Round the world air ticket

[SLacKer]

Thinking of doing a multi stop tour early next year covering

Bangkok Thailand 7 days,
Sydney AUS 2 days,
Auckland NZ 2 weeks,
Tahiti 5 days,
Hawaii 1 week,
LA 2 days,
New York 3 days

This is just an idea of an itinerary (and rough timings) but I want to see my dad in Thailand and my mate in NZ so they must be in the trip.

Anyway has anyone done this before? Any tips on this who to book with etc. Also anyone got any further suggestions. I think that Hawaii may be a problem if I go East but can be done if I go West. I would be looking for Premium Economy or Business Class and am thinking late January 2011 to start this so I get the best weather in NZ.

[5potTurbo]

I looked into this for my Dad as a retirement present for Jan 2009, but my older, richer brothers were too tight to stump up 33% each of the £4,200 quoted for a business class RTW ticket.

I think the better prices/options were from Trailfinders and Travelbag, IIRC.

[Amateurish]

Try this:

http://www.thegreatescapade.com/

BA do a ticket - Oneworld explorer or somesuch. I used that a few years back and did Auckland - Hawaii - Toronto IIRC

[v15ben]

Get into STA and see what they can do. They should be able to give you a good idea of what carriers, flights and prices are out there. Make sure you shop around though and play the different agencies off against each other as there is plenty of cash to be saved

[KenBlocksPants]

Avoid Tahiti (very expensive to stay anywhere nice) and go for the cook islands instead.

Also 2 weeks for Oz and NZ is nowhere near enough

[5harp3y]

we booked through Travelbag.

RTW, 12 months, 30,000 miles and we did:

Hong Kong 3 days
Thailand 1 month
OZ 4 months
NZ 1 month
Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil 6 weeks.

cost £1300 and that was with the Qantas code share so Qantas, BA, LAN and Cathay Pacific.

2 days in Syndey will be enough to have a quick mince around and see the touristy stuff.

2 weeks in NZ, make sure you get out and see more than just Auckland. If you can go to the south island, its stunning!

i would be tempted to bin off the north america stint and swap it to south america. cheaper and a whole lot more interesting. esp places like bolivia and peru etc

[v15ben]

Just to add I'd probably say spend most of your 'NZ time' in the south island as it is an incredibly beautiful place with plenty of extreme activities too!

2 days in Sydney is OK for the touristy stuff (try to get to Watson's Bay, Manly, do the walk from Bondi beach to Coogee beach, eat at Harry's Cafe de Wheels - basically the stuff most tourists wouldn't think of!)

7 days in Bangkok - maybe not at the moment
I'd be trying to get either north to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai or south to some of the best beaches like Koh Tao or Ko Phi Phi rather than just staying in Bangkok.

[SLacKer]

Hi

Thanks for the feedback keep it coming.

The actual places are the airports rather than where I would go once in country. I have been to Sydney before but have seen a number of RTW itins go there and then onto NZ so thought maybe a few days. Also my father does not live in Bangkok he is a couple of hours south of the airport I believe. My friend in NZ lives in Auckland so I would stay there for a few days and then definitely do the South Island.

I don;t have the whole year to do this in but with multiple stops I think the RTW may offer the best value but will see and I will definately shop around as if you google it you get a lot of players selling them.

[Ynox]

I'd rather have a bit less time in HI unless you're going there to chill out. There's not *that* much to do on O'ahu once you've been to the North Shore, Hanauma bay, Pearl Harbor etc or go island hopping.

[Bill]

Bear in mind that's 8 travel days in 4 weeks which is fine on a road trip but seems a waste to me. Personally I'd ditch the US legs (and even Sydney) until I had time to do it properly.

[Dan_1981]

Another vote for trailfinders here.

Very knowlegable people and very very helpful.

[SLacKer]

Thanks for the feedback again.

I am fairly open about the duration and may do 6 weeks. I have been to Sydney etc. (in fact when I was returning from Sydney the temperature was 36C on New Years day a few years back....phew what a scorcher) before but was just thinking of a stopover really although Auckland is only a few hours further and I may be able to go direct.

I will have a good look over the next few weeks and maybe the rule is if I have been there before avoid it (unless it is in transit).

My NZ mate skyped me and asked if I wanted to cycle the Himalayas in July this year I had to say no but next year yes. So when I get to NZ I feel a plan for some mega cycling trip will evolve. Knowing him he will probably want to unicycle around the world backwards.

If I fly to Chile I think I could get a flight to Easter Island, anyone know if this is possible from Santiago? Anyone done it? What was the setup there is it fly in see it all and fy back or is there some overnight accom? I have always wanted to go there.

[Dan_1981]

SLacKer said:

Thanks for the feedback again.

I am fairly open about the duration and may do 6 weeks. I have been to Sydney etc. (in fact when I was returning from Sydney the temperature was 36C on New Years day a few years back....phew what a scorcher) before but was just thinking of a stopover really although Auckland is only a few hours further and I may be able to go direct.

I will have a good look over the next few weeks and maybe the rule is if I have been there before avoid it (unless it is in transit).

My NZ mate skyped me and asked if I wanted to cycle the Himalayas in July this year I had to say no but next year yes. So when I get to NZ I feel a plan for some mega cycling trip will evolve. Knowing him he will probably want to unicycle around the world backwards.

If I fly to Chile I think I could get a flight to Easter Island, anyone know if this is possible from Santiago? Anyone done it? What was the setup there is it fly in see it all and fy back or is there some overnight accom? I have always wanted to go there.

Slacker - I did Easter Island in 2005

At the time there were two flights a week each way I seem to remember. I flew from Santiago, to Easter Island stayed on EI for I think 5 days and then flew onto Tahaiti and the Islands for a week and then on to NZ.

There is plenty to see and do - its a lovely Island - really friendly people.

Accomodationwise - I camped - took my own tent and camped in a local persons garden that was set up for this sort of thing - used their facilities and camped outside.

Other options are homestay style things or B&B's.

Its not a cheap island though as the majority of foodstuff is imported.

Things to do: Obviously you have to see the statues. These are scattered all over the island - some of them you can walk to from the main town, other you'll need to hire a car to see. Many of the islanders rent out Suzuki Jimmnys etc for the day or longer if you like.

As well as the statues themselves you can visit the quarry where they used to be mined - some of the statues are still in situe being carved in the quarry others scattered down the hill sides on the way to their display points.

Scuba diving is excellant here if your a diver?

The island is quiet rocky but does have one gorgeous beach which is worth spending a day at if thats your sort of thing.

The island is very very chilled out and a great place to relax for a few days.

One other amazing thing is the view at night - hardly any light polution at all - the stars at night are absolutly amazing. Its gorgeous.

When you book your ticket speak to the agent - the RTW ticket I got meant that I coudl fly direct Santiago to Auckland - or I could stop at both Easter Island and Tahaiti as extra stops - but with no extra charge!

eta: An interesting fact - check out the length of the runway - its absolutly huge and covers half the island - its used as an emergency landing site for the shuttle if it was ever needed!

Edited by Dan_1981 on Friday 4th June 12:37

[tontoro]

avoid tahiti

[Pork Girl]

I booked directly with Air New Zealand and went to LA, Auckland, Sydney and Singapore - wanted to fit in the Cook Islands but there wasn't enough time left off work.

Avoid their web site and just phone them direct. The economy ticket was less than £1k when booked in March and that was over the Christmas period which is usually an expensive time to travel in the southern hemisphere!