Route notes
Why this routing works
This 7-week multi-stop itinerary sequences westbound from Washington DC to London, Istanbul, Sydney, Rarotonga, San Diego, and back to Washington DC. The stop pattern balances two longer city stays in London (18 nights) and Sydney (12 nights) with shorter segments in Istanbul, Rarotonga, and San Diego, which helps keep the route moving without turning every stop into a quick connection.
From a ticketing standpoint, this is a clear open-jaw style progression across several regions on one economy itinerary rather than a series of separate round-trips. The order avoids backtracking by continuing in one direction from Europe onward to Turkey, then Australia, then across the Pacific to the Cook Islands and the US West Coast before the final return to Washington DC.
Timing also matters on a route like this. With departure in October and travel spread across 7 weeks, the itinerary leaves room for full stopovers instead of tight layover-style city pairs. The 5-night stay in Istanbul and 6-night stays in both Rarotonga and San Diego work well as contained mid-route and end-route breaks between the longer-haul flights.
At the published sample price range of USD 2,945 to USD 4,492 in economy, this route shows how a complex intercontinental sequence can be packaged into one multi-stop ticket. For planning purposes, the route combines five stopover cities between departure and return, with all major long-haul sectors positioned in a logical around-the-world flow.