Destinations for the Intelligent Traveler — Beyond the Typical Resort
Three alternative destinations for ‘intelligent’ travelers who want to leave the typical resort behind: Flores instead of Bali, Koh Yao Noi instead of Phuket, and Ninh Binh instead of Hoi An.
Destinations for the Intelligent Traveler — Destinations for ‘Intelligent’ Travelers Who Want to Leave the Typical Resort Behind and Find a New Experience
Want to get away from the typical tourist trail? Skip the crowds and head for places where quiet nature and deep culture await.
Words Pyo Youngso
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Flores Instead of Bali
Fodor’s, the American travel guidebook company, releases its ‘No List’ at the end of every year. It names 15 destinations where overtourism has become so serious that travelers are urged to stay away, and on the 2025 No List, Bali took the top spot. As travel demand surged after the pandemic, visitor numbers pushed past what the island’s tourism infrastructure can handle. Waste is a particularly serious problem (reportedly, tourists generate 3.5 times as much garbage each year as local residents do).
With the island’s ecosystem under strain and the quality of the travel experience steadily declining, it’s time to look for an alternative. Fly about 1,000 kilometers farther east from Bali, and a mysterious volcanic island awaits: Flores (Pulau Flores). It boasts a rich variety of attractions, from distinctive sights shaped by volcanic terrain, such as caldera lakes and hot springs, to pristine beaches considered hidden diving spots, lush tropical jungle, traditional indigenous culture, and the legacy of 16th-century Portuguese colonial rule. Island hopping to the small islands scattered around it, including Komodo National Park, a protected habitat for the Komodo dragon, is also popular. Above all, Flores is about 2.5 times the size of Bali but receives only about one-fifteenth as many visitors a year, which makes it ideal for a secluded, peaceful getaway.
Koh Yao Noi Instead of Phuket
With 1,300 visitors a year, Phuket is Thailand’s most popular resort destination. A few years ago, a survey found 118 tourists for every resident and ranked it among the most overcrowded destinations in the world. Beautiful nature and plenty to do are a given, and so are its excellent accessibility and wide-ranging tourism infrastructure. Put another way, a trip to Phuket rarely strays far from what you expect. And the more tourists there are, the lower satisfaction tends to be.
For ‘intelligent’ travelers who want to leave the typical resort behind and find something new, we recommend Koh Yao Noi, one of the small islands in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. With quiet beaches, white sand, humble fishing-village scenery, and glimpses of local daily life, it is a truly Thai island. Above all, it is known for well-developed community-based tourism (CBT), in which the village community takes the lead. You can stay in locally run lodging and join activities and tours that introduce local culture, experiencing sustainable travel that benefits the local economy firsthand. Unhurried hours spent exploring local markets, visiting farms, and cycling will offer a different kind of pleasure from shopping and nightlife. You can reach the island by boat from Phuket or Krabi, in 40 minutes to 1 hour.
Ninh Binh Instead of Hoi An
Gyeonggi-do, Da Nang City, Hoi An-dong. That’s the nickname for Hoi An, so called because Koreans make up more than 40 percent of all visitors to the area. Famous for its old-world Old Town, Hoi An is a small city with a total area of 60 square meters. Constant waves of tourists have brought severe congestion, aggressive touting by street vendors, and friction with locals, and word is that Hoi An has recently been losing its appeal as a destination. If you were drawn to the old-fashioned atmosphere of Hoi An’s Old Town, you will surely like Ninh Binh too. Located in the inland north of Viet Nam, Ninh Binh is called ‘Ha Long Bay on land’ for the distinctive scenery its karst landscape creates. The remains of Hoa Lu, Viet Nam’s ancient capital from the 10th century, also make it a destination where you can experience nature and history at once. Ride a rowboat along the canals that wrap around the area to enjoy the views, and explore ancient Vietnamese sites by visiting old architecture such as palaces and temples. Compared with Hoi An, it has fewer charming sights such as shops, cafés, and night markets, but it lets you soak up Viet Nam of old in a far more tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. It is about two hours by car from Hanoi, making it a good day trip.
