Help!!! 1st timer in need of advice!

Hi All,

I have a budget of around £5500 (have extra money for flights) hoping to start in Thailand travel over land to Cambodia and Vietnam (hoping for at least 4 months in S.E.A) Fiji for 2 weeks and then on to NZ for at least a month.

Do u think this is a realistic budget?

Also would you guys recommend booking all flights before we leave with set dates or just booking a flight to Bangkok and book onward flights as and when we decide to move on?

Thanks :)

This is a classic question. On paper I would say that is a great budget if you have seperate money for flights. South east asia wont be a problem. But you could easily blitz through your money quickly in NZ.

If you dont book your flights onwards you wont want to leave south east asia!

I wouldn’t book any internal flights in SE Asia but I’d book flights for your other stops because it works out so much cheaper.

I’d do something like London - Bangkok (make your own way to Singapore). Singapore - NZ - Fiji - LA - London.

And that definitely seems like a realistic budget, just make sure you save enough for NZ.

Thanks for your help! :)

So you think it would be best to pre book flights before we leave?

Would you reccomend doing so with a compnay like Round the world experts/STA or finding the flights ourselves?

Round the world experts have quoted us £1590 for London to Thailand - Vietnam to Fiji - Fiji to NZ and back home again.

They also showed us examples of “tours” for when we get to S.E.A but it was like a 28 days thing 1 night in one place two in another (very regimented) and was another £1700 each. One im not sure if we want to spend that amount of money and two our vision s to go and do our own thing not be stuck to a tour bus.

Would you reccomed these tours or doing your own thing?

Thanks again :)

Generally a Round The World Ticket as you’ve been quoted for works out cheaper than separate tickets. It is just about doable cheaper if you use budget airlines like Air Asia, but probably more peace of mind to know you’ve got it sorted. £1590 sounds expensive for what you want to do. I think it’s because you’ve suggested going to Fiji before NZ, which is actually quite a long way out the way compared with a route like the one Monica has suggested, going back via Fiji and a stopoff in the US (you can go straight through with just a stopover at the airport if you can’t afford to visit). Having a couple of weeks in Fiji at the end of your trip would make sense as you’ll know how much money you have left.

Have look at the routes on STA’s website for an idea of routes and prices (although don’t think this is fixed; you can make loads of changes to these, but going back on yourself will cost more). Looking at their site I would say £1200 is about top whack for your plan and a good agent should be able to find a suitable route that will cost less that £1000 (possibly via Dubai).

Some people get really worried about travelling and how they’re going to meet people or find the way, so resort to tours. For these people they can offer an easy introduction to the area and help them settle in. S.E.A. is really easy to travel, with generally friendly locals who have identified what travellers need and provide it on a plate. As you have a clear idea that you don’t want to use tours and want to find your own way, this is definitely what you should do. Enjoy :)

gemsf1988 - 01 October 2012 01:00 PM

Thanks for your help! :)

So you think it would be best to pre book flights before we leave?

Would you reccomend doing so with a compnay like Round the world experts/STA or finding the flights ourselves?

Round the world experts have quoted us £1590 for London to Thailand - Vietnam to Fiji - Fiji to NZ and back home again.

They also showed us examples of “tours” for when we get to S.E.A but it was like a 28 days thing 1 night in one place two in another (very regimented) and was another £1700 each. One im not sure if we want to spend that amount of money and two our vision s to go and do our own thing not be stuck to a tour bus.

Would you reccomed these tours or doing your own thing?

Thanks again :)

As guy has said above that seems pretty expensive to me for RTW flights - going back on yourself, takihng uncommon routes and leaving at certain times of the year will all add to the cost. Defintley worth having a little look around websites to see what deals you can find.

If you are wanting to go out and do your own thing then avoid the tour route - so easy to meet people in SE Asia and you may want to change plans at short notice if you meet some people you really like and want to hang somewhere with them.

Enjoy!

gemsf1988 - 01 October 2012 01:00 PM

Thanks for your help! :)

So you think it would be best to pre book flights before we leave?

Would you reccomend doing so with a compnay like Round the world experts/STA or finding the flights ourselves?

Round the world experts have quoted us £1590 for London to Thailand - Vietnam to Fiji - Fiji to NZ and back home again.

They also showed us examples of “tours” for when we get to S.E.A but it was like a 28 days thing 1 night in one place two in another (very regimented) and was another £1700 each. One im not sure if we want to spend that amount of money and two our vision s to go and do our own thing not be stuck to a tour bus.

Would you reccomed these tours or doing your own thing?

Thanks again :)

Round the World Experts from my experience are decent and helpful. It’s probably Vietnam to Fiji that’s the expensive part maybe? Most people flying across Asia/ Oceania stop in OZ, it could be to do with that. Also the time of year is a massive factor.

If you’re not working at all, I would sort out a round the world ticket, but it’s your choice. If you want to be away for a set time (eg, 1 year) because of money, returning to a job, uni, etc- then that’s the smart choice.

If you’re leaving your life behind (including quitting your job) and have work intentions abroad and want to see where the wind takes you, make sure you’ve got funds and a one way ticket to Bangkok and see what happens!

Personally- unless you’re on a strict time scale and know exactly what you want to see, I would avoid organised tours. Especially if you’re travelling with someone else, you *shouldn’t* be lonely and feel the need to search out others as much =)