Senggigi Beach - Lombok Island - Indonesia

Senggigi from the air

Senggigi is the main tourist strip of Lombok, stretched out along nearly 10 kilometers of beachfront just to the north of the capital Mataram.

Senggigi can be broadly divided into three parts: northern Mangsit Beach, central Senggigi and the southern stretch near Batu Bolong, with headlands separating the three. Mangsit has quiet resorts and very little other development, while nightlife and other restaurants are concentrated in Senggigi and the Batu Bolong area.

That said, Lombok's post-2000 misfortunes hit Senggigi hard, with many developments halted and a businesses closed and boarded up. Things are starting to improve again, with a few new villas going up, shops re-opening and attracting more tourist who seek the solitude and unspoiled scenery of Lombok. Senggigi is the place to find hotels/resorts with manicured grounds and swimming pools - often a short distance from the beach. Senggigi is not a typical tourist resort town where a day can be spent shopping and socializing at the local bars and restaurants (such as found in Bali). Most visitors use Senggigi as a home base and take day trips to the waterfalls, the Gili Islands, or just exploring the still authentic villages, temples, and jungle habitat found within a couple hours drive.

With Sand in Senggigi

Get in

Senggigi is about 15-20 minutes north of Mataram and its airport. Taxis charge around Rp 30,000 for the trip, while bemos will cover the distance for under Rp 5,000.

If you are frugal or intrepid and take the slow ferry from Bali, it's best to arrange transport in advance from the ferry dock to Senggigi, since the dock on the Lombok side is in a remote spot several kilometers south of Mataram. Travel agents on Bali offer transport from any point in southern Bali to Seggigi, including the ferry ticket, for about Rp 140,000

Play on Senggigi Beach

Get around

Taxis are common and even the ones waiting around for customers are usually happy to use the meter. Bemos also zip through Senggigi on their way north and south and are happy to pick up passengers; pricing is a little random, but a couple of thousand rupiah will suffice for most short trips. Longer trips can be arranged as well (expect to pay Rp 30,000-50,000 to Bangsal Harbor).

Guys with carts and miniature horses wait around town and outside the upscale hotels, looking hopefully at every tourist who passes. They will happily carry you to or from your hotel, or as far as Pura Batu Bolong. Rock-bottom price is difficult to determine, since you feel guilty bargaining them down, but a short ride can easily be had for 10,000 to 15,000 rupiah.

Sunset On Senggigi

See

• Pura Batu Bolong, 2 km south of Senggigi. Small Hindu temple located in a scenic spot at a cape overlooking Senggigi beach, named after a rock (batu) with a hole (bolong). At the tip is an empty chair representing Brahma, the god of creation. Free entry, but you'll have to loan a sash (Rp5,000 a throw) from one of the urchins if you don't have one already. Sunsets seen from here can be very impressive.
• Senggigi Beach. A spit of sand stretching out from central Senggigi, this is Senggigi's raison d'etre but, by Indonesian standards, it's not all that spectacular. The beach is a little dirty, the hawkers are a nuisance and the Senggigi Beach Resort has grabbed most of the land. Some local surfers brave the smallish waves.

Senggigi is a popular launch point for other activities on Lombok. Without the hassle of Mataram, you can visit several other locations and come back to the same hotel each night. Tour operators can arrange these trips for you at around Rp. 300,000 for the day for a private car and driver or cheaper if you go with a group.

Popular excursions that can be done in a day trip include:

• Village visits, including weaving villages and other handicraft-producers
• Waterfall visits

Tornado In Senggigi

Eat

There are plenty of eating options in Senggigi, with a surprising array of Western-style dishes on the menu. Alas, local chefs are often better with the names than the recipes for Western favorites, and seem to follow a philosophy of "when in doubt, add more butter." Guys will follow you along the street offering business cards, 10% discounts, and free "cocktails" to draw you in. Beware of discount offers, and before you bite, ask if VAT and service will be added to the bill. A promised 10% discount can quickly become a 10% surcharge after they hit you with tax and service.

