The Beach House: Beyond Bali Series

I honestly had a difficult time selecting where to stay in Gili T. I was already booked in Villa Julius, when for some reason, I decided to change my mind. I tried to look for a room in the more high-end Villa Ombok and Luce D'Alma, but they were already full. I also called Scallywags, the number one choice in Tripadvisor, but that was also full. Thus, I ended up in The Beach House, which was also highly recommended by travel blogs.

I was picked up in Lombok and privately transferred via speedboat in front of the resort in Gili T. The Beach House had an ambience of a upscale accommodation for a backpacker. It had that backpacker vibe, but had more luxury.

There were several accommodation types in the Beach House, from villas to tree houses. I booked a deluxe bungalow for P3,000 (IDR 500,000) a night. For this type of accommodation, that's already cheap compared to those you find here in the Philippines.

The room was very spacious. It even had a walk in closet that was oddly bare. And of course, it had an outdoor bath, that made a difference to the standard rooms. I wanted to stay in the tree house, which was the cheapest accommodation type, but they were all occupied.

The Beach House had a pleasant infinity pool, and an inviting lounge area. The pool had brackish water. This was one thing I didn't like about the Beach House - no fresh water. I was told that this was consistent in all Gili T resorts. Villa Ombak had fresh water though, even in their pools. It was a way to conserve the precious resource. Thus, after taking a bath in salt water in the bath, there was a faucet that had fresh water, where you can rinse. Quite inconvenient I thought.

The Beach House, though, had a happening restaurant, popular for their seafood BBQ. It was also pleasant to have breakfast here (came free with the room by the way). There are also several other restaurants nearby, like the one in Scallywags which served fresh, healthy and sumptuous meals.

I wouldn't give The Beach House five stars, but it was not disappointing at all - except for the lack of fresh water though. I loved the vibe, and its central location. But if ever you are here for a break, try staying in Villa Ombak or Luce D'Alma for a more luxurious experience. Or if you want more adventure, stay in the many backpacker bungalows scattered all across the island. You wouldn't run out of options.

Gili Trawangan, Lombok, NTB | Phone: +62 370 642352

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