James Bungalow Gili Trawangan by OYO Rooms

A handy place if you mainly need somewhere to sleep after a night out. It’s near the ship drop-off and the best parties, but far enough away that the noise won’t keep you up. The staff were lovely and helpful, and there’s a laundry service right next door. My room was okay and I had no complaints.

The owner himself was really nice and easy to approach, and the bungalow is right in the middle of Gili T’s nightlife while still being far enough from the noise. That’s the one positive I can give. After five months backpacking and staying in plenty of poor places, this was easily the worst. The room was filthy and seriously run down. There were blood stains on the bathroom floor, walls and furniture, the shower only had cold water, and the tap was coated in limescale. The bed left me feeling sticky and unclean, so I slept badly and it put a damper on my time on Gili T. I’d strongly recommend avoiding it. I also wondered whether the reviews were being bought to boost sales.

The owner is so friendly and helpful, and can sort out pretty much anything or suggest fun things to do on the island. You can rent a bike right by the entrance. We noticed a laundry there too, but didn’t use it. For the price, this place is amazing. The rooms are clean, there’s AC, and it’s just behind the beach and near all the main bars. A great fit if you’re here to party. We can’t recommend it enough.

The room was spacious and clean, with a fridge and some movies provided. When they learned I’d hurt my leg while snorkeling in Flores, the staff let me use their medical kit and helped me put it on. I’d definitely come back to Gili T. They can also store your luggage in the staff room if you arrive early to check in or need to leave it after checkout. The bathroom is roomy too, but the water pressure is weak.