Villa Karingal

Once in a while - not very often - the traveller has the good fortune to book into extraordinary accommodation. Villa Karingal is one such place. It's hard to know where to begin in explaining why this property is so amazing - but I'll give it a shot! Firstly, the location. Perched high on a hill, cloaked in lush tropical gardens, overlooking the stunning Sengiggi coastline, the location is breathtaking. There's something magical about the way the villa seems to float above its surroundings. It's quiet, serene and relaxed yet just a stone's throw from the beaches, restaurants, bars and other attractions of the Sengiggi area. Wherever you want to go is just minutes (and only a few dollars) away by taxi or rideshare. The villas themselves are gorgeous: clean, comfortable, well-designed, quiet and with all the amenities you'd want (aircon, rain shower, satellite TV, minibar, etc.) for a reasonable price. The sparkling swimming pool deserves special mention. You'd be hard-pressed finding a more spectacular pool in any hotel in Lombok - or, anywhere, for that matter. Nur's breakfasts are delicious, with a range of Western and Indonesian meals, Lombok coffee, tropical fruits and freshly-made juices. The lovely and multi-talented Nur is also a trained masseur who gives wonderful in-house massages! Gill, the hospitable and worldly owner of Villa Karingal, is the perfect host and an absolute delight. She strikes the perfect balance between friendliness and privacy, steering clear when you want space yet somehow appearing if you need something, have a question or just feel like a bit of a chat. Any visitor to Villa Karingal would be well advised to spend some time with Gill, whose knowledge of Lombok and Indonesia is immense. She can also arrange tours for you and even took us on one herself, taking my partner and I on a day trip to the Gili Sudak in southern Lombok's 'secret Gilis', where we had lunch, swam, snorkelled and got up close and personal with countless colourful reef fish and coral. In the end, despite Villa Karingal's many positive aspects, it's the people who are its greatest asset, and I have nothing but the highest praise for Gill, Nur, Agus and Jae. Each and every one of you are lovely, welcoming people who know how to make a guest feel right at home. Thank you so much for the loveliest six nights on Lombok. We are already planning our return! Peter and Martin

The position of this beautiful Guesthouse on the side of a mountain, provides a stunning sea view across the crystal clear infinity swimming pool The suite was very clean and well equipped, plenty of hanging and storage space. The staff were outstanding and very kind and caring of an old man needing assistance. The friendly and generous hostess provided us with an excellent holiday. Highly recommended

Everything was great at this villa.. all this in the lovely peaceful surroundings of beautiful garden with a wonderful view to the ocean. villa is full of great art, just a charming place. amazing owner and staff that is friendly and make me feel welcome. I will definitely stay there when I come back!

Beautiful accommodation on hill with wonderful sea views from the premises. Very peaceful and quiet offering a different setting to the busy beach vibe. Lovely staff and caring owner. Very interesting tours offered.

Me and my girlfriend spent amazing 4 nights at the beginning of August at Ville Karingal. The view from the Villa (especially from the pool) is gorgeous and a staff is one of the best I have ever seen. The owner (Gill) is a very kind and gentle lady from the UK, who spent the last decades on the island. Therefore, she even speaks the local language and suggested us a lot of hidden sights and nice places to visit during our time. As already mentioned, the staff is very kind and helpful. They organized a scooter for us every day, so we could travel around the island. They also supported us to book the airport transfer, both after arrival and before departure. Hidden Tipp: Everyone should try the banana pancakes from breakfast! Those are just amazing! Thank you Gill! Mate and Bella

Friendly and obliging staff in a beautiful location with great views of the beach and out to sea. The villa itself is very peaceful and quiet but is close to the touristy area of Senggigi Beach. The owner is very knowledgeable about Lombok and has an extensive network of contacts to help you get the best out of your stay. I'm just sorry it took us so long to come back for a 2nd visit.