Jambuluwuk Oceano Resort Gili Trawangan

The location is great, right beside the turtle points, and you can rent a scooter or bicycle at reception to get to and from the main street. The facilities are excellent, with multiple pools, bars, pool tables, ping pong, and a spa. Our room was clean and spacious, and the staff were very friendly. I’d definitely recommend this hotel.

The beach is good for snorkelling, though swimming there isn’t ideal since the water is very shallow and you have to watch your feet around the coral. Farther out there’s a slight current. It’s manageable for a strong swimmer with fins, but with children you need to be more careful if heading away from shore to reach better coral. The pools were a real plus. One at the front has shade, and the long one at the back is better for a proper swim. There’s also a small area with free table tennis, pool, and volleyball. Room service was available, despite what some reviews said, and we ordered several times without problems. The room was comfortable and had enough plugs, including a handy USB port, but storage was tight, with only a couple of shelves and no luggage bench. Staff were friendly throughout. Local dishes were tasty and well made, but the Western food was mixed. The pizza had a wrap base and didn’t feel like proper pizza. Chicken burgers were good, while the nachos with guacamole weren’t what we expected. After my son ate the fish and chips, he became unwell with vomiting and diarrhoea, which seemed like food poisoning. We told the staff, who kindly offered a small fruit plate, but we were still charged for the meal. Breakfast was decent, with enough choices though not a huge variety. The dining area could get quite warm, but taking breakfast outside near the beach was very pleasant. Unlimited filtered water refills were available. Bikes cost 50,000 per day and snorkel gear was 30,000 for two hours per item. We were charged for ice, which felt unusual, though we know some hotels do that. Overall, we had a good stay with nice facilities and friendly staff, but the food could be better.

There are some good facilities here: two swimming pools, a pool table, table tennis, and a beach right outside. The food portions were generous, and there’s a foot-wash spot by each room. But the resort is huge, so expect lots of walking. You can cycle around, though scooters aren’t allowed, and it’s far from the harbour. You’ll need a tanga, which costs 150idr, plus 50idr for larger luggage. Hospitality was the real problem. Room service took ages and the staff were rude. They said the whole resort had only one bottle opener and wouldn’t bring it to our room, telling us to fetch it ourselves. For an iron, they said we could borrow one but had to return it to reception before leaving for the day. When we gave feedback, Ahmed argued back instead of taking it constructively and nearly wouldn’t let us leave while disputing our negative review.

The setting and rooms are lovely, with pretty gardens and comfortable, nicely decorated rooms. Having two pools was a plus, though the larger one near the rooms had so much chlorine that it was uncomfortable. The beach is pleasant for lounging, but the rocks make swimming almost impossible. Breakfast was only average and missed some basic options. We also tried the à la carte dinners and desserts twice, and found them okay but not especially impressive. A comfortable stay for the ambience, though the food and pool care could be better.