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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.

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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.

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Stay at Hotel Alexandra. This well priced 4-star hotel was fully renovated in January 2008 and offers superb location in the heart of Barcelona’s city center. Booking.com shows rates at as low as €110/night

Hang a right from the hotel then head north on Passeig de Gràcia. Walk one block to Carrer de Provença to Casa Milà. Officially completed in 1912, this UNESCO World Heritage Site features a wavy façade with large pores reminiscent of honeycombs. Visit the roof top to take a closer look at the surrealistic colorful chimneys and enjoy the view of the surrounding neighborhood.

Turn around and head south on Passeig de Gràcia toward Casa Batlló, another remarkable building designed by Gaudi. The local name for the building is Casa dels ossos (House of Bones) as its façade features a skeletal quality. The audio guided tour of the ornate building costs 16.50 euros and takes about 1 hour.

Continue on Passeig de Gràcia toward Plaça de Catalunya. Many cafes line Passeig de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya, offering a variety of tapas. Stop at La Tramoia for lunch. This popular lunch spot is situated on a lively corner with fantastic views over La Rambla and the Gran Via.

Head to Plaça de Catalunya to board the Barcelona Bus Turístic. The double-decker bus serves as the main transport this afternoon. The 1-day bus ticket costs 21€ and offers a convenient way to see Barcelona’s most interesting and attractive sights. Buses leave from Plaça de Catalunya every 5 to 25 minutes and passengers can hop on & off at any of the tour stops.

Hop off the bus at the 3rd stop of the tour. Here La Sagrada Familia comes in full view. The construction of this Roman Catholic church began in 1882 and continues to today. One of Antoni Gaudi’s most famous work, the architect worked on the project for over 40 years, devoting the last 15 years of his life entirely to the endeavor. A museum inside the church details the history and development of the Sagrada Familia and gives fascinating insights into Gaudi himself. Ride the 65 meter elevator up one of the spires of the church to take a closer look at the construction.

After the tour of La Sagrada Familia, hop on the next Turístic bus. The second stop from La Sagrada Familia is Park Güell. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Park Güell is a garden complex inspired by the English garden city movement and designed by Gaudi. The serpentine bench on the terrace offers a resting area where visitors can take in the most complete view of Barcelona and the bay. Stop at the cafe at the rear of the terrace for an afternoon snack and take in the sights in the shade.

Take in sights of the rest of the city on the Touristic bus ride back to Plaça de Catalunya. Dine at Cinc Sentits tonight. This contemporary Catalan eatery offers 2 tasting menus that change with the seasons and reflect what’s in season. A third surprise menu can be requested. The omakase or “trust the chef” menu includes wine pairings of the chef’s choice.

Book a room at The Curtis Hotel, a trendy, 3.5 star boutique hotel in downtown Denver. Hotel.com shows rates as low as $84/night.

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From the hotel, head up 15th street toward the Millennium Bridge. The bridge connects the Riverfront Park and the 16th Street Mall. Take the glass elevator to the top for a great view of downtown. Next head to the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. Founded in 1996, MCA DENVER was formed to provide the city with its first contemporary art museum. General admission is $10 per person.

For lunch, head to Wynkoop Brewery for burgers and beer. Wynkoop is one of Denver’s most popular brewpubs and offers free brewery tours on Saturdays between 1 – 5 p.m.

After lunch, head to Union Station. At its height, 70 trains a day at one time passed through Denver. Not quite as many trains pass through Union Station these days, but the beautiful building (originally constructed in 1881) still attracts visitors with its Breaux Arts-style design, expansive interior and stone clock tower.

Continue down on 16th street. The 16th Street Mall is a 16-block long pedestrian and transit mall that serves as the retail core of Downtown Denver. There’s a free shuttle service aptly named the 16th Street MallRide that runs up and down 16th street. Make sure that you stop and check out the following landmark shops and sites along 16th street: Oxford Hotel, Rockmount Ranch Wear, Tattered Cover Book Store.

Before heading back to the hotel, stop by Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret’s box office to check for tonight’s show times and buy tickets to a show. This classy speakeasy features Burlesque acts, drag shows, circus acts, films, big bands and jazz combos several nights a week. Located in the D&F Tower (Daniels & Fisher), modeled after The Campanile (St. Mark’s Bell Tower) at the Piazza San Marco in Venice and its four clocks (one for each side) are a whopping 16 feet high.

Tonight we’ll dine at Red Square Euro Bistro near Larimer Square. Voted Best of Citysearch for Conversation Bar 2005, you’ll find contemporary European cooking and traditional Russian fare here. With a full belly and a vodka buzz, we’re off to Lannie’s for tonight’s show…

Looking for more to do? Check out the Itinerary Maker online at denver.org.

Book a room at Town House 70 and request the Luxury Weekend promotion. A junior suite is available at a special rate of 119 euros per night. This boutique hotel is centrally located and serves as a great launch point for a day in Turin.

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Start the day in the hotel’s communal breakfast room. The buffet-style breakfast bar offers bread, charcuterie, eggs, and cheese. Of course an Italian breakfast wouldn’t be complete without a shot of espresso.

After breakfast, head north on Via 20 Settembre toward Porta Palatina to see the remains of the ancient Roman city. The Palatine Gate with its two towers rises up next to the Roman walls was one of the entrances to the city and represents one of the best preserved examples of a Roman gate.

Next destination is the Egyptian Museum of Turin. Established in 1824, the museum is the second largest in the world after the Cairo Museum. The museum houses over 30,000 items, the most notable being a 3000 year old figure of Rameses II wearing the blue crown which was used only in battle.

Now it’s time to experience the main thoroughfare in Turin city center. Via Po offers an endless line of café’s, shops and bookstores. Stop at Caffé Florio for lunch. Founded in 1780, it was called ‘The café of the pony tails and the Machiavellians’ because it was the meeting point of may aristocrats, officials and members of the government. Be sure to try Florio’s famous gianduia, cream and hazelnut ice-cream.

Via Po leads to the river Po. Cross the Piazza Vittorio bridge to reach the Gran Madre di Dio church. It was built between 1818 and 1831 to commemorate the return of Vittorio Emanuele I to Turin on the 20 May 1814. The church now houses the remains of 5000 men who fell in the first world war.

Retrace your steps back on Via Po toward Mole Antonelliana. The Mole is the tallest building in Turin and was originally commissioned as a Jewish synagogue. Today the Mole is home to Italy’s National Cinema Museum. Pay the entrance fee of € 6.80 to gain access to both the museum and the panoramic lift. Then take the 59-second journey in the all-glass lift to the viewing platform. From the viewing platform one can take in the fantastic views of Turin and its surroundings.

Returning to the ground level, enjoy a fascinating tour of the museum’s collections, which cover all kinds of movie history, technology, exhibits, and several continuously playing films and programs.

The visit to Turin wouldn’t be complete without tasting the region’s wines. The last stop of the day is Le Vitel Etonné. This wine bar and restaurant features wine and dishes local to the Piedmont region. A bottle of Barbera d’Alba paired with the classic vitel tonne (braised veal with a sauce of mayonnaise, tuna, anchovies and capers) should do the trick.

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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.

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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.