Insta VS Reality Sets In For Pool-Seeking Tourists

A traveler discovered the hard truth of how different parts of Bali can be from one another when she proudly displayed the breathtaking panorama from her hostel.

Luna De Fauw, a Dutch tourist, shared a video she shot from her hotel balcony in Canggu, Bali, on TikTok in December.

She began her video by showcasing the immaculate pool inside the hotel grounds, and then cut to a muddy field with unfinished houses in the background.

Travel Bloggers Record Their Insta VS Reality Pool Experience

Captioned “Bali Insta vs real life,” Ms. De Fauw’s video showed the bright blue poolside tranquility with lined-up deck lounges, manicured lawns, and palm trees.

The camera panned next door to a muddy expanse with patches of grass and abandoned buildings, with a massive construction site in the distance.

Reactions on Social Media

People on social media reacted to Ms. De Fauw’s post about Bali by calling it “overrated,” but some defended the well-known tourist destination.

Some have criticized Ms. De Fauw for trying to save money on her Bali vacation, urging her to “pay the price” for a more luxurious experience.

Yet others managed to find the humorous side of things by making remarks about the muddy grassy area adjacent to the hostel.

‘We love the alternative beach,’ one of them joked.

This follows the posting of similar footage by other TikTokers from the popular holiday destination, showing beautiful villas next to swampy areas.

On the popular video sharing app TikTok, British tourist Victoria Goulbourne revealed the truth about her vacation last November.

Her video overlaid with the words “Insta VS Reality” panned from the pristine pool, deck, and palm trees in front of the villa to the murky swamp and dirty creek in the backyard. It perfectly showcases the difference between expectation and reality.

Insta Vs Reality & Travel Culture

The “Insta vs Reality” travel culture refers to the discrepancy between the idealized and heavily edited versions of travel experiences that go viral on social media, versus the more mundane or even negative aspects of those same experiences. Tourists posting videos that feature a beautiful pool only to pan and show off a construction zone or unlandscaped surroundings is one example of this phenomenon.

By only showcasing the attractive or picturesque aspects of their travels, such as a beautiful pool, and hiding or downplaying the less desirable parts, such as a construction zone or unlandscaped surroundings, these tourists are presenting a skewed and unrealistic portrayal of their experience. This can create a false impression for viewers and lead to disappointment or frustration when they arrive at the same destination and find that it doesn’t match the idealized version they saw on social media.

This type of behavior also contributes to the growing trend of “fake” or “staged” travel content on social media, which can be misleading and deceptive for consumers. It’s important for travelers to be mindful of this and to strive for authenticity and honesty in their travel content, rather than only presenting a polished and idealized version of their experiences.