Francisco skyline and sculptural works in the museum’s collection.

For lunch, head to Yank Sing on Stevenson Street to enjoy Chinese-style tapas better known as dim sum. Dim sum consists small plates that include meat, seafood, vegetable, desserts and fruits. While not the cheapest dim sum joint in town, I’ve found Yank Sing to be consistently good. Be sure to order the Peking Duck & Shanghai dumplings. The dumplings rival those from Shanghai Dumpling King’s, which some consider to be the best in San Francisco.

Our next stop is the Ferry Building at Market and Embarcadero. The Ferry Building is both a ferry terminal and a marketplace. From outside the buidling, take in the magnificent view of the Bay Bridge, Treasure Island, Yerba Buena Island, and the Berkeley hills across the bay. Inside the building, you’ll find 40 or so fixed merchants offering local artisan products. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, & Saturdays, the Ferry Building also houses the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Started as a one-time event in 1992, the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market’s popularity led to the opening of a year-round market in May 1993. Today as many as 15,000 shoppers visit the market every Saturday.

As the day winds down, let’s make our way to Union Square. This one-block plaza and nearby area is one of the largest collection of department stores, upscale boutiques, tourist trinket shops, art galleries, and salons in the Western United States. Take refuge at one of Rulli’s Caffe’s patio tables. The location offers the perfect vantage point to people watch and enjoy the liveliness that San Francisco offers.

Tonight we’ll expand our palate with French Vietnamese dishes at Le Colonial located on Cosmo at Taylor. This sexy restaurant is decorated with spinning ceiling fans, tropical plants, rattan furniture, and French Colonial decor. The menu is an imaginative mix of traditional Vietnamese flavors and Western ingredients. Make sure to try my 2 favorite dishes: tender wok-seared beef tenderloin with watercress onion salad and coconut curry with black tiger prawns.

Before heading back to the hotel, take a detour through The Hidden Vine. This unique wine bar is tucked away in the same alley as Le Colonial. Voted the Best Wine Bar by CitySearch since 2005, this hidden gem offers oenophiles a lovely, casual atmosphere. The space is decorated in comfortable furniture, candles and fixtures reminiscent of an old English study. With 30 wines by the glasses featuring reds and whites from mostly small producers, this just the place to end the night.

View Larger Map

The Grant Hyatt Taipei was my launching pad during my most recent trip. A government-sponsored economic stimulus package brought the rates down to NT$3600/night (~US$103) at this 5-star hotel. The hotel’s regular rate is NT$5500 or ~US$158 per night.

Skip having breakfast at the hotel. Instead, head out to a street market just a few blocks away. This bustling area filled with locals picking up ingredients for tonight’s meal, here you’ll find fresh produce, meat, and a variety of sundries for sale. for about US$1 or NT$30, pick up a cup of hot soy milk and shāobǐng youtiao or chinese donut wrapped in roasted flatbread for breakfast.

With breakfast in hand, make way toward the National Dr.Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Completed in 1972, this landmark was in memory of the national founding father of the Republic of China, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. In addition to serving as a place of remembrance, the hall contains a library with 1.4 million books as well as five large exhibition halls with various displays, capable of holding more than 2,500 people.

Next head west on Jhong Xiao (Jhongsiao) E. Rd toward SOGO department store. This stretch of road is one of the major shopping area in Taipei’s east district. Here you’ll find boutiques presenting an array of brand clothes, jewelry, shoes and leather items. Today’s shopping ends at SOGO. Considered the shopper’s paradise, SOGO is Taiwan’s leading department store in terms of overall revenue and popularity.

The next stop in today’s journey will require a ride on the MRT, Taipei’s subway system. Access the station entrance directly either from inside SOGO or right out front. Purchase 2 NT$20 single journey tokens (use one now, and another for the next stop on today’s itinerary) and hop onto the Nangang line in the direction toward Yongning. Exit at the Taipei Main Station and to the National Taiwan Museum.

The oldest museum in Taiwan, the National Taiwan Museum was set up by the colonial government of Japan in 1908 to commemorate the inauguration of the North-South Railway. The museum had a collection of over 10,000 items in its initial stages. Today, the museum features specimens of Taiwan’s indigenous animals and plants as well as cultural artifacts. Its elegant architecture, abundant collections and unique geographical position have made the museum an important landmark in Taipei. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an admission fee of NT$20.

Back to the MRT. With the remaining NT$20 token, hop on the Danshui line toward Xindian. Exit at Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. This famous monument was erected in memory of Chiang Kai-shek, one of the most influential leader in the history of the Republic of China.

Enter through the imposing gates into the 250,000 square meter park that house the monument, the National Theater, and National Concert Hall. The CKS monument is the symbol of both Taipei and the Republic of China. The memorial consists of a large bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek, watched over by two motionless honor guards who are replaced every hour. Downstairs, there is a museum of Chiang’s life, complete with his sedans and uniforms. Even if you are not into memorials, the gardens, with their Chinese style ponds, are definitely worth a visit.

