Gili One Hotel & Resort

The island’s car-free feel was part of the fun, with bicycles and horse-drawn carts instead of cars or motorbikes. The hotel itself is peaceful, yet only a few minutes from the busy spots. Friendly, helpful staff, a good pool to cool down in, and tasty breakfast with strong coffee. We had a fantastic time.

I liked the room and its little patio, which gave it a homey feel. The shower was another matter. I get the idea of being close to nature, but I think the shower area needs a ceiling or some kind of roof. What happens when rainy season comes?

We stayed at three places in Gili T, and Gili One Resort was easily our favorite. The pool was kept clean with daily maintenance, had a lovely temperature, and was deeper than I expected at one end. There were plenty of places to sit, in or out of the water. Our twin room was huge, with a seating area, shelves, and comfortable beds. The air conditioning worked perfectly. I loved the partly open-air bathroom, the quick-drying floor, all the hooks for towels and swimsuits, and the nice lighting. A small fridge and hair dryer would have been useful, though they didn’t matter much during our stay. It was about a five-minute walk, or two minutes by bike, from the main road on the island’s east side. We liked being set back from the road: less traffic noise, and the mosque’s frequent calls to prayer were barely noticeable in the room. It was quiet at night but still central for nightlife, and there’s a 24-hour mart right across the road for water, snacks, or anything else. Ardi looked after us all week, and Adit made checkout easy. The service style suited us: we could ask when we needed something, and towels were replaced on request. Breakfast was included and really good. I had morning scuba training, and they arranged an earlier breakfast for me before my dives even though the usual hours were 8-11am. Thanks to Ardi too, we loved chatting with him and being greeted by name whenever we saw him. We’d definitely return.

The room was dirty, the door often left us locked out, and the bathroom had no roof. Mosquitoes were a problem there and around the fridge, which was kept outside the room. There were lots of them around the pool too, though the pool itself was good. By the end, it felt like the only way to avoid bites was to stay locked inside for the whole vacation.