Heading to the south of Lombok in August this year, looking for accommodation on/near beach, not too fussy, basic accommodation ok, any recommendations ?
Kuta lombok has accom ranging from a couple dollars a night right up to a novotel big bucks. I never booked anywhere before I arrived, its very low key area but still with plenty of accommodation options. Sick waves in the area, bay after bay if you go east right up to Ekas Bay if you go west right up to desert point. Same trade winds as Bali. Awesome scenery another world compared to Bali. International airport now close to kuta lombok, used to have to commute from Mataram the capital. Wicked island more fun than Bali (unless you want to carry on on the sauce).
Great place I stayed at http://www.relaxinghomestaykutalombok.com/ www.openstreetmap.org/#map=18/-8.88869/116.28614 was about 20 dollars a night with aircon which was not really needed. That accommodation was not much different than the novatel at 200 a night. The going rate for non aircon is about 10 dollars a night, but it all depends when you come, with prices being lower or higher depending on demand, the locals will always try to double the price. About 80% of the accommodation you won't find till you rock up. Most of the stuff easily found on tripadvisor and booking places is well over rated and over priced. I would be careful to stay in the east end of town or out of the village as every day at a certain time they fill the air with burnt trash, which is a common occurrence in indo. The trades will blow it to the west and it's horrible. Also don't stay near any mosques especially if youre going during Ramadan which I would advise against.
Wind is generally stronger than bali. The waves off kuta are some of the biggest on the island and about 1.5ks from shore, I would exercise some caution and maybe use some type of floation vest if you plan on kiting it alone.
There is a great almost untouched beach here www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/-8.9018/116.2042, seemed quite safe to kite when I did, but the locals warned me of strong currents which there was. The reefs off www.openstreetmap.org/#map=16/-8.8698/116.1322 looked like prime kiting waves, but unfortunately my guide refused to take me because of recent crime sprees.
osmand.net/ is a great app to have on your phone for offline maps. I strongly recommend respecting the locals ,watch where and when you go places. One of the guys I was staying next too was held up by guys with machine guns and an aussies got stabbed to death in a mugging. The area is rife with hire you a scooter and steal it off you later then death threat you for 1000 or more. Despite that and more... it is a really nice place and well worth going.
Select to expand quotetinker said..
That accommodation was not much different than the novatel at 200 a night.
Ummm have you actually stayed at the Novatel? It's a 4 star resort buddy with private beach, gym, cocktail bar, dining options, pool etc! 
Certainly the best option if you are taking your family.
Yep the novotel is very flash. Its location is second to none on its own secluded beach with a sweet skatepark type peak setup just over the hill.
Not that Novotel but stayed in 4 others, 3 in Indo, I have been inside the lombok one when friends have stayed there. Certainly it is better than the surrounding accommodation, you would just be surprised that it is not that much better. The "private beach" is not that great because of the stupid sand they trucked in and the water is dirtier near kuta. I think if you go to Lombok to stay inside a resort, work out in the gym etc, you have really missed some really great beaches, food and locations on offer. I meet quite a few indos from Jakarata and elsewhere on holiday staying at the novotel, they had the same opinions about it as me. The Locals dont generally like it aswell because the tourist stay locked up inside. Recently the Locals destroyed a whole heap of warungs etc right on the beach in kuta because they were stopping others using the beach. As an Australian I have to agree with them, beaches should not be private.
Select to expand quotetinker said...
Not that Novotel but stayed in 4 others, 3 in Indo, I have been inside the lombok one when friends have stayed there. Certainly it is better than the surrounding accommodation, you would just be surprised that it is not that much better. The "private beach" is not that great because of the stupid sand they trucked in and the water is dirtier near kuta. I think if you go to Lombok to stay inside a resort, work out in the gym etc, you have really missed some really great beaches, food and locations on offer. I meet quite a few indos from Jakarata and elsewhere on holiday staying at the novotel, they had the same opinions about it as me. The Locals dont generally like it aswell because the tourist stay locked up inside. Recently the Locals destroyed a whole heap of warungs etc right on the beach in kuta because they were stopping others using the beach. As an Australian I have to agree with them, beaches should not be private.
