1. Chicago, Illinois
Renowned for its dogs, Chicago is the number one destination for world-famous franks: Other cities and hot dog makers around the world try to replicate the Chicago-style hot dog for its flavorful all-beef frankfurter and soft poppy seed bun. You can find delicious dogs all over the city, but if you want the very best, go to Fat Johnnie’s Famous Red Hots for its Mighty Dog (a hot dog, a tamale, chili, and cheese, all on a steamed bun) or Hot Doug’s for its special foie gras and Sauternes duck sausage with truffle aioli, foie gras mousse, and fleur de sel.

2. Honolulu, Hawaii
Escape the mainland and you’ll find that Honolulu serves up some of the nation’s finest hot dogs. An unlikely place for traditional American fare, Honolulu puts a tropical twist on their weenies. Hank’s Haute Dogs is well known on the island for its Hawaiian haute dog. This juicy Portuguese sausage with mango mustard and pineapple relish is a local favorite. And if you’re down to get fruity, Hula Dog lets you build your own dog, with mango, coconut, pineapple, papaya, banana, or starfruit relish.

3. New York City
Bringing us back to the basics, New York is where you’ll find the greatest traditional hot dogs. Though the streets are filled with vendors at every corner, make your way past those mediocre dogs and opt for a Morning Jersey at Crif Dogs. A Taylor ham-wrapped house dog with melted cheese and a fried egg is far superior to hot dogs you can buy on the street. If you want a true traditional frank, Katz’s Delicatessen offers the best one in town. To enjoy one of their jumbo all-beef hot dogs, all you need is some mustard and sauerkraut .

4. Los Angeles
Take me out to the ball game…so I can get a Dodger Dog. As exciting as Los Angeles Dodgers games may be, millions of locals and visitors alike head to the stadium just to savor the $5, 10-inch ballpark frankfurter. For those who aren’t so baseball inclined, Pink’s is the spot for the top dogs. You can’t leave without getting their famous chili on your dog, so choose the classic Chili Dog, or go big with a Three Dog Night: three hot dogs, wrapped in a giant tortilla, three slices of cheese, three slices of bacon, chili, and cheese.

5. Cincinnati, Ohio
Here’s a twist. Not a shack, dive, or diner, but a top restaurant offers this Midwest city’s finest hot dog. With an assortment of eight gourmet dogs gracing their menu (and changing up daily), Senate makes a high class hot dog. Which to choose? The Croque Madame is to die for: It’s a beef hot dog with béchamel sauce, black forest ham, and poached egg on a brioche bun. Head to Blue Ash Chili if you’re looking for a more casual setting. The Cheese Coney is heaping with chili and a mound of cheddar cheese. Yum!

Where are your favorite hot dog joints? Tell us!

1. PGA National Resort and Spa Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

It’s the stuff of legends. Home to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic, the PGA National Resort and Spa is steeped in golf history. Boasting signature courses like “The Palmer” and “The Squire” (designed and named after Arnold Palmer and Gene Sarazen, respectively), an on-site Golf Academy offering lessons from certified PGA pros, and a newly renovated golf complex, it’s easy to see why this resort is a favorite among golf buffs. Treat dad to the Gold Golf Package, which includes resort accommodation, daily breakfast at the Palm Terrace restaurant, one round of golf daily on selected courses, and unlimited balls and bag storage. Room rates start from $129 per room per night.

2. Pinehurst Resort Pinehurst, North Carolina

Currently ranked as the largest golf resort in America, this eight course southern beauty is a favorite among golf enthusiasts. You don’t have to be an avid golfer to appreciate the picturesque scenery that Pinehurst Resort has to offer, but you might as well take advantage of the Father’s Day Golf Package available from June 14–17. For $875 per person, you and dad can enjoy three nights of accommodation, breakfast, one round of golf on Pinehurst No. 4, and one round on Pinehurst No. 2 with a caddie. The package also includes, breakfast, dinner, and receptions during your stay. If you’re not a golfer but still want to treat dad, a $495 non-golfer package is available.

