Club Avandra x Travel Seen: Marrakesh with Jo Elvin, the city not everyone sees
If you love travel that comes with instant access, the kind that usually sits behind a velvet rope, Club Avandra is built for you. It is a members club that curates small female group trips led by brilliant hosts, with elevated itineraries, standout stays and the sort of experiences that make a destination feel freshly unlocked.
Travel Seen is the travel partner for all Club Avandra trips which means we support the journey end to end, from the logistics that make everything run smoothly to the detail that turns a great itinerary into a genuinely seamless experience. Think expert planning, trusted operators on the ground and a travel team that knows how to make the whole thing feel effortless.
Today’s spotlight is a trip that captures exactly what Club Avandra does best: Marrakesh through the lens of Jo Elvin.
‘Souk up’
Marrakesh style with Jo Elvin
This is Marrakesh at its most polished, private and properly fun. Hosted by Jo Elvin, one of the UK’s best known names in fashion magazines, the trip is designed for members who want culture, shopping and storytelling, without the stress of figuring it all out as you go.
Based at an exclusive-use retreat just outside the city in Tameslouht, you will dip into the vibrant whirl of Marrakesh by day then return to calm, space and privacy at night.
Jo’s take is the thread that ties it all together: fashion, beauty, lifestyle and the little details that make a city feel like your kind of place.
The Levantine
La Mamounia
Your host,
Jo Elvin
Jo Elvin is one of the UK’s best-known journalists. As editor of Glamour magazine for 17 years, she helped define a generation of modern magazine culture, then went on to lead You magazine and bring her expert take on fashion, beauty and lifestyle to thousands of women every week.
Now she is a familiar face on TV, notably as fashion consultant for Lorraine, and writes for major titles as well as her Substack ‘My Goodness’. If you have ever smiled at the hashtag #clothesmyhusbandhates, you already know the Jo Elvin lens.
And that lens is exactly why this trip concept works so well. It is not just where you go, it is the perspective you travel with.
Jo Elvin
Jo on why a little solo travel
can be the secret ingredient
Jo shared this brilliant thought on marriage, independence and the joy of doing something just for you, from time to time:
“My husband, Ross and I both love dogs, wine, our daughter, even each other. We love spending time with friends who make us laugh. We both love horror films, the darker the better. And we prefer staying in to going out. But we do have our differences. He loves video games and films featuring a lot of explosions – and usually starring Jason Statham – both of which leave me unmoved. He does not share my love of west end musicals or Kpop concerts. ‘Take a gay,’ he will beg, if I ever buy tickets to either.
I like this about us. I don’t think you can last 30+ years in a marriage without letting the other’s personality breathe and flex. We both laugh a lot at the very dark joke comedian Chris Rock tells, about couples who know each other so completely that one of them needs to get themselves kidnapped, ‘so you’ve got something new to talk about.’
I have a slightly less extreme suggestion: A little solo holiday, from time to time. Ross would rather peel his own skin off than join me on an exercise break in Spain, or a wellness reset in the Austrian Alps. So instead of dragging him to his idea of hell, or denying myself my heaven, I go on my own. As younger marrieds, I think we really did believe that it was like… the law, that couples must do all things together. But as wiser old beans, we realise that a successful marriage actually thrives on these mini breaks from each other.”
The destination:
the city not everyone sees
Marrakesh can be full-on in the best way, colours, chaos, craft, scent and sound everywhere you look. This trip keeps the magic and removes the friction, with private access and curated experiences that cut straight to the good stuff.
From the medina to the most stylish restaurants and hotels, the itinerary is built around elevated moments, not box ticking. Every day starts from a serene base and unfolds with the confidence of having the right people guiding you.
The Levantine
Your stay
The Levantine
The Levantine is a tranquil 12-bedroom retreat just outside Marrakesh, beautifully renovated by local artisans to combine historic architecture with modern luxury. For this trip it is exclusive-use, meaning maximum privacy, space and the kind of relaxed rhythm that makes group travel feel genuinely enjoyable.
Rooftop terrace, pool, spa treatments if you fancy and an evening firepit drink moment that feels like the perfect counterbalance to the medina energy.
A taste of the itinerary
Arrival day highlights include:
VIP welcome and fast-track airport experience
Private transfers by luxury sedan
Champagne reception and welcome gifts
A curated tasting menu dinner at La Mamounia or Royal Mansour, with an art professor joining for extra colour and context
What’s included
Included:
Club Avandra host
Tour leader
VIP welcome and fast-track airport experience
Private transfers to and from Marrakesh airport
All breakfasts, lunches, drinks and dinners as specified
Welcome gifts
Tasting menu at La Mamounia or Royal Mansour with an art professor
Private guided tour of the Medina
Private viewing of Riad Kniza’s art collection and BCK Art Gallery
Guided tour of Majorelle Gardens
Private visit to the YSL Museum
Private workshop at the Perfume Museum
Full day excursion to the High Atlas Mountains
Not included:
Return international flights
Yoga and spa at The Levantine
Any meals and drinks not specified
Gratuities
Travel insurance
Shopping
Why Travel Seen partners with Club Avandra
These trips are about access and ease. Our role as travel partner is to make sure the experience feels smooth from the first decision to the final day, with the right support behind the scenes and the confidence that every moving part has been considered properly.
If Marrakesh with Jo Elvin sounds like your kind of few days, we can talk you through availability, rooming options and the finer details so you can decide quickly and book with confidence.
Ready to join this trip or want the next Club Avandra departure list?
Send us an enquiry and we will get you matched to the right experience. Call or Whatsapp us on 0333 305 9912.