Seven Secrets By Hanging Gardens

We spent a little over 3 weeks at 7 Secrets Resort in Lombok, and it was by far the best part of our entire Indonesia trip. It barely shows from the road. You take the final turn and suddenly the resort opens into a hidden paradise, quietly exceeding every expectation. By the third week, the place felt like home, and leaving was honestly the hardest part. On our last night, they made a message on the bed from tiny bamboo sticks saying “SEE YOU SOON,” with a note and a soccer ball signed by the staff. That said it all. We arrived as guests and left feeling like family. The hospitality was thoughtful and personal every day. Our room was refreshed several times a day, snacks and drinks were brought to us, and a shuttle was ready whenever we wanted to go somewhere. Nothing felt forced or scripted. They seemed to know what we needed before we asked, and it showed how much attention they paid. The rooms were incredible, as were the staff, food, beachfront, spa, activities, and service. We came hoping for the best resort experience we could find and got much more. We spent New Year's there, and the celebration was unbelievable: a huge buffet, a live adapted performance of Robinson Crusoe featuring resort staff, fire dancing, a live band that played for everyone and serenaded guests at their tables, a live DJ, and an electric countdown. It felt like a full production. They arranged some of our most memorable trip experiences too: Lombok Wildlife Zoo with elephants, snakes, exotic birds, hippos, otters, and more; a local carnival with rides and street food; scooter rental to explore the city; a guided Monkey Mountain trip where we saw lots of monkeys, including babies; coral restoration snorkeling where we helped build and place a coral support in a reserve area; jet skiing; and the weekly mini soccer game with the staff. I even scored a goal, which is a core memory now. The food deserves a mention of its own. We ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner there during our long stay, and the menu never felt repetitive, boring, or tired. Every meal was excellent. The chefs were superb, and the bartenders were real pros. We gave them a spirit or ingredient and let them create a drink around it several times, and they never disappointed. The pool and hot tubs were lovely day and night, and the beach was just steps away. There were lots of activities and easy access to nearby islands and ocean adventures. For anyone looking for a place to stay in Lombok, we highly recommend 7 Secrets. It has heart, soul, and world-class hospitality, and it will be the only resort we stay at when we return to Indonesia. If 6 stars out of 5 were possible, that's what we'd give it.