2 Thumbs Up! Top Hotels of Bali & Lombok

The new Lonely Planet guide to Bali and Lombok recently hit Indonesian bookshop shelves, and is currently retailing at e.g. Periplus for Rp239 000 ($27, € 20).

Like in the guide to Indonesia, once again the best hotels and restaurants receive a special logo of distinction. However, the new Bali and Lombok guide has unceremoniously dumped "our pick" in favour of "Top Choice":

The words may have changed,
but the meaning stays the same

Without further ado, here are the Lonely Planet nominations for "Top Choice" hotels in Bali and Lombok:

Oberoi Hotel, Seminyak

SOUTH BALI

• Un's Hotel, Kuta
• Oberoi Hotel, Seminyak
• Four Seasons, Jimbaran*
• Alila Villas, Ulu Watu**
• Hotel La Taverna, Sanur
• Flashbacks, Sanur
• Indiana Kenanga, Nusa Lembongan

*Four Seasons, Jimbaran is also famous as one of the world's best hotels.

**Alila Villas, Ulu Watu was also recently voted Indonesia's Best Villa Hotel.

CENTRAL BALI

Swasti Cottage, Ubud

Sayan Terrace, Ubud

Puri Lumbung Cottages, Munduk^

Sanda Bukit Villas & Restaurant, Sanda

^Puri Lumbung, Munduk was previously an "our pick".

EAST BALI

Pondok Wisata Lihat Sawah, Sidemen Road

Hotel Uyah, Amed

Meditasi, Aas^

^Meditasi, Aas was previously an "our pick".

NORTH BALI

Taman Sari Bali Cottages, Pemuteran

Qunci Villas, Senggigi

WEST BALI

Pondok Pitaya, Balian Beach

LOMBOK

Qunci Villas, Senggigi

Tugu Lombok, Sire

Cendrawasih Cottages, Tetebatu

Yuli's Homestay, Kuta

Karma Kayak, Gili Trawangan^

Shacks 58 & 59, Gili Meno

^Karma Kayak, Gili Trawangan was previously an "our pick".

ONE THUMB UP? , BUT NOT

Curiously, over half of the 13 "our pick" hotels in Bali and Lombok were not considered "Top Choice" one year later.

The following "our pick" hotels still received positive reviews, but were not classed as "Top Choice":

Bloo Lagoon Village, Padangbai

BALI

Tandjung Sari, Sanur, South Bali

Oka Wati Hotel, Ubud, Central Bali

Bloo Lagoon Village, Padangbai, East Bali

Cilik's Beach Garden, Yeh Sanih, North Bali

LOMBOK

Sunset Homestay, Senggigi

Sejuk Cottages, Gili Air

Sunset Gecko, Gili Meno

Seger Reef Homestay, Kuta

The following hotels were "our pick" hotels last year, but this year do not appear in the Bali/Lombok guide, despite its greater focus on the Bali/Lombok area:

Hotel Lombok Raya, Mataram

BALI

Villa Kresna, Seminyak, South Bali

LOMBOK

Hotel Lombok Raya, Mataram

As a point of contrast, some hotels (e.g. Four Seasons Jimbaran) were not reviewed in the guide to Indonesia, perhaps due to size constraints or the more budget-conscious orientation of the Indonesia guide.

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Do you agree with these "Top Choice" hotels? Which hotels, hostels and resorts do you consider to be "Top Choice" in Bali and Lombok?

Or, to put it another way, which places do you think deserve "Two Thumbs Up"?

Please add your recommendations and opinions (including disagreements) below.

2 Thumbs Up! Top Hotels of Bali & Lombok is brought to you by Indonesia Matters, where you can book flights in Indonesia, and features listings of Indonesian hotels, like Kuta hotels, Sanur hotels, hotels in Jakarta and near Jakarta airport, and more.

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