Turn up the romance with these Avios getaways

Weekends away

Venice 

The city of canals has romance aplenty, from gondola rides, historical treasures, fine dining and knockout views. It is a jewel box of a place. 

Guide price: Fly to Venice from London from 5,800 British Airways Avios plus £90 in economy, 16,000 British Airways Avios plus £145 in business class. There are lower cash options if you are prepared to use more Avios. 

Stay: Consider smart, contemporary Sina Centurion Palace inside a real former palace on the Grand Canal; classically furnished Hotel Canal Grande; the lagoon-view Londra or swanky Hotel Cipriani where the Gabbiano bar is a celebrity favourite. 

Eat: On St Mark’s Square, book the nearly 200-year-old Michelin-starred Ristorante Quadri or call into Grancaffè Quadri for a lighter, still classy fare. For a modern, quirky setting, choose Algiubagiò, which has a lagoon-view terrace. Or slip away to gorgeous tavernas on quieter streets.

Do: St Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco), the Bridge of Sighs and the architectural marvels along the Grand Canal are the must-sees. Facing the square are the dazzling 9th-century Basilica and 14th-century Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), also the Campanile bell tower, which you can climb for panoramic views. 

Book the sights ahead to queue jump, and if you want to cosy up on a gondola ride, get haggling. Water taxis will take you to Burano island, known for its colourful houses and lace work, and Murano to watch glass blowers at work.

If you’re booking Avios reward flights for the warmer months, remember the lagoon beaches, most famously the Venice Lido. 

Prague

Prague rivals Paris in beauty. Gothic architecture, ornate bridges, cobbled streets and a lovely, lazy river give the Czech capital a fairytale quality.

Guide price: Fly London to Prague from 5,900 British Airways Avios plus £85 in economy, 10,500 British Airways Avios plus £125 in business class. There are lower cash options if you are prepared to use more Avios. 

Stay: The Mandarin Oriental is among top-notch international brands while, close to Prague Castle, the Alchymist Grand Hotel & Spa offers ornate surrounds and romantic four-poster beds. The boutique Golden Well Hotel boasts rooms and restaurant terraces overlooking royal gardens and rooftops.  

Eat: Numerous pubs and breweries serve hearty food and good Czech beer, or head to the Jewish quarter for traditional Kosher dishes. Kampa Park has beautifully presented food and a riverside terrace with a view of Charles Bridge, while V Zatisi gives Czech food a modern, international twist. 

Do: Prague is perfect for romantic strolling. You’ll want to see the famous statue-lined Charles Bridge and watch the fabulous astronomical clock in the Old Town Square strike the hour. 

Afterwards, rest your feet with a horse-drawn carriage ride, or sail in style down the moonlit Vltava River, ending the evening at the opera or in one of the city’s jazz bars. 

You might indulge in a soak and a couple’s massage at a hotel spa like Sauna World at Aquapalace or even take a day trip to the thermal town of Karlovy Vary.

Longer Trips

St Lucia 

The twin volcanic spires of the Pitons rising from tropical rainforest place honeymoon favourite St Lucia among the most beautiful Caribbean islands. 

Guide price: Fly London to St Lucia from 11,400 British Airways Avios plus £516 in economy, 60,000 British Airways Avios plus £1405 in Business Class. There are lower cash options if you are prepared to use more Avios. 

Stay: Feel like real lovebirds at Jade Mountain where rooms have rainforest and Pitons views in place of a fourth wall. You can also get cosy with treehouse dining at Capella Marigot Bay, set above a mega-yacht marina. 

Eat: Knockout Pitons views are the star at lofty The Beacon Restaurant, while from waterside terrace tables at The Coal Pot, you can order fresh seafood, including national dish green figs and saltfish. If you fancy live jazz or acoustic music over fine fusion cuisine, book the atmospheric Jade Mountain Club. 

Do: See the Pitons up close on an adventurous guided trek ending in a champagne picnic or as part of a stunning helicopter tour. There are further special views from the Tet Paul Nature Trail. 

Treat your skin to a mineral-rich mud bath and watch the geothermal action at the Sulphur Springs at Soufrière, then enjoy some indulgence of the chocolate kind as you learn about its journey from bean to bar. 

Of course, you can simply spend your days relaxing on sugary beaches but after dark don’t miss the nightlife at Rodney Bay.

Cape Town

Long-haul Avios reward flights without the jet lag are just the start of this South African gateway’s appeal, with winter sun, Table Mountain views, vineyards and safaris in the mix. 

Guide price: Fly to Cape Town from London from 11,400 British Airways Avios plus £516 in economy, 60,000 British Airways Avios plus £1405 in Business Class. There are lower cash options if you are prepared to use more Avios. 

Stay: Relax at boutique bolthole Compass House, perched on a cliffside at Bantry Bay, enjoy the butler service at eight-room MannaBay on the slopes of Table Mountain itself or take a suite just steps from the ocean at Tintswalo Atlantic below Chapman’s Peak. 

Eat: Shortmarket Club has vintage speakeasy vibes. The Pot Luck Club is a cool hangout housed in an Old Biscuit Mill with stunning city and mountain views. Further out, Asian-influenced Beau Constantia overlooks the wine valley of the same name. 

Do: Cape Town has plenty of appeal in its own right. Start with the popular beach at Camps Bay, craft shopping and restaurants on the V&A Waterfront and the cable car ride to iconic Cable Mountain. You can also take a boat to tour historic Robben Island or photograph penguins at Boulders Beach. 

The city is also a gateway to further exploration. Visit the wine region and continue driving along the Garden Route with the chance, between June and November, to see whales at Hermanus. 

Of course, South Africa is synonymous with safaris. You can search for the big five around two hours from the city from luxurious lodges at Inverdoorn, Aquila and Grootbos private game reserves. 

Seen something that takes your fancy and have enough Avios to make it happen? Check out availability with our Reward Flight Finder (RFF).