Travel - Proposed - RTW

The Initial Plan

Canada to visit 'family' (from when I backpacked RTW solo for 2.5 years mid - '90's) and as cheaply as possible.

That now has changed slightly to now possibly being joined by my best friend after 6 weeks with the intention to travel with her for a further 6 weeks.

So the first thing is the RTW ticket.  I have only ever travelled on a RTW ticket once and that was 2001. Before I had access to the internet at home.  And I was also in a 'proper' job - being paid holiday leave while away for the 5 week period.  Anyhoo - so I had a quick google at RTW ticket prices a few months ago (when this plan was just hatching) and quite frankly nearly fell off my chair  - like $4500!!  I needed to think outside the square and while messing aound with my frequent flyer points found that for 140,000 I could travel to 6 international destinations!!  I currently have about 60,000 points from when I travelled for work and BF said he would transfer me 100,000 points too (as we book all our expenses on his credit card to earn points and I pay cash for my share).  Taxes and other charges I am vaguely allowing $1000 which I hope is an over-estimation.

The route is

Perth
Honolulu
New York
Vancouver
London
Singapore
Darwin

From here I started working out a very basic budget (which scared the crap out of me!!) My main expense will be covering my bills 'back home' while I am away - this amounts to at least $250 a week.  (My plan here is hoping like crazy that I get a good tax return for the last 2 years and sell my car before I leave)

Because we plan to travel through April and May, we should be able to get in before the summer prices and summer crowds hit and therefore also reducing our costs. Stay in hostels etc etc.  Pretty much I just did basic weather checks for each destination which will give me some idea of what I should pack.  Which leads me to my other favourite travel planning pastime - packing!!!

Hence why I ended up finding myself purchasing another backpack - a High Sierra AT605.  On credit card of course as I am broke.  So I will list at least 2 other bags I own for sale to compensate.  And hence how I got onto the idea of making my own travel accessories - mainly coz I'm broke but love to sew and make my own stuff.