![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/SEC_259164374-1b77.jpg\")
\n\t\tZoe Rae\u2019s comments have caused a bit of a stir (Picture: Instagram\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tZoe Rae\u2019s comments have caused a bit of a stir (Picture: Instagram\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Molly-Mae Hague<\/a>\u2019s sister Zoe Rae left Bali<\/a> after just 48 hours to jet off to Dubai<\/a> instead. And people have thoughts.<\/p>\n The 28-year-old fitness influencer had travelled to Indonesia<\/a> with her husband, Danny, to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.<\/p>\n However, in a new YouTube<\/a> vlog, Zoe revealed that Bali didn\u2019t live up to her \u2018high expectations,\u2019 which included \u2018beaches, lovely places to eat, gyms, and coffee<\/a> shops.\u2019<\/p>\n Despite staying in a spacious room at the five-star Radisson Blu hotel, Zoe claimed she had been misled by influencers who only post the \u2018luxury side of things.\u2019<\/p>\n She said that Uluwatu, a village on Bali\u2019s southwestern tip, had been recommended as one of the best places to go.<\/p>\n Her reaction was the opposite: \u2018If this is one of the better places, I\u2019m not sure what the others are like.\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSign up to The Getaway newsletter\t\t\t<\/p>\n Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Before signing off, Zoe said she\u2019d heavily researched Bali ahead of their trip. And, in a controversial comment, concluded: \u2018I think it is just personal preference, and our preference was that this isn\u2019t for us<\/a>, and we are making the executive decision to go enjoy our anniversary somewhere we know that we love and can relax and can drink the water.\u2019<\/p>\n Those who have spent time in Bali and other parts of Indonesia disagree. It\u2019s a fascinating part of the world with an abundance of culture, food and history to boot.<\/p>\n \t\t On YouTube, one viewer described Bali as a \u2018real place, with real culture, real problems and real people.\u2019 They said \u2018it\u2019s not going to be picture perfect\u2019 like Dubai<\/a> because it\u2019s \u2018not a manufactured concrete jungle made for Instagram and selfies.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a developing country, and to me personally, that\u2019s what makes it so interesting. I\u2019d much rather less glamorous travelling with some real culture. Not sure what you expected,\u2019 they concluded.<\/p>\n Another echoed this sentiment: \u2018Bali is a beautiful island, but if you\u2019re used to going to Dubai, then it\u2019s absolutely nothing like that.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018There\u2019s so much rich culture if you\u2019re prepared to look for, embrace it, and come out of your comfort zone,\u2019 they continued, adding that the people \u2018couldn\u2019t do enough for you.\u2019<\/p>\n Finally, another commenter, who honeymooned in Bali, said they were \u2018surprised\u2019 by Zoe\u2019s comments. They shared their experience: \u2018We stayed in a villa in the jungle part of Ubud. The people are so friendly and kind, that\u2019s part of the magic. And sadly, influencers can be a big problem for countries like this.\u2019<\/p>\n Metro contacted Zoe about the furore, but she hasn\u2019t responded.<\/p>\n We did manage to speak to Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, Intrepid Travel\u2019s<\/a> Indonesia General Manager and Bali resident, to get his take on her comments.<\/p>\n He told us: \u2018It\u2019s an important reminder that social media can often show the \u201chighlights\u201d or just one side of a destination.\u2019 When in reality, there are multiple ways to experience a country and definitely no one way to see this island.<\/p>\n \u2018Bali has a lot to offer beyond luxury experiences and its beaches. It\u2019s a very spiritual place with a mix of different traditions and religions. We live by the Balinese concept of \u201cmenyama braya\u201d which promotes wisdom through harmony. We love to welcome and share our culture with travellers.\u2019<\/p>\n With that in mind, we\u2019ve done some digging to find five Indonesian experiences that would live up to anyone\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n Flores<\/p>\n Just an hour\u2019s flight from Bali is Flores, a stunning \u2018hidden gem\u2019. <\/p>\n It\u2019s one of Indonesia\u2019s Lesser Sunda Islands, and paradise beaches, natural hot springs, coral reefs, and impeccable surf spots are everywhere. It\u2019s the perfect destination for wildlife lovers, as Flores is home to some of the world\u2019s most beautiful marine life.<\/p>\n Indonesian travel company Adventure Archipelago<\/a> offer a 12-day trip exploring the best of Flores. <\/p>\n From visiting the remote villages of Bena and the Ngada Tribe, to discovering hidden coves, you\u2019ll also head to a mountain complete with three coloured lakes.<\/p>\n Prices for this once-in-a-lifetime trip start from \u00a31,498 per person. A steal, really, considering the jam-packed itinerary.<\/p>\n Sumatra and Java<\/p>\n Sumatra and Java are Indonesia\u2019s biggest islands, so there\u2019s a lot of tropical ground to cover. <\/p>\n Bamboo Travel<\/a>, a company that offers private tours of Asia, reveals how you can spend 19 days making the most of both.<\/p>\n Spend time in Medan, Sumatra\u2019s capital, before heading to Bukit Lawang,in the Gunung Leuser National Park. There\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll spot wild orangutans here.