3. Four Seasons Maui at Wailea Maui, Hawaii

A golfer’s paradise, the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea features three premier golf courses set against the natural beauty of Hawaii’s landscape. The Wailea Blue, Gold, and Emerald courses each cater to different abilities and skill level. For those who are looking for a challenge, try your hand at the Gold course. The Blue is straight up, classic golf, while the Emerald course is suited for those who prefer a more leisurely game. Each course offers golf instruction and Yoga for Golfers to ease the mind and relax before or after a round. Reservation and tee time is required to play.

4. St. Andrew’s Fife, Scotland 

The sport of golf has been rooted in Scottish history for the past 600 years, specifically at the Old Course known as St. Andrew’s Links. Today, St. Andrew’s plays host to the British Open. Surprise dad by playing on a piece of history at the largest public golf complex in Europe. The estate itself is surrounded by emerald green rolling hills, so you can gain a perspective of the enormity of the grounds, which includes seven courses, a golf academy and three clubhouses. For £3.00 per person, you can tour the Old Course on a guided 50-minute walk. Tours take place at 11am and 2pm starting at the St Andrews Links Golf Shop. Check notice boards for the next available tour. Find out how to book your tee time and learn which course is the best for you.

5. The Royal Melbourne Golf Club Victoria, Australia

Although the club is private and not suitable for beginners, visitors from recognized overseas clubs are allowed to play at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club. The green fee for a round of 18 holes for overseas visitors is $350. The club features two courses, the East Course and the West Course, the latter is ranked number one throughout all of Australia. Large fairways and a lack of any water holes makes Melbourne a challenging course, even for the most adept golfer. The Royal Melbourne Club was also recently chosen to host the World Cup of Golf in November 2013.

6. Leopard Creek Country Club Mpumalanga, South Africa

If you’re looking for a unique golfing experience, look no further than Leopard Creek Country Club. Located on the southern border of the Kruger National Park, this 18-hole golf course is an African retreat. Be careful where you retrieve your ball, though. The club is home to hippos, antelopes, buffalo, and wild boars, as most of the water holes (such as Crocodile River) double as habitats. While Leopard Creek is reserved for members and guests, limited booking is allowed for visitors during the week. For more information, visit the lodging page for times and fees. Feeding and engaging in any activity with the animals is prohibited, as it can be dangerous to their habitat and health.

7. Mission Hills Haikou, China

Mission Hills holds the title of China’s highest rated leisure resort, and according to the Guinness World Records, is also the world’s largest golf club. Comprised of twelve 18-hole courses, three clubhouses and a golf academy, Mission Hills is hard to beat. Even when you’re not on the green, each room at the resort has a private balcony, offering unobstructed views of golf course. Consider the Mission Hills Haikou Holiday Package, which includes a two night stay in a deluxe room with breakfast, three rounds of 18-hole golfing, which covers course insurance, a cart, a caddie, and green and locker fees. The promotional package also includes a spa experience at the Volcanic Mineral Springs, and access to Lava Lagoon for a refreshing swim. Round-trip transportation service between Haikou Meilan International Airport and the Resort is also available. Guests are also offered the option to stay and play at Mission Hills Shenzhen and Dongguan. Surprise dad with the Mission Hills Shenzhen Golf Package, which includes nightly resort accommodations, pre-booked tee times, a caddy and golf daily, as well as a gourmet breakfast for the duration of your stay.

8. Crans-sur-Sierre Crans Montana, Switzerland 

High atop a mountain plateau with a view of the Alps sits Crans-Montana, a Swiss resort and golf club with one of the most scenic backgrounds in all of Europe. The golf club Crans-sur-Sierre is closed for half the year due to snowy conditions and reopens from May–October. Summertime is opportune for playing, though. High altitude allows the golfer to drive the ball further than on a regular golf course, and the alpine air is fresh and soothing. Don’t forget to bring your camera to snap a shot of  those periwinkle Alps. Visit the website for more information on fees, as prices for 9-hole and 18-hole vary from season to season.

