kuta Lombok

turkey
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kuta Lombok
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Hi

Ive read a few scary reports on LP TT about general security in the south Kuta area in Lombok ? Is this just scaremongering or is it really like the last frontier !!?

Also, we are not surfers and are looking for a good clean swimmable beach on Lombok with some decent warung.restaurant and clean safe budget/mid range accomm if anyone has any recommendations, I'll be very pleased

Many thanks to you all

Lombok, Indonesia
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Sounds like scaremongering to me, what are they saying on that forum?

I am not aware of anywhere on Lombok that can really be described as dangerous though I do find the behaviour on the roads quite alarming at times.

Wandering about on the top of Mount Rinjani is also a bit dangerous as the ground can be a bit slippery, especially if wet.

If you want some accommodation recommendations then please give a daily accommodation budget guideline as there is a range of options on the island from very basic rooms, pleasant homestays, boutique resort hotels through to full 5 star resort standards.

The last time I went to the southern coast it felt pretty normal and I would not discourage you from staying there or visiting as there is some very pretty coastline and beaches in the south.

If may feel like a bit of a "last frontier" as places like south Lombok are getting harder to find in recent years.

It does remain quite undeveloped and most of the southern coastline has little or no built up tourist facilities of any kind.

If you are feeling uncomfortable with the idea then stay on the mid west coast at or near Senggigi, or on the Gili islands in the north west region of the island. There are more people around there and it is more developed, or at least parts of it are.

If you want to be in the south but are maybe seeking a resort type experience then have a look at the Kuta Lombok Novotel, otherwise there are a number of options at Kuta Beach and it has cafes, warungs and restaurants.

It all depends a bit upon your budget and requirements.

Edited: 8 years ago
Lombok, Indonesia
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Yes there has been some scaremongering on one forum at least. The posts ended up being removed by the moderators as two of the posters are well known for trying to put travellers off Kuta. There were some robberies a few months ago and there was also an old couple robbed in their camper van when parked in a remote area about a week ago -They had been warned by locals it was not safe to camp there but choose to anyway. Most visitors however have an incident free enjoyable holiday. I have lived here 15 years and had my bag stolen from the beach in 1997 and my house broken into in 2000 I was a victim of far more crime in the previous 15 years in London.

This is a quote from a member of the other forum who almost didn't visit due to the posts.

"I was a bit wary of coming to Kuta, Lombok after reading the alarmist reviews on various forums. Gemma's assurance was the only thing that brought me here, and now I am glad that I came to this little paradise called Lombok."

Edited: 8 years ago
turkey
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ah, I didnt realise those post had been removed. Well, they worked on me, I was thinking to avoid Kuta Lombok completely !!

So, we are reassured, thankyou. But we hear it is really a surf beach but is it possible to swim without being taken out by huge rollers ?????

Our budget would be around the 300,000IDR mark and we are not bothered about a pool, unless the sea is unswimable ! As long as there is a little infrastructure that's great as we'll be heading there from, or maybe to, Gili T, after or before Padang Bai and Amed.

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Hi again, seaprincess.

I was rather hoping Gemma might respond to your enquiry as she lives in Kuta and she and her husband run a homestay there called Mimpi Manis (Kuta)

Her husband Made provides an introductory tour of the area if you are staying with them and is available independently for guided tours of South Lombok.

Maybe a homestay would be a good choice for you as it would offer the opportunity to be a bit more engaged with the surrounding than being at a hotel.

Yulis Homestay at Kuta also gets some good reviews.

Please don't be put off visiting Kuta or south Lombok as it really is OK there.

Of course there maybe some isolated incidents of trouble as Lombok has issues of poverty and petty crime just like any world in the world.

You must take care of your possessions and use good situational awareness as a visitor.

That said, overall it is fine and is both safe and friendly.

Also you are with in 30 minutes of the airport at Kuta.

Edited: 8 years ago
turkey
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oooh that sounds good, I'll have a look at those places. Thanks again....

Bolton, UK
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Hi,

Please don't be put off Kuta Lombok, it's a beautiful place and the beaches surrounding the area are simply stunning (if not a trifle difficult to get to - you need transport).

We loved Kuta and spent a week there. Even returning again for 2 more nights after our week on Gili Air. We stayed at Yulis and thought it was superb, so check out the reviews.

The only problem we encountered was when a motorbike was stolen from outside of Warung Jawa 2 (very basic but great food at cheap prices). There was a power cut and when the lights came back on a German family left, only to find their motorbike had gone. They still had the keys and were 100% certain the front lock was on. They assumed that the owner had sneaked back, unlocked it with a spare key and wheeled it away. The problem was they had hired it from an intermediary they had met on the street who spoke English and he had arranged the rental from someone else.The police of course went through the motions - but they ended up having to pay for the bike.

After that we used a small combination lock we had with a pull out cable to add an extra level of security whenever we parked our bike.

My advice is, if you do rent a bike, is do it through wherever you stay and hopefully this will prevent this happening.

This isn't really related but the only encounter we had with the police was when we had to try and get a police report for our insurance company regarding a dive camera we lost whilst diving off Gili Air. There aren't any police on the Gilis and the Security Office on Trawangan wouldn't help and told us we had to do it on the mainland. The police in Kuta were really friendly but hesitant in giving the report until the "Possibly we can help you, but if this is possible - maybe you can help us" conversation took place. Not surprisingly the report became a possibility upon the presentation of 100,000Rp :) They even came round on a bike to hand deliver it to us at Yulis the next day and gave us their email in case there was a problem. They said the next time we come back, drop in as they don't get the chance to speak much English and they like to learn. I said we would - but "Possibly if we help them - maybe....". They laughed.

Lombok, Indonesia
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Assuming we are talking about the same forum there is still one post remaining about security issues in Kuta, however the ones that contained obvious bs have been deleted.

Kuta beach itself is not a surf beach. Surfers base themselves here for access to neighbouring surf breaks that do not have much if any accommodation. You can swim very safely at Kuta when the tide is in. At certain times of the month when the tide goes out it is too shallow to swim. My favourite place to swim though is the far western end of Tanjung Aan beach. There is a warung there called Turtle and they have sunbeds and tables with umbrellas on the sand which are free if you are eating or drinking there.

Edited: 8 years ago
Bolton, UK
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I second Warung Turtle - great food and their coconut shake is fantastic. Plus secure parking and wide extensive views across the vast bay. Man Turtle (0878 6558 9780) who runs it with his wife, is very friendly.

Climb up the hill for more great views or wander further along the track to another tiny secluded beach.

turkey
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great stuff guys...but yeah, the bike scam seems to be quite a popular scam....... and given that you really need one when you are there, it's a bit of a pain. Still, I shall read up a little more, ask a few more questions and see what we feel.

Many thanks to all

turkey
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info addict......any recommendations on where to stay ? Cheers

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