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Senggigi is a beach town on the west coast of the Island of Lombok

[edit] Understand

Senggigi is the main tourist destination on mainland Lombok. It is traversed by a single two lane road that follows the west coast of the island from south of Ampenan and continues northward to circumnavigate the north of Lombok.

[edit] Get in

Senggigi is is on the West Coast of Lombok about 15-20 minutes north of the island's capital Mataram and nearby airport. Airport Taxis charge around Rp 85,000 (2009) for the trip to the northern end of the central Senggigi area. In daylight hours the bemos will cover the distance for around Rp 2,500 from near the airport entrance gate to Pasar Ampenan and then Rp 5,000 for a second Bemo up the coast to Senggigi plus extra charges for any larger items of luggage carried.

Some of the larger Hotels offer pick up transfers to and from the Airport. You will need to book ahead for this.

Some visitors travelling from nearby Bali prefer the option of taking a fast boat across from Bali direct to the Gili Islands and Senggigi. Travel agents or the operators can normally assist with any necessary transfers.

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 Lembar port on the Lombok side is in a remote spot several kilometers well south of Mataram. Travel agents on Bali offer transport from any point in southern Bali to Senggigi, including the ferry ticket, for about Rp 140,000.

[edit] Get around

[edit] By bemo

Bemos (converted passenger-carrying minivans) are the main means of short and medium distance transport on Lombok. They can be hailed down on all larger streets and will happily take you even short hops around Senggigi. Fares are inexpensive.

An approximate fare (october 2009) from Senggigi to the produce markets in Ampenan is Rp 4,500-5,500/person. Prices for set distances vary at times but if the price of fuel has risen or it is in short supply causing roadside price fluctuations then the Bemo prices will often follow. Try and watch what local customers are paying for a similar distance to your own and if really in doubt just include Rp 1,000-2,000 extra.

Many Bemo drivers are reluctant to venture further up the West Coast than the northern end of Mangsit Village as the passenger densities drop dramatically from there on. The driver may want to turn back at this point if he does not have sufficient passengers.

Bemos have normally stopped running by dusk on the West Coast of Lombok.

Travel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Senggigi, the airport, and the harbors of Lembar (for Bali) and Bangsal (for the Gilis).

[edit] By taxi

The largest taxi operator is Blue Bird [1] (light blue in colour) and the second operator is Express Taksi (white). Flag fall is approximately Rp 4,250 and the meter ticks up a few hundred rupiah for every hundred meters past 2 km. Figure on Rp 10,000-rp 15,000 for short hops and about Rp 60,000 from Senggigi to Mataram/Cakranegara. Both operators have a radio linked fleeet and can be booked in advance either by calling them yourself or by booking through your hotel.

[edit] By car

Renting a car is also an option and there are many places to rent from in the Senggigi area. Expect to pay Rp.150,000-175,000 (low end mid-late 1980's Suzuki mini jeep-Jimmy (2x4) to Rp.400,000 for a Toyota Kijang (2x4) or Izuzu Panther (2x4).

[edit] By motorbike

To hire a motrobike, expect to pay around Rp 50,000 (October 2009) for most models and possibly more in peak season when demand for rentals can be very high.

[edit] By ojek

Prices are negotiable but a rule of thumb is Rp 5,000 Rupiah if the destination is nearby.

[edit] By horse cart

Horse-pulled carts, known as Cidomo, are very common arond Senggigi and all across Lombok. They are a good method of transportation for short distances e.g, from your hotel to a restaurant. Make sure to agree on the price before the journey - Rp10,000 is the maximum price to pay for a short journey.

[edit] By boat

Traditional fishing boats known as perahu ply the waters around Lombok, and are instantly recognizable due to their outriggers, two lengths of extra large Bamboo sealed at either end and attached by bars on both sides like a catamaran affording greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered on the Senggigi beaches, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa Indonesian or Bahasa Sasak will come in handy) or via any travel agent, who will of course take an often generous commission.