9. Verdura Golf and Spa Resort Sicily, Italy

Located near the seaside town of Sciacca along the southern coast of Sicily, the Verdura Golf and Spa resort is a Mediterranean gem. Each room at the resort overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and has been decorated to reflect luxurious elegance. There are two championship golf courses on site, The East and The West, and both charge different fees for residents and non-residents, depending on the course and the season. The resort’s new Endless Privileges program for guests is designed to enhance the golfing experience. Complete with daily green fees, benefits include three meals, a complimentary shoe and club cleaning, and a bag of goodies containing a golf cap, engraved Verdura bag tag, and golf book and tee pack. Dad can even play among the pros on the 2012 Sicilian Open Championship Course. In order to qualify for the program, a minimum stay of three nights at the resort is required. Package prices vary based on room accommodations and are not available during peak season.

10. Dorint Royal Golf Course and Spa Camp de Mar/Mallorca, Spain

Luxury and relaxation awaits at this five star hotel on the island of Mallorca. Choose a room overlooking the pool, golf course, terrace, or sea, and then head down to the restaurant for the finest in authentic Spanish cuisine. If you’re here to golf, the resort offers a variety of packages and deals like Sleep and Play, Golf Drives Me Crazy, Let’s Start the Summer Season, Short and Sweet! Every Sunday, and several others, which provide guests the opportunity to make the most of their time on the course, and at the resort. Let dad enjoy a well-deserved massage or spa treatment after a taxing day of golf. Each of the twelve courses offer different challenges and skill levels. Some even wind through olive groves, pine trees, and other forms of Mediterranean vegetation. For tee times and fees, call the Golf Service Center at +34 971-628-135.

Where are some of your favorite golf resorts? Tell us!

Think New York City has a lock on the most expensive hotels in America, or glitzy South Beach? Think again. The highest hotel rates in the U.S. are actually in Hawaii, according to a report from Skift.com. So far in 2013, guests have spent an average of $233 per night for a hotel room in Hawaii – that’s an increase of $27 over the previous year! With airfare costs on the rise, this can make for a spendy island getaway. But not all Hawaii hotels cost a fortune. Here are some money-saving tips so you can enjoy the luau (or the whale watch, or six hours of lazying in the sun with a view of Diamond Head in the distance) without worrying about how you’ll pay for it:

1. Travel at the right time.
Hawaii enjoys warm, sunny weather for the entire year, but the crowds swell at certain times – along with hotel rates. NFL fans descend on Hawaii before the Super Bowl for the Pro Bowl in January, for example. In early October, the Big Island (Hawaii) hosts the Ironman Triathlon World Championships, which fills rooms to capacity. And never is Hawaii more crowded than in the summer months of June, July, and August, when families pack the islands.

For better rates and smaller crowds, try fall. When kids go back to school, hotel prices drop. The same is true of later spring, when winter vacationers have headed home, but summer vacationers have yet to arrive; just avoid spring break which generally happens for most students in February–March.

2. Book wisely.
Here’s a sampling of Hawaii hotels that offer clean, comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price.

Maui Seaside Hotel, Kahului, starting at $105

Close to the airport and also steps from the beach, the Maui Seaside Hotel is a great value. The hotel is known for accommodating guests well after check out time regarding activities, a quick meal, or a room to change clothes before your flight, so if hospitality goes a long way with you, book your vacation here. Keep in mind: Low rates with promo codes are offered from time to time on the site.

Kauai Beach Resort, Lihue, starting at $117

Beautiful scenery, great pools, and a convenient location for seeing all that Kauai has to offer, the Kauai Beach Resort will give you the most bang for your buck. Hike up Waimea Canyon or take a helicopter ride over the Na Pali Coast. Be on the lookout for car packages, free room upgrades, and on-site festivals when booking.

Dolphin Bay, Hilo, starting at $109

Easy access to Volcano National Park, Dolphin Bay offers cozy rooms with a fully equipped kitchen and lanais (patios or balconies) overlooking tropical gardens. The sweetest selling point? They have complimentary breakfast with fresh fruit from the property’s banana and papaya trees. Plus, the hotel is close to the sites and shopping of downtown Hilo.

Kaanapali Ocean Inn, Lahaina, starting at $109

Located right on Kaanapali Beach, this hotel has the best of both worlds. While the rooms are a little on the small side, the hotel is part of the Royal Lahaina Resort, so guests have access to all the amenities, while paying much less for their room at the inn. Guests can enjoy full use of the resort’s tennis courts, golf courses, pools, shops, and they can also take classes to learn the art of lei making, tiki carving, and basket weaving. Reduced rates are offered throughout the winter and summer seasons.

