This is the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, as seen from Anaehoomalu Bay on Hawaii’s Big Island. Anaehoomalu Bay, or A-Bay, as it is also known, is a shallow water bay lined by a beautiful palm-fringed beach. The bay is known for its excellent snorkeling as well as the plethora of sea turtles that can be found sun-bathing near the lava rocks.

A night at this Marriott will, at a minimum, set you back over $300. If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, a more cost friendly option would be to check online classifieds in the US for rental homes, timeshares, and apartments. If you are traveling with a large group of friends and family, this is an especially cost-effective option.

In addition to lodging, food in Hawaii is also notoriously expensive. Instead of eating out for every meal, make a trip to the local supermarket and stock up on provisions. The best thing about Hawaii – the beaches – are free to the public, so you won’t spend a dime soaking up the sun for several hours a day (well, except on sunscreen, but you can pick up some decent-priced stuff at the nearest ABC Store). Snorkeling gear can be rented for less if you check the prices at stores in town instead of renting from stands on the beach. Doing just a few of the above things can drastically cut the price of your vacation to Hawaii.

The official residence of the Russian Tsars from 1732 to 1917, the Winter Palace now houses the State Hermitage Museum, one of the greatest art museums in the world. Even if you’re not a lover of art, you can’t visit Saint Petersburg and not visit this place. It really is that incredible.

Well, it was the tallest in the world when I saw it, but in September 2010 the Azeris completed a 162 meter flagpole in Baku, giving them the world record (although lately it has encountered a bit of structural trouble). I guess that news hasn’t reached Kim Jong-Il yet, because surely he would continue the trend of “everything’s bigger in the DPRK.”

This flagpole, which sports a 600lb DPRK flag, is situated at the entrance to the DMZ “village” of Kijŏngdong, which is really nothing more than a Potemkin village built to extol the luxurious living enjoyed by DPRK citizens. During the 1980s, a “flagpole war” erupted between North and South Korea, in which each country tried to best the other by building taller flagpoles until South Korea relented after realizing how ridiculous such a competition was.

The above photo is of the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall. Located approximately 60 kilometers from Beijing, the Juyong Pass section, which was first built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), played a vital role in the city’s defenses.

If you find yourself in Beijing, then a visit to the Great Wall is a must. I would also recommend wearing comfortable clothing, as the climb can be quite strenuous. (My guide, however, climbed to the top while wearing fashionable sandals – not quite the best shoes for the 1,700 uneven, slippery steps to the top of the mountain, but whatever). If you have a choice between the Badaling and Juyongguan section, you might want to choose the Juyongguan section, as there are typically less tourists there than Badaling.

The Great Wall is far older than the Ming Dynasty, and can trace its origins to 221 BC, during the Qin Dynasty. The Great Wall was originally built out of rammed earth, wood, stone, but upon the ascension of the Ming Dynasty, stronger materials such as brick, tiles, lime, and stone were used when constructing the wall. This particular section, along with Badaling, has been renovated extensively. The majority of the wall is actually in disrepair due to erosion, vandalism, removal of portions of the wall for city/town development, and the use of wall materials for construction.

Although I’m a Southern California native, I’ve always thought Northern California, and specifically the Bay Area, is the better place to live (despite the incredibly high cost of living, of course). Visiting San Francisco can be quite expensive as well, but if you know where to look, you can find some inexpensive lodging and dining options. Roomstays.com, for example, is an online booking assistant for hotel properties that has some great deals on hotels in San Francisco, including the Parc 55 Wyndham and Westin St. Francis, both conveniently located in Union Square.

Once you’ve made it to San Francisco, be sure to check out the top five activities to do in San Francisco. I highly recommend the tour of Alcatraz, and afterward, ordering a sourdough bread bowl full of steaming hot clam chowder at Fisherman’s Wharf. If you are looking for an excellent cup of coffee, try Blue Bottle at the nearby Ferry Building. For dinner, check out an authentic Chinese restaurant in Chinatown (note: if the menu is in Chinese, and the restaurant is full of locals, eat there).

There are a variety of tour companies in San Francisco, but it is an easy enough city to navigate that you can go without one. Public transportation is quite easy around San Francisco, and pay parking is plentiful, albeit expensive, if you insist on driving.

Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-il (The “Great Leader” and “Dear Leader”, respectively) watch over the departure lounge at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport.

Yes, located near the Lenin statue in Moscow, Russia.