Living Trawangan Hotel

Santos and the other staff went out of their way for me, which is why I’m giving this hotel five stars. When I was sick, they got me bananas and coconut water. Later, rough seas caused my ferry to be canceled, and Santos arranged a ride with his uncle to Lombok airport, helped with my bags, and got me on the right boat. I didn’t enjoy Gilis islands, but Santos more than made up for that, even apologizing for my not so great time on the island. I highly recommend this hotel if you want peace and quiet with really caring staff.

For me, this is the island’s best hotel for location, price, quality, and service. I especially love the outdoor shower under the open sky, where you can see the bright moon or sun while you wash. When you visit the Gili islands, all you really need from a hotel is a good night's sleep.

The location was a concern from the start. To get to the hotel, you have to walk down an alley lined with abandoned, run-down buildings, and it felt unsafe, especially at night. The property can’t fully control that, but it’s still worth mentioning. The room initially looked nice, and we liked the outdoor bathroom, so we trusted the earlier reviews. But when we opened the tucked-in sheets, we found a shocking amount of dirt under the bed, including worms, hair, liquids, and other mess. It clearly hadn’t been cleaned. We reported it right away, and staff said they’d arrange cleaning. The hygiene was unacceptable, and we didn’t feel comfortable staying. Staff said they’d messaged customer support to request a refund, but hadn’t heard back. Today, customer support told us the property had refused to issue it. Cleanliness and hygiene are essential for any accommodation. This was a real nightmare.

We had such a good week here. The rooms were nice and clean, and room service came every day. Staff were friendly, checked in on us, and gave us good recommendations. The location is great too, near bars, cafes, and the beach. We’ll 100% be back!