Where to travel next (according to a BA insider)
British Airways Programme & Portfolio Manager Lara Dubier has visited 60 countries – and isn’t done yet. We sat down with her to discover the highlights of her offbeat travels. Add these to your travel wish list now (and thank us later)
17/04/2025
Words: Ina Yulo Stuve
When Lara Dubier started her career at BA 20 years ago, she couldn’t even imagine the places it would take her. She first worked for BA in Mumbai on the customer services team, eventually transitioning to sales and then making the leap to the UK. In her current role as a Programme & Portfolio Manager working on the Transformation team, Dubier is responsible for collaborating with the business on strategic ideas and taking them through to implementation. She was initially drawn to a career at BA because it gave her the opportunity to work for an esteemed brand that invests heavily in customer experience and sustainability. “It’s not just about making money,” she explains. “There’s a lot more that goes into what BA does and that’s why it’s very fulfilling for me.”
As someone who works in travel and enjoys exploring off the beaten track destinations, Dubier also benefits from having the flexibility to take last-minute trips. “I don’t have kids, so I can just pick up and go. I might decide to go on a weekend break and just book a flight on a Friday evening,” she shares. On a recent trip to Morocco, Dubier’s 60th country, she stayed in a palace at the foot of the Atlas mountains. For an upcoming trip to Vietnam, she’ll be sailing through Hạ Long Bay on an overnight cruise. Here Dubier shares some of the most spectacular places she’s been to using staff travel perks. Expect an extreme case of wanderlust to ensue.
Ivalo in Finnish Lapland. Opening image: Al Khazneh tomb at Petra, Jordan (Alex Vasey/Unsplash
Ivalo, Finland
Ivalo is part of Lapland, and when people hear Lapland, they often think of the Santa Claus Village for kids, but there is so much more to explore. Apart from chasing the northern lights on snowmobiles in the middle of the forest at night, I also went snowshoeing, did a sledding tour, swam in an ice pool at -18°C and attempted a toboggan run on one of Europe’s longest slopes – it was a full adrenaline rush! To top it all, I stayed in a glass-roofed Aurora cabin – it was my first time seeing the northern lights, so it completely stood out for me and is a memory I’ll carry with me forever.
Lara Dubier by Vieste in Puglia; making fresh pasta
Puglia, Italy
When you say Italy, you often think about Rome, Venice, and all the regular spots. But I recently went to Puglia, to a place called Alberobello. I stayed in a traditional trullo – a stone hut with a conical roof – which was just magical. The whole city is extraordinary. And the food! I mean, it’s really hard to beat the food in Italy. You can go to different places in the country – BA flies to 19 different destinations – and the food in Bologna, for example, will be different from the food in Rome. I found that the food in Puglia was a lot more local, too.
A colourful reef in the Maldives
The Maldives
I’m a water baby and this trip marked my first time staying in an over-water bungalow and flying in a sea plane, which was definitely one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had. I also did a number of water sports, such as riding a jet ski to a private sandbank in the middle of the ocean, kayaking in a glass-bottomed boat and snorkelling – I was lucky enough to spot a manta ray that had a 13ft wingspan! The Maldives is really one of those places that renders you speechless. My tip is to book an all-inclusive resort as it is much better value than paying resort prices for food and drinks.
A tomb at Petra; Lara Dubier in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan was one of the most interesting places I’ve visited. I’m Catholic, so I was constantly referring back to history as per the Old Testament and visiting the Baptismal site of Jesus was a very special experience. I visited Petra, which is an absolutely stunning monument, then floated in the Dead Sea – it’s completely unlike any other place you can possibly visit. Jordan is a real mixed bag, I did a lot of mountain trekking as well as snorkelling. The Red Sea was possibly my best snorkel experience ever due to the variety of sea life that you can spot there. We also stayed in a dome tent out in the desert in Wadi Rum. The cherry on top was that I travelled with a friend who is from Jordan, and there’s nothing like getting those local insights.
Grasshopper tacos in Mexico City
Mexico City, Mexico
The most special thing about Mexico City was the culture, which was the perfect blend of Aztec and Spanish. It also had the most offbeat food I have eaten anywhere, including grasshopper tacos, chocolate scorpions, beetles and ants, which stems from the indigenous culture of Mexico. I also did a hot air balloon ride over the Teotihuacan Pyramid and the Avenue of the Dead. Most people only think of Cancun and Tulum when you mention Mexico, but Mexico City is an absolute gem, and I’d highly recommend it.
Fríkirkjan Church on the waterfront in Reykjavík (Evelyn Paris/Unsplash)
Iceland
Iceland probably has the most unique landscape I’ve ever seen. I visited hot springs, glaciers and black lava beaches, but the most unusual thing I saw was at a waterfall where the wind was so powerful that it propelled the water upwards instead of allowing it to descend naturally – nature at its absolute best! It’s definitely one of the most offbeat places I’ve visited.
Riding in Cappadocia, Turkey; the region’s famous hot air balloons
Cappadocia, Turkey
In Turkey, I rode a hot air balloon in Cappadocia – very few things will stay in my mind like that sunrise and the feeling you get when you’re up there. It’s such an old city, too and you can do unexpected things such as stay in a cave hotel, for example. I absolutely loved Cappadocia. Then I flew into Antalya and stayed in a beach resort – I didn’t know the Turkish Riviera was so gorgeous! Everyone talks about the Italian and Spanish coastlines, but Turkey is stunning as well.
