RTW trip - flight dates/itinerary

Hello,

This is my first post on this forum, so hello!

I am setting off on my trip with my partner on 18th Jan 2010. We booked the flights/itinerary in March this year but now need to confirm the actual flight dates - all starting to seem very real now! I have made a plan of dates I think might work, but any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am someone who likes to plan - even though we can change our dates for a small fee whilst travelling (and we probably will) I would like to know that we are on the right track at least.

So I have:

Tuesday 19th Jan - Arrive Bangkok
- Spend some time there, then travel arround Thailand for about 3 weeks
- Overland travel through Malaysia, few days in Singapore
Saturday 6th March - Depart Singapore to Cairns
- Spend 6 months in OZ on WHV
Thursday 30th Sep - Depart Sydney to Fiji
- Spend week or so in Fiji
Sunday 10th Oct - Depart Fiji to Auckland
- Rent campervan to travel North and South Island
Wednesday 10th Nov - Depart Christchurch to J'burg
- 25 day tour taking us down to Cape Town. Spend few weeks in Cape Town.
Fri 17th Dec - Depart for home :-(

Will this be enough time to see/do everything in those places? Or too much time anywhere? Any advice welcomed.

P.S My partner and I will be taking around £6000, with the hope of finding work in OZ! :-S (flight already paid for)

Thanks so much

Emma x

Yes that should be enough time in each place. It will allow quite a bit of overland travel.

You'll probably be spending a fair bit in Fiji (personally I'd spend 7 days not 10 but it wouldn't be the worst thing to spend that long if you want to just lounge around and relax). For nice resorts you can pay a few hundred dollars a night per person. Beachcomber is where most younger people tend to go because it is cheap by Fiji standards but still quite pricey by most other places around the world standards. If you don't feel like being in amongst close to 100 people in one room, partying all night and want something a bit more private then other places would be much better (in fact practically any property in the whole world would be better for privacy than a 100+ bed dorm). Treasure Island is directly opposite Beachcomber Island and is in the lower end as far as Island resorts go in Fiji (often has specials on) and allows your own private piece of paradise, but if you want this perfect piece of paradise with perfect white sandy beach, nice big room with great amenities then you should look elsewhere and spend a fair bit more. It would be worth spending up big on your last night to stay at somewhere like the Westin. Westin has the most heavenly beds I have ever slept in and a great breakfast which is included in the cost. It is only a short drive from the airport to get your flight (which will probably be quite early in the morning).

[ Edit: Edited on 22-Nov-2009, at 18:10 by aharrold45 ]

Yeah I was thinking Fiji would cut into our budget a bit! Might think about cutting our time there a little. Thanks for your reply, very helpful!

My personal choice, I'd forget Bangkok (just a city that all RTW's seem to include for no real reason) and build in Fiji. Nicer, cleaner, friendlier and a million times more magical.
Bangkok is, for me, a filthy city with nothing much to offer unless you really have to go because everyone else does and it would ruin your street cred. to avoid it.

In my opinion, you should definetly spend a few night in Bangkok. It is cheap and cheerful. Khoasan Road is surely worth a visit, sit at a small cocktail bar watching the hilraious and strange going ons. Visit a temple, take a spin on a tuk tuk. It is dirty, but i would recomed it, find out for yourself!
Cape Town is amazing! Wish i stayed longer. Capetown backpackers or Ashanti lodge two great hostels - right below table mountain. Also go great white cage diving with a guy called Brian - will see him advertised at hostels.