Hotel Lana’i, Lana’i City, starting at $119

A quaint, historic building, Hotel Lana’i is all about making you feel at home. Everything on the property is a step away and the staff is very hands-on, determined to make your stay special. Rent a jeep, go horseback riding on the beach, or take an unforgettable sunset sail.

Plantation Hale Suites, Kapaa, starting at $120

Centrally located on the island of Kauai, the Plantation Hale Suites has everything you’re looking for in a Hawaiian vacation: Spacious rooms all with complete kitchens, a helpful on-site concierge, three pools, and amazing views of the ocean. The location is perfect for guests who want to explore all that Kauai has to offer. The hotel offers a variety of special rates and package deals through their website as well as sites like Living Social and Travel Best Bets.

Aqua Bamboo Waikiki, Honolulu, starting at $129

The Aqua Bamboo Waikiki hotel is an eco-friendly, Asian inspired boutique hotel. With specialty vacation packages like the Three Night Stand – Waikiki Romance Package and the Snooze-N-Crooze Oahu Stay & Drive Package, the hotel caters to guest’s interests when offering deals. Take a trip to the Honolulu Zoo, or stroll along Waikiki Beach in between shopping trips to the International Marketplace. Packages run for a limited time and are ever-changing throughout the year.

Maui Coast Hotel, Kihei, starting at $155

With a great location, amenities, and service, the Maui Coast Hotel offers guests the best value during their stay. Enjoy a happy hour each night, live music, and comfortable rooms. A daily charge of $17.95 per guest provides free shuttle transportation and use of bicycles. Offered packages include car, golf, sweetheart, and wedding deals.

Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, Kailua-Kona, starting at $161

This newly renovated hotel features an art gallery, accommodating staff, and an exciting town a few minutes away. Free activities are available to all guests and include Hula shows, Kona coffee tasting tours, and visits to the Hilo Zoo and Gardens. To make the most out of your stay here, choose from one of the hotels bundled packages which offers resort and food credits, free tickets to shows, and discounted rates on an extended stay.

The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel, Honolulu, starting at $167

Another of Hawaii’s boutique hotels, the New Otani Kaimana is small and quiet for those who want a more relaxing getaway. Close to the beach and away from the tourists, one of the more appealing deals offered by this hotel is the all-inclusive package including airfare, room, and car service.

What are some of your favorite budget-friendly hotels in the Hawaiian islands?

Last month, a China Airlines employee found the camera washed up on a beach; miraculously, the memory card was still functioning and the company was able to track down the owner from the photos on it. Now, China Airlines is  offering Scallan a free round-trip flight to Taiwan to collect her camera! Sounds like a good deal to us.

MORE from ShermansTravel:

Underwater art galleries around the world

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1. Vatican City

But seriously, this probably isn’t cool. Pope Bergoglio might find offense to this.

2. The couch

This seems like a no-brainer. Kick back anywhere you please and sport some fashionable red fuzzy ones.

3. Hawaii

Did you know that in Hawaii, they call flip flops ‘slippers?’ That’s crazy – right?! What do they call slippers?

4. Oz

Who could forget Dorothy’s famous glitzy heels? Of course she had to make this round-up!

MORE from ShermansTravel:

7 of the most-taken travel photos

Depart from New York City and head to the Aloha State’s capital, Honolulu, for just $365, round-trip, taxes included. For a more laid-back vacation on the islands of Maui, Kauai, or Kona (The Big Island), add just $13. For less than $400, you could trade next week’s chilly New York forecast for Hawaiian paradise. Seriously.

The call for a Hawaiian getaway isn’t exclusive to the Big Apple. Low rates are also available for those who call Los Angeles ($309+), San Francisco ($299+), Portland, Oregon ($329+), or Seattle ($329+) home. Use our TravelSearch price comparison tool to review rates for departures from Chicago and Detroit, and secure your airfare before prices shoot back up. These fares are good for travel before March 15.

