Saudi Arabia has actually loosened up the rules re. tourist visas, though you'll almost certainly have to go on an organized tour. For example, I Googled Saudi Arabia cultural tour and this was one of the first search results. You might also look to museums and universities, as well a professional trade groups, all of which sometimes organize tours to KSA.

North Korea is similar to Bhutan, takes some advance planning and typically closes to tourism during the winter months, but the agencies do everything and flight availability is not a problem. Koryo Group is the big one and has plenty of interesting tours that no one can match, but my time was short I went with a cheaper, standard solo tour from Asia Live. I went in May 2010 and the agency was able to put the trip together and get the visa in under a month.

Everything transits to/from Beijing, so a double-entry China visa is required.

Since everything is set and deviation is extremely hard, plus communication with the outside world so constrained, it was perhaps my most relaxing vacation.

Of open ones on your list, I particularly enjoyed the Roman ruins, desert and even the cities (particularly Constantine) of Algeria.

I worked in Saudi for a while - wonderful country but as people pointed out difficult to visit.

One option is to apply for a job there. Get past the 1st phone interview and then they normally fly you in for a F2F...they pay visa and flight costs.

If anyone wants to visit Nigeria, they should pm me. Quite a cool route is an open Jaws ticket into Ghana, and travel by land through Togo and Benin to fly out of Nigeria. 4 countries are so close together it can be done in a single days bus ride..although I would recommend longer.

Lagos is a lot of fun, if you know someone who can tune you into the local scene ;)

I use to get a lot of offers to visit Nigeria, until the Gmail spam filter cut them off :D

I'm at 94 countries myself. I went to Belarus lat year, it wasn't that difficult. I think I got a visa support letter from a hotel or travel agency, sent that in to the embassy with my passport (using traveldocs.com) and got the visa a week or two later. Americans can also get visa on arrival at the airport, but it costs $400 or so, and you probably need the visa support letter. Minsk is well worth visiting though.

I have heard that Iran is a lot more difficult for Americans to get a visa, as of this year. I have also heard that Angola is not easy.

Aside from visas, I think the hardest to visit (for Americans) would be some of the little Pacific island countries. Infrequent, expensive flights.

You can all feel free to keep me posted if you want someone to join you on a silly country run.

Actually, it's quite easy, at least it was during my visit. I just rode my bicycle across the border. No government = no border controls. Then again, if you hit border patrols on exit (for instance at an airport) and don't have an entry recordation in your passport...

I've only had real trouble with three countries (out of about 150): Cuba, Libya and North Korea. I do try to adhere to my country's (United States) limitations on travel (hence the Cuba and North Korea challenges). The other problem was Libya. This was 10 years ago, and they just fought me to exhaustion on independent travel to Libya. This has probably changed.

Otherwise, I've gotten visas pretty readily, though prices are often on the edge of extortion.

I was there about 5 years ago, back when a well-connected visa handler could get an invite letter for a fee, and yeah it was fascinating. I understand it's much more difficult these days - I got lucky.

You might have missed my trip report from two months ago :D

I have a friend who goes there frequently for work, so this is exactly my plan. Fly into Lagos, spend a couple days, then have him help me out of the country to the west...and a few days/week later return from Accra.

Loved the TR. Look me up when you come to Lagos

I actually did the Accra/Lome/Cotonou/Lagos cannonball run about three years ago. About a four hour bus from Accra to Aflao. Walk across the border and then get a mototaxi into the heart of Lome. A few days later a three hour private taxi into Cotonou. Then a rather grueling 5 hour share taxi from Cotonou across the border to Lagos.

I actually didn't go into Lagos proper, I just went straight to the airport. I didn't have that much time to see the city. And I was chicken. The chaotic road scene just going across the Nigerian border was kind of scary.

I really liked Lome. Kind of a relaxed colonial vibe, good nightlife, and very beautiful women in Togo. Maybe the most beautiful women of any country I've been to. That's probably another thread though.

Great to read everyone`s thoughts!

I agree about Bhutan - well worth the effort (and money) - we flew from KTM and out to IXB. That was cheapest. Nowadays though, any agency will arrange travel - so its not really 'difficult'

Belarus I visited in 2002 (when I was 21), on a transit visa from Russia to Poland - man... the booze was cheap back then in Belarus.

Dominica - its easy and relatively cheap to get to from Antigua and Barbados on LIAT.

Another one that was sorta hard was Turkmenistan - but I finally found a great agency to do the paperwork.

I would imagine, for the Americans, it also may be hard to go to Iran since you have to go on a tour - but again, well worth the effort. What a fantastic country.

As for vacation, it helps to be in education, and unlike my underpaid colleagues south of the border, we get treated pretty well up here.

If you want to add a quick set of stamps to your passport, take a day trip to Anguilla from the French Side. You'll get a French exit stamp, Anguilla Entry Stamp, and a French Entry stamp when you return.

It's $40 round trip for the ferry, and a rental car on the island cost me $30 cash for the day.

I get 3 weeks!... but flexibility to travel from any point in the globe. So a lot of my vacations are workations with a fun weekend getaway. Cheap ticket to SXM? Sure! I'll work 8-5 during the week, party at night, and enjoy an awesome weekend.

lol dont tempt me - I just might do this! Are the cars readily available at the ferry on the Anguillan side, or should be arranged in advance?

Awesome by the way.