Staying On Nusa Lembongan

My trip to Bali in March was the first time I stayed on the island of Lembongan, located off the East coast of Bali. I had visited for a day trip last year while on the Bali Hai Cruise (see here) and had gotten a bit of a feel for the island. After drooling over other traveller's photos, I decided to include it in my itinerary for three nights. Because I had never stayed there before and didn't know the area, there were a few things I had ask. If you're considering staying on Lembongan for the first time, I'm sure you'll be asking them too so I've put together this post to help as best I can:)

 

• Why stay on Lembongan?

Nusa Lembongan is away from the hustle and bustle of Bali. The lack of traffic, with the exception of scooters and transport trucks, the fact that the island is made up of two local villages and is somewhat still undeveloped, it retains an "Old Bali" feel. If you're wanting to relax and enjoy some beautiful beaches, it might be the place for you. It's where some of Bali's best surf breaks can be found along with some great snorkelling and diving. It's got watersports, spa's, yoga, great restaurants and beautiful hotels and villa's.

 

• How to get there

The only way to get to Lembongan Island is by boat. If you're prone to sea sickness, don't worry too much - it's only half an hour away! There are a range of fast boat companies to choose from and the trip should cost about 450,000 Rupiah (about $45) per person for a return trip. Kids can travel at a discounted price. This includes pick-up at your hotel in Bali, transfer to and from your accommodation on the island and drop-off at a hotel or at the airport when you get back to Bali. I chose to travel with Rocky Fast Boats.

 

• Where to stay

On the island, you can find accommodation to suit every budget. It has everything from cheap and cheerful, boutique hotels, luxury villa's and everything in between. You can get beachfront, street front, cliff front and with an amazing view. There are a few different locations to choose from, depending on whether you want to have everything on your doorstep or just a short walk away or maybe you'd like something a bit more out of the main area. I stayed at Lembongan Harmony Villa's. A map like this one from WikiTravel will be helpful in getting your bearings and choosing a place to stay if you haven't been to Lembongan before.

 

• Getting around on the island

There are no taxi's on the island so getting around can be tricky. Walking is of course the most obvious option, and with the island only being about 4 kilometres from end to end, it's doable, but with Bali's mostly humid climate, it may not be preferable. The easiest way is to hire scooters. This will cost you about 70,000 Rupiah a day per scooter. You're not required to have a license for a scooter on the island, but keep in mind that unless you have your international license and the equivalent license from home, your insurance will probably not cover you if you have an accident. Getting scooters means you can explore the island at your leisure. The traffic lacks here but the roads are not in the best of shape. Push bikes are also available but be aware that there are quite a lot of hills. If you're not able to ride or scoot, golf buggies are available for hire on the island. At about $80 to over $100 a day, you'll need to factor this into your budget. A lot of restaurants offer free pick-up after 5:00.

 

• The experts

If you're thinking of staying on Lembongan Island for the first time, resources like The Lembongan Traveller will be invaluable to you. You'll be able to get answers to every question you have as well as discounted rates for accommodation and restaurant recommendations.

 

I absolutely loved staying on Lembongan and really enjoyed its slower pace. It was quite overwhelming to return to the busy streets of Bali with its honking horns. I would definitely return and would probably stay longer. I would recommend staying on the island for at least 3 nights to give you plenty of time to relax, explore the island and its neighbours (Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida) and maybe go snorkelling. It's a beautiful place to visit with some nice spas, lovely restaurants and amazing accommodation options.

 

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