Depressed With the Weather Already? School Summer Holidays Using Avios

You may like Autumn. Helena does. I do not. The impending cold and dark beckons. So lets look ahead to next summer for where you can use your Avios for a family holiday, a mix of the hot, cool, cultural, and beachy. You may be surprised with where I have found availability!

For this, I'm going to presume a four person household, spending at least seven days away for a short haul trip, and ten days for a long haul trip, all during the school summer holidays using Avios. Do bare in mind that all pricing during the school summer holidays is a "peak" price, meaning the Avios cost will be higher compared to other times of years.

Just because I've planned these trips for you presuming a family of four, that doesn't mean a family of a greater or lesser amount is excluded. Using a tool like Seatspy can allow you to easily hunt out deals like these for the summer holidays!

If you're looking for a way to lower the cost of your trips away, then a Companion Voucher is a great tool to use. For more about Companion Vouchers, click here!

Miami

There’s excellent availability to Miami throughout the summer in both Economy and Business Class, so if you’ve been thinking of swapping the drizzle for some tropical heat, this might be your chance.

Now, Florida in the summer isn’t for everyone, there’s a reason locals joke that it’s “Satan’s armpit.” Expect high humidity, blazing sunshine, and the occasional thunderstorm rolling through the palm trees. That said, it’s also a great time to take advantage of quieter beaches, lower hotel rates, and fewer crowds at popular spots like South Beach or Little Havana.

Pricing:

• Economy: 70,000 Avios + £150 return

• Business: 200,000 Avios + £475 return

Don't just limit yourself to South Florida though. Brightline is a new railway linking Miami to Orlando, meaning you can be in the parks car-free within a couple of hours!

If you can handle the heat, Miami rewards you with incredible Cuban food, art deco vibes, and easy access to the rest of Florida for a proper sunshine escape.

Madeira

This little Portuguese island in the Atlantic is a favourite for its mild climate, rugged coastline, and fantastic hiking. Good news, there’s a healthy mix of Economy and Business Class reward seats available this summer.

The island of Madeira - photo courtesy of Travel Age West

A sample itinerary might be 26th July outbound and 6th August inbound, priced at just 30,500 Avios + £1 return in Economy. Not bad for a few days of wine tasting, coastal drives, and watching the sunset over the cliffs of Cabo Girão.

Madeira offers a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure — think volcanic pools, botanical gardens, and charming old towns like Funchal that blend European sophistication with island tranquillity.

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Sydney

For the big trip of the summer, Sydney is looking very tempting, particularly if you’re happy flying Economy. There’s solid availability from late July onwards, with departures after 28th July and returns before 27th August.

Pricing: 110,000 Avios + £300 return per person.

The eponymous bridge - photo courtesy of Bookish Worm

That’s an incredible deal when you consider that cash fares often run into the thousands for the same route. Sydney in August means mild winter weather, perfect for exploring without the searing heat, and a great excuse to hop down to Bondi for brunch or take a ferry across the harbour to Manly.

If you’ve ever dreamed of ticking Australia off your list, this could be the most cost-effective way to do it.

Denver

Feeling more mountain than beach this year? Denver might be calling. With the dramatic backdrop of the Colorado Rockies, it’s a fantastic gateway for hiking, biking, or simply enjoying that high-altitude sunshine.

Some days even show up to four Business Class seats available, rare for this route.

Pricing:

• Economy: 70,000 Avios + £150 return

• Business: (return leg to London): 100,000 Avios + £237.50 (one way)

The Colorado Rockies - photo courtesy of Gordo

Combine a few days in Denver with a road trip to Boulder or Aspen, and you’ve got a summer escape that’s as adventurous as it is scenic.

Türkiye

Why choose one destination when you can have four? British Airways flies to Istanbul, Bodrum, Dalaman, and Antalya, and there’s solid reward availability across all cabins for July and August.

You could start your trip with some culture in Istanbul, exploring the Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar, and spice markets, then hop on a domestic flight to the coast for a few lazy days by the sea.

Pricing:

• Economy: 30,500 Avios + £1 return

• Business: 45,000 Avios + £25 return

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

Whether it’s the Aegean, the Mediterranean, or the Bosphorus, Türkiye offers something for every kind of traveller, beach lovers, foodies, and history buffs alike.

Iceland

If “cooling off” sounds better than sweating through your T-shirt, Iceland could be your perfect summer alternative. Tourism to northern Europe is booming as travellers seek out milder temperatures, dramatic landscapes, and long daylight hours.

There’s strong availability throughout July and August, so you’ll have your pick of dates. Expect midnight sun, waterfalls in full flow, and volcanic scenery that feels more like another planet than another country.

Pricing:

• Economy: 30,500 Avios + £1 return

• Business: 45,000 Avios + £25 return

Whether you’re soaking in the Blue Lagoon, road-tripping around the Golden Circle, or chasing puffins along the cliffs, Iceland is a refreshing antidote to the typical summer getaway.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re chasing the sun or running from it, there’s something for everyone this summer using Avios. From the humid heat of Miami to the volcanic cool of Iceland, availability is looking far better than usual across both Economy and Business cabins, so it’s the perfect moment to make those points work harder for you.

The key takeaway? Be flexible with your dates, and don’t be afraid to explore somewhere new. With some smart Avios redemptions, you could be sipping Turkish coffee in Istanbul one week and hiking Colorado peaks the next, all without breaking the bank.

Summer doesn’t have to mean overpriced flights or sold-out cabins. With a little planning, your Avios balance could unlock a season’s worth of adventure. So, where are you off to first?

Sam

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