[edit] By bicycle

Traffic is relatively light throughout the island so travel by bicycle is quite possible and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport.

[edit][add listing] 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 'borrow' 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. 350,000 for the day for a private car and driver or cheaper if you go with a group.

• Kerangdangan Beach. On Sunday afternoons Kerangdangan beach is a popular destination for Lombok residents. They go there to wander about and socialise or sit on the sandy beach or grassy area behind the warungs. People often take a swim in the sea and later eat satay and other snacks made by Kerandangan villagers and sold in the beachfront warungs. There are also two small and more expensive venues with informal outdoor dining in a cluster of small baruga's with big cushions and relaxed service. They are set a little back from the beach and are open most days and nights. Full menus are available at these two venues and they offer an interesting alternative to the Senggigi township offerings.

• Popular excursions that can be done in a day trip include:
• Village visits, including weaving villages and other handicraft-producers
• Waterfall visits

[edit][add listing] Do

Most activities around Senggigi revolve around diving, snorkeling, and hiking. There are some surf shops in town, but there are reportedly better areas on Lombok for surfing. Traditional therapeutic massages are provide by local Sasak women both on the beaches, including Mangsit beach and in the Hotels. Spa treatments are also available around Senggigi and within some of the hotels. Fishing charters are available and some of the hotels rent bicycles for riding around the Senggigi precinct.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Lombok-style woodenware, decorated with local creatures and geometrical patterns in shades of black, brown and red, is sold in several shops in town. The tall masks are quite distinctive, though potentially difficult to get on the plane home. Boxes and bowls are also numerous. It's not as intricate and refined as Balinese arts, but it has a distinctive look and charm, and is quite inexpensive. Make sure you are aware of your home countries import and quarantine restrictions as some require wood to be fumigated and inspected for 'pests'. Australia for example has very strict regulations and failing to declare many items including those made of timber, seeds and some shell items may lead to heavy penalties and confiscation. Check your countries import regulations and do not forget to declare the goods on the way in when you get back home or in 'transit' countries if you are clearing customs.

Persistent hawkers push Komodo freshwater pearls on tourists, and will follow you for the length of the town. The pearls are quite pretty as costume jewelry, and make nice gifts or souvenirs, but the hawkers play on a misunderstanding of their market value. They will often quote a starting price of around Rp 300,000 (more than US$30) for a strand, though they can be had for as little as Rp 35,000. Pearls for sale on the street tend to be the left-overs of the industry, with more flaws and variations in shape. Longer strands cost more. Better quality strands (rounder, more uniform pearls with fewer flaws) ought to cost more, though the hawkers seem not very sensitive regarding quality and will let you pretty much pick the one you want. There are also many handycraft items available as well as sometimes very good copies of antique artefacts such as Kris and many small traditional Sasak, Hindu and Buddhist items from Lombok's past as well as from nearby Sumbawa, Bima and Bali

If you lose your watch or sunglasses, never fear. Street vendors are always at hand to provide a replacement.

• Senggigi Square.

• Senggigi Plaza.

[edit][add listing] 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." Promotors 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.

[edit] Budget

• Cafe Tenda is on Jl. Senggigi Raya opposite Senggigi Abadi supermarket and the BNI bank and ATM. Cafe Tenda offers traditional local dining at very reasonable prices and has an interesting menu. The BBQ fish and their Nasi Goreng Seafood is good. The BBQ chicken dishes are a little small but tasty. Local sambal is served with meals and a tomato salad can be ordered. They have many juice drinks and cold beer. It is dining "tenda" (under a tent) sitting at rough plywood tables set back a little from the road. Closed Sundays opens at dusk often until very late and is very popular with locals and visitors alike.

