SD › Lombok Best Hotels
Updated: December 28, 2021
By Santorini Dave
The 17 Best Hotels in Lombok
1. Holiday Resort – Senggigi
Spacious Bali-style resort with family-friendly amenities. This is one of very few places on Lombok that actively encourages families and boasts a traditional layout reminiscent of Bali. The ocean view rooms are crammed with funky furnishings that do detract from the traditional design, while the balcony offers extensive views of the garden, pool and sea. Equally unsuitable furniture and art are inside the garden chalets and beach bungalows, but the décor of the two-bedroom family suites͛is more appropriate. The newer rooms on the other side of the road, however, are considerably less appealing and would suffer traffic noise. The striking beachside lawns are peppered with palms and the massive pool features a swim-up bar. Numerous activities are offered, but the kids club is modest. The sandy bayside setting is superb, and Senggigi is only 10 minutes by taxi.
2. Jeeva Klui Resort – Senggigi
Odd name and contemporary design, yet traditional ambience. Halfway along Mangsit (10 minutes by taxi from Senggigi), the unassuming entrance belies the spacious and shady gardens scattered with swaying palms. The very appealing design is possibly unique in Lombok: modern, but also traditional, with carvings, sculptures, and stone vases flanking paths made of wood. Each room is spacious and airy, and boasts ideal views of the gardens and/or sea from the substantial balcony. There is the requisite outdoor shower, but the combined bathroom/closet is quite dark. At the end of a captivating cove, the beachfront is rocky, but empty sandy stretches are less than one kilometre away, and the beachside Infinity pool is particularly inviting. Other touches, such as free yoga classes, a games room for families, and an adults-only pool, make this resort more appealing than most.
3. Merumatta – Senggigi
Functional resort and luxurious villa complex in prime location. Perched on a promontory in the middle of town, Senggigi’s first and largest resort seems a little dated but plans for renovations are underway. The standard rooms with views of the extensive gardens or sea are affordable and functional, while the garden bungalows offer more seclusion but face the noisy public beach. Far more captivating are the two-story villas with direct access to the winding lagoon-style pool at the exclusive and adjacent Pool Villa Club. Upstairs, there are a jacuzzi, wide balcony, and exquisite bedroom; downstairs, a huge living/dining/kitchen area. Most of the beachfront is unsuitable for swimming or sunbathing, but there’s still enough sand and sea for all. Guest activities include tennis and snorkeling (just offshore), although the kids club is underwhelming.
4. Living Asia Resort & Spa – Senggigi
Modern, understated boutique hotel along remote but tranquil beach. The contemporary brown-and-white design is appealing and the setting among the extensive gardens is very pleasant, although the narrow block does prohibit sea views from anywhere. The rooms feature a lovely open-aired bathroom, massive balcony/patio and plentiful modern art, but they still feel a little stark. Some face a huge lawn, while others offer glimpses of the sea rather than genuine ocean views. The villas have private pools and some do directly face the ocean. The beach is greyish but shady, and part of a curved bay not (yet) shared with other resorts, and the alluring beachside pool is surrounded by attractive wooden decking. As the northernmost resort in Mangsit, about 20 minutes by taxi from Senggigi, it feels isolated, with no shops/cafés nearby.
5. Lombok Lodge – Medana
Ultra-modern villas, isolated, and with no beach. Located along an extensive sandy peninsula 40 minutes by taxi from Senggigi, this cluster of nine suites was, however, built facing a rocky shore. It is very trendy (eg staff are dressed as if attending a karate lesson) and contemporary, with all buildings angular and coated white, black, or grey. The inside is marginally more appealing, but still mostly white and grey, with impractical furniture, such as a room-long wooden bench too low to use as a desk. The positives are that the room is crammed with the latest appliances, the generous balcony does offer attractive sea views, and the rates include breakfast and a five-course dinner. And the lack of beach is offset by a raised sandy ridge offering welcome views and breezes alongside the divine Infinity pool.
6. Oberoi Beach Resort – Medana
Luxury and extraordinary setting, but isolated. The lobby is immensely photogenic: the multi-layered Infinity pool seemingly dripping into the ocean yet blending into the horizon reflects the abundant coconut palms. The immaculate lawns seem endless and the powdery-white beach offers uninterrupted views of untouched bays. The pavilions feature a stylish wooden floor, traditional décor, and sizable balcony. Those with garden views are reminiscent of villas in an African game park, while the ones with sea views are more appealing. Hidden behind lofty stone walls, the one and two-bedroom villas (some with a private pool) have a lush garden courtyard and sunken marble bath. Numerous activities are available, and some are free, including yoga. A windy 40-minute taxi trip from Senggigi, the Oberoi is remote but a handful of shops in the nearby village help reduce the isolation.
