In Reply to: Fast Boat to Lombok posted by Iwikatea on Thursday, 29. September 2005 at 21:41 Bali Time:
We're spending December in Bali & the Gilis again and wanted to take a boat rather than fly but this proved impossible to arrange.
The Bounty service to the Gilis from Benoa stopped over a year ago and the "fast" Perama from Padang Bai direct to Gili Trawangan has been suspended until further notice due to an accident with the boat (I mailed them a month back looking for their December schedule and was told that they didn't think it would be up and running by Xmas - must have been a big accident!!!)
Private boat charters such as the Moggy are about US$3000 for 6 pax from Bali to Gili T return and its an overnight cruise. Other yacht charters were even more expensive, so we've been forced to use the normal DPS to Mataram flights and speed-boat route out to the Gilis.
If you do have any luck finding a fast ferry serice plaes post the details on the forum.
AS far as accomodation, we always stay at the Vila Ombak on Gili T (more costly than some of the smaller cottages etc but still well worth it. Had friend who stayed at the Senggi Beach Hotel and hated it - old, run-down, bad service etc etc. The Lombok Lover forum mentioned by rambutmerrah above is very useful. Have a look at http://www.lombokand beyond.com/lombokhotels/index.html (take out spaces between after "Lombokand")