Mid-range

• Bale Tajuk, Jl. Senggigi Raya. Small but popular eatery offering a range of local and Western dishes, including a fairly decent Lombok-style ayam taliwang (Rp20,000).
• The Office is a tourist-oriented restaurant on the water behind the market near the Sheraton. Its barn-style building is attractive, but the food is hit-and-miss and rather expensive. The soto ayam and chicken sandwich are pretty good though.
• Papaya Cafe on Senggigi Raya not far from the Prama Office is worth it for decent Chinese or Italian food. Rp 35,000 to 50,000 will get a good main course. The atmosphere is rustic and clean. live music plays every night after 20:00.
• Taman is on the main strip near the Senggigi Bach Hotel. It has nice Indonesian, Western and Indian food for a decent price. Expect Rp, 30,000 for lunch for a main dish.
• Splurge
• Ye Jeon, Senggigi Plaza 2F. Surprisingly authentic Korean restaurant, especially given that it's probably the only one in all Lombok. Single dishes are reasonable (try the bibimbap, Rp35,000) but sets with a full spread of banchan appetizers are pricier at Rp80,000 and up, with 21% service/tax slapped on top.
• Sheraton Senggigi, about 100 meters up the road from town. It offers usually buffet style dinner & although has a la carte restaurant. It's pricey but service is good
• De Quake,[1] Pasar Senggigi, Modern, minimalistic, lounge style interior on the beach with beautiful sunset view. Upstairs food, downstairs reserved for drinks and luxurious sunbeds.
• The Square, on the Senggigi Square. The most expensive restaurant in town with a Chef from Bali and excellent service. Dinner sets are good value and offer good mixtures. The upstairs terraces is lounge style and food & drinks are served. Vegetarians may have to get creative to find something other than pasta noodles and tomato sauce, but adaptions to standard dishes are possible. Prices start from around Rp.30,000++

Drink

Senggigi's nightlife still suffers from far more supply than demand, with punters thinly spread and bars desperate for customers. Still places open & close but @ Friday & Saturday night the young crowd from Mataram push in a bit of life

• The Beach Club,[2] A great place to start your early evening watching the sunset over Bali and enjoying cocktails/drinks on the beachfront,open 10.00u-10.00u
• Happy Cafe, Live band with something extra. Local expats seem to come together here every Saturday night. A good place to start your night - 20.00u - 01.30u.
• Marina Cafe, [3] Every month a new live band from Jakarta or Bandung. Professional setup, incredible sound. Mostly free entrance, sometimes gigs with admission, 00.00u-02.00u.
• Sahara Disco, Live band regulary combined with DJ. Good tunes and good service. 40.000rp entrance though. Open from 0.00u-03.00u.
• Club 69 Karaoke and nightclub with ladies that entertain and encourage customers to sing with them. Open 20:00-02:00

Sleep

Budget

• Raja's, in the centre of Sengigi, in the kampung but the best place to sleep for a cheap price, around RP 75,000 a night.
• Lina, in Senggigi. About $8.00 USD - $16.00 USD (Rp. 75,000 - 150,000) per night. Lina is right on the beach, it has clean rooms with clean bath, decent food, and in a nice area. Beware - the disco across the street can be a bit loud late at night.
• Hotel Ray 100000 RP A night cold water and fan, nice building but can be in the middle of several perfomances so a good nights sleep can be hard, price includes breakfast

Mid-range

• The Beach Club, Batu Bolong, Tel.+62-0370-693637, [4]. Beach front bungalows (including backpacker rooms late 2008), Swimming Pool and Bar and Cafe also. Funky Bungalows with a/c and hotwater in outdoor bathrooms. Rp. 350,000.
• Puri Saron, Jl. Raya Senggigi, Krandangan (north of Senggigi, near Sheraton), ☎ +62-370-693907, [5]. A 15-min walk from central Senggigi, this fairly small Balinese-style resort hotel has direct access to the beach, a decent pool and a cheap dinner buffet (Rp. 55,000), but the musty rooms, while clean, have seen better days. Still, most rates include airport pickup and breakfast, making this a good choice if you just need to overnight in Senggigi before striking out the next morning. US$35. edit
• Senggigi Beach Hotel [6] is a large facility with a range of rooms, many with a nice sea view. Standard rooms start at Rp 600,000 in the low season, including tax, but a bungalow will be Rp. 675,000. Deluxe and Villas are also available. Better prices can be had by booking over their website. The location is nice as it is easy to walk on the beach or access the shops and travel bureaus in town. The grounds are enjoyable and there are several good restaurants on the premises.

