Around the world trips are a fantasy for most, and a very economic reality for few. Several of my clients refuse to believe they can see ten countries for the price of three just by a little extra planning.I once purchased the following:
Sydney>Singapore>Saigon>Kathmandu>London>Toronto>San Francisco>Sydney
Total cost? $1250. That isn't a typo.
The reason I was able to purchase these flights at such as discount was that I purchased them in bulk, known as a "Round The World" ticket. They work like a wholesale store: large travel agencies buy thousands of tickets at a time and sell them individually to travelers. If you purchase then tickets at once (rather than a standard round trip) you get a great discount. I love the look at people's faces when I show them how to see more of the world for the same amount of money. Here's how you do it:
Avoid flying to "off the beaten path" destinations. The major hubs of the world are usually cheaper to fly to than secondary airports, and this is especially true if you're buying in bulk. Think of your round the world ticket as a general overview of where you'd like to go; for example, don't include every city in Asia you want to see, choose a flight into Bangkok (the largest southeast Asian hub, and therefore the cheapest) then figure the rest out when you get there. I recommend choosing one or two major hubs for each continent you want to visit, as this keeps your flight costs down while also providing flexibility along the way.
Include surface segments. Once you have a general outline of dream destinations, fill them in using surface segments. For example, you could purchase a flight from Sydney to Bangkok, then travel overland from Bangkok to Beijing (another cheap hub) before flying to London. The surface segment allows you to see more of the countryside between these two cities, and add several new countries to your itineraries. Furthermore, you'll save more money traveling by train than by plane (one ways are often the most expensive way to fly).
Add stopovers into your trip. I used this to my advantage on my last round the world adventure. The itinerary had a layover in Singapore (which I hadn't planned on visiting), which essentially gave me a free trip to SIngapore! Before purchasing a round the world ticket, ask your travel agent if they permit stopovers like this; most do.
Go big or go home. Round the world trips grow less expensive the longer you're gone. My advice is to take at least six months (preferably a year) for a trip such as the You'll find that by flying to ten destinations, several will be super cheap (e.g. Thailand, India, Nepal, Argentina). If you plan accordingly, you'll be able to extend your trip by spending more time in these areas. A friend of mine spent two weeks in Bali with just enough money for food and board. He hadn't planned on visiting Bali, but it was a stopover, so he took advantage of it. Those two weeks in paradise cost him less than three days in London. Use this economic differences to your advantage.
Around the world trips deserve more attention than they get. Not only can you save a ton of money by batching several dream destinations together, you often find yourself in countries (and situations) you never expected. If you are interested in pricing out a few different options, I highly recommend using airtreks.com.by adam costa
