Okay so give a little of a break, I just joined and I really wanted to chip in because I just spent the night binge watching and then trying to find any hints of Amazing Race 30 and I came across this.
I didn't read most of the posts in this thread (I did read the entire first page though) but I kinda glanced in and out, so if I'm repeating things that have been said, forgive me.
So first off, I'm going to agree that they're gonna go to Australia or Oceania first. We also have to consider that it's pretty much guaranteed to start in LAX, and the first destination (at least when going to westbound) seems to always have at least one nonstop flight. This limits us to Fiji (Nadi), Tahiti (Papeete), New Zealand (Auckland), and Australia (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane). So I think any other Oceania countries can be counted out.
I also saw someone say something recently about Angola. I highly doubt they will ever go to Angola because inflation there has made things ridiculously expensive. I read somewhere something about a whole watermelon costing like $100, so I doubt CBS will allow them to go there. Along with that, it's ridiculously hard to get a Visa to Angola, so that basically assures us that it will never happen.
I do too agree the possibility of South Africa. I was actually just noticing that the other day. Also agree the SA won't be visited. Maybe also a return to Ethiopia, or Kenya (seeing as they've only gone there for a quick stop in 5), or maybe somewhere new like Lomé (although I think this will be reserved for a cross from SA to Africa in a future season, if there is a future season). Maybe Abidjan, Ivory Coast? I think that South Africa is highly overdue and that's extremely likely.
If it happens to be that CBS wants to make this "go out with a bang" I think we might be able to count on Nepal. Phil Keoghan said in a Reddit AMA a while back that if he had to pick a new country for them to go to, he would really like to go to Nepal. But also, like someone said, India hasn't really been visited much lately, so that might not happen because they don't ever do two countries in that part of Southeast Asia. Speaking of Asia, if it's an All Stars, they'll probably go to Kuala Lumpur and visit Batu Caves, as they've done it in both All Stars.
If they go to the Middle East, I don't think Qatar is going to happen, due to recent current events involving the area and the US government (thanks Trump) kinda not supporting Qatar, but who knows. Plus Doha is a HUGE airline hub, which Amazing Race likes to go to due to flexibility, but I don't see it happening. Doubt UAE because it's overused, and Turkey is definitely not happening (even though it's not bad at all, it's just Western media hyping it up). Jordan would be a safe bet, especially with flexible flights. Other plausible bets would be Oman and Bahrain. If not once again for Western perceptions, I would say Egypt, especially with TAR 5 being a favorite and having only been there once.
Speaking of favorites, I also think, going off the theory of "ending on a bang" there'll be a country with a memorable switchback. I was thinking possibly England for the watermelon challenge from season 17 or maybe St Petersburg with the caviar challenge from season 5 (but I don't think Russia's going to happen with the tensions between US and Russia right now) or the padlocks from season 6 in China. Maybe find a way to make the tea challenge from Unfinished Business work. You get the idea.
Also final country needs to have a nonstop flight to the US. Maybe Iceland? Iceland has become really popular lately, and with airlines like WOW and IcelandAir this is a possibility. Other possibilities include Madrid (which hasn't really been visited ever), Copenhagen, Stockholm, Germany, or maybe even Dublin—if it ends in Europe. If it ends in North America, then it's a complete wild card. Would say Cuba, but now with Trump trying to embargo Cuba again that's unlikely. Maybe Port of Spain, Toronto, Montreal, Kingston, San José, San Salvador or Santo Domingo? If it ends in Latin America, the end city would need to be Miami, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Washington (unlikely seeing as they just did that in S22) New York (or maybe Charlotte?) due to limited nonstop flights, unless they don't start in LAX.
Going back though, Europe, I do agree that they'll probably not do France due to too many times plus the terror attacks. Switzerland also due to overuse. Maybe same with Germany (I know I said it as a possibility as a penultimate stop, but still)? Riga is a great possibility, with many flights to Riga daily from all over the place. I'd count Slovakia out, as flights are limited, so they would have to take a train from Vienna or Prague (Prague would be a good choice though). Serbia maybe, as Belgrade is a flight hub and they haven't gone there yet. I do like the idea of Belarus, and feel it would be a good alternative to Russia itself. Like I said before, Madrid surprisingly hasn't had a pit stop (I don't recall them ever visiting either), so it's a strong possibility, especially as a penultimate stop if they fly directly from Europe back to the US.
Okay so that's my theories as to locations.
As to casting:
First off, I agree with the speculation it won't be new teams.
I do feel if they're not "ending on a bang" it won't be an "All-Stars" per say, but it would be like an "Unfinished Business 2". I just don't think they'll have an All Stars that close to another, plus if they did, then they would have to once again bring back fan favorites like the Globetrotters, Cowboys, and Margie and Luke, which would be too much. If they did an Unfinished Business, it would give them an excuse to start fresh just like they did with the previous UB.
We also have so many teams perfect to settle unfinished business:
From 25:
- Cyclists were u-turned *edit: the fast forward cost them, my bad*
- Surfers struggled at the final roadblock
26:
- Would say Hayley and Blair, but Blair is engaged, although apparently they're still good friends
- Truck Stop Love eliminated part way through final leg
27:
- Tiffany and Krysta in Macao's roadblock
- Texas dealing with the speed bump and a u turn on top of it
28:
- Burnie and Ashley switching detours
- Frisbee boys getting u-turned and having the second u-turn burned
- Sheri and Cole - Sheri struggling with the LA roadblock
29:
- Team Fun in Ninh Binh heat + roadblock
- The Boys missing the metro and then getting in a bad taxi
Honorable Mentions:
- Mike and Liz (29)
- Blair and Scott (28)
- Harley and Jonathan (26)
My other casting theory is IF they "end on a bang". I feel if they do that, they'll pull teams from all previous seasons, so I'd say we could expect teams like Charla and Mirna, BJ and Tyler, Rob and Brennan, to come back from early seasons (if they allow winners to go again). I'd also entertain the idea of doing a season with ONLY winners, so again, Rob and Brennan and BJ and Tyler, Euchenna and Joyce (they are divorced but apparently still good friends) but also other memorable winners like Nat and Kat and Dave and Connor. If they do the latter, I feel that they may also expand back to 12. I think a cool idea would be to bring back teams that were eliminated first, but I highly doubt they'd do that.
Anyways those are my predictions. Feel free to yell at me for repeating other theories (if I did) or being so interruptive.