Travel planning, RTW stopover suggestions

[Himeno]

I'm trying to work out a few stops of my round the world trip in a few months time. (yeah, I know, locking things in late again )

I've worked out start and end, need to work out stops in the middle.
Stop in Europe, flying in to LHR on QF1. I had locked in CPH, but then I saw that it was a T5 departure and LHR T5 is annoying (and T3 has better lounges).
Looking at the current EU T3 BA routes, the destinations I haven't been to before are Lisbon, Zagreb and Prague.
Zagreb comes off the list due to the single daily departure around lunch time. I'm trying for a long connection so I can meet up with a friend in London for the day.
So, I need to pick from Lisbon, Prague and Copenhagen. (early Nov)

I'll then be going via DOH to North America with ATL as first stop. I can either go QR right to ATL, connect via another US hub, or back via LHR and BA to ATL (or AA via another hub). It's been suggested that I go DOH-xDFW-ATL for the Q Suites. Though only 1 connecting flight to ATL after QR arrives in DFW (QR729 1505 arrival, AA2403 1654 departure)

After ATL, I have a long weekend in NYC followed by visiting a friend near ORH in central MA (which I'll just get a return bus to/from NY for).
Then I'm looking at 2 stops in the US/Canada. Not sure where (mid-late Nov).
I currently have the following short list:
Phoenix
Saint Louis
Indianapolis
Salt Lake City
Memphis
Columbus
Nashville

Of these, I've only been to St Louis before. Some time ago (2012) and I lost all my photos of that trip due to a hard drive crash. I've been to Phoenix, but that was a quick in/out for an event during my first overseas trip in 2005. SLC was just a connection that same trip.
Walkablity and/or reasonable public transport availability is a factor

After that, I have a quick side trip to Tokyo, then another US stop (leaning towards SEA or SFO), then Anaheim before coming home (in time to deal with the peak xmas insanity at work).

It's a oneworld explorer RTW ticket, so I only have 6 flights within North America (one of which would be SEA/SFO-LAX). This flight limit is also something I need to consider.

To summarize:
EU stopover; Lisbon, Prague or Copenhagen
routing from EU stopover to ATL. EU-DOH-???-ATL. nonstop DOH-ATL, via DFW, via LHR or other
2 North American stopovers

any suggestions?

 

[Daver6]

I currently have the following short list:
Phoenix
Saint Louis
Indianapolis
Salt Lake City
Memphis
Columbus
Nashville

Walkablity and/or reasonable public transport availability is a factor

Based on that criteria. Phoenix is out. Having said that, great time of year weather wise. If you're willing to rent a car, then head of to Sedona.

 

[JohnM]

DOH-LAX is a longer ride in Qsuites than DOH-DFW , but I’d look at the timing to see what works better. (I particularly like LAX-DOH because it leaves LAX mid-afternoon, so a natural dinner time at the beginning.)

You’ve lost me with the ‘side trip’ Tokyo and back to the US. Why is that not going to be part of the DONEx?

 

[Himeno]

You’ve lost me with the ‘side trip’ Tokyo and back to the US. Why is that not going to be part of the DONEx?

DONE3 starts in TYO.
Heading back to Tokyo mid trip for an event. Another event the following weekend back in Anaheim.
Can't do TYO-SIN-LHR-EU-DOH-US-NRT-US-JP on DONE3.

hmm... DOH-LAX QR739 0745-1310, then AA2601 (1550-2300) or AA1071 (2238-0549+1). Would eat up my single allowed transcon...

 

[JohnM]

Aaah - gotcha. I was assuming ex-Australia.

The fun of organising a DONEx .

I’ve just been fiddling on the OW tool for my 2020 DONE4. For some reason CLT-YUL next June doesn’t show as a direct flight even though there is one with an AA flight number and EF shows D7. May be a temporary glitch. No hurry, so I’ll look again later. If I can’t get it to show on the tool, our mutual expert will sort it, I’m sure .

 

[VPS]

What sort of things interest you. If you go to Salt Lake City you could do a trip to Bryce Canyon which I think is amazing

And in Europe - Lisbon would be my choice

 

[JohnM]

My reading of the first post is that the OP doesn’t seem to want to get into renting cars.

 

[Himeno]

Aaah - gotcha. I was assuming ex-Australia.

The fun of organising a DONEx .

Would have the same problem with an ex-au trip. If the Tokyo side trip were part of the xONEx, I wouldn't be able to go back to North America for the last 2 stops. Just how the timing of things I'm planning to go to worked out.

My reading of the first post is that the OP doesn’t seem to want to get into renting cars.

That would be right. I don't drive.

 

[Spongbob]

Of your European options (Lisbon, Prague or Copenhagen) my recommendation is (1) Prague, then (2) Lisbon, and finally (3) Copenhagen.

My USA preference is Memphis.

 

[jase05]

I’m a unashamed Prague lover so would look for any excuse to spend some time there

 

[tdimdad]

November in Europe would guide me to go southward of the three suggested destinations. Lisbon should be warm enough, Prague as a city is lovely. Copenhagen is wonderful but you'd probably enjoy it even more between April and October.

 

[BettyB]

Salt Lake City very easy to get around. Mormon temple spectacular - well from what you're allowed to see if not a Mormon.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Another vote for Lisbon. Great architecture, a bit of warmth, great day trips (Sintra, Quinta la reguleira) and some stunning food. Loved Jeronimos Monastery and Pastel de Nata next door.

 

[Himeno]

hmmm.... If I go to LIS, I'd end up with a 13 hour connection in DOH before a US Q Suites flight to LAX, DFW or ORD. (LIS-DOH QR344 0755-1755, US departures between 0745 and 0810)
I've done a 16 hour connection via DOH before. ^_^ The QR J lounge has some nice rest rooms.

So the consensus is that Copenhagen is better during summer?

This is where I've previously had stopovers in Europe (Great Circle Mapper) and North America (Great Circle Mapper - phx, msp, dtw, cae and atl primarily for events and have done little if anything else there besides the event)

What's SLC like in mid November? wikitravel says lots of snow.

 

[tdimdad]

So the consensus is that Copenhagen is better during summer?

How about a midsummer fest in Denmark? That would be a brilliant time to visit the country. For me, the optimal windows would be from mid(ish) April to July (full spring and early summer bloom) and then again Sep/Oct timeframes (colourful autumn). And yes, you clearly need to add Denmark on your map - a really lovely little country.