Located off the northwest coast of Lombok in Indonesia, the Gili islands are rapidly gaining popularity and it’s evident why. No matter which island you visit, be it Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno or Gili Air, all three boast their own unique charms, and you’ll surely find a tropical paradise amidst the white sandy beaches as well as splendid crystal clear waters.
Amongst the islands, Gili Trawangan is the largest, most happening and most frequented by travellers worldwide. For gastronomic pleasures, throngs of warung (small stalls) and restaurants along the beachfront offer Indonesian fare, international cuisine and seafood barbecue. Known as the party island, Trawangan also thrives in its nightlife with flashy bars that are regularly packed.
As for accommodation, you can select from affordable guesthouses, backpackers inns, mid-range beach front hotels, resort hotels or luxury villas scattered around the island, depending on your travel budget. For my recent visit to Gili Trawangan, I settled for Aston Sunset Beach Resort – a modern retreat on the beachfront of a quieter part of the island.
Perfect for leisure travellers who are craving for relaxation, comfort and a contemporary ambience, Aston Sunset Beach Resort is located on the southwest part of Trawangan and its grand entrance is prominently outstanding. With a protruding crown-like structure above its massive one-storey lobby area, it’s really hard to miss.
The extensive resort, which features 125 Superior Rooms, 40 Aston Club Rooms, 10 1-bedroom villas and 1 Royale Suite, has a modish vibe throughout its vicinity and all of its room types. I stayed in a comfortable Superior Room with a King bed that featured an outdoor terrace overlooking the resort’s huge swimming pool.
The Superior Room was cosy, comfortable and was equipped with all the basic amenities I needed. There is an extra daybed available in the room for an extra guest, a nice rain shower built in, a two-sink vanity, an LCD television and a well stocked minibar.
The locals on the Gili islands practice strict sustainability and conservation in efforts to preserve the environment on land and to protect the beautiful coral reefs in the sea. For that reason, many hotels on the Gili islands merely filter the sea water to be pumped throughout their properties for guests to utilise.
Having said that, I really appreciated the fresh water supply provided at Aston Sunset Beach Resort. After spending days on the island and feeling unclean from taking salty showers, I relished every moment of having fresh water. Gallons of clean water is ferried in from Lombok every week, and the resort also reminds guests to conserve their use of water as supply is limited.
Besides taking a dip in the huge outdoor pool, guests can learn diving from a professional in the resort’s own diving pool and rent equipment to do some snorkelling, diving or kayaking, whether guided or on your own. There is also a game hut along the beachfront of the resort, with billiard, ping pong and other fun stuff to keep you occupied during your stay.
If those activities don’t entice you, visit the resort’s Urban Spa for a wide variety of top-notch treatments or experience a traditional Indonesian massage that’s sure to invigorate your senses. Additionally, enrol a cooking class at the resort itself and hone your culinary skills as you are guided through traditional Indonesian recipes for an appetiser, main course and dessert.
To bask in the sun and for magnificent views of the sunset, the beach is of course the ultimate highlight of the resort. Unlike the east part of the island, you’ll find more tranquility and privacy here, away from the noisy bars and multitude of travellers hanging about. It’s honestly so much more enjoyable, albeit quieter.
Relax, read a book or simply enjoy the imperial view from the sun beds scattered along the sun deck. While you’re at it, quench your thirst with specially crafted cocktails available at the Sunset Grill & Bar. Every evening from Fridays to Sundays, a reggae live band performs on the beachfront while you watch the glorious sun descend and light of the day gradually fade away.
As you watch the sky turn orange, Bali’s holy Mount Agung peeks through the horizon, elevating the majestic view even more. Happy Hour is from 4 to 7pm daily and you can get buy 1 free 1 cocktails, so it’s advisable for you to be there early to reserve the best seats on the beachfront to watch the sunset.
Sunset Grill & Bar is the only restaurant at the resort, and this means that you’ll be having your buffet breakfasts, lunches and dinners by the beach. It can’t get better than that! I tried the buffet breakfast spread, which wasn’t very memorable, but I was really impressed with the lunch and dinner offerings available at the restaurant.
For lunch and dinner, Sunset Grill & Bar offers an array of local and international cuisine, with pizzas, pastas, noodle and rice dishes, as well as small eats. For barbecue at night, you can choose from a wide selection of meats and seafood to be charcoal-grilled and is chargeable by weight. Along with the barbecue, you get a free flow of salads, soup, drinks, rice, savoury dishes and dessert.
Motorised transportation is not allowed on the islands, so Aston Sunset Beach Resort is accessible via cidomo (horse cart) – 5 minutes, a bicycle – 10 minutes, or by foot, which takes about 30 minutes. To commute to the east of island and back, you can loan a bicycle for free at the resort. You will be given a lock and key, and there is ample bicycle parking around.
I highly dissent the use of horse carts as it’s inhumane towards the ponies that are deprived of basic necessities like food, water and play time, so I chose to walk to and from the resort. If you wish to do the same, do not carry clunky luggage bags and opt for backpacks as the pavements are bumpy and very sandy.
For Aston Sunset Beach Resort, its peak period would be 1st of July to the 31st of August, and from the 24th of December to the 5th of January. Having said that, the resort is almost always busy, so you should make reservations in advance. The resort also accepts walk-ins, depending on the availability.
This resort is ideal for couples on a romantic getaway, or for small families who are yearning an escape from the city. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this appealing 4-star resort, and its highly friendly, hospitable staff made my stay extra memorable. Stay here at Aston Sunset Beach Resort and you’ll see exactly why I fell in love with this place. 🙂
Gili Trawangan island, Lombok,
West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
Tel: +62 370 633 686 or +62 828 97816249 or (Hotline)+62 878 6450 4800
Email: gilitrawanganinfo@astonhotelsasia.com
Facebook page: Aston Sunset Beach Resort
