Round the World Tickets

You will notice, once in Europe, the large number of Aussies and Kiwis who seem to be traveling on a perpetual tour of the world for next to nothing. This is not just perception - the relative isolation of those two countries makes a quick trip to and from Europe out of the financial question. However, quirks of the airline industry can make it cheaper to travel around the world than simply back and forth to Europe. For example, a Qantas round-trip ticket from Sydney to London costs around AusUSD 3000, bought directly from the airline. Meanwhile, an itinerary of London-Nairobi-Delhi-surface travel to Kathmandu-Bangkok-Singapore-Bali-Perth-surface travel to Melbourne-Auckland-Los Angeles-London is about the same price, excluding the cost of surface travel. No wonder so many from Down Under travel this way. Travelers from other countries should consider this option too - some round-the-world (RTW) tickets may be had for as little as USUSD 1000. Why not return to America via Hong Kong? Many of the student and bud-get travel agencies listed in Basics #5 can put together an RTW trip or refer you to someone who can.

If you’re planning an RTW trip from Down Under that hits the United States before Europe and other points east, be aware of another money-saver. Backpacks, camping equipment, hiking boots, and other gear are much cheaper in the States. Besides seeing the spectacular beauty of my homeland, you can save about fifty percent on such items by buying them here. Get catalogs from the suppliers listed in Basics #7 for some comparison shopping.