Splurge

• Holiday Resort Lombok, Senggigi Beach, Tel. +62-370-693444, Fax +62-370-693092, 693206, E-mail: reservationmgr@Holidayresort-lombok.com. Rates: US$80-180/night.
• Puri Mas Beach Resort, Mangsit, ☎ +62-370-693831 (info@purimas-lombok.com, fax: +62 370 593 023), [7]. Built in 1987 by a ballroom-dancing Dutchman, this small beachside resort has 17 cottages set in a lush Balinese garden packed with statues. Each thatched-roof cottage has air-con, mosquito nets and funky hot-water showers. A new beachfront restaurant and lounge bar add great style to this resort, with excellent food. They have added a fantastic spa with awesome treatments. Published rates from US$75 but off-season discounts go as low as US$55 with transfers and breakfast, great value even by Indonesian standards. edit
• Puri Bunga, Senggigi, West Lombok, tel: +62 0370 693013 fax: +62 370 693286 web: www.puribungalombok.com . Very friendly staff and and beautiful views from the rooms over the Lombok Straits. The cottages are built on a hill therfore offering privacy in the private cottages all located in a beautiful garden. The hotel is located right in Senggigi next to the art market. It takes about 10 minutes drive from the airport and 45 minutes from Lembar to get to the resort. The prices are around US$40-75/night.
• Qunci Villas, [8] Mangsit Beach, Tel. +62-370-693800, Fax +62-370-693802, email: stay@quncivillas.com. A small resort where the staffs know and greet you by your first name. A nice medium size swimming pool which looks as if it is part of the sea. The room does not have TV, in order to 'detach' the guests from the outside world. The restaurant serve very good food at reasonable price, and dinner can be enjoyed directly on the beach. US$70-90 for standard rooms, US$135 for room with private pool.
• The Qunci Mangsit Beach, Tel. +62-370-693800, Fax +62-370-693802. Luxury 2 and 3 bedroom villas with private pools and butler service. [9]
• Sheraton Senggigi, Jl. Raya Senggigi Km.8, tel. +62-370-693333, [10]. Senggigi's swankiest resort. Published rates from US$100 per night, but rooms in the unrenovated wing might be available for 20-30% less on the Sheraton website & travel agents offer sometimes good packages. Nice pool and gardens typical of four-star resort but potentially less sticker-shock than usual. While a sunset cocktail will typically cost almost US$10 with tax and service at a fancy resort in Bali, the Sheraton Senggigi has a half-price happy hour where you could get one for about $3.50 (17:30-18:30 & 21:30-22:30).

Get out

Much of Lombok can be accessed easily from Senggigi.

• Take a boat to the Gili Islands for snorkeling or diving
• Climb up Mount Rinjani, an active volcano (these can be suspended for long periods during the rainy season)

Beware of taking the combined bus+ferry journey from here to the eastern islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Apart from the journey itself being tortuously slow, hotels and agents will happily sell you tickets without even checking whether the ferries are running (they are sometimes suspended for days at a time for bad weather, especially if one has sunk recently), and the bus companies will happily drive you to the ferry terminal knowing that there are no ferries departing for the next 20+ hours. At this point, your travel company may suggest either a very expensive private boat or a suddenly very expensive ride back to the nearest town to get a hotel. In such circumstances, the best the local airport is likely to offer you will be a trip back to Denpasar on Bali.

They also often have a surprise extra charge - levied AFTER you've paid for the original ticket and the original ticket seller is long gone - for baggage over 10Kg, with the actual amount being random within the same company depending on who is demanding it (125,000 Rupiah is not unknown). This information is printed on the bus ticket you receive when you hand in the original sales receipt, so there's no way to know about it prior to purchase.

Soo...enjoy your vacations.

Source : http://wikitravel.org/