Round the World Tickets
Discussion
Well,
I am thinking of going travelling for at least a year and maybe a bit longer (with some stops somewhere to work).
What I really want to know is who to use to book all my tickets and stuff. STA has been recomended but I wanted to know if there is anyone else I should be looking at?
I am looking at going to Australia, then New Zealand, then I would ideally want to spend a month or so doing the bits of SE Asia I have not seen, then ending in San Francisco.
I am not really putting a time limit on things.
I am thinking of going travelling for at least a year and maybe a bit longer (with some stops somewhere to work).
What I really want to know is who to use to book all my tickets and stuff. STA has been recomended but I wanted to know if there is anyone else I should be looking at?
I am looking at going to Australia, then New Zealand, then I would ideally want to spend a month or so doing the bits of SE Asia I have not seen, then ending in San Francisco.
I am not really putting a time limit on things.
Try travelbag instead of STA.
The tickets are valid for a year and if you are say in thailand and want to stay a bit longer then its easy to change the departure date on them.
Personally I find them very restrictive. Its easier just to book your next leg from wher eever it is you are then your plans are more fluid. it can also work out a bit cheaper that way.
The are costed on mileage so make sure you pick the most direct route to keep the cost down.
The tickets are valid for a year and if you are say in thailand and want to stay a bit longer then its easy to change the departure date on them.
Personally I find them very restrictive. Its easier just to book your next leg from wher eever it is you are then your plans are more fluid. it can also work out a bit cheaper that way.
The are costed on mileage so make sure you pick the most direct route to keep the cost down.
Edited by Mr Darcy on Monday 15th February 11:19
As far as I can remember only one of the RTW alliances is done on mileage, the other is done on number of continents visited.
Your two options are the
Star Alliance
or the
One World Alliance. (Which I used)
I doubt prices will vary a great deal betwen them once you've factored in your intended destinations, but what will make a difference is if you want to visit any peculiar locations - for example I flew Chile to NZ via Easter Island and French Polynesia. I coudl only do this with one of the alliances as the airline that stopped at Easter Island was part of that alliance.
If you have a trailfinders local to you ( i used the one in manchester) they are very useful - suggested places I could stop off at for free etc etc.
Your two options are the
Star Alliance
or the
One World Alliance. (Which I used)
I doubt prices will vary a great deal betwen them once you've factored in your intended destinations, but what will make a difference is if you want to visit any peculiar locations - for example I flew Chile to NZ via Easter Island and French Polynesia. I coudl only do this with one of the alliances as the airline that stopped at Easter Island was part of that alliance.
If you have a trailfinders local to you ( i used the one in manchester) they are very useful - suggested places I could stop off at for free etc etc.
Edited by Dan_1981 on Monday 15th February 11:34
http://www.roundtheworldflights.com/
This is the one me and my other half have just booked our tickets with. We went down to the london office with a rough idea of where we wanted to go and we were in and out within 45 mins, quick simple and very helpful.
This is the one me and my other half have just booked our tickets with. We went down to the london office with a rough idea of where we wanted to go and we were in and out within 45 mins, quick simple and very helpful.
Do you need to buy everything in advance?
When I went travelling I just worked everything out on route and bought flights / got visas when I needed them. I didnt have any plan on what countries to visit, I just worked it out as I went.
I met lots of people who were rushing through the best bits of here trip as they had a flight booked, or were stuck somewhere they didnt like all that much waiting for a flight.
Unless its an amazing deal then I would sort everything out along the way.
If you have a limited amount of time and you want to get as many placed in as possible then planning the trip might be a better idea as you wont "waste" as much time.
When I went travelling I just worked everything out on route and bought flights / got visas when I needed them. I didnt have any plan on what countries to visit, I just worked it out as I went.
I met lots of people who were rushing through the best bits of here trip as they had a flight booked, or were stuck somewhere they didnt like all that much waiting for a flight.
Unless its an amazing deal then I would sort everything out along the way.
If you have a limited amount of time and you want to get as many placed in as possible then planning the trip might be a better idea as you wont "waste" as much time.
Qantas planner is good and also have a search for the BA Global Explorer as they have a decent planner too. Most normal tickets are pretty much off the shelf within reason anyway so I'd be playing the travel agents off against each other knocking £s off any way you can!
One option to give a little more flexibility is to get something where all the sectors of your round the world flights are on separate tickets so you have up to 12 months to do each sector. Means you are not restricted to 12 months overall and it's usually a bit easier to change things. STA might be worth a look for this as they can at least talk you through the different options. For example I'm flying from the UK to South Korea with one way flights around £575-600 inc taxes. I've found London - Sri Lanka - Singapore / Bangkok - Seoul for not too much more using the above method.
Just work out your destinations and search everywhere for the best deals
One option to give a little more flexibility is to get something where all the sectors of your round the world flights are on separate tickets so you have up to 12 months to do each sector. Means you are not restricted to 12 months overall and it's usually a bit easier to change things. STA might be worth a look for this as they can at least talk you through the different options. For example I'm flying from the UK to South Korea with one way flights around £575-600 inc taxes. I've found London - Sri Lanka - Singapore / Bangkok - Seoul for not too much more using the above method.
Just work out your destinations and search everywhere for the best deals
Thanks for all those guys,
next question... does anyone have any experience taking a campervan around Australia?
Been looking at renting one and going from Perth round to Cairns over about 2-3 months. Renting looks to be sodding expensive so I was thinking of buying one when I get there, and just sell it when I am done with it.
next question... does anyone have any experience taking a campervan around Australia?
Been looking at renting one and going from Perth round to Cairns over about 2-3 months. Renting looks to be sodding expensive so I was thinking of buying one when I get there, and just sell it when I am done with it.
I booked a RTW ticket through STA Travel. I Fly Heathrow - NZ, NZ - AUS, AUS - Hong Kong, Hong Kong - Heathrow. Its valid for 18 months. Dates are set but if you request in advance you can change any of the flights/destinations/times for £30. It cost me £1100.
I'm heading out on 28th of this month!!
I'm heading out on 28th of this month!!
Campervan wise to be honest renting is expensive. The cheapest option for a reliable service is probably Travellers Autobarn who have offices in the main cities but again still not cheap. Most cities have companies who will sell vans (Trav Autobarn do in Sydney IIRC) or there will be a set time each week when people meet in a central location to sell their vans/cars etc between travellers. A kind of Autotrader but without the advertising and website 
Not actually done any long distances in campers myself but friends who have rave about it! You have a lot of freedom, especially in remote locations as although you aren't meant to camp just anywhere it seems to be the done thing!
Wish I was flying out on the 28th
Not actually done any long distances in campers myself but friends who have rave about it! You have a lot of freedom, especially in remote locations as although you aren't meant to camp just anywhere it seems to be the done thing!
Wish I was flying out on the 28th
Edited by v15ben on Tuesday 16th February 18:04
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