Finding the cheapest round-the-world (RTW) travel routes is a combination of smart planning, flexibility, and knowing where to look for the best deals. RTW flights typically allow travelers to visit multiple continents and cities on a single ticket, usually with a fixed price. Here are some strategies and examples of cheap RTW travel routes that can help you explore the world without breaking the bank:
1. Use Airline Alliances for RTW Tickets
- Why it works: Airline alliances such as Star Alliance, Oneworld, and SkyTeam offer RTW tickets that let you fly with multiple airlines across different continents. These alliances provide a lot of flexibility and are often cheaper than booking individual flights.
- How to do it: By using an RTW ticket from one of these alliances, you can plan your trip around their network and access discounted fares. The cost usually depends on the number of stops and the total distance you plan to fly. All you need to do is book a route that fits within the alliance’s rules, such as flying in one direction (e.g., west to east or vice versa) and stopping at a certain number of destinations.
- Examples:
- Star Alliance RTW Ticket: Includes options like flying from the US to Europe, Asia, Australia, and back to the US for around $3,500–$5,000.
- Oneworld RTW Ticket: Similar route from the US to Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific Islands for around $3,000–$4,500.
- SkyTeam RTW Ticket: Routes across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania starting at around $3,000, depending on the number of stops and destinations.
2. Stick to Budget Airlines and Low-Cost Carriers
- Why it works: Budget airlines can help you keep your costs low. While many RTW tickets focus on premium or full-service airlines, low-cost carriers (LCCs) offer affordable flights between certain regions, allowing you to skip the more expensive flights in between.
- How to do it: Identify the budget airlines that operate in regions you plan to visit. For example, if you’re in Europe or Asia, carriers like Ryanair, EasyJet, AirAsia, and Jetstar offer inexpensive flights that can be integrated into a longer RTW route.
- Example: If you’re flying from Europe to Southeast Asia, consider using AirAsia or Scoot for budget flights instead of a more expensive full-service airline.
3. Stick to Regions with Affordable Connections
- Why it works: Some regions have far cheaper connections between cities and countries than others. Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and parts of South America, for instance, offer very affordable flights and bus routes that can form the backbone of your RTW trip.
- How to do it: Focus on regions with many low-cost carriers, such as Southeast Asia or Central America, where flights can be dirt cheap. Also, consider overland travel (such as trains or buses) between neighboring countries to further cut down your costs.
- Example Route: A cheap route could include Europe (e.g., Paris) → Southeast Asia (e.g., Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur) → India → Africa (Nairobi) → South America (e.g., Rio de Janeiro) → New York for the return flight.
4. Fly West to Save Money
- Why it works: The general rule for cheaper RTW flights is to fly in one direction (westward or eastward) without backtracking. Many RTW tickets are structured to favor a continuous journey, and avoiding backtracking reduces the overall cost.
- How to do it: Plan your trip to flow logically in one direction (such as traveling westward across Europe, Asia, and the Americas). Not only will this maximize your RTW ticket options, but it can often help lower prices, as airlines prioritize one-way travel across their networks.
- Example: A westward route could look like: Los Angeles → Tokyo → Beijing → Istanbul → Barcelona → Rio de Janeiro → New York. This route ensures you’re moving westward and staying within the typical RTW rules.
5. Pick Destinations in Close Proximity
- Why it works: Choosing destinations in close proximity allows you to reduce the overall distance you’re traveling. RTW tickets often charge based on the total mileage of the trip, so selecting destinations that are geographically close to each other can significantly lower the cost.
- How to do it: For example, traveling within a specific region like Southeast Asia or Central America allows you to explore multiple destinations without the need for long-haul international flights. Additionally, countries like Mexico and Central America offer easy connections to one another.
- Example Route: Mexico City → Guatemala City → Panama City → Bogota → Quito → Lima. This route focuses on Central and South America, where the flight distances are relatively short.
6. Incorporate Major Hubs for Cheap Flights
- Why it works: Major international hubs often have lower airfares due to the high volume of flights and competition among airlines. These hubs also tend to be well-connected to other regions, allowing you to find cheaper connecting flights.
- How to do it: When planning your RTW trip, try to include key hubs like Dubai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Singapore, New York, or London as part of your route. These cities offer numerous flights to and from various destinations at competitive prices.
- Example Route: London → Dubai → Bangkok → Tokyo → New York → Los Angeles → New York. The London-Dubai route often offers cheap options, and Dubai and New York are both well-connected hubs for onward flights to various destinations.
7. Maximize Stopovers
- Why it works: Some airlines offer free or cheap stopovers, allowing you to visit an extra destination for little to no additional cost. This is particularly common in places like Iceland, Dubai, and Singapore, where airlines promote extended stopovers.
- How to do it: Choose airlines that offer stopover programs, such as Icelandair, Emirates, or Singapore Airlines. When booking your RTW ticket, try to incorporate a free stopover to add an extra city to your journey without incurring additional costs.
- Example: Flying with Emirates, you can often add a stopover in Dubai at no extra cost. A route might look like New York → Dubai (stopover) → Bangkok → Sydney → Auckland → New York.
8. Book Through Multi-City Flight Search Engines
- Why it works: Sometimes, booking a RTW trip via an online multi-city flight search engine like Google Flights, Kayak, or Skyscanner can help you identify the most affordable options by comparing flights from different carriers and booking them separately.
- How to do it: Use a multi-city flight search engine to check individual legs of your journey. Sometimes, combining flights from budget carriers and full-service airlines, or booking one-way tickets for certain legs, can be cheaper than a traditional RTW ticket.
- Example Route: A multi-city search might suggest booking separate flights from New York to London, London to Bangkok, Bangkok to Sydney, and Sydney to Los Angeles, which could be cheaper than a traditional RTW ticket.
9. Use Travel Passes for Regional Flights
- Why it works: If you’re focusing on one specific region, travel passes such as the Eurail Pass in Europe or Asia AirPass for Asia can help you travel cheaply between cities within the region, saving money on individual flights.
- How to do it: Research regional passes that allow unlimited travel for a set period. For example, if you’re touring Europe or Southeast Asia, an unlimited travel pass could be a cheaper option than booking individual flights between multiple destinations.
- Example: Eurail Pass for Europe or Asia AirPass for Southeast Asia, which allow you to travel across multiple countries with a fixed cost.
10. Be Flexible with Dates
- Why it works: Flexibility is key when booking the cheapest RTW routes. Airfares can vary dramatically depending on the time of year, day of the week, and how far in advance you book.
- How to do it: Use flexible date search options on flight comparison sites to adjust your itinerary for the cheapest fares. Even shifting your trip by a few days can save hundreds of dollars.
- Example: Use Skyscanner’s “Cheapest Month” tool to find the least expensive time to travel to each destination on your RTW trip.