Travel Budget for Lombok Visit Lombok on a Budget or Travel in Style

The most affordable highest rated hotels in Lombok include:

• Kokomo Resort Gili Gede starting at $69
• Gili Teak Resort starting at $65
• The Suites Lombok starting at $44
• Scallywags Resort starting at $48
• ASTON Sunset Beach Resort starting at $31

Tips to Save Money on Accommodation in Lombok

Lombok is a great destination for families, and if you're traveling with kids, an apartment with extra space might be ideal.

This island offers a selection of resorts. You may find places that include meals or at least breakfast, and many resorts come with onsite restaurants.

If you plan to stay a week in Lombok, consider a vacation rental with a kitchen. It's a practical way to prepare some meals yourself during your visit.

If you travel during the low or shoulder season (and skip summer), you'll enjoy lower accommodation prices and fewer tourists.

Lombok has its own, newly-built international airport, Bandara Internasional Lombok (BIL), with daily flights to Jakarta, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and Denpasar daily, and also direct flights to Bangkok, Seoul, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore, among other major cities.

Take a ferry from Padang Bai in Southeast Bali and Lembar in Southwest Lombok to travel to and from Bali.

Senggigi Beach is just about an hour away from the airport and you can easily get there via public transport, but keep in mind that public transport in Lombok is unreliable. An alternative means of transport is to take an airport taksi, but only if you are arriving at the airport and heading into a city. Airport taksis cannot take you to the airport for departure.

Though you can easily hire a driver or car at a reasonable price, renting a motorcycle is an alternative, more adventurous way to see the island. Roads are in good condition, making for a safe ride and the widest part of the island is just 80 km, so you won't have to ride to too long, no matter where you go. Don't forget your helmet - it's illegal to ride without one. You can easily find rental shops all over the island.

Stand on the street and hail a bemo, which is a small covered pick-up truck with benches for seating in the truck bed, available for short to medium-distance rides. Cidomos, or horse carts, are also another means of transport for short distances. Be sure to agree upon a price before you get in.

For a leisurely and more cultural experience, you can also rent a bicycle, available for rental at hotels.

To get from one beach to another, you can also hire a traditional fishing boat, also known as a perahu. You can either rent them directly from an owner (speaking Bahasa Indonesian or Bahasa Sasak will definitely help in this case), or if you're willing to pay more, from a travel agent.

Some of the standard hotel transfers and transport options include:

• Private Airport Lombok Transfers to or from Gili Islands for $34 details
• Transfer Service to Lombok Airport for $22 details
• Lombok Private Airport Transfers To Bangsal Port Lombok and Gili Trawangan for $50 details

When dining out, the average daily cost for food in Lombok is around $21 (Rp338272) per person, with previous travelers spending from $9 to $39. Generally, breakfast and lunch cost less than dinner, but this will depend on the type of restaurant and what you order.

Typical meal prices in Lombok are as follows:

• Breakfast: $2 to $6
• Lunch: $3 to $8
• Dinner: $6 to $14
• Coffee: $2
• Fast Food or Street Food: $3

Some regional specialties of Lombok island include Taliwang chicken, which is seasoned with spices and served with a dried red chili, onion, garlic, tomatoes, fried shrimp, aromatic ginger, Java sugar, and salt, alongside Plecing kangkung, a spicy water spinach dish. You can try this at Asmara Restaurant and Bar in Senggigi, which also offers gluten-free and halal options in their Indonesian and international fare, including coconut chicken and Sasak Rijsttafel.

Satay Rembiga, is another popular dish, consisting of grilled seasoned sweet and spicy beef skewers served with rice or rice cakes. If you're feeling adventurous and visiting during Bau Nyale Festival, try Pepes Nyale, a popular seasonal and local specialty of Nyale mixed with coconut and spices, wrapped in a banana leaf and roasted over fire.

Kuta's El Bazar Cafe & Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine at reasonable prices, featuring an eclectic menu of shakshuka, fish tacos, eggs benedict and beef kabobs.

You can find Indonesia staples in Kuta at Bau Nyale Restaurant, which offers Asian, Indonesian, vegetarian and European food, including Gado Gado, oxtail soup, and chicken soto.

Visit Warung Paradiso, named a hidden gem in Senggigi known for fresh seafood and cheap Indonesian fare, not to mention excellent cocktails and beautiful sunset views.

Food & Dining Tips

When you're out with kids, seek restaurants that provide a kids' menu. This can help you save a good chunk of change, as these meals are usually priced lower. Remember, some places may not display their kids' options, so be sure to ask the server before ordering.

Some hotels include breakfast in the overall cost, while others add it as an extra charge. The quality and price of breakfast can vary greatly depending on the hotel. Being informed beforehand can help you determine if you need to set aside additional funds. The hotel's buffet may be worth it, or you might consider visiting a local bakery or cafe for a more budget-friendly option.

