Lombok

United MileagePlus: [via Bali] Singapore Airlines, EVA Air, Lufthansa

American AAdvantage: [via Bali] Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways

Delta Skymiles (might actually work out here…): Korean/Delta + Garuda Indonesia to Lombok

There Bali, and there's Lombok. The neighboring island, similar in size and appearance, but far less developed and overrun with tourists. I'm not saying's it's like Bali, but without the tourists. Superficially, yes, it shares the picturesque green rice paddies, volcano, and wonderful beaches. But it's different. Like the rest of Indonesia, it's a predominately Muslim island, so it doesn't share Bali's Hindu heritage. Culturally, architecturally, even ambience-wise, it's not the same. Read on. 

To understand Lombok, you have to consider its far more prominent neighbor. Now, to someone who isn't Australian, Bali feels distant, exotic. But the reality, these days, is that Bali is rather close to Australia. And it's cheap. And Aussies love to travel. It's their Caribbean. Parts of Bali feel almost overrun with tourism. There's traffic, bad traffic, on key roads. Fortunately, it's also a fairly large island, so it's not hard to "get away" from the crowds. But they're unavoidable. 

Lombok is very different. Still relatively unknown to tourists, it's nowhere near as developed as Bali. Traditions are still strong here. Modern buildings and infrastructure are only recent arrivals. And, of course, there's the lovely Gili islands in between the two islands. Most transport boats stop at them on the way, so you might as well yourself. Definitely, do that. 

The Good: 

• Beautiful beaches, lush mountainous rainforests, and picturesque rice terraces on a relatively undeveloped island without the hordes of tourists and sprawling vacation resorts of its more famous neighbor.

• The Gili Islands, almost a destination in themselves. Gili Trawangan being the party island, Gili Meno is the secluded honeymoon island, and Gili Air is the just-right little slice of island paradise in between.

• Getting off the beaten path, on the island less traveled. With the right guide, there's no shortage of authentic experiences on Lombok, where traditions are still very much alive in its numerous villages.

The Bad:

• Apart from the highly developed Gilis, Lombok is relatively undeveloped. The tourism infrastructure is present, but nowhere near as developed as Bali. Hotels and other venues tend to be more basic, but more authentic. Uber is available, but very limited in coverage.

• Don't expect to find the unique fusion of Hindu influences and tropical island culture that makes Bali unique, even among other picturesque tropical islands. Rather than centuries of exotic temples, Lombok has modest mosques. You will not see evocative fireside performances of the Ramanaya here.

• While prices overall are cheap, alcohol is far more taxed, as expected given the predominate religion of the island. A drink can end up equaling the cost of a modest dish. Not much in the way of nightlife, obviously.