Avandra Blog

Ever found a destination’s journey from secret idyll to place-of-the-moment irritating? Take Majorca. For several years now, with every other summer Instagram story apparently filmed from a clifftop in Deia, those who've quietly loved it for decades might feel rather like they’ve been gazumped on our own secret.

There’s something in the air (other than 80% humidity). The cultural mood has shifted. The girls are no longer quietly getting on with it. They’re booking the trip. They're ordering the oysters. They're driving home with the windows down, music up, not answering to anyone.

There’s something in the air (other than 80% humidity). The cultural mood has shifted. The girls are no longer quietly getting on with it. They’re booking the trip. They're ordering the oysters. They're driving home with the windows down, music up, not answering to anyone.

Or, all the reasons why the capital of Finland is the trip you never knew you’ve always wanted to take…

Travel confidence has taken a hit in 2026. Flights have been cancelled, headlines have been alarming, and the sofa has started to feel suspiciously appealing. Club Avandra has a different suggestion entirely.

Club Avandra membership comes with a lot of good things. The GHA DISCOVERY Platinum status might just be the one that matters most when you're travelling solo (but not with us).

The Foreign Office just updated its travel advice for Jordan — and that means one of the world's most extraordinary destinations is firmly back on the table. Consider this your permission to book!

When news broke that newly-single Tess Daly was reportedly planning a year of solo travel, the internet had thoughts. Selfish, said one commenter. That'll be the end of her TV career, said another. The subtext was clear: a woman approaching 60, choosing herself, choosing the world — that makes people uncomfortable.

There is something quietly subversive about Galicia. This is a place where history, hedonism and high spirits collide — best experienced on foot, with a glass in hand and Kathy Lette setting the tone.

There is a particular pleasure in standing in front of a painting in a city that is not your own. You are slightly unmoored, a little more observant than usual, and perhaps – if travelling alone – deliciously answerable to nobody but yourself. No one rushing you past the good bits. No one checking their watch. Just you, the work, and that quiet flicker of recognition that something beautiful has momentarily altered the day.

The Middle East remains one of the most compelling regions on earth: ancient cities layered with history, extraordinary landscapes, and a warmth of hospitality that often surprises first-time visitors. Indeed, Jordan was the destination for one of our inaugural trips. Yet in times of geopolitical tension it is natural to ask a sensible question: is it safe to go?

For women travelling solo, padel is a quiet genius. You don’t have to sit across a table making strained conversation about where you’re from. You just play. You laugh. You clap a good shot. Afterwards, perhaps a drink appears. It’s connection without interrogation. Which is why it fits so beautifully with the way we travel at Club Avandra.

November 11th, 2024 is a Remembrance Day I will never forget. It was the date my marriage ended shockingly and suddenly. Just like that.

Multi award winning editor, broadcaster and writer Jo Elvin on taking holidays without her husband – and why being ‘selfish’ needs a positive respin.