America's Most Searched Vacation Destination On Google Is Three Pristine Tropical Islands

For millions of travelers, paradise pictured is a gorgeous tropical island with a white sand beach and crystal blue waters away from it all. Now picture three of them, each offering a completely different type of vacation experience and you have the Gili Islands, the top trending destination American travelers searched on Google in 2024. Despite being a stone's throw from Bali, the Gilis will give you a completely different perspective. Unlike Bali, a great destination for wild adventures, the Gili Islands are perfect places to kick back and relax. All three islands have incredible beaches and world-class diving, and you can even treat yourself to a massage afterward. You'll forget about life thousands of miles away back home no matter which island you're on.

Even though the Gili Islands are incredibly close to one another, each island caters to a different type of visitor. Gili Trawangan (trah-wang-ahn), or "Gili T" is the largest, most crowded, and most developed of the three. The island has resorts, cafes, bars, and amenities that many Western tourists are used to on Southeast Asian beach trips, as well as a reputation for wild parties at night. 

If you want to go local, Gili Meno (meh-no) is much quieter and full of charming guesthouses and small "warung" (local shops) serving classic dishes such as nasi goreng, mie goreng, and the catch of the day. And for Goldilocks, Gili Air (ah-ir) is well balanced in terms of tourist amenities, food selection, crowds, and activities. All three islands have basic medical facilities as well. For decades, tourism has been an important part of the Gili Islands economy and the friendly locals will try their best to welcome you, though they are largely more conservative than Balinese and may be outnumbered by foreigners. Don't forget to bring your smile when things get tough!

Many sources online recommend flying to Lombok to visit the Gili Islands. However, unless you are already in Southeast Asia, direct international flights to the Lombok airport are limited to a handful of flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The closest major international hub is Denpasar, on Bali, meaning a visit to the Island of the Gods ties in perfectly with a trip to the Gili Islands. Then, once you reach Bali, hop on a fast ferry. Ferries leave every morning from Serangan, near Kuta and Legian in South Bali. From Ubud, it is easier to leave from Padang Bai in east Bali. If you have your sea legs in tow, do your research and avoid the dodgy ferries, regardless of where you depart from. Dangerous and dodgy here means overloaded and undermaintained, and accidents do happen.

A part of the draw to the Gilis is their relative isolation. Once you arrive on your paradise island, you will hand carry your luggage or utilize a "cidomo" (chi-doh-mo) — a horse-drawn carriage to take you to your accommodation, as there is virtually no motorized transportation, though bicycles are common. When going off the beaten path, it's always a good idea to have travel insurance that includes medical evacuation in a worst-case scenario. Also, note that although there are few police or police stations on the islands, watch out for petty crime and do not use illegal drugs in Indonesia. 

If you're keen on island hopping, a local ferry service runs between the three islands and Sengigi, Lombok with Gili Trawangan as the hub. The local ferries can be slow, loud, and crowded, so it's worth paying a few dollars more for a fast boat. Public ferries run to Lombok during daylight hours, though you can charter a boat at night if needed.

Just to the east of Gili Air is the island of Lombok, an up-and-coming tourist destination in Indonesia. Tourism in Lombok has largely shifted to Kuta, Lombok, since the end of COVID-19 due to the development of Indonesia's Moto GP racetrack. In comparison to Bali, Lombok offers a quiet reprieve from the throngs of tourists and mega-resorts. It's a perfect place to learn to surf and the Kuta Beach area has beach bars, cafes, local and international fare, and comfortable accommodations even for budget travelers. 

Lombok is home to the Sasak people, many of whom are devout Muslims and live outside of tourist areas. Locals are more conservative than on Bali or the Gili Islands and generally poorer, but incredibly friendly toward foreigners. Their home island is a gateway to spectacular hiking, surfing, snorkeling, and diving, as well as home to cultural villages (desa sade) and a few (somewhat) pink beaches on the southeastern part of the island. Locals in tourist and non-tourist areas are generally excited to meet foreigners and practice their English and may invite you to join them for coffee or tea. Learning a few greetings in Bahasa Indonesia (the country's official language) will go a long way to making your trip memorable for both you and the locals you meet on your trip.

If you venture onto Lombok, be aware that you will have trouble finding public transport and using transportation applications such as Grab and Gojek for cars. You will need to rent a driver if you plan to travel across the island by car or book a tour. If you prefer to drive yourself, scooters and motorbikes are cheap and very easy to rent around Kuta, however, you should still have an international driver's permit in case you run into local traffic police.