Around the World Ticket/Trips
Has anyone done one? What alliance did you use? Where did you stop?
My interest is peaked after that article in the Wall Street Journal this morning! |
I've done 2 RTW trips. I didn't use an alliance, too restrictive regarding destinations. I used a consolidator both times. The agency I use for those and business class long-distance tickets is Airtreks. Superb service, good prices.
http://www.airtreks.com/ |
I should also mention, you can do parts of the trip using ground transport. Trains, ships, etc. as I did both times. Air tickets can pick up again wherever you want them to. It makes for an extraordinarily flexible and interesting itinerary. Last time I did the leg from Singapore to the Mediterranean (Suez Canal) on a freighter.
|
Current thread in the lounge, if you have access - http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...e-world.cfm?21
|
Actually, judging from your join date at Fodor's, you probably can't access the Lounge forum, so have a look at a little primer I did on RTW tickets over at TripAdvisor - http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ir_Travel.html
|
Yes - do read Gardyloo's primer. He is really expert on this topic and has been very generous w/ information and advice.
Here are some older Fodors threads that you can access: http://www.fodors.com/community/air-...t-169191-2.cfm http://www.fodors.com/community/air-...orail-pass.cfm http://www.fodors.com/community/air-...-ny-saves-.cfm http://www.fodors.com/community/air-...r-alliance.cfm |
Haven't read the WSJ article, but have done three RTWs. All three were on the Oneworld alliance, using FF miles in biz class. This is an excellent deal, as biz is only 50% more "expensive" than economy.
I had one large open segment on each trip (only one open segment is allowed on the FF deal). For the most recent start here: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-excursion.cfm or here with pix: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...-a-good-start/ For the earlier trips see: http://wilhelmswords.com - 2001 and 2004. I now have enough miles for a fourth.... |
And this was the initial itinerary for my third RTW: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...omment-6366587
|
Hey Gardyloo- how long do you need to be a member to get lounge access?
|
<i>Hey Gardyloo- how long do you need to be a member to get lounge access?</i>
The moderators "grandfathered" existing registered users a couple of years ago; people who have registered since are excluded. |
Ah thanks!
Also, thanks to all for their suggestions! |
RTW tickets are for tours. Are you planning a tour? Or do you want the flexibility to change plans mid-way, reverse course, spend a longer time in a place (or shorter), etc.?
RTW tickets are for those who are risk-averse. Unplanned long term travel for those who aren't afraid of risk and prefer an adventure which by definition requires the unknown and risk. Which are you? |
>>RTW tickets are for tours.<|<<
?? No they aren't. Where did you get that idea? |
"">>RTW tickets are for tours.<|<<
?? No they aren't. Where did you get that idea?"" Perhaps she meant they are for people with a set itinerary? I've never actually paid for RTW tickets, but on my FF award tickets I could change dates but not routing without penalty. I have also had one large non-flight segment (Beijing to Chennai, Glasgow to Bangkok, Kathmandu to Colombo), which gave me all the flexibility I needed. |
Ah well, I don't have the time/flexibility at this point to NOT have a set route. So while I won't be on a 'tour', I will have a set itinerary!
|
Yes indeed, a tour simply means you have a set itinerary. How else would you define a tour?
The downside of course is that it pretty much removes the flexibility to decide to stay longer or leave earlier from any given place. The upside is that it lets you tick places off a list. I find the assumption that anyone can know beforehand, how long they will want to spend in any given place, senseless. I doubt anyone can tell me just how they will know beforehand how long a place will hold their interest. A tour is not about spending as much time as you need in a place, it is simply about ticking a place off a list, whether anyone wants to admit that or not. If your tour allows for 3 days in X, are you going to change all the dates on the remainder of your RTW ticket because you feel you want another day or two in X? I think not. If you did change your tickets to spend another 2 days in X, would you then change them again if after those 2 days you decided you still wanted another day there? You are far more likely to stick to the plan and thus leave X before you actually want to leave. Needmorevacation, I disagree with your statement, "I don't have the time/flexibility at this point to NOT have a set route." That is patently false. You have an amount of time and money available. How you choose to use them is a choice, not a given. Often, people don't see it as a choice however, as your statement that you don't have the time/flexibility clearly indicates applies in your case. You do have a choice. It is of course your choice but it is indeed a tour you are saying you have chosen. Whether you go to a travel agent and book a tour with a tour company or plan a tour on your own, if you follow a set itinerary it is a tour. I see no reason for those who choose to plan a tour to want to say they aren't doing just that. All I was suggesting is that it is a choice. |
>> How else would you define a tour?<<
Well -- I'd guess 90% of readers would assume "tour" meant a guided group tour. In previous eras the "grand tour" would be traveling around on ones own. But now the meaning of 'tour' is generally Globus/Trafalgar/Rick Steves/Tauck and all the usual suspects. |
Soujourntraveller, what you describe as a tour, I call reconnaissance. On a number of occasions, not knowing, as you rightly said, how long I'm likely going to enjoy a place, I string several together so I know which, if any, will be the basis of a return trip and longer stay. So, while I tend toward longer stays, I don't disparage the use of shorter ones to learn my own prefefences.
I'll add, regarding the consolidator tickets I spoke of earlier, very often there's flexibility, depending on the airline, and on several occasions I've learned of a place from other travelers and have changed directions enroute without fees, then caught up after with the later tickets. It's something to consider before you decide from whom to buy. |
What 90% of people would assume probably is a tour company. What 90% of people don't consider is there is no difference between a tour company arranging an itinerary and arranging it yourself. Both are a tour n'est ce pas?
I see no problem with a reconnaisance tour MmePerdu. It's still a tour whatever the reason. Why do you want to call it a reconnaissance instead of a tour? It's a quick tour around 10 places to see where you would like to return to and spend more time. I get that. I wouldn't do it myself but I get what you are saying. I don't see why anyone has a problem with saying they are planning a tour. There seems to be a tendency here to want to avoid that word tour for some reason. I can only assume the word tour has some negative connotation that makes peole reluctant to think of themselves as tourists. If you plan a tour you are a tourist. What else could you be? |
"What 90% of people don't consider is there is no difference between a tour company arranging an itinerary and arranging it yourself."
Your premise (and likely your number) is absurd. Planning it one's self leaves open so many possibilities along the way, there's a huge difference. I have no problem with the word "tour" when it applies, but referring to independent travel in the form of an outline rather than a set itinerary and the ability to deviate at will for months at a time, a tour? I also feel the need to deviate from your word. Personally, I prefer the word reconnaissance when I may or may not know where I'll go next between places I'm pretty sure I will go. If you find the need to call it a "tour", fine, but it may only be evidence of a limited vocabulary rather than a description of a trip not your own. Or possibly very narrow thinking. |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 03:11 PM. |