Absolutley boss the many time I have been to kuta lombok I have never stayed there, I did eat the buffet breakfast on acouple of occasions for about 5 dollar. Most the places I stayed had the old bucket to flush the toilet. But I was doing 6 month stints with no woman or kids in my ear.
I must have got lucky everytime I was there. After spending months in Java and Sumatra, I allways thought lombok was the friendliest place on earth.
There is crime all over indo, Bali and Lombok try very hard to hide it all. Locals will hardly every tell you what happens to tourists, but they will tell what happens to themselves and friends which is just as bad if not worse:-/ The owner of the place I stayed at actually owned a fleet of bikes which he hired out. Was interesting to find out most off them only cost about $300 second hand and there was no agreements signed for large sums if they they were "stolen". On the bright side I meet the new police chief for the area who was trying stop the scam, he was a very tidy looking fella with quite the escort.
BTW how is it listening to dogs kill dogs and people kill dogs every night?
Lombok is great with strong wind regularly over 20knots July August, waters really clean, cleaner than Australian city beaches. The roads arn't crowded and easy to get around on by indo standards. Hardly a mozzie in sight during the dry/wind season aswell. The countryside is more scenic than Bali. Mataram is quite a pretty city with old growth trees through out. Get a taste of something other than Bali and you probably wouldn't go there again. There is just so much more on offer in indo than Bali.
Select to expand quotedjt91184 said..tinker said...
Not that Novotel but stayed in 4 others, 3 in Indo, I have been inside the lombok one when friends have stayed there. Certainly it is better than the surrounding accommodation, you would just be surprised that it is not that much better. The "private beach" is not that great because of the stupid sand they trucked in and the water is dirtier near kuta. I think if you go to Lombok to stay inside a resort, work out in the gym etc, you have really missed some really great beaches, food and locations on offer. I meet quite a few indos from Jakarata and elsewhere on holiday staying at the novotel, they had the same opinions about it as me. The Locals dont generally like it aswell because the tourist stay locked up inside. Recently the Locals destroyed a whole heap of warungs etc right on the beach in kuta because they were stopping others using the beach. As an Australian I have to agree with them, beaches should not be private.
Absolutley boss the many time I have been to kuta lombok I have never stayed there, I did eat the buffet breakfast on acouple of occasions for about 5 dollar. Most the places I stayed had the old bucket to flush the toilet. But I was doing 6 month stints with no woman or kids in my ear.
tinker said..
Not that Novotel but stayed in 4 others, 3 in Indo, I have been inside the lombok one when friends have stayed there. Certainly it is better than the surrounding accommodation, you would just be surprised that it is not that much better. The "private beach" is not that great because of the stupid sand they trucked in and the water is dirtier near kuta. I think if you go to Lombok to stay inside a resort, work out in the gym etc, you have really missed some really great beaches, food and locations on offer. I meet quite a few indos from Jakarata and elsewhere on holiday staying at the novotel, they had the same opinions about it as me. The Locals dont generally like it aswell because the tourist stay locked up inside. Recently the Locals destroyed a whole heap of warungs etc right on the beach in kuta because they were stopping others using the beach. As an Australian I have to agree with them, beaches should not be private.
Mate that's bull****e. I'm in Lombok right now on about my 10th visit. The Warungs were pulled down by the Government so the views would be better.
my friend owns one of the Warungs which the Government helped to relocate across th road.
Select to expand quotehigh as a kite said...
Doesn't sound to good 62.
Think I'll stay put at Putu's
Sounds like the suburb I grew up in except its got beaches, you'll be alright old fella, I'll look after ya
I think you need to get a bit of understanding how mobs and the government work in indo. Mobs just do what ever they want once there is enough of them and they are angry enough. The Government in indo only does stuff for money.
I was only going on what the guy I trusted told me about it. An in the "know" foreign investor I meet said the government knocked it all down because some russians bought the land and are going to build a resort. Might be that the government knocked it down for the russians but told the locals that it was for them, to appease them. Not a big deal to me it looks better than before. If by the time a resort gets stuck there I'll go somewhere else.
