2012 Trip

Hi everyone,

I came on here asking advice recently about a RTW trip I was planning for my husband and I starting May 2012. Since then, I've recieved a lot of advice and I have two ways to go about. Now that I have a more solid idea, i'd LOVE to hear any tips or advice you might have. First off, my two options for itinerary:

Itinerary 1: Departing Sydney in May
Sydney > Cairo, Egypt > 5 days
Cairo > Beirut, Lebanon > 5 days
Lebanon > Istanbul, Turkey > From here, I make my way overland through Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and the UK. We'll spend about 3 months in Europe
London > Beijing, China > 1 week
Beijing > Toyko, Japan > 5 days
Tokyo > Bangkok, Thailand > 10 days
Bangkok > Sydney

Itinerary 2: Departing Sydney in June
Sydney > London. From here we make our way overland through the UK (early enough to we miss the Olympics hype), France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Turkey > 3 months
Istanbul > Cairo, Egypt (thinking might take a cruise rather than fly?) 5 days in Egypt
Egypt > Beirut, Lebanon > 5 days
Lebanon > Thailand > 10 days
Thailand > Beijing > 5 days
Beijing > Tokyo > 5 days
Toyko > Sydney

What are your thoughts? Which itinerary in your opinion make more sense? What changes would you make?

Also, from experience, what would you budget for a trip like this for a couple? I'd prefer to stay in mid range accomodation but am coming around to the idea of a hostel (a private room). We're planning on taking the Eurail whereever possible.

I don't really want to be on my trip and scimp out on things to save a dollar, I want to enjoy my time, however, I dont want to be splurging and spending all my money at once either.

As a rough guide, we can probably easily save about $30,000 between now and May. If we're going to need more it will mean wuite a few lifestyle changes..

Thanksand I look forward to your advice,

The budget question is one you'll need to look at yourself because we all have very different travel styles and preferences- but with your current itinerary, flights will be a major expense.

When it comes to itinerary - are you more time limited or more budget limited? The flights to places for just 5 days are going to be very expensive for very short periods of time there. Also, flying Sydney-Cairo or Beirut-Tokyo are not common routes so will be a lot more expensive than flying in or out of European capitals, so if you do want to visit North Africa/Middle East it might be better value to do it as a side trip out of Europe.

Like the previous poster said, flights are going to be the major expense. Have you checked flight prices at all yet? I would start there. Either go to a site like Kayak and check various one ways that would fit into both options, or go to the trip planner here at Boots and submit a few itineraries.

http://www.bootsnall.com/tripplanner.shtml

If you submit an itinerary on the trip planner, you can get hooked up with a customer service rep (at no cost) and he or she will talk to you further about your trip. They are experts and know which legs are really expensive, really cheap, limited as far as carriers, etc.

Looking at both itineraries, I have to say, don't get fixated on it being a RTW trip. You have a 3 month Europe trip and 5 short vacations of 1-2 weeks each. If it's Europe you're interested in, then focus on that, and if you can get a deal on a layover in Thailand on the way, then do that too. But all those stops for 5 days apiece are going to blow up your cost, and not give you any time to settle in and appreciate your surroundings, or really see much of anything at all.

Both itineraries posted look to hit up the mediterranean region in the height of summer, both the least comfortable and most expensive time of year to travel there. If it were my trip, I'd probably fly straight to Istanbul, and then spend a month or so in Turkey before making my way onwards through Europe towards Britain. Still summer, but starting on the hot countries as early as possible in the 4 months alotted.