The best way to start is to list the destinations you prefer : your dreaming destinations !
Then, take a worldmap and try to trace the most logical route. Of course, you will change your mind a thousand of times, but this a part of the trip and you may discuss it with your travel agent.

Here are different options that will help you to fine-tune your trip:

Give a sense to your trip

If you do no want to increase the price of your ticket it's important to plan your trip in a continuous global direction. Which means : try to avoid backtracking. Here are a few examples :

• Paris > Bangkok > Sydney > Fiji > New York > Paris

Whereas this trip would be much more costy:

• Paris > Bangkok > New York > Fiji > Sydney > Paris

Most of Round The World trips are based on a mileage and a number of stops, but some, like the Onewrold, are only based on the number of continents you visit or pass through. Keep in mind that the best trip is not obviously the one with a maximum of stops over 12 months ! You can get more satisfaction with less stops.

Backtracking

This is allowed on certain tickets such as the OneWorld, Star Alliance and World Navigator, if it keeps within the mileage or permitted number of stops rulings. This only means that "backtracking"is not possible within certain regions, e.g.:

• Paris > Tokyo > Hong Kong > Bangkok > Bombay > Singapour > Sydney ...

Flying from Americas to Australia/New Zealand

Flying from Americas to Australia/New Zealand is a common problem. So far, we know only 4 major 'gateways' or route access. These are as follows:

• Los Angeles > Sydney/Auckland
• Vancouver > Sydney/Auckland (via Hawaii)
• Santiago de Chile > Sydney/Auckland (via Hawaii)
• Buenos Aires > Sydney/Auckland

This means that if you plan to visit Central America or northern South America you will either have to pay for an extra internal flight or make your own way overland.

Flying between Africa and India or South East Asia

This is only possible on certain tickets such as the Star Alliance, Navigator and the Global Explorer ticket. This is due to the airline's networks or flight routes. Main routes are are as follows:

• Nairobi > Asia (via Dubai or direct Bombay)
• Johannesbourg > Asia
• Harare > Asia

Open tickets

Open tickets are not really as open as you might think. All RTW tickets must have the route sorted before you depart and will also have specific dates printed. But this doesn't mean that you will not be able to change these en-route. Dates are usually totally flexible but changes to the route usually incur a small charge (about 75$).

Changing the name of the ticket

It's simply not allowed. If you decide not to complete your trip, you can not change the name on the ticket and sell it to someone.

Don't always fly, walk !

Keep in mind that you do not have to fly in and out from the same city in every country you visit. In fact it can sometimes be cheaper if you do not. And travelling independently overland is always more intersting if you have enough time.

Travel independently between two flight points en-route to your final destination is a Surface sector.

And the surface sector at your final point of turnaround or furthest point from where you started is an Open Jaw.

An Open Jaw can easily be included in your RTW ticket to make it more interesting and also not to increase the cost of the ticket as they count as one stop - not two.

Here are some examples of Surface sectors:

Classic Overland routes

• Beijing surface to Hong Kong
• Bangkok surface to Singapore
• Sydney surface to Cairns
• Auckland surface to Christchurch
• New York surface to Los Angeles

More adventurous surface sectors

• Moscow surface to Beijing (Trans-Siberian)
• Islamabad surface to Beijing (Silk Road)
• Saigon surface to Hanoi, Vietnam
• Bangkok surface to Hanoi
• Nairobi surface to Jo'burg
• Cairo surface to Istanbul
• Rio de Janeiro surface to Lima, Peru
• New York surface to Santiago

The Ultimate surface sector!

London surface to Sydney: London (EuroStar) > Paris (EuroRail) > Moscow (Trans Siberian) > Beijing surface to Hanoi (Re-Unification Express) > Saigon surface via Bangkok to Bali (Boat) > Darwin surface to Sydney.

...but whatever part of your trip you choose to overland it will be an incredibly valuable experience!