RFS options for my 20-something kids

[marshy11]

The ‘kids’ want to go to Europe. We are happy to give them a freebie on a RFS in club.

Where should they go?

They are in their 20’s and love food, history and culture.

Looking to go May/June for 2-4 nights, they live near Heathrow.

TIA.

[Lady London]

Florence. But don’t expect to get them back again – they’ll want to stay there. Rome smaller with less art (but that’s only relative)

[marshy11]

LL my shortlist is Florence, Rome, Milan and Barcelona. They are less than half my 56 years. I am glad to be on the right direction. OH’s late mother is from Malta. Thinking that may also fit the bill.

Struggling to find RFS tonight – perhaps an IT issue.

[ExpatInBerlin]

Bologna is beautiful, small enough to feel like you’ve covered everything in 2/3 days and the food is to die for. It’s also a university city so there is good nightlife to be had. I went in my early twenties and really enjoyed it!

[NorthernLass]

When you say May/June, do you mean half term week? You might need to look what’s actually available if so. You won’t find much to Rome, Florence or other popular cities that week. Also, there are 3 bank holiday weekends in May this year so June might have better availability.
Barcelona is incredibly trendy and would tick a lot of boxes, culture, food, beach etc.

[marshy11]

Ideally they want to go early June – he starts a new position potentially on 10 June so would need to be back by then.

Yes, I am struggling with availability even early June – I thought it may be IT issues last night as there were a few error messages too but this morning the availability isn’t great.

[marshy11]

I am also finding there are very few destinations at the standard CE RFS £50 plus 17k option. I know RFS extended to the rest of the world recently, but didn’t realise Europe pricing changed too……or am I doing something wrong.

[jumpersforgoalposts]

Malta would be an excellent choice. Outstanding food, fascinating history and wonderful culture.

[Tracey]

Seville is beautiful.

[Michael C]

ExpatInBerlin wrote:

Bologna is beautiful, small enough to feel like you’ve covered everything in 2/3 days and the food is to die for. It’s also a university city so there is good nightlife to be had. I went in my early twenties and really enjoyed it!

Another vote for Bologna – also tends to have decent availability.
Buzzy univ. atmosphere, gorgeous city, fab food and a great base: 35 mins on the train to Florence (buy in advance) and around an hour to Venice.

[Michael C]

PS “for my 20-something kids” might suggest you have a very large family who will quickly use up all your points!!

[dbbs]

Lady London wrote:

Florence. But don’t expect to get them back again – they’ll want to stay there. Rome smaller with less art (but that’s only relative)

Absolutely. Florence top choice…

[tiriavpo]

marshy11 wrote:

I am also finding there are very few destinations at the standard CE RFS £50 plus 17k option. I know RFS extended to the rest of the world recently, but didn’t realise Europe pricing changed too……or am I doing something wrong.

What results are you seeing – xxxxAvios + £2? Does it say ‘more pricing options’ below the initial quotes? What happens if you click that?

Vienna looks to be available.

[NorthernLass]

Spring half term this year is May 27th to June 4th so availability is going to be limited so close to the time.

Click on “more pricing options” or through to the payment page – the old-style standard avios pricing doesn’t exist any more so you’ll need to select the combination which suits you best.

[kevinchoi]

As a “20-something kid” myself who also likes food and culture, I agree with some of the suggestions above like Vienna and Rome. Some alternative destinations which I’d go again and recommend would be Copenhagen, Budapest, Dubrovnik and Krakow

[NorthernLass]

Paris tends to have some of the best availability at peak times due to there being several flights per day and of course it scores highly on food, culture, etc.

[marshy11]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

The more pricing options seem to be giving me an average of 58500 avios and £100 for them both to go, which is more than I did recently for them to Prague – £100 plus 34000 avios.

Although I just checked Prague again and it’s around about that, just the others seem pricier in terms of avios.

I hadn’t realised half term was that bit later this year so would account for availability but I am seeing some and it still seems off peak but at the 58500-72200 avios bracket.

They initially said Paris Northernlass but I am not sure how the current troubles are going to pan out.

And yes, to confirm it is my son and his girlfriend, not 20 something kids!

[Anna]

Don’t forget Prague, Paris etc are in a cheaper zone than Barcelona, Vienna etc so the avios required will vary accordingly.

[marshy11]

Anna wrote:

Don’t forget Prague, Paris etc are in a cheaper zone than Barcelona, Vienna etc so the avios required will vary accordingly.

Thanks Anna, I’m just playing now to see what is where – is there a definitive list of what is in the cheaper zones?

[AJA]

I’d suggest Venice, Verona, Bologna, Naples, Rome or Florence/Pisa in Italy. Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or San Sebastian or Malaga in Spain. Paris, Marseilles, Lyon or Nice in France, Lisbon or Porto in Portugal

[NorthernLass]

@marshy11 – they seem to have done away with all the zone lists now but if you were to put a set of compasses on London and stretch it out to around Marseille, the area you can circle is pretty much Zone 1 😂 I think it’s up to 650 miles though who on earth would know that without looking it up?!

[NorthernLass]

Off the top of my head, good destinations in Zone 1 were – Paris, Prague, Salzburg (but not Vienna), Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Berlin, some Scandinavian cities, all UK ones, Dublin, Luxembourg, Brussels, Amsterdam and so on!

[marshy11]

NorthernLass wrote:

Off the top of my head, good destinations in Zone 1 were – Paris, Prague, Salzburg (but not Vienna), Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux, Lyon, Milan, Munich, Berlin, some Scandinavian cities, all UK ones, Dublin, Luxembourg, Brussels, Amsterdam and so on!

Thank you.

From my meddling today avios prices for 2 pax in CE on RFS:

Montpellier, Prague – 34000

Paris, Milan (all), Stockholm – 36500

Rome, Florence – 54000

Bologna, Vienna, Barcelona, Dubrovnik, Split, Sardinia – 58500

Krakow – 63000

Malta – 72200

I shall let them decide. Thanks for all the suggestions though.

[Richie]

For a 4 night trip, an open jaw with Dubrovnik and Split is great with fast ferries including a stop at Hvar.

[Erico1875]

AJA wrote:

I’d suggest Venice, Verona, Bologna, Naples, Rome or Florence/Pisa in Italy. Seville, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or San Sebastian or Malaga in Spain. Paris, Marseilles, Lyon or Nice in France, Lisbon or Porto in Portugal

Can you even get to San Sebastian with BA?
Closest airport I can see is either Biaritz or Bilbao. Both of them are a trek there after. Pity as it’s on my bucket list