Gili Islands...

[JJ]

... anyone been? Recommend - can or cannot? Whats the story.

[Fat Bob]

Yes, can.

I've stayed at the Villa Ombak on Gili Trewangan (sp?) and did some diving from there. It's a nice, laid back place with very little to do. Villa Ombak has some villas on the beach front which are quite nice and relaxed with a good view, and there's many places for food, though I would say most of it is around the level of bar snacks rather than gourmet dining.

The whole island doesn't take that long to walk around, or so I've been told (I just dived and relaxed and dived and relaxed).

If you do go, can you give them hassle about my diving certification card? Thanks

[JJ]

Yes, been looking at that place, seems nice ... so if I want to do nothing then its a go

Has anyone been to Gili Air or Mena? They seem to be even more "remote" than Trewangan...

[Kooky]

I thought Villa Ombak was dire. Sorry.

[Fat Bob]

They have some new beach-side villas: did you stay in those? They are OK.

Nothing special I will admit, and all depends on how much of a princess you are about the place, but I've stayed in more dire places than Villa Ombak (and paid similar amounts of money).

[Kooky]

No, we were in an A-frame villa type of thing, with a totally outside bathroom down some rickety steps - fun in the middle of the night and the saltwater showers were bloody cold any time, as the weather when we were there was fierce! I think we got the tail end of a typhoon. Monsoon. Whatever they call them there.

I didn't think the rooms were bad, actually - basic but perfectly ok. The public areas and the restaurant, another matter entirely. I'd never had so much frozen veg since I was a student! I know they must have logistical issues but if the nearby Irish pub could do fresh veg, why couldn't they?

It's ok as a dive resort, I guess, but not my kind of place at all. Might as well have stayed in one of the bungalows for much less money.

[Fat Bob]

Ah, yes, the restaurant was not particularly good, the pool was OK, and the steps down to the toilet in the night were always fun after a beer or two.

But the villas on the beach front are a better look, and yes, there's plenty of other reasonable food available on the island. I even found an almost OK almost posh restaurant recently.

[Kooky]

I must add it was there I discovered the beauty of fresh watermelon juice and Bacardi, so it wasn't all bad

I'm sure it's changed in the last few years. JJ, better get there now before it's spoiled.

[JJ]

have had a look... Ko-Ko-Mo seems to be the do... Luxury boutique villas (although I doubt they will be seriously luxury - but looks a step up from the big resort type thing)...

[Fat Bob]

Oooh, I ate there. Nothing memorable, which usually means nothing bad just as much as nothing exceptional! But yes, recognise it.

edit: from the photos they look a lot better than the ones on the beach front at Ombak.

[Kooky]

Jesus, the website is so painful I couldn't explore it.

[JJ]

Not THAT fussed (although its all relative innit) - just want a nice place where I can wake up and step onto the beach ... (oh, and my own private pool, butler, fabulous villa )

For once I am trying to get super sorted on the holiday/short break in 2011 and book everything in advance, rather than stressing last minute and ending up staying at home....

[Fresh Mint]

I know Lombok pretty well actually (I am heading off there again tomorrow) but I don't particularly like Trewangan. Meno is much nicer in my opinion.

I'll let you know which places are up and which are down after the weekend.

[JJ]

Yes, I think air or meno would be nicer/quieter and therefore more my scene, but I cant find any really lovely accommodation plus am going with someone who likes a bit of a party so...

But yes, let me know what places you think are worth it...

[Fresh Mint]

You can almost swim from one to the other ...

[JJ]

So I went and it was fab. Gili T is highly recommended - in fact any of the islands are highly recommended.