• Windy Beach Cottages Restaurant.[2] in Mangsit at the far northern end of the beach has a varied menu with many Indonesian dishes and a full bar. Dining is in the restaurant dining area or at Barugas doted about the hotel grounds overlooking the beach. Lovely beach with great sunsets viewed from the gardens

• Santai Beach Inn [3] at Mangsit Beach at the far southern end. Was in established in Mangsit before the road even reached that far. Has a book exchange and dining in a large traditional Baruga seated at a long communal table. Bookings in advance are essential as they have a set daily menu and cater to a set number of diners. Vegetarian and seafood based Indonesian food, fresh juices and cold beer available. 2010 prices Lunch Rp 30,000 Dinner Rp 45,000, 2009 prices Lunch Rp 25,000 Dinner Rp 55,000.

• Pak Ismail's eating house. On Jl. Raya Montong south of Hotel Jayakarta but before the turn off Gunung Sari and on the opposite side to the beach. Pak Ismail is from Bandung in Jawa and he has a Sundanese influence to his food. It is a traditional Indonesian eating house or restaurant and has a very good menu of traditional Indonesian food. No prices on the menu, you have to ask.

[edit] 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. They have a pool table a nice view of the beach and cold beer.
• Papaya Cafe on Jl.Senggigi Raya not far from the Perama 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. The sound level can be a bit excessive for dinnertime conversation.
• Cafe Bumbu on Jl. Senggigi Raya, just in front of Papaya Cafe is worth for decent Thai style food. Rp 3,000 to 50,000 will get a good main course. During the night it provides candle light tables.
• Taman is on Jl. Senggigi Raya near the Senggigi Beach Hotel. It has nice Indonesian, Western and Indian food for a decent price. Expect Rp, 30,000 for lunch for a main dish.
• Yessy Cafe is on Jl. Senggigi Raya near the Sheraton Hotel. It has nice Indonesian, Western and Thai food for a decent price. Expect Rp, 30,000 for a main dish. Friendly staffs with free transport from / to hotel.
• Coco Beach Hidden away on near the beach at the far end of Kerangdangan Beach just north of the Senggigi township. Mixed menu with Indonesian and European style food. Cold beer and other refreshments available.

[edit] Splurge

• Asmara. [4] On Jl. Raya Senggigi has a very good reputation amongst the expat community and European vistors. They also bake bread to take out.

• Ye Jeon, Senggigi Plaza 2F. 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. It may disappoint some people familiar with Korean food. There is an eclectic range of souvenir items available on their ground floor level.

• 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, [5] 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++.

• Qunci Villas, [6]at the beachfront and poolside at Mangsit's highly popular and successful boutique hotel and poolside villa's at Mangsit Beach at the northern end of the Senggigi precinct. There are different styles at the two nearby properties and both have good service and a wine list.

[edit] Biasa

• Warungs and small eating houses. Many roadside warungs sell local food to local people and visitors can join in. Some have very good food at a very reasonable price. Look for the busy ones and make sure you understand what you are buying.
• The taxi driver rule is a good one to apply and it works in Lombok as well as anywhere else. The drivers generally know where to eat and where not.

• The Senggigi strip including Batu Bolong and Mangsit have many warungs and small eating houses. Warung Mur at the far northern end of Mangsit is a reasonable example of a village food outlet and the food is always fresh. Mur sells to the local villages, hotel workers, beach vendors and students from the "Belindo" school opposite. It is a good place to buy something to eat on the drive north or to eat on the beach which is just a short walk down a little alleyway opposite that leads directly down to the sand.
• Watch and see how popular a warung is with the locals and you will have a strong indication of value and quality.

• At Kerungdangan there are many traditional warungs all along the beach and the area is most popular on Sundays when local villagers and people from the city and elsewhere will go there to visit the beach and eat traditional foods such as Satay. You need to look for the entrance running toward the beach from the main road. A token entrance fee is charged for cars and motorbikes (on the way out) and the normally quiet and pretty beach is worth a visit anytime. Sunday is the big day.

