The Oberoi Beach Resort, Lombok

The magic all started with a warm welcome in the hotel lobby where we were greeted with flower leis, refreshments and a cold cloth to cool down. The view from the lobby is magnificent, with the infinity pool and pond reflecting the lush greenery surrounding the water. Ozi, who displayed impeccable customer service skills, took the time to explain the hotel’s offers and procedures to us and then kindly escorted us to our rooms by buggy. We booked a few excursions with him and highly recommend the boat service to go snorkelling or take you to the neighbouring Gili Islands for the day. The hotel can provide a packed lunch; you can choose your food from their travel menu. The very spacious and ultra-clean rooms are a feast for the eyes, with their warm wooden features, luscious rug, and understated interior design. The beds are grand, and a pillow menu as well as earplugs are provided. The vast bathroom is a pure delight, where you can spend precious time relaxing and unwinding. Fruit baskets are replenished daily, and you can choose from an opulent menu of exotic fruit. Mosquito repellent is provided, and an electric mosquito machine is set up during the evening turn-down service. The entire property is meticulously maintained, and the pool and beachside provide ample opportunity to cool down your body and mind. The food was excellent on every occasion - kudos to the chefs and their teams - and the musical dinner entertainer was highly talented. All staff were so friendly and we felt thoroughly spoiled during our entire stay. Thank you for preparing such a special birthday surprise at dinner and for decorating the room so warmly. It was very much appreciated, and we will take these beautiful memories with us. Afternoon snacks were offered at 4 pm, and complimentary fresh coconuts could be ordered throughout the day. There were also various complimentary activities, such as wood carving, tie-dyeing, horse riding, yoga or mindfulness. The most outstanding experience was the warm and super professional customer care. The Oberoi is a rare gem in Lombok, and other hotels should emulate its impressive service. We can’t wait to return again soon!

This is a wonderful resort, with amazing views of the horizon and some of the most amazing sunset views. We had a very relaxing four night stay. The food was delicious, all be it provided as a la carte as opposed to buffet style. The hotel also provided daily activities for children to keep them busy which we thoroughly appreciated. The hotel pool was relatively small compared to other hotels we've been to, but was never crowded. It's worth pointing out that the beach in front of the hotel is not owned by the hotel, or at best only a very small part of it is owned by the hotel. However it's very difficult to get to if not directly accessed through the hotel so other than hotel residents there is no one else there. I've given it four stars as opposed to five as we were not entirely happy with our first room and asked to be moved (we found the garden view rooms to be a little dark as our initial room faced onto the entrances of the ocean view rooms which we found to be slightly odd positioning). In other places where we've done this hotels have tried to make us feel as welcome as possible while doing their best to accommodate the request. At the Oberoi however we couldn't get away from the undertones of being inconvenient guests. We were moved in the end to an upgraded room which was much appreciated.

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.