Imagine the look on your friends' faces when you tell them you're about to take an around-the-world trip! Being the Phineas Fogg of your neighborhood might be pretty exciting.
Now try to picture your savings account after booking such a journey on one of the world's great cruise ships. If you're like me, it's not a pretty picture. Eighty days to bankruptcy doesn't have much of a literary ring.
Consolidator Flights
There is a place on the web where you can book Los Angeles - Tokyo - Singapore - Delhi - Istanbul - Rome - Prague - Madrid - Dublin - Los Angeles for under $2000 USD. AirTreks.com claims it "scours the globe looking for the best prices on flights and segments between hundreds of destinations."
You could find yourself with a "layover" in, say, Paris. Not a bad place to spend a few days on your trip around the world!
You can make up your own itinerary, but remember that a lot of the savings will depend on your ability to "pass through" certain hub cities. AirTreks will also allow you to complete some sections of your trip over land.
Most of these trips will cost well in excess of $2000 USD. You can choose major world cities and save money, or prepare a more specialized itinerary and pay more.
Costs depend largely on your departure city and the number of stops you wish to make. These arrangements must be made well in advance of your trip, perhaps a month or more before desired departure. Last-minute travel plans will not save you any cash.
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