Lualemba Bungalows

Dave and Jenet run a good resort in a quiet, private spot, and it felt like a home away from home. The bungalows are cleaned daily, the staff are ready to help, and the food is excellent. Come and experience it for yourself.

On my first visit, things were fine, but before we’d been there a week I was asked to pay the full accommodation bill for my wife, son and me because of financial hardship after covid. I paid. On my second trip, Dave came to my room during afternoon siesta on day 2 to ask for payment for all 3 weeks for the 3 of us. This time the reason was that Janet had her eye on a new motorbike and money was tight, with things expensive, etc. I paid in advance again. All I wanted was a cup of coffee before my dawny surf. It never happened. I asked if they could leave hot water in a thermos. No. Could I turn on the power and use the coffee machine myself? No. After I kept asking, Dave got sick of it. By then I was saying a cup of coffee at dawn wasn’t a ridiculous request and that the new motorbike looked lovely. He went to the kitchen, picked up a jar of coffee, reminded me that HE didn’t drink coffee, then held it out and said, “Here, this is coffee isn’t it?” The boat captains struggled to get to the resort early too. When they did arrive, they had to have coffee before going down to the boat, on their own motorbikes. You’ll need to hire your own. I’d just returned from a $45 AUD per day homestay in Sumatra, with all three meals and hot water that appeared every day before sunrise in two big thermoses at an upstairs back verandah coffee station. When I arranged a boat there, the smiley toothless captain showed up at the agreed time with a ciggy in his mouth and coffee in hand. If I didn’t have mine, he checked whether I wanted to go back up to the house to grab one. The guy getting 5 bucks a day to drive the boat seemed to care more than the Lualemba couple with a flash Land Cruiser and a new bike. Janet yells at the staff instead of talking to them. During a flat spell I spent a lot of time with locals, and more than one person told me she has a reputation for being cranky. The gardens and pool are gorgeous, but the peace is often shattered by the landlady screaming. God help you if you ask for something radical like an early coffee. There are plenty of other places with better attitudes in lower price brackets and higher.

It was my first time in Rote, and Dave and Jenet helped make it an absolute belter. The gardens are lush, the food is great, and Dave is happy to share all kinds of advice about the island, including what to do, when to surf and where to go. Frothing to return, and I’d recommend it to anyone.

The team were wonderful, friendly and helpful, and made sure I was well fed and that the surf boat captain was ready to take me to T-Land. The bungalows are private, quiet, epic and comfortable. They provide everything you need, even scooter rental. I had no choice but to extend my stay. Pro-tip: email Dave to get a better nightly rate.