Take a taxi back to the hotel and rest up before heading out this evening. Authentic Taiwanese cooking is on the menu tonight. Popular with Taiwanese diners, Shin Yeh serves classic Taiwanese cuisine with a touch of Japanese influence. This is one of the only restaurants in Taipei that serves rice congee with sweet potato (a breakfast staple) at all hours of the day. You cannot go wrong ordering anything from the menu. Make sure to book ahead as the wait time for walk-ins can be long. Save room for dessert. The peanut powder covered mochi is not to be missed.

After dinner, take a leisurely stroll toward the Tong Hua Night Market. One of the many night markets in Taipei, this one features food stalls plus more than 100 vendors selling clothes, shoes, accessories and other knickknacks. While not as large as the “must-go” famous Shilin night market, the experience is just as memorable.

View Larger Map

Le Méridien Parkhotel Frankfurt is centrally located and easily accessible from the main train station. Starwood Preferred Guests can leverage the cash & points option to stay at this 4-star hotel on the cheap.

Frankfurt has a rich collection of museums, second only to Berlin’s. Start the day by heading to the Goethe Haus and Museum. First ee Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s family tour, floor by floor. Then visit the 14-room picture gallery exclusively dedicated to the Age of Goethe.

Next head east on Berliner Strass toward the Museum of Modern Art. Here the visitors can view masterpieces from the likes of Lichtenstein and Warhol. The museum also features special exhibitions aim to appeal to different artistic tastes and perceptions.

For lunch, head to Römerberg, the central square in Frankfurt’s Old Town. Römerberg is site of all kind of festivities. Pick up an order of Frankfurter and bread from one of the food stands. The locals will eat their lunch standing up by one of the tall tables set out by the vendors. Alternatively, there are plenty of sit down eateries around the square.

After lunch, cross the Main river via the Eiserner Steg bridge. Stop at the halfway point of the neo-gothic steel construction and take in the full view of Frankfurt’s skyscrapers. More museums awaits along the left bank of the river.

Follow the river south toward the Deutsches Architekturmuseum. With a tagline of “From Primordial Hut to Skyscraper”, the museum displays various types of exhibits about buildings and architecture.

A block from the Deutsches Architekturmuseum is the Städel art museum. The museum contains examples of work from most of the western European schools of painting since the Middle Ages and is particularly rich in German, Dutch, Flemish, and Italian paintings from the 16th through the 18th century.

Now it’s time to unwind with a glass of apfelwein. Most similar to an alcoholic apple cider, apfelwein is mainly produced and consumed in the state of Hesse (where Frankfurt belongs). Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt’s nightlife district, is lined with apple decor, and apfelwein can be purchased just about anywhere. Head to Apfelwein Wagner, one of the city’s oldest apfelwein houses. Apfelwein Wagner is renowned for their reasonably priced Frankfurt specialties. Be sure to order ‘Hand Käse mit Musik’ to go with the apfelwein.

View Larger Map

Stay downtown at Hotel Monaco, a 4-star boutique Hotel situated 4 blocks from waterfront & Pike’s Place Market. Hotel.com beats the hotel’s own published rates at $165/night.

Pioneer Square is the first stop of the day. It was once the heart of the city and the early wooden structures were mostly burned in the Great Seattle Fire of 1889. Today the neighborhood features 20 city blocks of Victorian Romanesque architecture, built after the Great Seattle Fire.

For a tour with a twist, take the Underground Tour of Pioneer Square. The guided walking tour beneath Seattle’s sidewalks and streets shows the subterranean passages that once were the main roadways and first-floor storefronts of old downtown Seattle.

After the tour, head north on 1st Ave toward Pike Place Market. Established in 1907, Pike Place Market was established as a public street market that would connect farmers directly with consumers. Today the market is home to nearly 190 craftspeople and 120 farmers who rent table space by the day.

Stop at Pike Place Chowder for lunch. This cozy establishment has never lost the Great Cook-off in Newport, Rhode Island. Choose from eight varieties of clam chowder and while you’re at it, order a Dungeness Crab Roll too!

Continue north to the Olympic Sculpture Park. This 9-acre green space features 21 sculptures by renowned artists, most of them acquired for the park. This admission-free public outdoor sculpture park is a unique institution in the United States.

The last stop of the day is the Seattle Center, the site of the Space Needle and Experience Music Project. See Seattle from Space Needle’s observation deck. At 520 feet high, visitors can see Downtown Seattle skyline, the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands.

At Experience Music Project, make sure that you take a turn with one of the interactive exhibits. Designed by Frank Gehry, this rock ‘n roll museum features the Jimi Hendrix special exhibit as well as rare artifacts from popular music history.

Once finished at the EMP, hail a cab and travel back toward the hotel. Dinner awaits at the Purple Cafe and Wine Bar. Its menu blends classic American styles, seasonal Northwest ingredients and Mediterranean themes. Wine is the big draw, with the restaurant’s 20-foot tower of 5,000 wine bottles.