7. Puri Mas Boutique Resort & Spa – Senggigi
Luxury, style, and history in superb location. Only five minutes by taxi from Senggigi, this elegant resort was built 30 years ago, and retains a traditional design, with wooden floors, open-air bathrooms, and carved doors. The villas/suites, with one to four bedrooms, are secluded, spacious, and packed with chunky wooden furniture and modern (possibly tasteless) art; some have a sizable private pool, others a jacuzzi instead. Although the resort faces a rocky beach, a sandy shore with surf is within a short stroll. The pool seems to stretch into the ocean, and the flawless gardens are sprinkled with Indonesian sculptures. Guests can visit the Puri Mas Spa Resort, magnificently set in the foothills nearby and accessible by hotel bus. It offers unparalleled tranquility, as well as a miniature zoo, wonderful museum, and two villas.
8. Qunci Villas – near Senggigi
Modern yet traditional boutique hotel in agreeable location. Pronounced kunci (key in Indonesian), this delightful resort is nestled in a curved bay at Mangsit, 10 minutes by taxi from Senggigi. Each of the bright and airy rooms feature a divine window-side sofa, open-air garden bathroom with pebble floor, substantial patio/balcony, and walls adorned with modern art (not to everyones taste). All rooms face the gardens or sea, while a few are candidly labelled partial ocean view rooms.The spacious villas further up the hill contain up to three bedrooms and an elegant outdoor lounge area overlooking a private pool. The trio of Infinity pools just metres from the sea are surrounded by attractive wooden decking, creaking from abundant lounge chairs. Qunci welcomes families and offers a range of intriguing activities, with a particular focus on traditional pottery, cooking, and painting.
9. Santosa Villas & Resort
Affordable, convenient, and well-established, but needing a makeover. The entrance – a tranquil 100 metres from the main road in central Senggigi – opens out to a narrow block with lush tropical gardens but limited sea views. The deluxe suites look uninspiring from the outside, but feature a tasteful Indonesian décor and substantial balcony overlooking the lawns. The deluxe cottage rooms are more appealing, with thatched roofs and wooden balconies. Unfortunately, the three-level block of 100+ terrace rooms has been abandoned and become an eyesore, reminding guests that the whole resort requires renovations. It faces a public beach lined with fishing boats, which limits swimming and sunbathing, but the extensive lagoon-shaped pools are vast enough to be linked by bridges. There are also tennis courts, a water sports centre, and very modest kids club.
10. Senggigi Cottages – Senggigi
Mid-priced, personable, and quiet, yet in central Senggigi. Less than 100 metres along a shady path from the main road, this cosy cluster of rooms is remarkably convenient to the seemingly endless strip of shops, cafés and bars, but distant from the relentless noise of traffic and nightclubs. Extensive renovations and obvious pride shown by the owners make this far more appealing than many others, so it’s often fully booked. With only 10 rooms on the undersized sloping block, it feels compact and not overcrowded, but there is no garden to speak of. The spacious semi-detached deluxe rooms offer some views, while the standard ones are a bit dark inside but still comfortable. The convivial bar/restaurant with its thatched roof and bamboo poles overlooks the adequately-sized pool.
11. Hotel Tugu – Sire Beach
Extraordinary and museum-esque, on idyllic but remote beach. The traditional holy-water blessing on arrival sets the tone for this remarkable resort. Designed with an omnipresent Hindu influence, some villas are also part of a reconstructed 150-year-old Chinese-Lombok village. And guests can hear nothing but appreciative birdlife and gentle waves lapping at the perfect beach (which is also ideal for snorkeling). The sand is dotted with lanterns, huts and hammocks, and the two gorgeous Infinity pools seem to stretch into the sea. The secluded suites feature private pools and divine open-air bathrooms, but the antique furniture is impractical, while the spacious villas contain an unusual copper-lined bath. Located 40 minutes by taxi from Sengiggi, the resort is isolated, with guests obliged to spend almost their entire holiday at the resort.
