Breadcrumbs ![Sapna's Marrakesh Essentials](https://media.sheerluxe.com/i3mcRkAITWyDx87PbWwRCwg2pK8=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Famex-sapna-hero.jpg) [Travel](/culture/travel) / 02 October 2026 # Sapna's Marrakesh Essentials SL's deputy editor Sapna knows that the best trips strike the perfect balance between discovery and downtime. Fresh from another visit to Marrakesh – where she's been venue scouting for her upcoming wedding – she shares the travel rituals, booking habits and packing essentials she always relies on. Plus, with the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card (Representative 135.7% APR variable) in her wallet, she's collecting Avios before she's even reached the airport… [ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/53599) Created in partnership with American Express ## THE PLANNING When I travel, I always want to go somewhere that feels exciting but easy, where you can fit plenty into a few days without ever feeling rushed. That's exactly why I keep going back to Marrakesh. It has everything I love – beautiful hotels, incredible restaurants, amazing shopping, fascinating culture and the Atlas Mountains less than an hour away if you fancy escaping the city. It's also become incredibly special to me because it's where we're getting married, so my recent visits have been a mix of venue scouting, wedding planning and making the most of every spare hour with a good lunch or massage. I like getting the important bookings sorted well before I leave – flights, hotels and a couple of standout experiences. It means I can relax once I'm there, rather than spending the trip trying to organise everything. I put those bigger bookings on my BA Amex® Premium Plus Card, while all the little bits of holiday prep – from beauty appointments to holiday shopping – help me collect Avios on my everyday spending before I've even packed my suitcase. Right now, eligible new Cardmembers, can collect 60,000 bonus Avios when they spend £6,000 in their first three months of Cardmembership, if they apply by 6 October 2026. It's the kind of offer that makes you start thinking about where your next trip could take you – whether that's another European escape, a long-haul adventure or somewhere you've had on your list for years. One of my favourite benefits of the Card is the Companion Voucher. If you spend £15,000 in a Cardmembership year, you can unlock one, which allows you to take someone on the same cabin class as you on a Reward Flight for no extra Avios. Or if you're travelling solo, it’s half the usual amount of Avios required. The Voucher also allows you to travel in any cabin including First or Business Class\*\*. It's a lovely reminder that while I'm getting excited about one holiday, I'm already working towards the next. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/ITFbCESZ4S0VaeXMIwmgyH3PJxc=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Famex-sapna-landscape.jpg) ](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/) ## THE PACKING I've learned that for Marrakesh it's best to pack light... you're definitely coming home with more than you arrived with. No matter how much I tell myself I'll only buy one or two things, I somehow always come back with bespoke leather slippers, handmade jewellery, woven baskets, ceramics and far more homeware than clothes. My holiday wardrobe is usually built around easy dresses, linen separates, flat sandals for wandering the Medina and something a little smarter for dinner. Then, the more luxe hotels deserve a glam outfit or two but comfort always wins during the day. I also try to do any holiday shopping well before I fly. Leaving everything until the last minute inevitably means buying things I don't need, whereas planning ahead means I only invest in pieces I'll wear all season. Whether it's a new suitcase, holiday wardrobe updates or beauty essentials, I put those purchases on my BA Amex Premium Plus Card and collect Avios as I shop\*. I love that I'm collecting towards my next holiday with the things I buy. [ ![](https://media.sheerluxe.com/avHLaJvV-XsaZSDUuIn5giFbeSU=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F08%2Famex-sapna-1.jpg) ](https://www.americanexpress.com/en-gb/) ## THE TRAVEL ESSENTIAL One thing I've become much more conscious of is making my everyday spending work harder for me. Whether I'm booking flights, reserving hotels, pre-booking unforgettable experiences like a sunrise balloon ride or picking up those last holiday essentials, I like knowing those purchases can contribute towards my next adventure. That's why my BA Amex Premium Plus Card has become an essential travel partner. It helps me collect Avios before I've even reached the airport, so every booking and everyday purchase works towards the next trip. And with the current limited-time offer, you could fly in Business Class to Athens, Mykonos or Santorini, giving you another reason to start thinking about your next escape. For me, travel starts long before take-off. It's in the excitement of researching hotels, booking memorable experiences, buying those holiday pieces you've been thinking about for months and counting down until departure. Knowing I'm collecting Avios throughout that whole process makes every stage feel like part of the journey. ## THE HOLIDAY My perfect day starts with a traditional Moroccan breakfast, followed by a coffee in Gueliz before heading into the souks. I never plan a specific route because half the fun is getting completely lost. Some of the best boutiques are hidden down tiny alleyways and it's impossible to resist stopping every few minutes to admire beautifully crafted ceramics, textiles and leather goods. If I could recommend one experience, it would be a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the Atlas Mountains. Watching the landscape slowly emerge as the sun comes up is one of those unforgettable travel moments that stays with you long after you've unpacked. I love being able to pre-book experiences like this before I travel, too – it's one less thing to think about once you're there. After that, I'd happily spend the afternoon by the pool before finishing with dinner. Anywhere with a candlelit setting, live Moroccan musicians and exceptional tagines. I've realised over the years that Marrakesh is best enjoyed slowly. You don't need to squeeze every museum, restaurant and market into one weekend. The magic is in wandering without a plan, lingering over long lunches, booking that extra spa treatment and leaving enough time to simply enjoy where you are. *For more information and to apply for the British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card, search ‘BA Amex Prem Plus’. Representative 135.7% APR variable.* *Your rate may vary depending on your circumstances. Annual fee applies. Terms apply. 18+. Subject to approval. Spend a minimum of £15,000 in a Cardmembership year to get a Companion Voucher. Voucher valid for 24 months, in any cabin.* *\*\*\*Taxes, fees and carrier charges still apply.* *\*\*If you're an eligible new Cardmember, there's currently a limited time offer running until 6 October 2026 where you can collect 60,000 Avios when you spend £6,000 in the first three months of Cardmembership. T&Cs apply. 18+. This new Cardmember offer is only available if you don’t currently have a personal British Airways American Express® Card, and haven’t had one in the last 24 months.* *\*\*\*\*Reward Flights are available to any British Airways Club Members with an Avios balance. In addition to your Avios, the only cash amount required for Reward Flights is a fixed cash amount. Your chosen date of travel will determine whether you pay a peak or off-peak Avios amount. When booking Reward Flights, you can choose all peak dates, all off-peak dates or a mixture of the two. For travel in First, a cash amount to cover taxes, fees and carrier charges will be payable. The taxes, fees and carrier charges will vary dependent on airline and destination and will be calculated when you book your flights. The final fee (i.e. Avios plus payable taxes, fees and carrier charges) will be displayed at the final stage of your booking.* [*Find out more about Reward Flights*](https://www.britishairways.com/content/the-british-airways-club/avios/spending-avios/reward-flights)*.* [*The British Airways Club Terms and Conditions*]() *and* [*Conditions of Use*](https://www.britishairways.com/content/the-british-airways-club/about-the-club/conditions-of-use) *apply.* *The prices referenced in this article are for Reward Flights and based on an off-peak, return fare for 1 passenger from London to Athens, Mykonos or Santorini travelling in Club Europe (Business) for 53,500 Avios plus £40. 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