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[chevy51]

Hi! My husband and I are wanting to take a year (more or less as we are older.We need to see how long we can last!!) Where do we start? I've called a few travel agencies and I have quickly figured out they have no idea what I want to do. I've used the Star Alliance web site a bit. We need to get ideas on cost as we will be on a budget. Getting started seems to be the hardest part. Can anyone give me some ideas as to where to start?

[starlagurl]

Welcome to the forums, have you seen this discussion yet?

http://www.travelpod.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3379

[starlagurl]

Also, try this one.

http://www.travelpod.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2368

[mmbcross]

Hi,

I plan to do this too one day before I drop. There are plentiful travel forums here as starlagurl points out.

I found a lot of useful info from Edward Hasbrouk and he publishes "The Practical Nomad: How to Travel Around the World" The 4th edition 2007, is now in bookstores. He also has a website http://www.practicalnomad.com/, and even has a travel agent that specializes in RTW tickets.

Good luck
Martin

[chevy51]

Thanks for the help! I think we will mix hostel,budget hotels and B&B's. My son advises less travel in W.Europe(he does that alot for work)due to cost. He lives in Nigeria and it is really pricey there too. We are a little older for this trip just don't want to say"what if" or we should've done that"Good thing about being retired and doing this is more time. Drawbacks are probably less money and may get tired quicker but we are back to more time so no rush. We can rest up if need be.

Again thanks for advise

[cheli]

Definitely work out where you really want to go then work out which direction (west, east) you want to travel as if you are planning on buying a RTW you'll have to travel in one direction. Having said that, you can generally work back within a country or continent - i.e. you could fly into France from Hong Kong then fly out of Munich.

I'm currently traveling on a Star Alliance RTW and I thought it was pretty good value for what I got - about AU$3,300 when a return from Melbourne to London costs about AU$2,000 The thing I love about it is that I have spots already pencilled in but can move the dates as I wish at no extra cost. What does suck is that when I've changed my mind on a location they charge me then. Not that this has been a huge problem because i was pretty clear in my planning stages where I wanted to go and have mainly used the RTW to get me from continent to continent and then organised seperate transport once I've arrived. For some reason United 'own' my ticket and I have to do all changes through them. United have been known to send me homicidal so if you do get a Star Alliance ticket, perhaps see if you can work out another airline to own yours!

[peacefrog]

Third step: Costs. Transport - you can look at star alliance, but I feel they are a bit pricey. Try checking out Airtreks.com and pricing your route. I also recommend buying plane tickets as you go. There are sooooo many budget airlines around the world, you might come out a couple thousand cheaper! ryanair.com airbaltic.com tigerair.com just to name a few.

Just came back from a RTW trip with a oneworld ticket, and I confirm: buy as you go!

Maybe it will be a bit more expensive in the end, but in your case (with time and flexibility), it should be the contrary, and also save you a lot of hassle figuring out routes and how to make your tickets changes fit into the airlines alliance rules... this is very time consuming!


RTW tickets are great if you have a limited time frame, and that is anyway very frustrating

[chevy51]

Third step: Costs. Transport - you can look at star alliance, but I feel they are a bit pricey. Try checking out Airtreks.com and pricing your route. I also recommend buying plane tickets as you go. There are sooooo many budget airlines around the world, you might come out a couple thousand cheaper! ryanair.com airbaltic.com tigerair.com just to name a few.

Just came back from a RTW trip with a oneworld ticket, and I confirm: buy as you go!

Maybe it will be a bit more expensive in the end, but in your case (with time and flexibility), it should be the contrary, and also save you a lot of hassle figuring out routes and how to make your tickets changes fit into the airlines alliance rules... this is very time consuming!


RTW tickets are great if you have a limited time frame, and that is anyway very frustrating

[chevy51]

Thanks for the advise on purchasing tickets as we go. I've been reading The Rough Guide First -Time Around the World. Lots of seemingly practical advise. They talk about tickets as you go. You are correct time will be on our side to purchase as we go. That would also give us time to secure necessary visas etc without having any problems with expiration dates or being forced to move on. At time it does seem a bit daunting but I suppose after you get going you will get the hang of everything. Budgeting money seems to bring up a whole other aspect of this type of travel. I suppose we go until money is getting low ,buy a ticket and come home! Any idea what you spent as a daily average and what type of accomodations did you stay in? Thanks for the reply

Third step: Costs. Transport - you can look at star alliance, but I feel they are a bit pricey. Try checking out Airtreks.com and pricing your route. I also recommend buying plane tickets as you go. There are sooooo many budget airlines around the world, you might come out a couple thousand cheaper! ryanair.com airbaltic.com tigerair.com just to name a few.