<\/p>\n Java is considered the cultural heart of Indonesia. Whether you hit up the colonial town of Bogor, famed for its botanical gardens, or experience modern Indonesia in the thriving city of Bandung, the island\u2019s surrounding landscape is made up of fertile plains, towering volcanoes, and spectacular beaches.\u00a0<\/p>\n You can request a quote for this tour, as prices vary depending on which country you arrive from.<\/p>\n Bali<\/p>\n Zoe Rae may have been disappointed with Bali, but in 48 hours, there\u2019s no way she can have explored all it has to offer.<\/p>\n \u2018At Intrepid, our trips are all about experiencing a destination like a local. We hope that our travellers come away from their holiday having seen more of the country than just hotels and hotspots,\u2019 says Shekhawat.<\/p>\n Bali is famous for its cuisine, which combines fresh ingredients, aromatic spices, and unique cooking methods. <\/p>\n And Shekhawat says that no trip to the island is complete without a guided market tour: \u2018Try Kreneng Market in Denpasar, where you can eat like a local and enjoy traditional snacks like bakso soup or jasuke, a sweet, steamed corn dish.\u2019<\/p>\n Intrepid offers a three-hour Bali Heritage Food Tour<\/a>\u00a0at this market (\u00a334), where travellers can dig into delicious Indonesian cuisine and try authentic coffee in an old antique coffee shop.<\/p>\n To learn more about the issues Bali faces and to give back to the community, visit a local social enterprise. <\/p>\n Shekhawat says: \u2018We support a local NGO\u00a0Scholar of Sustenance<\/a>\u00a0which is focused on reducing food waste and hunger, collecting food from hotels, supermarkets and farms and distributing it to those in need.\u2019<\/p>\n His next recommendation is checking out a traditional Kecak dance performance. It\u2019s not driven by musical instruments, but by human chanting.<\/p>\n And of course, Bali is renowned for its temples. Shekhawat\u2019s favourite is Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. \u2018Taking part in a blessing and purification ceremony is a great way to encapsulate the spirituality of Bali.\u2019<\/p>\n Keen to fit all of these experiences into one trip?<\/p>\n Intrepid\u2019s nine-day Beautiful Bali<\/a>\u00a0package starts from \u00a3537. During this getaway, you\u2019ll explore Undisan by cycling through backstreets, villages and rice fields, and marvelling at intricately carved temples. You\u2019ll also hike to the summit of Mt Batur for a sunrise view.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other highlights include a night in Sibetan Village \u2013 a community-based tourism experience where travellers stay with locals and can explore a traditional village. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Lombok<\/p>\n Seeking turquoise waters, stretches of white sands, and miles of verdant forests? Lombok, an island east of Bali,\u00a0should be on your bucket list.<\/p>\n \t\t As beaches are its main selling point, head to paradise hotspots like Kuta Beach and Tanjung Aan, which boasts unique rock formations and a beautiful bay.\u00a0Selong Belanak is popular for swimming and surfing, while the famous Pink Beach\u00a0is a snorkelling haven.<\/p>\n Hikers, climb Mount Rinjani, or visit Tiu Kelep or Sendang Gile, two unique waterfalls. The famous Gili Islands are also a must-see: three tiny islets characterised by sandy beaches, palm trees, and coral reefs led Metro to coin them the Indonesian Maldives.<\/p>\n Want to experience life like a local? Traditional Sasak culture tours start from \u00a329 on Get Your Guide, and feature pottery classes, Sasak weaving, and a window into rural life.<\/p>\n Derawan Islands<\/p>\n If Indonesian island hopping is on the agenda, Borneo\u2019s 31 Derawan Islands are a must-visit. They\u2019re renowned for their diving and snorkelling spots, where respectful travellers can explore diverse marine life and vibrant coral reefs.<\/p>\n Scuba Junkie,<\/a> a local diving company, offers dive packages which include dreamy bungalow accommodation. A two-day diving course in a twin-share bungalow costs \u00a3310. If you\u2019re happy sharing a dorm, it\u2019s a little cheaper at \u00a3274.70.<\/p>\n However, to guarantee a proper dive trip to islands such as Maratua and Kakaban, a minimum of four to six days of diving will need to be booked. Four days in a dorm costs \u00a3510.<\/p>\n Thrillseekers, make sure to visit Kakaban Lake on the aforementioned Kakaban Island to swim with stingless jellyfish. In the local dialect, Kakaban means \u2018hug,\u2019 and refers to the way the island looks as though it\u2019s hugging the lake. The islet is a UNESCO World Heritage site.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Sangalaki Island, you can watch turtles nest and hatch, while notable beaches include Derawan Beach, Maratua Lagoon and Nabire Beach. This particular gem is known for its breathtaking sunsets. Cocktail, anyone?<\/p>\n So you see, Indonesia is anything but less-than. We know we\u2019ll be adding plenty of these experiences to our bucket lists.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1819612131-6bb6.jpg\")
\n\t\tWhen real life doesn\u2019t look real, you know it\u2019s a place worth visiting (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/GettyImages-1457082823-6783.jpg\")
\n\t\tAnd relax\u2026 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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