Save some money and appreciate the beautiful scenery by having a picnic. Find a nearby grocery store or market, pick out some fresh food, and choose a nice park or scenic spot for your meal.

Opt for a water bottle instead of constantly buying drinks. It's not only convenient but also eco-friendly.

If you're going to take a tour, make sure you understand which meals are included. You could end up paying for some food yourself, which might affect your budget.

Taking a food tour or cooking class is a great way to experience the culture in Lombok. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. A few of the best culinary activities here include:

• Anggrek Putih Cooking Class & Garden Tour for $20 details
• Babah Peranakan Chinese Cuisine Dinner in Lombok for $60 details
• Kids Cooking Class at Tugu Hotel Lombok for $63 details

Some of the most popular sights include:

• Kuta Beach (Free)
• Pink Beach (Free)
• Tiu Kelep Waterfall for $100
• Mount Rinjani for $150
• Gili Islands for $100
• Senggigi Beach (Free)
• Narmada Park for $3

Lombok isn't a large island, which makes it easy to navigate and visit, especially if you're limited on time.

Senggigi Beach is the main tourist attraction of Lombok, where visitors flock for beautiful beaches on the west side of the island. Go to the center if you're looking for bars, restaurants and nightlife. Be sure to check out a map of Senggigi before you book accommodations, as it is divided into several areas and it may be hard to get from one to another without a taxi or using public transport.

The center of Senggigi is also a common takeoff point to visit the Gili Islands, nearby villages and temples, and Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, where you can take an easy trek to view the beautiful falls.

For a cultural experience, visit Mayura Park, built in the mid 1700s by King A.A Made Karangasem. Within the park, you can visit the four Hindu temples, Mount Rinjani, Ngelurah, Padmasana, and Gedong temple.

Take a stroll along with a history lesson in Narmada Park, the king of Bali's summer palace, which is a peaceful and lush green space believed to contain the fountain of youth among wooden pavilions and clean pools.

While Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan are popular with tourists and locals alike on the west side of Lombok, if you're looking for something more off-the-beaten-track, explore the secret and mostly deserted (and sometimes submerged) east islands of Gili Bidara, Gili Kapal and Gili Lampu. Here, you can take a day trip tour to explore all the islands to snorkel and experience your own Shangri-La without the tourism that comes with the more popular west gilis. Gili Kondo is the most known and visited of the east Gilis, especially because locals like to visit on weekends.

On the south of the island, Kuta beach, not to be confused with its namesake in Bali, has beautiful, white sand beaches for relaxing as well as some of the best surfing in the world. Some travelers have had problems in Kuta Lombok as this small town is often caught up in the general problems associated with tourism development.

Lombok also has world-class diving spots in the southwest of the island in Sekotong.

Take a hike up to Mount Rinjani, the second-highest, not to mention active volcano in Indonesia at 12,224 feet in elevation.

Don't forget to visit the hot springs and Segara Anak, a heated crater lake in the caldera. Tour companies such as HaLoMi Trekker and Green Rinjani Trekking will take you to see beautiful views of all of the above on a challenging trek including delicious cooked meals.

Sightseeing Tips

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling:
One of the key highlights in Lombok is its popular scuba diving scene. The island is surrounded by clear waters and colorful coral, making it a superb snorkeling and diving destination. For some of the best dive spots head to the Gili Islands. Around the island you'll find places where you can see turtles, colorful fish, and possibly even Hammerhead Sharks.

Beaches:
Many adventurers arrive in Lombok to spend leisurely days at the beach. Kuta, Senggigi, and the Gili Islands offer some of the area's best beaches. Many beaches have white sand, clear water, beautiful snorkeling, or fun surfing. Mawun Beach and Pandanan Beach are among the most beautiful beaches, while Selong Belanak Beach is very photogenic with its water buffalo. Tanjung Aan Beach has surfing and Kuta Beach Lombok is the most popular beach, but not among the best.

Hiking:
Discovering the hiking trails around Lombok is a delight. There are many walking and hiking trails around the island, but the most well known is the three day hike to the peak of Mount Rinjani. This is the large and active volcano on the island. The hike is truly beautiful and spectacular, but it's also a challenging climb and the difficulty level should not be underestimated.

Shopping:
You'll find shopping here to be an experience worth having. There are many traditional markets and villages around the island where you can buy Sasak crafts. These items are characterized by bright colors and elaborate patterns. You'll find pottery, fabrics, clothing, and hand-woven baskets.

Local tours that last a few hours can be a great way to explore Lombok. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:

• Private Day Trip Tour To Secret Gilis for $110 details
• Lombok Wildlife Park Skip the Line Ticket for $27 details
• Car Hire Lombok tradition village tour for $99 details

Nightlife Tips

Exploring the nightlife is often a fun part of any trip, but skipping a few drinks can make a big impact on your overall travel cost.

Drinking at night can be fun, but make sure you're aware of your surroundings. You could attract pickpockets, so it's best to stick with people you trust and stay in a group.