trip: SLC-LAX-SIN-HAN-DOH-MCT-IST-TUN-MRS-Train-MXP-EWR-DEN-SLC
I had wanted to try something like this for a long time and finally was able to put it together. I stopped in Hanoi, Muscat, Istanbul, Tunis, French Riviera / Monaco, and Milan. I used 75,000 amex points to do ANA's around the world option to get most of the flights, and then a mix of points and cash for other flights.
I use public transportation, walk a lot, and eat pretty cheap. I will try cheap street food, find a grocery store for a quick lunch, cheap pizza slices, and I like to try McDonalds or similar fast food in most countries I visit. Thanks to priority pass, airport lounges provided a number of decent meals. In Vietnam a big bowl of Pho was like $3.
I stayed at a mix of cheaper hotels (Vietnam was like 4 nights for $120 total), airbnbs, and free nights at chain hotels. I stayed right next to the Hagia Sofia in Istanbul using a free Hilton night.