In Reply to: Lombok posted by rasya on Friday, 12. March 2010 at 14:50 Bali Time:
For July!went to Lombok as part of a cruise in Feb and loved it!
I would suggest you look for a hotel at Senggigi beach and from there you can get day trips to the 3 Gili islands for snorkeling,senggigi is the main tourist area of Lombok
There are lots of hotels on Senggigi beach and quite easy to find just by Googling.
Be careful though,most lombok hotels advertise the room rate in US Dollars but you are charged in IDR at check out!
What happens is you secure a room rate in $US then you are charged that rate but its converted to IDR at the hotels exchange rate.
This rate in most cases is nowhere near the true exchange rate.
Most hotels also add on 21% which is ++,after the room rate!
eg,I booked a room at a hotel that charged me $55US ++ per night,this totaled $66.55US per night which in turn is $74 AU,but it actual cost me over $88AU a night because the hotel exchange rate was 11000 IDR fixed rate to 1$US (not a true rate)
$66.55US x 11000 IDR = 732050IDR
732050IDR divide by 8300IDR(average AU$-Rup exchange) = $88.19AU!
Bit confusing but all charges are at check out in IDR unless you have US$ cash on you!
June i think is the start of high season and judging by reviews i have read,last year both the gili islands and Senggigi beach hotels in Lombok were pretty much booked out all high season!
thats why i booked mine on the net and so far in advance!
Walking prices are much cheaper but last year people had trouble getting walking rooms in high season
If I were you i would book a hotel quiet early!
Make sure you read the hotels small print on exchange rates.