With travel guides for Bali everywhere, it’s hard to pick apart what is truly the “essence” of Bali.

Many refer to Bali as “the most luxurious place in the world” or “the world’s favorite destination,” giving the impression that the whole country is made of gold and diamonds, right? In a recent post, even I played up the essence of luxurious Bali.

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Bali is often marketed for the beauty of the physical landmass and tourist resorts, rather than acknowledging many layers that exist.

While Bali is absolutely beautiful, it’s risky to essentialize such a place in this way. Many countries are jaw-dropping and instagram-able. There is immense culture and history in Bali overlooked as tourists seek out the sunsets and swings.

The land-mass itself attracts tourists as they wander ignorantly forgetting many countries nearby look photogenic. This becomes a problem as it drives tourism away from places that need the revenue, and ignores the economic struggles of the people who live in Bali.

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“Bali receives over 3,000,000 visitors every year with revenue from tourism in excess of 5.5 billion USD. Even so, there are many residents of Bali who live in abject poverty.”

While traveling around Bali looking to be as boujee as it’s advertised to be, I urge you to remember to look to the many intricate economic, political, and cultural relations between Bali and other countries – even the one you are coming from. It is best to be travelers that understand the intricate layers of a place rather than tourists who choose one aspect to essentialize. The way that Bali interacts with the world is fluid and the tourist attractions that draw us in are not all it has to offer – do your research!

Stay boujee, but more importantly, stay on a budget.