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[whereshegoes]

What is the best deal on RTW tickets right now? Any opinions?

[ScottWoz]

STA Travel is a solid, reliable, good value option. They're a serious consideration, especially as they tailor make your tickets to suit..

[rbisset]

I'd say hunt around at different agents. STA were the most expensive out of the 4/5 agents I tried by over £200 plus they want to tack on other things you don't need. I went with a small company called travelnation and they were great.

[uncle_davros]

I wouldn't go a RTW. I believe you should travel overland and buy as you need. You can fly from Singapore to Darwin for SFA. $75 USD one way

[ScottWoz]

I wouldn't got RTW either, and too prefer to evolve my route as I go. But it works for many people. It offers people who need it security, flexibility and gives them some kind of itinerary which they might otherwise struggle with. RTW ticket's are popular for a reason..

[rbisset]

Yeah I wouldn't either from now on. It was a bargain but they are quite restrictive and I'd ratehr buy tickets as I need them. I think you can fly cheaper than $75 with Tiger Airways although Jet Star are now flying that route daily as well. JetStar Cairns-Darwin-Singapore.

[uncle_davros]

I can understand the attraction of one. I alwayd advise people not to do it. Whether they listen, is their business. I would still go overland especially from Europe to get to Asia as there are so many different ways of getting there. You see more, experience more and meet more people

[rbisset]

And thats my next trip. Well I may cheat and get a cheap flight to Poland or Romania and start there. Getting overland from UK to Eastern Europe is surprisingly expensive.

The thing with my last trip is my RTW ticket covered 8 flights (I used 7 of them) which got me around the globe. During the trip I also paid for 15 other local flights which were necessary on budget airlines.

[uncle_davros]

Rich

We flew with Easyjet to Venice and then went from there. It is expensive in Eastern Europe as well. Next time, we will fly with Ryanair to Tampa in Finland and then go into the Baltics, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, and then the Stans. Should be fun. I don't think I am up to the Trans Siberia just yet in my life !!!

[rbisset]

It can't be that expensive in Eastern Europe can it? My LP says 10-14Euro a day for Romania. I can't imagine I'd spend more than £15/day and the transport must be far cheaper than West Europe.

Seeing as you're going to Ukraine are you going to visit Chernobyl? I think it'd be one hell of an experience.

[uncle_davros]

Rich

Have you checked out my story about costs. it is cheap in Romania, except Bucharest, but Hungary is expensive.

You are the first person who has mentioned Chernobyl. And me being me, I am going, and that is expensive, but definetly worth going to. As they say, when in Kiev........................

[rbisset]

I remember seeing someones website of their motorbike trip around the Chernobyl area and it looked incredible. Entire towns deserted and left in the same state as when the incident occured. It is definitely a place I'd like to visit someday.

[whereshegoes]

Sounds like a movie...

[peacefrog]

If you are flexible with dates and itinerary: buy as you go, definitely. I did that from Europe to Oz, and I confirm that it seems the best option for travelling Eurasia.

I have bought a RTW ticket, it is still ok, as crossing both pacific and atlantic oceans within a semi-flexible time schedule would cost just as much.

I tried to buy my RTW with oneworld (BA, Quantas, LAN, Iberia): In France and UK and Indonesia it was the same price as getting a custom itinerary from airtreks.com. I ended up buying it in OZ: 30 to 40% cheaper. In fact there they kept the older fares, while in other countries the companies have raised the price to a more profitable level.
You have to depart from the country of purchase, so I managed my booking by email with STA in Perth.

[uncle_davros]

Peace

I am quite amazed that you got the ticket so much cheaper in Australia than in Europe. I have always found trying to get out or flying internally in Australia mega expensive. No Ryanair or Easyjets over there. Good work for getting a cheapy, but I still wouldn't do it. I just don't like the fact that you are locked in.

Rich

I saw that website with the girl riding through the ghost towns about four years ago. Amazing. If you do a search on Chernobyl tours, there are quite a few companies doing it, but I think ultimately, there is only one company as the prices are fixed. The more of you, the cheaper it is. Huge expense, but it is one of the four must sees on my list.

[rbisset]

I think with the budget airlines in Aus you have to realise the massive distances that need to be covered and put it into perspective. I got a flight from Darwin to Brisbane for about $AU120 for a 3.5 hour flight. Thats not bad really is it. They're getting better.

[uncle_davros]

Prices have gone down on certain routes, but before I contracted Hepatitis, and decided to go back to the UK, we were going to surprise the Mums. We had our cheap flights from Singapore to Darwin sorted, but when we priced up the Darwin to Sydney/Melbourne, it was mega expensive, so it kind of killed that idea. I believe there are cheap flights within Aus, but you have to be at the right place at the right time

[rbisset]

If you search for a ticket on jet star a month in advance then you'll see the prices are different everyday. I don't understand the point of this but thats the way it is. Helps if you can book quite a way in advance.

[uncle_davros]

Yeah I know about Jetstar. We were looking about three months in advance. There is nothing like surprising your Mum, especially after she has changed the locks on you and you have to break in !!! And then the neighbours call the police !!!

[rbisset]

Did that actually happen? I think the fact Jet Star have started doing international flights is a good thing for Australia. Just needs another company to do the same thing and start some serious competition. Virgin Blue don't look like they are looking at Asia although they are planning LA on the cheap!