Best value: Independent travel company Trailfinders recommends the British Airways/Qantas World Discovery fare.
Sample itinerary: Dublin - Bangkok - Sydney - Cairns - Fiji - Los Angeles - New York - Dublin. Cost: £888 + £27.50 airport taxes (May 1st-June 30th, 2000). Options and conditions: Mileage is limited to 29,000. 250-mile add-ons cost £22 each. Maximum of five stops, plus point of turnaround (e.g. Sydney); ticket must be used over a minimum of seven days and a maximum of one year; date changes (ex Ireland) are unlimited; one rerouting change is allowed during the trip for an extra £50; outbound departure date can't be changed - it determines seasonality of the fare; ticket is 50 per cent non-refundable after purchase, 100 per cent non-refundable after departure.
Insurance: Trailfinders' top cover for 12 months worldwide is £399, although other companies offer cheaper options.