Toronto

Glittering skyscrapers, high-end shopping and a booming food scene rub shoulders with historic neighbourhoods, ramshackle markets and an entire district devoted to distilleries in Canada’s savviest city. Book the boutique Drake Hotel with its revolving art exhibitions and hidden heated terrace, then browse Queen Street West’s tiny galleries, independent cafés and want-everything boutiques. Splurge on dinner at 54th-floor restaurant Canoe for Canadian fine dining, CN Tower views and wine from the just-visible Niagara Peninsula.

Dubai

Beyond the sun-loungers and shopping malls, this desert city is jam-packed with unexpected thrills, including the world’s first indoor black ski run, desert sandboarding and skydiving over palm-shaped islands. Get a cultural fix by crossing Dubai’s saltwater creek on a traditional wooden abra, then rummage in the spice souks of 19th-century fishing village Bastakiya. Add a stay at Al-Maha resort, a desert hideaway offering safari drives, horse riding and white-knuckle dune bashing.

Fly Club World return, off-peak, for 160,000 Avios plus £375 per person. Or two people can fly World Traveller return, off-peak, for 50,000 Avios plus £100 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

New York

No city dazzles like the Big Apple, with its exhaustive arts scene, unique neighbourhoods, trendsetting nightlife and big-ticket tourist attractions. Snap the world-famous skyline from Brooklyn Heights, then people-watch in bohemian Washington Square Park or stroll the 1.5-mile rooftop garden walk, The High Line. Queue for the city’s best burger at no-frills Corner Bistro then call it a night at Moxy Times Square, with its hip cocktail bar and free candy cart.

Fly Club World return, off-peak, for 160,000 Avios plus £375 per person. Or two people can fly World Traveller return, off-peak, for 50,000 Avios plus £100 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Bermuda

Year-round sunshine, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and pink-hued sand beaches make this isolated Atlantic Ocean island a fly-and-flop dream. Head to the water for a sunset rum-tasting cruise, glass-bottomed kayak paddle or speedboat out to swim in the infamous Bermuda Triangle. The best views are from the Scaur Hill Fort, reached by cycling the disused railway trail from the Royal Naval Dockyard over the world’s smallest drawbridge. Collect Avios on a stay in a traditional pink cottage at Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa (above).

Fly Club World return, off-peak, for 160,000 Avios plus £375 per person. Or two people can fly World Traveller return, off-peak, for 50,000 Avios plus £100 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Boston

New York’s more compact, arty little sister, Boston has bags of cobblestoned charm with elegant 18th-century buildings, the world’s first city park, a historic walking trail and big-name galleries and museums. Fort Point neighbourhood in South Boston is the place for craft beer breweries, rooftop cocktail bars and some of the city’s most lauded seafood at Row 34, while the new and infinitely charming Raffles Boston positions you in the thick of the action downtown – with Boston Common and the charms of Beacon Hill both just a short walk away. 

Fly Club World return, off-peak, for 160,000 Avios plus £375 per person. Or two people can fly World Traveller return, off-peak, for 50,000 Avios plus £100 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Santorini

Show-stopping sunsets, blue-domed churches and photogenic clifftop vistas give this volcanic Greek island enduring bucket-list appeal. Stay at Oia’s all-suite Andronis Arcadia for sunset views from your very own plunge pool, then dine on a candlelit terrace overhanging the Aegean at Lycabettus (above). Sample Santorini’s indigenous Assyrtiko grape at nearby Domaine Sigalas, where wine is made from centuries-old vines, or hit the black sand of Perissa Beach.

Two people can fly Club Europe return, off-peak, for 48,500 Avios, plus £25 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Marrakech

A fragrant tangle of lively souks, pink palaces and ancient riads on the fringes of the Sahara Desert, Marrakech throngs with people darting between the medina’s mosques and market stalls. Weave down packed alleyways to the city’s historic Jewish quarter, then tour the lavish 16th-century Saadian Tombs before retreating to the ornate Islamic gardens of Le Jardin Secret. Later, see the city from above over tagine at the rooftop Terrasse des Épices restaurant and collapse into one of seven Sultana Suites at the dreamy Les Jardins de la Medina boutique.

Two people can fly Club Europe return, off-peak, for 48,500 Avios, plus £25 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Reykjavik

Don’t be fooled by the size of this compact fishing town. Reykjavik is packed with cutting-edge museums, innovative Icelandic restaurants and live music venues, yet close to snow-dusted mountains, gurgling geysers and geothermal pools. Stay at chic minimalist hotspot 101 Hotel and delve into Viking history at the National Museum of Iceland or road trip to Þingvellir National Park for waterfalls, hiking trails and extraordinary diving between two tectonic plates. 

Two people can fly Club Europe return, off-peak, for 48,500 Avios, plus £25 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Mumbai

With seven islands, more than 12 million residents and its own city jungle, Mumbai does nothing by halves. Colonial-era architecture jostles with gleaming glass skyscrapers towering over chaotic bazaars, ornate temples and some of India’s best restaurants. Don’t miss the distinctive 15th-century Haji Ali Dargah mosque, floating magically off shore, the ancient holy caves on Elephanta Island and Bandra’s top-notch street food, then try to spot shy leopards in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Offset frenetic Mumbai with the cool, collected rooms at The Westin Mumbai Garden City – just two minutes from the Oberoi Mall.

Fly World Traveller Plus return, off peak, for 95,000 Avios, plus £355 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).

Los Angeles

The world’s movie capital, LA is a glittering beachfront urban sprawl where you can go from mall to mountains in half an hour. Hike to Griffith Park for sweeping city views and the iconic Hollywood sign, catch the surf in Malibu and take in widescreen sunsets at Shutters on the Beach. Feast from food trucks on Wilshire Boulevard or go upmarket at contemporary kaiseki restaurant n/naka.

Fly World Traveller Plus return, off peak, for 95,000 Avios, plus £355 per person (includes taxes, fees and charges).