Family-Friendly Avios Destinations For 2023
If your travel is tied to school holidays, when prices are at their peak, it makes sense to get savvy with British Airways Avios to save you some cash.
Getting the best value is even more attractive amid the cost-of-living crisis, so here are some family-friendly destinations where it’s most cost-effective to book flights with Avios and some tips on collecting more points.
Athens, Greece
Guide cost in Avios: Economy return flights from London to Athens in late July cost from 8,500 to 27,500 Avios depending on the cash you choose to pay.
Best time to go: Greece is mostly warm and sunny, with mild winters, though the height of summer can be uncomfortably hot.
Avios availability: There’s currently pretty good availability to book flights with Avios for the May half-term and plenty of reward seats in economy and business for the summer and October breaks.
Things to do: The Acropolis is naturally the must-see and will bring history lessons to life for older children.
A family money-saver is Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre (SNFCC) where activities like kayaking, sailing, and ice skating are free (register in advance), as is the shuttle there from Syntagma Square. Use the metro or the kid-friendly hop-on-hop-off Happy Train to explore further.
Beaches are close by at the Athens Riviera or you could travel on to the Peloponnese peninsula. Varied accommodation options range from simple apartments to multi-pool and restaurant affairs with kids’ clubs.
Naples, Italy
Guide cost in Avios: Economy return flights from London to Naples in late July cost from 5,800 to 23,500 Avios depending on the cash you choose to pay.
Best time to go: Spring and Autumn are warm and less crowded than summer on this highly popular stretch of coastline.
Avios availability: There’s limited availability for the May half-term, but it’s excellent for the summer break in both economy and business and good too for October.
Things to do:
Naples is the home of pizza, so you’ll enjoy this family favourite at its authentic best. The city and surroundings are also full of exciting learning opportunities. There are spooky catacombs to discover but the chief attraction is Naples National Archaeological Museum (MANN), which contains mosaics from Pompeii and Herculaneum preserved under ash after Mt Vesuvius erupted in AD79.
It’s also easy to make day trips to the remains of these ancient Roman cities and up the volcano. The coastal train is handy for exploring and there are scenic boat trips along the Amalfi coast.
Naples has its own beaches, including Bagno Elena, which has shallow water areas, but it’s more pleasant to stay at resorts outside the city.
Faro, Portugal
Guide cost in Avios: Economy return flights from London to Faro in late July cost from 5,800 to 23,500 Avios depending on the cash you choose to pay.
Best time to go: Portugal’s long sunny season means pleasant, jumper in the evening, temperatures over Easter and the half-terms but the summers are hot.
Avios availability: May still has some good availability in both cabin classes and reward seats also look excellent for the summer holidays and autumn half-term.
Things to do: Faro is the gateway to the Algarve’s glorious sandy beaches where seaside cafes, arcades, and watersports are plentiful. A day at the Slide & Splash or Aqualand waterparks is bound to be popular. You may even take a dolphin-watching trip.
Beach hopping by car or hire bike could fill your whole holiday but families with older children might consider a side trip to Lisbon. It’s a good city for family exploration via its quaint trams, with the lofty castle, large oceanarium, and even a museum of fairy-tale-style coaches likely to appeal.
Wherever you roam, don’t miss sampling melt-in-the-mouth pastel de nata custard tarts.
Avoriaz, French Alps
Guide cost in Avios: Economy return flights from London to Geneva in late July cost from 5,900 to 18,500 Avios depending on the cash you choose to pay.
Best time to go: December to April provide the best ski conditions, so it’s best to stick to the Spring and Christmas school holidays.
Avios availability: There are excellent opportunities to book flights with Avios in April and December in business and economy so this could be a Christmas or New Year winner.
Things to do: From Geneva, it is a 90-minute drive to Avoriaz ski resort in the French Alps, reputedly the snowiest in the Portes du Soleil region. In 2019 it was voted Best Family Ski Resort in Europe by the European Destinations of Excellence Network thanks to its vehicle-free zone, central children’s village, and family activities.
It’s a great place for youngsters to learn to ski or snowboard, though adults will still enjoy the apres ski scene. Sleigh rides and kids’ snowmobiling add extra adventure and there’s indoor fun in the Aquariaz Water Centre, with its lazy river and over-pool climbing wall. Teens will also appreciate the bowling and VR game facilities.
You could also add a couple of days in Geneva where chocolate shops and the free Boir de la Batie Park & Zoo are family winners.
Bermuda
Guide cost in Avios: Economy return flights from London to Bermuda in late July cost from 9,100 to 50,000 Avios depending on the cash you choose to pay.
Best time to go: The Easter and May holidays coincide with the most comfortable weather.
Avios availability: There are currently limited reward seats for April but very good availability for May. The seven-hour flight will make the premium economy attractive, for which there’s decent availability in July and August.
Things to do: Bermuda is best known as a honeymoon destination, but there are numerous resorts with kids’ clubs. Obviously, the beaches are the key draw, some with pinkish sand, and there are opportunities to kayak or surf the warm waters.
Snorkel Park Beach is a safe place for youngsters to explore the underwater world. It’s also among many places to catch live music on the island. The beautiful Crystal Caves and historic Royal Naval Dockyard are sightseeing highlights, while boat trips and beach barbecues should please all ages.
A reminder of everyday ways to earn Avios
The higher prices we’re all paying these days can, at least, with certain retailers, mean a greater Avios kickback. Besides flying with British Airways or its partners there are multiple ways to collect Avios.
Your weekly food shop: Avios is now linked to the Nectar scheme, so if you shop at Sainsbury’s you can earn Nectar points and convert them.
Other shopping: M&S, Argos, Dunelm, H&M, John Lewis, and Apple are among a long list of brands that can earn you Avios if you shop online through the British Airways portal.
Getting around: Filling up at Esso stations earns Nectar points to convert to Avios. You can also earn Avios through Uber.
Banking: If you’re eligible, certain American Express and Barclaycard credit cards will earn you Avios as you spend. You may also be eligible to earn through certain Barclays bank accounts.
Find the full range of ways to collect Avios here.
Original Source- https://rewardflightfinder.com/news-and-advice/family-friendly-avios-destinations-for-2023?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=website+blog