Just came back from a RTW trip with a oneworld ticket, and I confirm: buy as you go!

Maybe it will be a bit more expensive in the end, but in your case (with time and flexibility), it should be the contrary, and also save you a lot of hassle figuring out routes and how to make your tickets changes fit into the airlines alliance rules... this is very time consuming!


RTW tickets are great if you have a limited time frame, and that is anyway very frustrating

[peacefrog]

Hey Chevy, just sent you a PM with expenses breakdown link.

Definitely don't worry, getting into the habbit of buying and planning as you go is really fast, and addictive as well... actually it's real quality life!

The only time I was happy to have my RTW ticket, was to stoppover in Tahiti and Easter Island on the way from Auckland to Santiago, with flexible dates. Apart from that, zero benefit!

Cheers
Adrien

[mmbcross]

Earlier on I asked if anyone had any opinions on which is the best way to go around the world in and easterly or a westerly direction, and why. Can anyone answer that question?

[peacefrog]

Earlier on I asked if anyone had any opinions on which is the best way to go around the world in and easterly or a westerly direction, and why. Can anyone answer that question?

Depends if you want to go towards the sunrise or towards the sunset... why would one be best?


Seriously, it depends more on your itinerary:

From the Americas, maybe better heading east so that you start with the expensive bit: Europe

From Europe, maybe better heading west so that you finish with the cheap bit: S-E Asia


On the other hand, do first what is higher on your priority list, so that you don't run out of money before getting there


Just apply common sense to your particular desires, I don't think there is a formula saying one way is better than the other.

[mmbcross]

Good advice. Frankly our plan in brief is Chile; Easter Island; Tahiti, NZ; Australia; Bali; India; S. Africa; Brasil and home. It just seems logical to go from east to west. Once upon a time you could only travel north or south of the equator with a RTW ticket, not both. Is this still correct? If this is the case than India would be out.

[peacefrog]

Good advice. Frankly our plan in brief is Chile; Easter Island; Tahiti, NZ; Australia; Bali; India; S. Africa; Brasil and home. It just seems logical to go from east to west. Once upon a time you could only travel north or south of the equator with a RTW ticket, not both. Is this still correct? If this is the case than India would be out.

Yep you can do what you want, as long as you don't go back to a previously visited continent. I worked out my itinerary with the oneworld or staralliance flight planners, these are little tools you can download on their webpages when you're looking for RTW fares.
I guess you're going oneworld anyway, otherwise no easter island!

Airtreks is a good planning tool too, and they can issue you quickly a quote.

I worked out my fare with sta travels, just contact one of their agencies, and you can work with them by email, instead of spending a fortune on the phone with an airline.

[mmbcross]

Thanks Peacefrog, that's really useful advice.

[travelmonster]

Earlier on I asked if anyone had any opinions on which is the best way to go around the world in and easterly or a westerly direction, and why. Can anyone answer that question?

Funny, but I've been reading a magazine today with an article in about this - I don't know if it's true because I haven't looked into it, but here is what it says:

"...... a sneaky tip is to fly east round the world instead of west (the majority of eastbound flights are overnight, while flights in the opposite direction tend to operate during the day, wasting valuable holiday time)..........."

[sianeth]

Earlier on I asked if anyone had any opinions on which is the best way to go around the world in and easterly or a westerly direction, and why. Can anyone answer that question?

Funny, but I've been reading a magazine today with an article in about this - I don't know if it's true because I haven't looked into it, but here is what it says:

"...... a sneaky tip is to fly east round the world instead of west (the majority of eastbound flights are overnight, while flights in the opposite direction tend to operate during the day, wasting valuable holiday time)..........."

Actually, come to think of it, all the flights I've ever looked up to Asia/Australia leave London at 10-11pm... And also you don't have to get accomodation for that night either.

[hdh]

Earlier on I asked if anyone had any opinions on which is the best way to go around the world in and easterly or a westerly direction, and why. Can anyone answer that question?

One issue which comes up there is seasons. It's worth looking at when the most desirable time of year to be in particular countries is - this may dictate which way round you want to go.

For the same reason also have a look at key events - festivals or whatever - in the countries you're visiting. Attending them (or, for that matter, missing them: if you don't care about seeing Carnival, it's a really crappy time to be in Rio) can also have an impact on the sequence you want to travel in.

[mmbcross]

All the flights from North America to Europe are also overnight flights. Good point.

Regarding Carnival in Rio being a crappy time to visit. It may not be the best time if you are looking for economy, as the place is packed with visitors and prices of everything are sky high. Nevertheless Carnival in Rio is absolutely unique. You could probably also say the it's not the best time to visit New Orleans during Mardis Gras or Munich in Oktoberfest. I guess it is all a matter of opinion (and budget).