Honeyst Bungalow

Sol and Sooji and their team make you feel right at home. The bungalows are beautiful and well maintained, and the outdoor space is a great place to relax or swim in the pool. It’s in the northern part of Gili T, with a short bike ride to either side of the island. This area is much quieter than the waterfront, so it’s easier to get a good night’s sleep. They also run an icecream shop just off the promenade, with exceptional local honey based desserts.

The staff were friendly and kept asking if we were okay, which was a plus. The room was tidy, and the bathroom looked like it may have been recently renovated. The pool was nice, but two sunbeds didn’t feel like enough. Breakfast was the usual rice, noodles, or egg, egg, egg. We chose somewhere quieter, hoping to avoid waking to the mosque, but we hadn’t realized there was a local mosque nearby. You can hear it around 5am and during the day, along with the local roosters. The walk from the harbour was tiring with bags, and there were no signs until you were about 100 metres away. Google Maps sent us toward a forest with no path to turn onto. A map after booking would have helped. I wouldn’t recommend it for a solo female traveller, since the 20-minute walk to the top of the main street is mostly in darkness.

It can be very hard to find with Google Maps, since many of the roads shown don’t exist, as in the picture. The place itself was very nice, with clean surroundings, a pool, tasty breakfasts and free bikes. The staff were helpful and friendly. It’s far enough from the mosque that you can barely hear the Muslim prayers.

The staff and owners made us feel at home, and the free breakfast was delicious. I loved the Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng with a perfectly fried egg. The compound is peaceful, surrounded by mango trees, with a well kept, homey feel and a pool that’s just the right size. Our Family Room bungalow had two connected bedrooms: one with a King Size bed and ensuite bathroom, the other with two full size beds and a bathroom. We stayed three days and three nights in this quiet spot away from the center, with a quick bike ride to either side of the island. The free bikes could be better. My bike kept breaking down because the chain came off. It may be hard to find when you first arrive, so we took a horse cart taxi for 100k and thought it was worth it. After that, biking worked. There’s no lighting at night, so bring a flashlight or use your phone if you ride in the dark. Pituq, a great Vegetarian cafe, is nearby and I highly recommend it. The welcome drink was refreshing, and they’ll give you more if you ask.