As a rookie to flyertalk and using ultimate rewards points for a trip home from bali travel I am going to give some info on routing and hope to hear some recommendations from you who have been at it for quite some time.
Using united award travel I have secured a ride home from DPS > ORF on j. Full routing is DPS>BKK>SIN>KUL>CAI>IST>ORD>ORF
I have some lengthy layovers in 4 of the cities. BKK/SIN/CAI/IST
I have done research about STPC's and award travel. I know that I am not technically on a stopover so that doesn't matter anyway but I will be in a few layovers over night. I guess airlines dont pay for accommodation even in class j or c if you are on an award ticket?
If any of you have tips or advice on what to do in these long layover cities or airports please speak. Thanks for your time.

Of course not. However, you do have some time to exit the airport and explore some cities for part of the day. You will also have lounge access at the airport as you are booked in J.

Ok I understand. Do you know of any tours provided by the airlines or any specific ones I should look for?

I know there is a free Singapore tour at SIN

Actually TK will pay for a hotel if you stopover is > eight hours and there was no option < eight hours.

Interesting. Even if I'm flying on an award ticket? How do I go about this? Thankyou

Wow, that is quite an itinerary!

TK will only give you the hotel and visa if you are on the first flight out after arriving from your origin and the stop is >8 hours. Otherwise, you will need to pay for your visa to enter Turkey.

TG don't provide hotels, and the lounge close overnight, so you are better off going into the city to get a hotel (or at least an airport one). Also, when you get your boarding pass in BKK the next morning they might ask you to pay the 700THB departure tax. It really depends on the agent that issues your BP, but I'm about 2/5 for them asking to pay it during an overnight transit where I cleared immigration similar to what you are doing (both times at the J class check-in). No go for picking up your boarding pass at the transfer desk then clearing immigration either, they wont issue the night before.

Dont forget about the Egypt visa you'll need to buy on entry!

Otherwise, enjoy it!

Well thanks for the information SirJman. It looks as though I chose the first flight departing from IST on TK and will be there over 8 hours. So how do I go about getting the accommodation?

Thats disappointing to hear about TG and the chances at BKK, but I will do my best thanks. for that as well.

Ok.

At BKK there is a hotel post-security, Louis Tavern Transit Hotel or something like that. Unless you want to go to the city, that could be a good option since you have an early flight out, and it would probably mean no departure tax. I rented a day room there a few years ago when I had a 12h connection, it's a pretty good hotel.

Wow, awesome itinerary. Good for you.

Of course you have enough time to go into the city for night in Bangkok and Istanbul.

In Istanbul, I would recommend a hotel in the old city, or even closer to the airport like the Sheraton Atakoy or Courtyard. A visa costs about $20. You might want to check out the nightlife in the Taksim area across the Golden Horn, though your best bet would still be a hotel on the old city side so you don't have to deal with carrying luggage if you check out of a hotel on the new side in the morning and go to the old city for sightseeing.

In Singapore, you can take the train into town and walk around, perhaps have lunch at a hawker center. They have a left-luggage area at the airport (as does IST) which could make your life easier.

Cairo will be a bit more complicated. The only option is taxis both ways, which will be at times of heavy traffic, though if you're up for the adventure if beats spending 14 hours in the airport. If you want to spring for a hotel, Le Meridien Heliopolis or the CityStars complex are within striking distance of the airport.

Ok this all great Indians will be put into use. Some of your resumes are quite impressive. I want to fly as much as you all someday.

Any idea about airline provided tours at any of these layovers?

There are no airline provided tours at these places. However, at SIN, there is a free, airport-provided tour:
http://www.changiairport.com/at-chan...singapore-tour

Ok I will definitely take part in that. I am concerned as I will be carrying a bag of surfboards. Will I have to pick up at customs and recheck with each stop? In turn having to pay with each change of airline?