The Oberoi Beach Resort, Lombok

We spent our honeymoon at the Oberoi Lombok and we couldn’t recommend highly enough. The service is the best we’ve ever experienced, the setting is picturesque, the rooms spacious and with beautiful views. We also went diving at the nearby Gili islands and got our PADI certification. Truly special place - come here over Bali any day!

This is the first of two reviews I am writing this trip, given that I am writing it in transit by boat from the Oberoi in Lombok to the Oberoi in Seminyak, Bali. If you stay at both resorts, the nightly rates are cheaper and they will arrange complementary transfers between the two islands, saving at least AUD 300. My wife and I have, like many Australians, have had a number of visits to Bali in the past. This time, however, we wanted to spend half our trip in Lombok which was new for both of us. The “fast” ferry from Bali to Lombok still takes four hours as it makes a number of stops along the way and the Oberoi is last on the list. The driver who was waiting at the dock to collect us was efficient and super friendly and the drive takes only 15 minutes. From the second you arrive, you sense the Oberoi is special. The view as you are checked in with a welcome drink is stunning and the whole process is seamless. There is an army of staff everywhere you go, all smartly dressed in pressed uniforms with good to very good English and all impeccably trained. Their faces must get tired from smiling and saying hello so often but it all seems so genuine, welcoming and very friendly. We stayed in Villa 114 at the far end of what is a huge resort covering more than 25 acres. Our villa is described as a garden view with a private pool but we were pleased to have a (limited) view of the sea from our balcony as well. On a nature walk we had one evening, the Horticulture Manager said he thought our villa was his favourite! While the walk to our villa was longer than for other guests, the gardens are impeccably manicured and it’s all so peaceful that the walk is part of the charm. I have attached some photos of our room and pool. It’s the biggest private pool we have ever had and certainly the nicest. The private garden is lovely too and we had our own dining pavilion which we used for a romantic dinner one night. We had a half board deal so all breakfasts and dinners were included and, surprisingly, there was no additional cost to have everything delivered all the way to our villa which is a nice touch. The villa overall was spacious, very well appointed, with a comfortable bed and fantastic bathroom, and the housekeeping was exceptional. We seemed to get clean towels and bottles of water multiple times a day. I have just paused this review due to the wild storm that made our boat crossing so rough that I literally couldn’t type. Word of warning that, if you’re prone to sea sickness, maybe fly instead. Anyway, back to the review. The Oberoi has an excellent a la carte menu for dinner with a huge variety of options and cuisines as well as a “theme” night most nights, complete with a variety of entertainments, both modern and traditional. I was pleased to see you could mix and match too at no extra cost. The resort has the usual happy hour options and the drinks overall are reasonably price for a 5 star resort like this, though like most places in Asia, wine is ridiculously expensive by Australian standards. I do need to mention one of the very few negatives of our stay. Unlike Bali, Lombok is largely Muslim. Within a short drive from the resort, there are at least half a dozen Mosques. Every morning before 5.00 am, there is a call to prayer that is broadcast (very loudly) via loudspeaker from each one. While the Oberoi kindly provides its guests with earplugs, they are sadly ineffective and we were woken every single morning. The dawn call is the longest and the drone goes on and on for at least 15 minutes. My advice, maybe sleeping pills. I’m a big supporter of religious freedom and Australia has millions of Muslims, but they typically pray quietly. It was disappointing at a resort that does such a great job to provide peace and quiet for its guests. There are plenty of activities to enjoy too. We had a driver one day take us to the Tiu Kelep waterfall and other sites which was great and, on another day, we snorkeled with the turtles at Gili Meno. The resort organized everything and the prices were more than reasonable. Overall, the Oberoi in Lombok lives up to its reputation. We had a fabulous time and would highly recommend it. I’ll be interested to see how it compares to its sister resort in Seminyak. But more on that later.

This is the first time I’ve written a letter to the hotel general manager thanking him for an exceptional stay. It was well deserved. Every staff member appears to have been well trained, with even the gardeners greeting guests with a warm smile and hello. There were many complimentary activities on offer, such as a nature walk, bikes or horse for a short ride, yoga, wood carving, and afternoon tea. Meals have been delicious with a terrific variety of options. For a fee, thoughtful staff will arrange day trips for you, such as a trip to Gili islands to snorkel or scuba with the turtles via a boat from their very own jetty, or perhaps like us you might take a car to wonderful waterfalls in North Lombok. Now to the room. We splashed out and booked a villa with a pool. The pool was absolutely beautiful (with partial sea views), we had dinner in one night, enjoyed the views from our balcony, loved our huge bathroom with beautifully scented products, and very comfortable bed. To give you an idea of the level of service at this Oberoi property, each night the turn down Service came with little treats, and we came home one day to a bath filled with petals. And as for my letter to the general manager, it was a lovely touch that he gave us handwritten card for our anniversary. As you may be able to tell, I recommend it highly.

Our trip to the Oberoi in Lombok was truly amazing. The resort, facilities, staff, food - everything was incredible and I cannot wait to visit again. You do not get used to waking up here, every day was amazing. We also took advantage of the resort's paddleboards and kayaks which were a lot of fun!

The setting and the staff made this an amazing stay for us. Everyone without exception went over and beyond. If you wanted to participate, they had activities that you could join- painting, wood carving, meditation etc. We had a go at things we never usually do. The food was delicious and the sea very calm when we were there. I would definitely return without a doubt.