Five reasons to visit Lombok

[balinews]

Article from Time magazine:

The Indonesian island of Lombok does not receive as much fanfare as its hugely popular neighbor Bali. Nevertheless, many Indonesians prefer vacationing in Lombok over Bali for many reasons: prices for hotel rooms, food and attractions are often a good deal cheaper, and the island's scenic spots are still unmolested by the gated villa developments, cheap cocktail bars and tawdry souvenir shops that have spread across so much of Bali. At least for now. A large international airport will be completed next year and Indonesian tourism officials will likely be marketing Lombok as Bali version 2

Read more: Five Reasons to Visit Lombok, Indonesia - TIME

[Bryan]

[QUOTE=balinews;55432]Article from Time magazine:

[I]The Indonesian island of Lombok does not receive as much fanfare as its hugely popular neighbor Bali. Nevertheless, many Indonesians prefer vacationing in Lombok

Lombok is on our 'to do' list, have spoken to a lot of people who went there and were knocked over by the natural beauty and Old Bali feel. You can bet that with the opening of the International Airport there will be massive change in a short period of time. Better get there soon to get the 'before' experience.

[mimpimanis]

a lot of people who went there and were knocked over by the natural beauty

We had a girl with us last week who lives and works in Bali and on her first day in Kuta, Lombok she was in tears four times as she said at the "natural beauty" but maybe she is a bit more emotional than most

[springer2003]

Article from Time magazine:

The Indonesian island of Lombok does not receive as much fanfare as its hugely popular neighbor Bali. Nevertheless, many Indonesians prefer vacationing in Lombok over Bali for many reasons: prices for hotel rooms, food and attractions are often a good deal cheaper, and the island's scenic spots are still unmolested by the gated villa developments, cheap cocktail bars and tawdry souvenir shops that have spread across so much of Bali. At least for now. A large international airport will be completed next year and Indonesian tourism officials will likely be marketing Lombok as Bali version 2

Read more: Five Reasons to Visit Lombok, Indonesia - TIME

I am afraid (opinion only) that lombok and its social, legal and economic issues have reverted. Whethere its the recent arrests of expats or the desecration of the statues (faces/heads), whether we look at the attacks on the bars in mataram as recent as last year, or the shady deals re rental/purchasing there are as many reasons to be very defensive if investing any money. Otherwise sure its a great place to visit and you still get hassled on the beach.

[buaya]

i live in bali and have been to lombok countless times. it makes a change from bali for sure, and there's some AMAZING natural beauty (say if you go to kuta lombok, rent a bike, and drive north to the next couple of coves)

that said, i find the place about 600 times more dodgy than bali (which for the record i find to be about a 0.01 out of 10 on the dodgy scale) and the most beautiful places there are a bit hard to get to, and have zero infrastructure.

kuta lombok has some good-to-excellent surf, but you have to hire a boat to get to the breaks, and must haggle-to-the-death to get a non-ripoff price for the boat, and DON'T take ANY cash with you on the boat! senggigi is kuta, bali, but smaller and lamer. and the gilis are fun but expensive, and also can be rather dodgy (and noisy) though it's a fun enough place to get drunk with early 20's backpakers and have a snorkel the morning after as you nurse your hangover.

i do recommend the perama komodo boat tour i took out of senggigi though! that's the real ticket if you want to see some amazing, completely off the beaten track natural beauty.

just my 2 cents, i know lombok has it's fans.

[Ilovetravel]

a lot of people who went there and were knocked over by the natural beauty

We had a girl with us last week who lives and works in Bali and on her first day in Kuta, Lombok she was in tears four times as she said at the "natural beauty" but maybe she is a bit more emotional than most

It is a great way to travel with local people as they would show you the most typical things of that place.

[AndrewD]

Lombok is worth a visit in the same way that other Indonesian islands such as Java, Sumatra or Kalimantan are worth a visit. They are different to Bali, they have sights, tastes and sounds that are unique to them. All are beautiful and worthy of consideration. Some are harder for western tourists to access.

Anyone that goes to Lombok expecting to visit "Bali V.2" may well be disappointed. Like the rest of Indonesia, Lombok is primarily Muslim - the rich Hindu cultural influence that I love about Bali has had little lasting effect on the island.

[Tamispecial]

i live in bali and have been to lombok countless times. it makes a change from bali for sure, and there's some AMAZING natural beauty (say if you go to kuta lombok, rent a bike, and drive north to the next couple of coves)

that said, i find the place about 600 times more dodgy than bali (which for the record i find to be about a 0.01 out of 10 on the dodgy scale) and the most beautiful places there are a bit hard to get to, and have zero infrastructure.

kuta lombok has some good-to-excellent surf, but you have to hire a boat to get to the breaks, and must haggle-to-the-death to get a non-ripoff price for the boat, and DON'T take ANY cash with you on the boat! senggigi is kuta, bali, but smaller and lamer. and the gilis are fun but expensive, and also can be rather dodgy (and noisy) though it's a fun enough place to get drunk with early 20's backpakers and have a snorkel the morning after as you nurse your hangover.

i do recommend the perama komodo boat tour i took out of senggigi though! that's the real ticket if you want to see some amazing, completely off the beaten track natural beauty.

just my 2 cents, i know lombok has it's fans.

It is good to read your personal views on Lombok...we hear so many stories about the place but not always the 'inside' view.......i think i might be rethinking my trip there now as I still want to visit more of Bali before the developers move in!!

[mugwump]

It is good to read your personal views on Lombok...we hear so many stories about the place but not always the 'inside' view.......i think i might be rethinking my trip there now as I still want to visit more of Bali before the developers move in!!

My visits to Lombok date from 1996, and many trips since both on business and for pleasure. Unfortunately my impression isn't positive and rather than rank it publicly will be happy to relate my experiences and others by personal mail.