As nice as it may sound, we wouldn’t want you sleeping on the beach once arrive on the islands. If Honolulu is your destination, book a stay at the Pacific Beach Hotel for $196 per night (20 percent off). In Maui, choose the Aston Kaanapali Shores, set on a picturesque beach, for $242 per night (30 percent off).  Over on the Big Island, rates for condos at the Castle Kona Bali Kai start at $142 per night (50 percent off). And on Kauai, relax at a the plantation-style Aston Islander on The Beach for $132 per night (30 percent off).

There’s no shortage of beach bumming, rain forest hiking, big wave surfing, and more to do in Hawaii. Use our Hawaii destination guides to determine which island best suits your vacation needs, and narrow down your list of must-do activities for your island adventure.

Hawaii always pops up on everyone’s list of dream beach getaways. With round-trip airfare from New York to Honolulu as low as $422, check the “Aloha State” off your bucket list this season. If you call Chicago home, fly to the islands for $599. Depart from Los Angeles for $437. Enjoy accommodation in Oahu, home to the state’s bustling capital, at The Stay Hotel for $136 per night in April, saving you 35 percent. The hotel is conveniently located a block away from iconic Waikiki Beach.

Looking for Hawaii’s warm weather with a shorter flight? Try out Fort Lauderdale this winter or spring, with round-trip flights from New York for $179. Flights from Chicago start at $222, while Los Angeles departures go for $238. Drive to nearby Miami to experience the city’s energetic nightlife, road-trip down to the southernmost point in the U.S., the Florida Keys, or simply lounge on Fort Lauderdale’s white-sand beaches. Travel in March and book a room at the Marriott Fort Lauderdale North for $130 per night (30 percent off).

Getting to – and staying in – the Big Apple won’t break the bank either. Plus, if you travel before the popular spring months, you’ll beat the big crowds at all of the Broadway shows, visiting landmarks like the Empire State Building, and shopping on extravagant Fifth Avenue. Round-trip flights from Chicago are as low as $108, taxes included. Depart from Los Angeles for only $200. Once you arrive, make yourself at home at the 4-star Park Central Hotel, conveniently located only a few blocks away from Central Park, Times Square, and the Theater District. Nightly rates are as low as $119, a savings of 30 percent.

West coast travel is also available for less this season.  Fly to San Francisco from New York for just $216 round-trip. Departures are also available from Los Angeles ($138), Houston ($234), and Chicago ($258). Stay within walking distance of the Fisherman’s Wharf at the da Vinci Villa, a boutique hotel in Russian Hill, for $139 per night (25 percent off).

Is your home airport or destination city missing from this week’s round up? Try using our TravelSearch price comparison tool to find low fares that match up with your vacation plans.

Paia

Just a 10-minute drive from Maui’s main airport, Paia is positioned between sugar cane fields and the white ribbon beaches of the North shore. Filled with casual millionaires and hippie surfers, it’s not uncommon to see locals shopping barefoot for veggies at the town’s organic grocer, hair still dripping from a beach session. Most tourists pop into Paia for a just-caught fish taco at the Paia Fish Market or an apple-brie-balsamic crepe at Cafe Des Amis, yet it’s the fish- and farm-to-table restaurants, independent clothing boutiques, and walkability that make it the ideal vacation spot at the crest of local culture.

Vibrant during the day and quiet at night, Paia’s a place visitors can blend into day-to-day life. Devoid of multi-room resorts or activity outposts dotting every inch of the shoreline, a very small number of boutique hotels have planted themselves at the ocean’s edge beside former plantation houses and dot com-boom villas. For these reasons, Paia has grown in popularity with the kind who prefer to hide behind sunglasses and under hats.

Frequented by Hollywood celebs and Apple executives, Paia maintains its nonchalant island flow without A-list rates. For a boutique taste of the town, check into the Paia Inn, a petite collection of cottages and hotel room clusters secluded in a secret garden corridor amid the main drag and the beach. Within walking distance of all the beach town has to offer, coupled with the seclusion the A-list’er in all of seeks, rooms start at $189.

