Easter Holiday 2026: Luxury City Trips from Belgium You Can Book with Points
Last year around this time I was standing at Brussels Airport with a boarding pass for Turkish Airlines business class to Istanbul. Booked on points. Zero euros paid for the flight, free lounge access before departure, and upon arrival a suite at a Fine Hotels + Resorts property with breakfast and a welcome gift. My girlfriend turned around and said: "This feels like we've stolen someone else's holiday." That feeling, that's exactly why I'm writing this Easter holiday 2026 guide for Belgian travellers who want to experience the same thing.
Honestly: most Belgians still pay full price for their Easter city trip. Cash, directly with the airline, and then economy class at that. While with a smart points strategy they could book luxury city trips that would otherwise cost 2,000 to 4,000 euros. It all starts with the right credit card, and for me that's been the American Express Platinum for three years now.
In this piece I'm sharing five concrete destinations for the Easter holiday 2026 that you can book from Brussels on points, including the routes, the points prices I found, and my personal experiences on the ground. No sales pitch. Just what works.
Why the Easter holiday is the ideal moment for a luxury city trip from Belgium
The Easter period falls on 5 and 6 April in 2026. Two weeks of school holiday in Belgium, spring in the air, and just before peak season begins. That means: slightly better availability of award seats than in July or August, and more pleasant temperatures in Southern Europe and North Africa. For me it's the perfect travel moment every single year.
What I've learned over the past years: if you search early enough, you'll find business class award seats to popular Easter destinations from BRU that you can book with points. The trick lies in flexibility. Can you depart on Tuesday instead of Saturday? Then the required points sometimes drop by 30%. And that difference, that's the difference between economy and business class on points.
The Amex Platinum plays a key role here, not just through the points themselves, but especially through the way you can deploy them. Membership Rewards points are transferable to more than 15 airline partners: Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France-KLM, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and more. That flexibility makes the difference. If there's no good deal via Brussels Airlines, I check British Airways Avios or Turkish Miles & Smiles. Almost always you'll find a route that works.
Five luxury Easter city trips from Brussels you can book on points
I've checked the availability for the Easter period 2026 over the past weeks. Here are five destinations that stand out for Belgian travellers, with real routes from Brussels Airport and realistic points prices.
1. Istanbul: culture shock at 3 hours flying
BRU → IST · Turkish Airlines · Business Class
Istanbul is a city that surprises you anew with every visit. During Easter it's around 15°C there, dry, and quiet enough to visit the Hagia Sophia without too much crowding. I was there last year in April and it was absolutely the right choice.
The route BRU to IST with Turkish Airlines is one of the best award deals from Belgium. Via Turkish Miles & Smiles you can book a return in business class for around 45,000 miles. Transfer from Membership Rewards to Miles & Smiles goes 1:1. With the welcome bonus of 150,000 points you have enough for three business class returns. Three!
As for accommodation: the Four Seasons at Sultanahmet is a Fine Hotels + Resorts property. That means free room upgrade, breakfast for two, late checkout until 16:00, and a welcome gift of approximately €100. For three nights I paid around €450 per night via FHR, but the extras make the difference: the total added value per stay runs up to €650.
2. Lisbon: warmth, pastéis and affordable luxury
BRU → LIS · Brussels Airlines / TAP Portugal · Business Class
Lisbon in April is worth its weight in gold. Literally: the light there is different, warmer, and the city comes alive after the winter months. Around 20°C, ideal for walking through Alfama or spending a day in Sintra.
From Brussels Airport you fly directly with Brussels Airlines to Lisbon. Via the Miles & More programme (transfer partner of Membership Rewards) you book a return in business class for approximately 70,000 miles. Slightly more expensive than Istanbul, but the flight only takes 2.5 hours and the availability around Easter is generally good if you search 3 to 4 months in advance.
My tip: the Bairro Alto Hotel in the centre is an FHR option. Fantastic location, rooftop terrace with views over the Tagus, and the breakfast is truly exceptional. The room I had booked as "deluxe" was upgraded on the spot to a junior suite with balcony. Those kinds of surprises make the FHR programme so valuable.
3. Rome: Easter where Easter began
BRU → FCO · Brussels Airlines / Lufthansa · Business Class
Honestly: once you've experienced Easter in Rome, you won't want anything else. The Easter mass at St. Peter's Square, the empty museums on Good Friday, and everywhere that scent of fresh colomba (Easter bread). It's magical, even if you're not religious.
