Smiling young woman with long blonde hair wearing a white top standing in a desert landscape during sunset.

Laila Stock

Product & Marketing

I am Laila and I have been working in tourism since 2017, since 2024 as part of the Take Memories team. My focus is particularly on parts of Asia – from Sri Lanka to Malaysia – and the Orient. I have extensively traveled to nearly all Arab countries and have a particularly deep expertise in Oman, Qatar, and the Emirates – in Dubai, I know not only every hotel but also the best restaurants, cafés, and sights inside out. At Take Memories, I am responsible for product and marketing and decide for most regions which country and which hotel make it to our website, to the social media channels, as well as to our brochures and newsletters. In short: I curate the shop windows in which you can get inspired for your next holiday planning.

laila@takememories.com
A smiling young woman with long blonde hair standing indoors in a sophisticated lobby area with large potted trees, elegant seating, and warm wall lights.
All regions that are close to my heart share a particularly exciting culture – whether shaped by religion, tradition, or mentality. I am fascinated by countries that are authentic and have a unique recognition value through their culture.
A woman wearing a beanie, warm jacket, and green boots is fishing from a small boat on a calm lake with hills and forest in the background under a clear blue sky.
A woman in a light blue dress walking barefoot on a stone path near a curved pool surrounded by palm trees under a clear sky at a resort.
Two people standing on a snowy landscape under a night sky illuminated by green northern lights, with footprints leading to them and dark hills in the background.
A woman dressed in white standing barefoot on sandy terrain with a large, leafy tree in the background under a partly cloudy blue sky.
A man dressed in traditional white clothing and a green turban crouches on marble floor to take a photo with a smartphone of three women standing in front of a white mosque with intricate arches and greenery under a clear blue sky.

On my bucket list

Borneo & Greek Islands

At the top of my list is a trip to Borneo – the diversity of culture and impressive wildlife particularly excites me, as I have always been fond of animals, especially monkeys. This can be well combined with the remote islands of Malaysia, which would add a completely unique facet to this trip. In contrast to my otherwise very long-distance travel life, I am also drawn to the Greek islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, or Zakynthos – destinations that I see others visiting year after year and that have experienced a real hype in terms of hotels in recent years.

My next trip

Norway

In autumn, I plan to go on another long-distance trip; the destination is deliberately not yet set – I like to be inspired spontaneously, just as I enjoy doing that for the travel wishes of others. For winter, however, my destination is already set: I'm heading to Norway, near Trondheim, about an hour by car from the next city. There, I will spend a winter vacation with family and friends, hoping to see the Northern Lights.

About Laila – How the Orient and Asia won my heart

My greatest inspiration for traveling has always been and still is my family. As the youngest of three siblings, I have literally been on the road with my parents since birth – not in the kids' club, but at night markets, not at the children's buffet, but at the street food stand around the corner. Instead of animation by hotel staff, we had authentic encounters with locals, and as a child, I learned that there is hardly a travel destination that parents need to shy away from with children.

India was the first country in my childhood passport when I was just three months old – since then, I have been there eight times, including at a traditional Indian wedding. Over the years, a real familiarity with the Orient and large parts of Asia has developed: I know not only the places, but also their development over time. What fascinates me most to this day is how much history and character is packed into each individual place – and how differently this is expressed from region to region.

Today, I still enjoy traveling with my family as much as I did as a child, only that the roles are slowly shifting: When I am traveling with my nieces and nephews, I suddenly see familiar places with completely new eyes. That continues to drive me to this day – personally just as much as in my work at Take Memories: For me, traveling primarily means spending time with the people who are most important to me, in places that profoundly move me.

Places that particularly excite me

India – The Golden Triangle

If you still have reservations about India, I recommend the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur: The architecture, culture, and joy of life of the people captivate every newcomer to Asia. Immersing oneself in a completely different world can sometimes be painful because poverty is visibly present here – but I encounter kindness and openness that disregard where one comes from or how different the material conditions are.

Sri Lanka

On my round trip through Sri Lanka, what I especially remember are the tea regions in the highlands – the train ride through the tropical plantations, past lush greenery and a pleasant seclusion was a unique experience. In my view, Sri Lanka is particularly well-suited for those who are still hesitant about the great cultural shock of Asia: The country is easy to travel, without having to miss out on the cultural depth that I appreciate about the region.

Egypt

My personal highlight in Egypt is the route from Aswan to Luxor along the Nile, including the temple complexes and tombs along the way. During school, I was never a great enthusiast for history, but the way the local guides brought the history of the pharaohs to life completely captivated me. Additionally, the high-quality hospitality: Especially on the Nile, the cruise industry has noticeably developed in recent years, with a level of exclusivity that is still very fairly priced compared to other Oriental destinations – exciting historical impressions included.

United Arab Emirates

The Emirates are for me much more than a well-accessible travel destination – they are my personal retreat. I know Dubai and Abu Dhabi particularly well, and when a trip happens to lead over one of these hubs, I like to plan a few days for a stopover. What fascinates me about the Emirates is the unique character of each one: all highly developed and oriented towards modernity, yet each with very different charms. I understand the criticism of superlative luxury or perceived short-livedness well – all the more I recommend looking for moments away from the well-known Instagram spots, where the Emirates are still very much themselves.

Morocco – Marrakech

Morocco is so much more than just a city, and yet one has especially won my heart: Marrakech. The city feels like a modern dream from 1001 Nights – high-quality hospitality, impressive craftsmanship, and experiences that resonate for years even after a short trip. I most enjoy strolling through the old town and its narrow alleys, past the colorful doors, each telling a story when you talk to the locals, and through the impressive garden landscapes amid the hustle and bustle of the city. For all those looking for a special city trip from Europe, Marrakech is my favorite recommendation.

See where I've traveled

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A woman standing in front of a wall with ancient Egyptian paintings depicting two figures wearing traditional headdresses and holding symbolic objects.

Egypt

Egypt can be experienced like hardly any other country in a single trip – cultural holiday, Nile cruise, and beach seamlessly come together and increasingly fascinate young travelers.
A woman in black athletic wear standing on sand dunes, watching the sun set over a vast desert landscape.

United Arab Emirates

I know all seven Emirates personally, and they are most beautiful to me where they are most authentic – at a local camel race in the desert or with a cup of tea in a small tea house.
A group of people dressed in traditional Indian clothing standing indoors on a wooden floor. Two men and one woman wear blue ceremonial attire, while another woman wears a red and gold sari.

India

India has accompanied me since my childhood, and to this day the invitation to a seven-day traditional wedding remains my personal highlight – right in the middle wearing a sari instead of just watching.