• The roads and kampung lanes of Lombok are often lined with such places to eat. Some are better than others, and then there are the ones that are plain scary and that no sane person would eat ever eat anything from.

[edit][add listing] 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,[7] 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, [8] 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.

• Club 69 Karaoke and nightclub with ladies that entertain and encourage customers to sing with them. Open 20:00-02:00

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Santai Beach Inn. [9] at Mangsit Beach at the far southern end. Was in established in Mangsit before the road even reached that far. Has a book exchange and dining in a large traditional Baruga seated at a communal table. Traditional bungalows in a great location with wonderful laid back friendly staff. 2009 prices Rp 80,000 thru Rp 240,000 +10% Govt tax inc breakfast. 2010 prices Rp 90,000 thru Rp 270,000 +10% Govt tax inc breakfast. WIFI internet access is available in rooms and lounge area. T+62 370 693038 F+62 370 693038 Email contact@santaibeachinn.com

• The Beach Club, In Batu Bolong just before Senggigi, it has two very clean double backpacker rooms available between RP 105,00 to 165,000RP per night including continental breakfast and a lounge area with TV, A bar with all sorts of sports and plenty of beruga's to lie around in and free WIFI available here.

• 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 USD - $16 USD (Rp. 80,000 - 160,000) 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 Rp 100000 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

• Pondok Siti Hawa Backpackers. The first place you come to when travelling from Ampenam to Senggigi, exactly 4.1 km before the Senggigi post office on the left hand side. Look fot the red, white and green sign. Travel slowly as it is difficult to see. A variety of bamboo and brick bungalows just 50 metres from the beach set amongst a lush garden. Hosts Siti Hawa and Pak Husin make you feel wonderfully welcome. Siti Hawa is a great cook and you will really enjoy staying here. It is clean, cheap and great value. Furthermore these people have a social conscience and are trying to make Senggigi a better place for all.

[edit] Mid-range

• The Beach Club, Batu Bolong, Tel.+62-0370-693637, [10]. 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, [11]. 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 [12] 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.

[edit] Splurge

• Holiday Resort Lombok, [13] Mangsit 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), [14]. 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, [15] Mangsit Beach, Tel. +62-370-693800, Fax +62-370-693802, email: stay@quncivillas.com. A small resort where the staff 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. Tel. +62-370-693800, Fax +62-370-693802. Luxury 2 and 3 bedroom villas with private pools and butler service. [16]

• Sheraton Senggigi, Jl. Raya Senggigi Km.8, tel. +62-370-693333, [17]. 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).

• The Oberoi Lombok, Medana Beach, Tanjung West Lombok, Tel. +62-370-638444, Fax +62-370-632496, email: gm@theoberoi-lombok.com, [18]. The most expensive hotel in Lombok. An ideal hideaway due to its 'secluded' area. Rates: US$270-952/night (discounts available).

• Hotel Tugu Lombok, Sire Beach, Email: lombok@tuguhotels.com or bali@tuguhotels.com [19]. The upcoming Hotel Tugu Lombok is located on the northwest coast of the island. Neighboring the site is an 18 hole-golf course and virgin landscapes, traditional village houses and empty green fields where local life continues in today’s age much the same as it has done for centuries. Tugu Lombok land comprises of approximately six hectares of mature palm plantations, facing the open ocean and the sunrise of Mount Rinjani. The clear blue water in front of Hotel Tugu Lombok is most ideal for swimming, snorkeling and diving during the day.

[edit] Private villas

• The Anandita[20]- Sire Beach. Private luxury villa over 3 acres in size next to the Kosaido golf course and five minutes by boat from the Gili Islands. Nearby is the Lombok Oberoi. It boasts a 27 meter private swimming pool and a volleyball court and fronts directly on the beach. Located close to the Tugu hotel, the villa includes four bedrooms, private pool and garden - comes with a full complement of 16 staff (private chef, maids, security, etc). Prices vary from depending on season, for the entire villa.

[edit] 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)

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!