12. Katamaran Hotel & Resort – Senggigi
Functional, affordable, and nicely located, but without much tradition. The open-air lobby is welcoming, although the overall design of this new resort is not Indonesian. It faces a broad stretch of beach not shared with other hotels, although the waves are reasonably high and astoundingly loud. The Ocean View Suites are spacious enough for two double beds and offer genuine seascapes from the sizable balconies. The bright and airy Tropical Pool Villas have one or two bedrooms, and a tasteful décor and stone-walled bathroom. Immensely appealing is the beachside split-level pool with unusual glass sides, and lounge chairs lying in the shallow ends. The Katamaran offers cooking classes and island tours, as well as free yoga classes. Located in Mangsit, about 10 minutes by taxi from Senggigi, it feels less isolated than others because a few cafés are within walking distance.
13. Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort – Senggigi
Luxury resort with prime location and sublime beach. Although the design of the three-level block of rooms is fairly bland, the genuine traditional touches, such as artefacts lining the corridors and sculptures among the pool, are attractive. Most (but not all) deluxe seaside rooms have genuine ocean vistas, and all feature a cooling wooden floor, tasteful furniture, local art, and abundant seating, but the balconies are smallish. The family grand suites areover sized, with a gigantic dining table (but no kitchen), and two extensive balconies overlooking the pool. The private beach is eye-catching, while the lagoon-shaped pool and decking is encircled by palms. Although there’s no kids club, the resort is well set up for families. On the outskirts of Senggigi, its still within walking distance of numerous cafés/shops but distant from nightclubs. Some rooms, however, are close to the main road.
14. Harmony Villas – Kuta
A cluster of Mediterranean-style villas amid bustling village. The sparkling white exterior of these five new villas and the subtle turquoise décor are reminiscent of a guesthouse on a Greek island. Each is pleasingly spacious and lovingly decorated with rattan furniture and tasteful paintings, but they do seem a little stark inside. The major drawback is that each villa directly faces another barely 20 metres across the pool, which would significantly affect noise levels and privacy, especially with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. One bonus is the location, where the village blends into the tourist town. The nearby beach is scruffy, but a superb stretch of sand is only 10 minutes on foot. And note: children are not allowed in the adult sanctuary.
15. Kies Villas – Kuta
Intimate, comfortable, and secluded with a countryside vibe. This cosy collection of villas, rooms, and bungalows is appealingly laidback, with swinging hammocks and thatched huts dotted among the palm-filled gardens. The spacious rooms are crammed with funky furniture, arts and crafts, and feature feet-cooling tiled floors, an open-air garden bathroom, and sliding doors facing the pool. Villas contain two bedrooms, a kitchen, and private pool, while the twin-level exotic bungalows are built in a traditional style reminiscent of eastern Indonesia. These bungalows have a generous living/kitchen area below, but the bedroom upstairs would be hot. The main pool is enticing, but the other pool squeezed between rooms lacks direct sun. Kies is a bit isolated, however: 10 minutes on foot from shops/cafés and another 10 minutes to the beach.
16. Puri Rinjani Bungalows – Kuta
Old-style and mid-priced in heart of Kuta’s imminent redevelopment. This collection of bungalows is central, well-established, laidback, and, therefore, often solidly booked. Semi-detached and Balinese in design, most deluxe rooms are so spacious that they seem sparse inside, even with a queen and double bed. The detached superior͛ rooms are actually smaller but newly renovated with a traditional design, such as a thatched roof, as well as sliding doors. Each bungalow features a large patio facing the substantial gardens and the modest circular pool with attached bar. Opposite the beach and close to shops/cafés, it will be in the midst of the foreshore redevelopment, which is still pending. This would significantly increase the hotel͛s convenience, but the noise would be considerable in the interim as construction proceeds.
17. Novotel Resort & Villas – Kuta
Kuta’s only resort is well-established but isolated. Although facing a postcard-perfect beach, no accommodation offers sea views, but this does allow guests to share the foreshore with its volleyball courts, lounge chairs, and delightful pools. Each terrace room along the three-story block features an exquisite bathroom, unusual wooden floor, and batik-style linen. Those on the ground floor have patios, but, disappointingly, those on the upper levels have no balconies. The appealing villas are almost stone age in design, some with a private pool and all hidden behind towering walls. The resort offers many free and paid activities such as cooking classes and horse riding. The kids club is, however, below the standard expected of a Novotel, and it feels isolated: a 20-minute walk from Kuta (but quicker via the beach). Inexcusably, no shuttle bus is available.
About Santorini Dave