The flight BRU to FCO with Brussels Airlines takes barely two hours. Business class return via Miles & More costs around 60,000 miles. An alternative: book via British Airways Avios for 50,000 Avios return in business class with a stop at London Heathrow. A bit longer, but if the award availability on the direct flight is gone, a perfectly fine option.
The Hotel de Russie, near the Piazza del Popolo, is my absolute favourite in the FHR programme for Rome. The secret garden behind the hotel feels like an oasis. Three nights there with all FHR benefits is the definition of a luxury Easter city trip. And yes, even the receptionist remembered my name the second time. That level of service you really notice.
4. London: close by, but feels like another world
BRU → LHR · British Airways · Business Class (Club Europe)
I underestimate London every single time. And every single time I'm surprised again. The Easter period is beautiful there: the parks are full of blossoms, the markets at Borough and Broadway are in full swing, and the museums are free. Perfect for a long weekend of four days.
The route is simple: BRU to LHR with British Airways, or via the Eurostar if you don't want to fly (though unfortunately you can't book the Eurostar on Avios from Belgium). Business class return with BA costs just 26,000 Avios. That's 26,000 Membership Rewards points via a 1:1 transfer. With your welcome bonus you can therefore book almost six business class returns to London. Absurdly good.
As for hotel: The Stafford London in St. James's is an FHR gem. Small, personal, with an American Bar that is legendary. The welcome gift was a bottle of champagne and a personal note. Three nights from €380 per night, but with all the extras included it feels like a stay of €600 per night. And that feeling, that's what you do it for.
5. Marrakech: exotic yet close by
BRU → RAK · Ryanair (economy) + points for hotel · or via Madrid/Casablanca in business
Okay, Marrakech is a bit different from the previous four. There's no direct business class flight from Brussels that you can easily book on points. But listen: the real luxury in Marrakech isn't in the flight, but in the accommodation. And that's where your points score enormously.
You fly for 50 to 80 euros return with a low-cost carrier to RAK. We'll survive those 3.5 hours in economy. And then you check in at La Mamounia or the Royal Mansour via the Fine Hotels + Resorts programme. At La Mamounia I paid €350 per night via FHR last year, including daily breakfast for two on the terrace by the pool, room upgrade to a superior suite, late checkout, and a hammam treatment as a welcome gift. The total value of those extras? Well over €500 across three nights.
Marrakech in April is warm but bearable, around 25°C. The souks are livelier than in summer, the riads have that perfect shade, and you eat for a fraction of what you'd pay in European cities. My favourite Easter breakfast ever was there: msemen with honey and amlou on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Atlas.
How to collect enough points as a Belgian traveller for the Easter holiday
The big question I always get: "All very nice, but how do I get that many points?" Honest answer: it starts with the welcome bonus, and after that it's a matter of smartly running your daily spending through your card.
The American Express Platinum card offers via the TravelLux.be referral link a welcome bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards points. That's the maximum bonus you can get, more than when you apply directly via americanexpress.com/be. Those 150,000 points are, to put it in perspective, enough for three business class returns to Istanbul, or two returns to Lisbon plus a couple of hotel nights via FHR.
After the welcome bonus you earn a standard 1 point per euro spent. Do you pay your groceries, fuel stops, insurance and online purchases with the Platinum? Then the points add up quickly. I spend on average €3,000 per month via my card, good for 36,000 points per year without effort. With the Booster option (€10/month extra) you even earn 4 points per euro, which amounts to 144,000 points per year with those same expenses. That's a free luxury holiday every single year.
And then there are the benefits that generate savings apart from the points. The Fast Lane at Brussels Airport (saving: €169/year), the Priority Pass lounges (value: approximately €500/year), the Dining for 2 (three times a year a free 2-course menu for two people at top Belgian restaurants, value up to €300), and the comprehensive travel insurance via Chubb and Europe Assistance that is automatically active when paying with the card. Add all that up and that €780 per year feels like a bargain. I don't say that lightly. I've calculated it, and on TravelLux.be I've written a detailed review about it.
Practical tips to maximise your Easter city trip on points
After three years of experimenting with award bookings from Belgium I've learned a few things I wish I'd known when I started.
- Book 3 to 5 months in advance. Award seats for the Easter period go quickly. I start searching in November/December for April.
