Hi,

I'm a newbie on these boards and am trying to plan a once-in-a-lifetime RTW with my wife. I've been reading threads in this forum and the * alliance forum (as well as fewMiles site) but am thoroughly confused. I still don't know whether I should go with a * alliance RTW or a onewold RTW. If the later, I think I would want the continent based RTW, not the Global Explorer, right? Below are all the places that I would love to be able to include in our RTW itinerary, so as to minimize any extra expenses for additional air/ground transportation. Given these destinations, which RTW do you recommend?

Thanks!!

Tahiti
Fiji
Bali
Galapagos Islands
New Zealand (Christchurch & Auckland)
Australia (Cairns, Sydney, and Melbourne)

Thailand (Bangkok & Phuket)
Hong Kong
Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh and Hue)
Cambodia
China (Szechuan Province)
Maldives Islands

Egypt (Cairo)
Morocco
Kenya, Tanzania, or Zambia for safari
South Africa (JNB or Cape Town)
Seychelles

Greece
Madrid
Barcelona
Rome
Positano
Capri
Nice
Venice
Florence
Vienna
Prague
Frankfurt
Paris
London
Malta

Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao
Turks & Caicos
Costa Rica
Peru (to see Machu Picchu)

You know.. that's why travel agents exist on this earth for something as complex as your once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Or you can simply do a little research on past posts for your answers.

But to put it simply, you have to simplify your destinations. You have too many stops to be included on any RTW trip except if it was personlised for you. WHICH can be done if you seek the professional services of a good travel personnel.

Well, I planned to go to a TA as soon as I have more information on what's the better package. I wanted to see if anyone here has any suggestions as to whether * alliance/oneforum or a mileage/region based RTW would be better. I've spent a fair amount of time already looking at these forums but figured someone experienced with RTW would have a better idea. I rather approach a TA after I have more information than when I'm totally clueless; never worked with a TA for a complicated trip like this before. I'm concerned that a less ethical one might steer me to someone that's not the best package but that is easier for them to do or gives them a higher commission...

As Guy Betsy said you have way too many destinations for any of the standard RTW tickets from any alliance (which are limited either by total miles or total segments). If you really want to do all of these in one ticket then you will have to get a travel agent to custom build something for you and I expect it will be very expensive.

If you use a OWE you will need a 6 continent version and you are allowed at most 6 segments (= single-coupon flights regardless of whether you stopover or transit) in each continent with 8 in North America. (You would have to pay extra for the two additional segments in each continent.)

But some of the destinations you list are not served by OW airlines (or at least not in a way that can be used in a OWE ticket) so this will not work by itself.

Fundamentally, you need to go away, read more on this board (and on http://www.fewmiles.net ), and do some work yourself first. Planning this sort of trip is a very major undertaking - don't expect an itinerary just to magically drop into your lap.

Try www.airtreks.com . All they do is trips like yours.

I can echo what everyone else on this board says. A couple of pointers:

- You have only one year to complete your itinerary.
- You have to go from continent to continent in one direction around the world. Depending on your origin point among other factors, some continent hops may be impossible.
- From experience, you'll get mighty sick of traveling after a while. Consider doing maybe two trips, 6 months or a year apart, if you want to get around all those places. Do 3 continents on one ticket, 3 on the other...
- You definitely need a TA

Come on guys, just because you're all seasoned travellers, not exactly the best way of welcoming a new poster...

Per previous postings, a decent travel agent will help - avoid any mainstream companies and zone in on RTW specialists.

A good starting point for you is the One World site (www.oneworld.com): there you'll find a timetable for all member airlines, to give you an idea of what routes they fly, and the all important rules under each of the ticket products (look for Terms & Conditions).

Btw, get yourself a frequent flyer membership from one of the alliance members before you go - the logical choice may not be the member airline where you live and beware of those that impose restrictions on mileage accumulation (eg BA/AA have a reciprocal agreement not to award points on transatlantic routes).

If this isn't something you've done before the first couple of long haul flights might prove an ordeal but you'll quickly become acclimatised. I've found a good tactic is to break up each 11-15 hr flight with at least a 24 hour stopover.

Given this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip for you, consider a ticket in business class, though you might want to save your hard-earned for spending money when you get to each of your stop-offs.

Best of luck with the trip and be a responsible traveller - these kinds of tickets make the world a smaller place but respect its diversity (sorry, couldn't resist a cheesy footnote).

Virtualtroy, I appreciate the sentiment -- and the advice.

FatB - As the others have said your itinerary is impossible on any of the standard RTW packages.

Your trip sounds absolutley fabulous. I hope you can get someone to put it together for you.

This could be done by mixing different RTW tickets from different alliances as well as a Europe pass or something but that will be very hard, so a TA is your best bet.

You need a lot more work to straighten out things. Keep in mind the season. You would want to do a Safari during the rainy season would you ?

Then it's a 1-year trip..you've got about 35 stops ! That's about 10 days / place. Needless to say you'll be in a rush and would like to stop maybe in one place for a month or so to relax.

All,

I would NOT use an outfit like www.airtreks.com for a RTW. Outfits such as www.airtreks.com DO NOT use one world or star allaince airlines for the segments.

Stick with an experienced RTW travel agent.


Check out these site for good tips on starting out the RTW process.
http://www.gapyear.com/travelzone.php?op=stepthree or
http://www.thetravellerslounge.co.uk...twglossary.htm

These are UK websites so adjust the info to this side of the pond for planning purposes.



[This message has been edited by capetown (edited 10-24-2002).]

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[This message has been edited by capetown (edited 10-24-2002).]