Round The World Tickets

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Chrisclarke

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#249481 13-May-2019 08:33

Hi, planning to take the family on a big trip this year. I'm lucky enough to have travelled extensively for work in the past to all corners of the globe, but since running our own businesses for the last ten years have struggled to get away for other that short breaks. Kids are 12 and 14 so we've decided to show them some of the world and try and give them the 'travel bug'. Anyway, the point of the post s:

We are thinking of CHC - SIN, SIN - FRA, overland to UK. LHR - ORD (Chicago). Overland to LA then LA to Rarotonga and back to NZ.

Star Alliance do a RTW ticket which seemed the obvious choice but I read on a couple of other forums that some agents can beat the airline direct prices. I've always booked direct with the airline but since the cost of this trip will be pretty high keen to save where I can!

Any thoughts or suggestions of agents who specialise in RTW fires? Thanks in advance for all your advice and wisdom!

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#2235738 13-May-2019 08:33

Allow me to introduce you folks to our new travel community: TravelTalk NZ.

We hope to see you there!

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engedib

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#2235746 13-May-2019 08:57

Hi, how much was the price for the ticket on the airline website? I have done a few quotes in the past using the star alliance tool, and it was crazy money, like $10K / person for the routes below.

Have done a couple of RTWs, so a fair bit of experience here :)

In about a month time we will go for a 3 month long trip on the following itinerary: CHC-AKL-NRT-ZRH-BUD-ZRH-BOS-SFO-AKL-CHC, for 4 people including 2 children I have paid $7.7K This was through Moa Travel: http://moatravel.co.nz/go/

STA travel also have some pretty good RTW deals: https://www.statravel.co.nz/round_the_world.htm

Had been also traveling with them in 2013 on the following route: CHC-AKL-BKK-FRA-BUD-FRA-YYZ-LAX-AKL-CHC, this was 5.5K for 2 adults + 1 infant.

sbiddle

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#2235747 13-May-2019 08:57

With so few flights and open jaw sectors a true RTW ticket (vs a simple airfare that takes you around the world) is potentially the most expensive option do fly that routing.

Chrisclarke

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#2235749 13-May-2019 09:00

Thanks Steve - would you recommend booking each sector individually?

eracode

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#2235751 13-May-2019 09:05

A couple of queries: what is your overall timeframe? Where you say ‘overland’ - are you thinking of hiring a car or catching trains? As you will know, train in Europe are brilliant in many respects.

In the US, you could consider the long distance Amtrak trains. We have used them several times. Some people hate them - we like them. There’s one that runs from Chicago to LA via New Mexico etc. Obviously you would need to book a 4-pax room or two of the small 2-pax. When you book sleeping, your fare automatically includes three dining-car meals per day. You could arrange stop-offs in various places along the way (Sante Fe, Albuquerque or El Paso for example) but that might bump up the fares.

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sbiddle

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#2235756 13-May-2019 09:11

Chrisclarke:

Thanks Steve - would you recommend booking each sector individually?

There is no need to do that - airline tickets allow stops and open jaw routing. To book something as complex as you want you're going to struggle to do it online anyway - realistically your only option is a travel agent or if you have enough knowledge using online tools and something with GDS access like Expert Flyer to work out routing and fares and get Air NZ to ticket it for you via their call centre which will carry a fee.

A RTW fare may or may not be the best option, it really just depends when you want to go and what options there are.

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Chrisclarke

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#2235757 13-May-2019 09:14

Wow! I've run it through the Star Alliance website a couple of times, and it's come out at between $22K and $25K depending on dates for the four of us (we're waiting for the business to sell so can't finalise timescales until then.

We're planning on going for about six weeks. Frankfurt because we promised the kids a trip to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg and assumed CHC to FRA via SIN was the best option, particularly if flying Star Alliance. Then trains in Europe from FRA to Hamburg, Hambirg to Amsterdam and Amsterdam to Paris. Eurostar on to London.

Some of those other fares are way better so I'll contact both Moa and STA and see what they recommend. Love this website!

Chrisclarke

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#2235758 13-May-2019 09:16

Forgot to add, plan is to hire a car in Chicago and follow the first part of Route 66. Then divert to the Grand Canyon and Vegas and through Death Valley and Sequoia national park before hitting LA.

sbiddle

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#2235761 13-May-2019 09:18

Unless you find somebody who can incorporate bargain individual fares into the itinerary I'd expect to pay somewhere probably around the $4k - $6k range per person for such an itinerary depending on the time of year.

engedib

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#2235764 13-May-2019 09:23

Chrisclarke:

Wow! I've run it through the Star Alliance website a couple of times, and it's come out at between $22K and $25K depending on dates for the four of us (we're waiting for the business to sell so can't finalise timescales until then.

We're planning on going for about six weeks. Frankfurt because we promised the kids a trip to Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg and assumed CHC to FRA via SIN was the best option, particularly if flying Star Alliance. Then trains in Europe from FRA to Hamburg, Hambirg to Amsterdam and Amsterdam to Paris. Eurostar on to London.

Some of those other fares are way better so I'll contact both Moa and STA and see what they recommend. Love this website!

Yes, even if you book them separately will be significantly cheaper than that price. In 2016 we have flown CHC-SIN (with a week stopover ) - FRA, it was around $3K one way for 2 adults, 1 child + 1 infant.

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#2235769 13-May-2019 09:32

Chrisclarke:
Forgot to add, plan is to hire a car in Chicago and follow the first part of Route 66. Then divert to the Grand Canyon and Vegas and through Death Valley and Sequoia national park before hitting LA.

Don’t want to harp on about Amtrak - but we did almost exactly this same route a few years ago. We caught Amtrak from Chicago to Albuquerque - then rental car pretty much per your plan but included Yosemite > San Francisco then down the coast road to LA. The tour down inside the Hoover Dam near Las Vegas is worth a look.

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Chrisclarke

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#2235771 13-May-2019 09:36

Sounds interesting - could sacrifice part of Route 66 for Yosemite and San Fran if the boss agrees! Will take look at amtrak...

engedib

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#2235778 13-May-2019 10:01

Chrisclarke:

Sounds interesting - could sacrifice part of Route 66 for Yosemite and San Fran if the boss agrees! Will take look at amtrak...

There are also some pretty good relocation deals if you are taking a campervan from Chicago to LA http://www.imoova.com/imoova/relocations

MCSE+M/S, MCITP

Dingbatt

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#2235859 13-May-2019 11:36

You are obviously experienced travelers but in my experience there comes a point with complicated travel that it is best to get professionals involved.
From memory RTW tickets are constructed using one airline alliance group and you have a certain amount of mileage and stops available to you, and you generally have to keep going the same way around the globe.
The flexibility of going through a travel agent is they can get you the best deal on whatever airline is flying that particular leg, although I would caution against changing horses midstream (changing airlines/alliances in a transit stop) because you lose baggage transfer and disruption protection.
In the end it depends on how much you value your time and how much stress it puts you under vs paying someone to do it for you. Be as specific as you want with your brief to the travel agent and go to more than one. If you strike the right consultant, they are like gold.
Family travel has different pressures compared to solo travel, or even travelling as a couple. Even accommodation for four rather than two limits options.

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jnimmo

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#2235889 13-May-2019 12:18

I've got a contact at Flight Centre in CHC, if you'd like me to get her to send through an estimate flick me a PM. I know she had some really good prices for RTW with Quantas/Emirates the other day

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