Leaving North America in July: Where to first on a RTW trip?

Okay. Here's a theoretical question. Thanks in advance for indulging us!

Faced with the prospect of leaving North America in July, where would you go? Keeping in mind that we prefer to travel away from crowds and prefer shoulder season to low season — and like to avoid high seasons wherever possible. Cost is a consideration, as are crowds. You may select up to two options.

What would you suggest? We're also trying to account for, in addition to the points above, what would be the best region to start from that would allow for onward travel while incurring the least expense.

For example, we're leaning away from Europe owing to the fact that it's high season and extremely busy. That being said, we're leaning toward Central and South America, as it's shoulder/low season at that time. However, the cost of travelling onward from South America is much greater than Europe (and one's options are reduced relative to Europe).

For my wife and I, the most important question that we face is not: “Where are we going to go?”, but rather “Where do we begin?”. The only thing that we’re committed to thus far is a departure date—the first week of July 2011. The date is the only thing we've set in stone.

We will avoid the temptation of overplanning. However, in the interim before our departure, we would like to start by reading novels and classics set in the destination of our choosing.

Our plan is to be away for 12 months, and we're not attached to any destination in particular.

So, given that your must leave in July, where might you go? Which of the following 'circuits' might you start with? In the poll, we've not included an exchasutive list, just some regions that have interested us.

Hi,

Thanks for the response to my question. I voted Australasia. I've only been to New Zealand, Vanuatu and Fiji, and all three were amazing. I LOVED Vanuatu! Amazing little country. I'm not too sure how the weather would be in July, we went in Feb/March which was a rainy season on the islands, but it wasn't even too bad. Very hot! Lots of rainy nights and intense thunder storms, which was cool to experience. I was thinking maybe go to a few pacific islands, then travel onward to Australia or New Zealand (shoulder season by that time). Good starting and inexpensive point for further travels to southeast asia.

Have an amazing trip!

Ben

Thanks Ben, it's encouraging to receive advice that we hadn't even considered. And I think it's a great suggestion.

Initially we were considering heading to Europe in July, making our way to Moscow and then heading across Central Asia on the Trans-Siberian — getting to Mongolia in September or October and then moving on to Southeast Asia via China. Eventually getting down to Australia/New Zealand for a few months in January/February. No reason, just the first thing to pop into our collective minds.

I voted Eastern Europe for the simple reason that in pricing my own RTW, roughly follows yours, I could save approx $1500 by buying my One World ticket with a start point in London.

If your first flight is London to Moscow (just an example) then you could carry on with your original itinerary putting you back in London to do what you want in Western Europe the following spring prior to high season.

The savings originating your trip in London will way more than pay for bargin tickets YYZ-LHR.