Deep House Bungalows

I kept extending my stay here when I hadn't planned to, and now I can't wait to return. Ken has loads of character, and he and the team were warm, welcoming, and happy to help with what we needed. There's a relaxed, no-stress feel that adds to the island's magic. The gardens and wooden bungalows are beautiful, and I met fellow travelers here who became great friends. Renting bikes was easy, and Tika did a great job with the laundry. For the price, I thought the Deep house bungalows were worth every cent.

We knew it was a cheap place, but there are still basic standards to meet. The bathroom had yellow walls and broken tiles, and there were cockroaches in the room. Cleaning could be better, and we could hear absolutely everything, as if people were walking in our room. We weren't told about some important rules until we arrived, including that there was no hot water and people might party at night. We paid extra for air conditioning, but it barely worked. All in all, it was a horrible stay. We don't understand the five-star ratings.

After one night I moved to another hotel. The bungalows are falling apart, and the old bathrooms have been dirty for years. There's no hot water, and the rooms have no walls, so you hear people whispering and feel the upstairs floor shaking when they walk, like it might collapse. Roosters were all around at 5 a.m. I paid 250 IDR ($16) for this. Stay here if you want to ruin your holiday.

The location made it easy to get around, about a five-minute walk from the harbor in the middle of the island. The pool was large, clean, and great for relaxing, and the bungalows were spacious and comfortable. The place was spotless. I know you won't find a Hilton here, and that's a good thing. There are already too many big resorts in Gili T. This felt much more like home in another country. I came for two days, then extended every morning until I had stayed as long as I could. I found something more meaningful than just a place to stay in Gili: a family. Everyone was kind, always smiling, and full of life. I saw how hard the team worked every day to help guests have a good stay. They were always there and doing their best. I'm grateful for everything they did for me. I left in tears, promising to come back next year and, hopefully, for many years after. Thank you to all my polong, see you and take care.