- Be flexible with dates. Departing on Tuesday and Wednesday sometimes saves 30% in points prices. Easter falls on Sunday 5 April in 2026, so consider departing on Monday 30 March and flying back on Sunday 5 April.
- Check multiple transfer partners. If Brussels Airlines has no availability, look at British Airways Avios, Turkish Miles & Smiles, or Air France-KLM Flying Blue. All Membership Rewards transfer partners.
- Combine FHR with points. Use your points for the flight and book your hotel via Fine Hotels + Resorts for the extras. Or the other way around: pay cash for a cheap flight and use your points as statement credit for the hotel.
- Don't forget the lounge. At Brussels Airport you have access to the lounge plus Fast Lane with the Platinum. That easily saves 45 minutes of stress, especially during the busy Easter period.
One more thing many people don't know: Membership Rewards points never expire as long as your card is active. So you don't have to use up all your points every year. I sometimes save for two years and then book a longer trip. Flexibility is the whole point.
For more tips on how to use your points most smartly, check out our guide to Membership Rewards points.
Fine Hotels + Resorts: why it makes the Easter holiday extra special
I want to dwell on this separately, because the FHR programme is personally my biggest reason for keeping the Amex Platinum. Many people focus only on the points and the lounge access, but FHR is where the real magic lies for a luxury city trip.
Let me be concrete about what you get with every FHR stay: free room upgrade when available (and in my experience you get one 8 out of 10 times), early check-in, late checkout until 16:00, daily breakfast for two people, and a welcome gift worth approximately €100. That can be a spa treatment, a dining voucher, or a bottle of champagne in the room. At the Four Seasons in Istanbul it was a private tour through the old city. Those kinds of experiences are priceless.
The FHR network comprises more than 14,000 luxury hotels worldwide. In every city I've mentioned above, there are multiple FHR options. You simply book via your Amex account, pay the regular room rate, and the extras come on top for free. No vouchers, no fine print, no hassle. It just works.
And if you're travelling as a couple: the breakfast is always for two people. At the Bairro Alto Hotel in Lisbon it was a breakfast buffet with fresh pastéis de nata, freshly squeezed orange juice, and Portuguese cheeses I'm still drooling over. You save that €25 per person per morning, and over three nights you're already talking about €150 in saved breakfast costs alone.
Frequently asked questions about luxury Easter city trips on points from Belgium
How many Membership Rewards points do I need for a return flight in business class from Brussels?
A return flight in business class from Brussels Airport to European destinations typically costs 50,000 to 90,000 points via airline partners such as Brussels Airlines or British Airways. Long-haul flights to Istanbul or Dubai cost 80,000 to 120,000 points return in business class. The exact price depends on the airline partner and the time of booking.
Can I access lounges at Brussels Airport for free with the Amex Platinum card?
Yes. The American Express Platinum card gives access to more than 1,550 lounges worldwide via Priority Pass Prestige, including lounges at Brussels Airport. You can enter for free with 1 guest, unlimited. You also get Fast Lane security at Brussels Airport (worth €169/year) and 2x per month a Dining Experience at Black Pearls restaurant.
How much does the American Express Platinum card cost in Belgium?
The American Express Platinum card in Belgium costs €65 per month, so €780 per year. An additional Platinum card for a partner costs €10 per month. You can add up to 4 free Green cards for family members. According to TravelLux.be you easily recoup the annual fee through the lounge access, FHR benefits, Dining for 2, and the travel insurance.
What is the maximum welcome bonus for the Amex Platinum in Belgium in 2026?
Via a referral link such as the one from TravelLux.be you receive the maximum welcome bonus of 150,000 Membership Rewards points. That's more than when you apply directly via americanexpress.com. These points are enough for multiple business class flights or hotel stays.
Which airlines can I book with Membership Rewards points from Belgium?
From Belgium you can transfer Membership Rewards points to more than 15 airline partners, including Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines. This makes it possible to fly from Brussels Airport to virtually any destination in the world on points.
The Easter holiday 2026 is just around the corner. Whether you choose the bazaars of Istanbul, the pastéis of Lisbon, the Easter mass in Rome, the parks of London, or the riads of Marrakech: with the right points strategy, luxury doesn't have to be expensive. And that feeling when you're sitting in the business class lounge at Brussels Airport, knowing you paid zero euros for it? That never gets old.
Via our referral link you receive the maximum welcome bonus. The annual fee is identical: €780/year.