Napili

Another removed retreat basking in the Pacific Ocean’s spray is almost lost between the Ka’anapli and Kapalua resort realms on the Island’s northwestern shore. Mostly occupied by local homes hugging half-moon shaped bays, Napili has one small grocery store and a few quaint restaurants to write home about. One such haunt is The Gazebo, a seaside eatery boasting out-the-door line-ups at 8:30am – going out on a limb, I think it has something to do with joys of turtle-spotting while filling up on turtle-sized banana macadamia nut pancakes.

Just down the beach is a hotel built before the tidal wave of posh resorts started settling on the neighboring shore. Napili Kai recalls vintage Maui with its plantation-meets-tiki style of architecture in 11 low-rise condo clusters built over the 60s, 70s and 80s. Hovering so near the ocean, from inside some of the rooms, it feels like you’re in a stateroom aboard your private yacht.

See our Maui destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rate on flights, hotels, packages and more travel deals.

For those already planning a jaunt to the 50th state, or those who have had it on their bucket list for many years now, there’s a little-known secret that could enable you to make that dream trip even more spectacular. Island lovers the world over have fawned over the gems tucked away in French Polynesia, but Tahiti is undoubtedly one of the most remote locales in the world. Getting there is not only trying, but incredibly expensive. If you’ve done even casual research on flying there, you’ve most likely turned away in disgust after seeing how high the fares were when connecting through LAX.

Turns out, the cheapest way to jet over to Tahiti is actually from O’ahu. For those flying into Honolulu, I’d recommend tacking a week onto your excursion and heading six hours south. Hawaiian Airlines operates once-weekly service to Tahiti that departs on Saturday from Honolulu International Airport. On average, the cost is roughly half of what you’d pay if flying from Los Angeles. Yes, you need to first get to Honolulu, but if you’re already buying a ticket there (or better yet, using mileage rewards), tacking Tahiti on sure saves you a bundle compared to a standalone trip in the future. It’s usually fairly affordable to use miles to book award travel to Hawaii, while booking to international destinations like Tahiti will almost certainly use at least twice as many miles.

The ideal situation in terms of cost savings is as follows: use award miles to Honolulu, and then pay out-of-pocket from Honolulu to Tahiti. If booked more than two months out, you can usually snag a round-trip seat on that HNL-PPT flight for under $650. Better still, those who fly Delta will appreciate being able to earn SkyMiles on the route!

Aside from saving money, it’s also a shorter flight from Honolulu than it is from the mainland (around six hours versus roughly nine hours from LAX). Once in Tahiti, we’d recommend a (relatively) cheap stay at the Tahiti Airport Motel and then heading to the ferry dock the following morning for a 30 minute ride to Moorea. The main island of Tahiti has plenty to offer, but the screensaver-worthy images you’ve likely seen when Googling “French Polynesia” largely come from outer islands like Moorea, Bora Bora, and Taha’a. While all of those are accessible via another flight from PPT, Moorea can be visited via a brief boat ride that costs well under $30.

The best part? You get to return to Honolulu before heading home. Paradise on both ends of the trip!

See our Tahiti & Moorea destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights.

Built in 1923 as a retreat for executives of the island’s former Dole plantations, Hotel Lanai’s 11 guestrooms hearken back to that era with wicker chairs, ceiling fans, and hardwood floors set amid lush palm trees. Adding to its tropical character are Hawaiian quilts, furnishings, and artwork by local artists that adorn each room. Guests can also enjoy free Wi-Fi throughout their stay, and a complimentary breakfast served daily in the lobby from 6:30am to 9:30am.

If you venture out, Lanai has a host of activities on hand, like kayaking off its North Shore, hiking the Munro trail to the island’s highest point, or golfing at one of Lanai’s two breathtaking courses. And when the hunger pangs hit, tuck into baby back ribs, meatloaf, and other hearty American fare at the Lanai City Grille at Hotel Lanai, voted a 2012 Neighborhood Gem by reviewers on OpenTable.com.

To book, visit www.HotelLanai.com and submit a reservation enquiry. The hotel requires a 50 percent deposit at the time of booking, and children under eight stay for free if no additional beds are required.

See our Hawaii destination guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rate on flights, hotels, cruises, and more travel deals.