New to forum and Lombok but need help.............please

We are off to Bali (5th trip with kids) in Sept for 28 nights have decided to spend 4 of those nights in Lombok.

We are Mum and Dad (both 40's) and Mr 14.

We intend to fly in but apart from that have no idea where to stay or what to do.

Travel agent suggest the Novotel but a few on the BTF said that was too isolated.

We really don't want to be too far away from anywhere. We tend to swim and sleep in the hotel and venture out for everything else.

Open to any and all suggestions.

Also what has the most room space as we share a room for the three of us..........................

Only found out 5 minutes ago that there was Lombok forum...............yippy.

Thanks so much in advance

ooops sorry some how i posted this as a new topic, silly me

take a look at the Bukit sengeggi, nothing fancy but has a nice pool and is close to all the great things that sengeggi has to offer, great music, amazing food and interesting shopping and spas, enjoy your stay in Lombok, personally, i love it there

I'm sure you would have a lovely stay if you go to the Novetel, but it is more for people who just want to stay on a nice beach for a few days in my opinion. Of course you can do tours from there, but it is a bit further away from some things and the price is always a bit dearer with less competition over Kuta way.

You could check Holiday Resort which have family rooms for around AUD100 pn. It is located in Mangsit, 4km north of Senggigi on a reasonable beach (not as nice as Novetel beach but nothing closer to the volcano will have white sand like Kuta). You can eat there, at one of the other hotels nearby, or go into Senggigi for dinner.

From there you could:
Day trip to the 3 Gilis - charter a boat right off the beach next to your hotel for around 600,000? for the day. Snorkel and see turtles, lunch on one of the islands, back by around 4. You get a great trip down a very pretty coast line, get to see all of the gilis and can decide if next trip you would like to stay there.
Day trip to Senaru waterfalls, very scenic drive, glimpses of Rinjani's peak if it is not covered in cloud. Walk into the second waterfall through the rainforrest and swim in the ice cold water!
Day trip to Kuta, visit Mawun beach, stop and see traditional Sasak village and handweaving village.
One day to rest and relax by the pool.

The above would give you a good look and feel for Lombok.

It is interesting how many regular Bali visitors are starting to venture over to Lombok. I do prefer the laid back feel of Lombok over the hussle and bussle of Bali. I'm sure you will enjoy your stay.

(edit: Bukit Senggigi is worth a look, especially if you are on a budget. Just be aware that this is built on a steep hill, it is quite a climb. Views are great though!)

We're just East of Mandurah so not that far way!

You day trip plans are great, thank you, and we like the idea of being more into the mix of things hence the change from the Novotel to the Holiday resort. But was busy reading the Lonely Planet guide book and it looks like here may be better options, of where to stay. Since it 's only 4 nights we aren't that stuck with our budget. Open to any ideas you have for accomodation. My idea of camping is a four star hotel! We are now firm Sanur fans and have been spendng most of our hoildays there but we like to venture at some point. Done Lovina etc and doing Ubud early on in the trip and so Lombok was the logical choice. Sounds like you guys have been hogging it way too long. Hope to hear from you soon.

PS Don't think either of us could manage a big hill at the end of a day!

Hi Fun Trecker,

Recommendations provided by Freogirl is backed up by a decade long first hand ground level experience.

Your first choice of stay should be Holiday Resort because of the options it provides and convenience to evening life, trip to the gilis and the price.

The second choice is The Beach Club because of its personal touch and convenience to the Sengiggi strip. Glenn and Dee from Australia started with one cottage but now their four cottages get booked so far in advance. You will get attached to their two labs and the staff and the home cooked food.

Novotel and Lombok are kind of anachronistic. If you go to Lombok, why would you want to insulate yourself from the local life unless you are still in the clouds of a brand new youthful marriage.

No matter what, you cannot go wrong in Lombok.

Have a fabulous stay in Lombok. By the way Freo forgot to mention about the "traditional massage" you and your wife can get with "Lombok kopi" in the morning when you wander off for few hundred yards from the beach overlooking Holiday Resort.

Josi

I didn't mention Beach Club because there are Mum Dad + 14 YO, and while the bungalows are very nice, I think a bit squeezy with an extra bed. I had in mind the family apartments at Holiday Resort, which actually has two bedrooms + living area.

Also, Dayah has been moved on from the beach at Mangsit now. The owners of the land will not allow her and her husband to operate their warung anymore, so they have moved back to their house in the village. I haven't heard if Dayah is doing massage at any of the hotels, but they are mad not to pick her up and give her a job. The only problem I guess with her getting something at the expensive hotels is that her English is very limited. And perhaps that her style is not 'spa trained'.

Anyway funtrecker, I am not an expert on all the big hotels in Lombok, I don't stay in any of them. I have visited most of them, just to check out the pool area etc., and occassionally to visit a friend staying in one of them. I have heard the Sheraton rooms are only 'ok' and the pool area is very nice. It is well located in Senggigi. I would say the Sheraton would be similar to Holiday resort on standard of rooms, except I don't believe they have the family apartments.

Another one to take a look at is Senggigi Beach Hotel, the first big hotel in that area. I haven't stayed there, or even spent much time on the grounds - which are massive. It is bang smack in the middle of Senggigi.

Another would be Alang Alang hotel or Qunci Villas in Mangsit. Niether have family rooms that I'm aware of. However, Qunci rooms are pretty spacious and both Qunci hotels at Mangsit are very nice (although if I was picking one, I'd pick Qunci Villa Hotel, not Qunci Pool Villa). A garden view room at Qunci would be lovely.

There are also several staffed villas available in Lombok if you are after something like that. I am not a villa expert, and don't know if we have one on this board. Most of the villas are a bit out of the way though, and you need a car to get into Senggigi - most are up the hillls behind Senggigi or on private beaches a fair way out of town.

Fun Trecker,

I have stayed at the apartments of Holiday Resort three years ago.

The main property is on the beach side of the road and the apartments are across the road. This means you will have to walk to the main lobby, the pool, dining room, bar etc.

There are two units to a building in a nice landscaped area (I have a Picasa album I can share if you email me your address: josihillary@hotmail.com).

Each unit has two large bedrooms with attached bath and a verandah. The large living room has a kitchenette with hot and cold running water, refrigerator, microwave, utensils and a dining area. There is a cable TV in the living room. The living room also has a verandah. There is a safe in one bedroom.

All the rooms are airconditioned. I preferred to stay at the upper level. The lower level unit has an area for drying the laundry.

I believe their daily rate is US$100 with two breakfasts included. The apartment area is quieter than the main area and the gekhos are the only noise makers.

Josi

Rather than head over for 4 days we are going to stay the week. At the Holiday Resort in a 2 bedroom apartment. Just waiting for confirmation that the room is all sorted.
Saw some fabulous photos from Josi and that sealed the deal!

Really excited only 187 sleeps till we in the isle of smiles for 28 nights!

Now just need helpfully people like yourself to plan our weeks activities!

Open to any and all ideas...................

Thanks to all of you for all your help!