A complete and up-to-date accommodation guide to the 11 best hotels and villas voted as some of the best places to stay when visiting the island of Gili Air.
The Gili islands are perfect for those backpackers and tourists in Indonesia who seek some variation to the more popular islands such as Bali and Nusa Penida.
The benefit of journeying to these small islands close to Lombok is that they offer a handy selection of areas for diving and snorkeling. This is especially good if you are a beginner to water sports, and are wanting to clock in some time underwater.
When discussing the Gili Islands, Gili Air is the second most popular island, and the second largest out of all three of them. This makes it a strong contender compared with Trawangan, and there are plenty of accommodation options to explore on this relaxed little island.
The best way to describe Gili Air is to say that it is more chilled out than staying on Gili Trawangan, but it simultaneously isn’t as quiet staying on Gili Meno in terms of tourists. Both of these characteristics strike a happy balance for visitors, and you really do get the best of both worlds by coming here.
So if you are interested in visiting Gili Air for all of the reasons above, you have come to the right place.
In this accommodation guide, we will take you through some best places to stay on Gili Air, so you can choose which one is right for you.
Are you ready?
Alright, let’s get into it!
- In a Hurry? Here are the Top Places to Stay on Gili Air
- Wondering Where Gili Air is Located?
- 11 of the Most Unique Villas & Best Hotels on Gili Air
- 5 Unique Private Villas to Stay on Gili Air
- 1. Atoll Haven Villas
- 2. Kempas Villa
- 3. Villa Tokay – The Best Outdoor Swimming Pool for a Romantic Stay
- 4. Anahata
- 5. Rimba Villas – Hidden Sanctuary with Tropical Gardens
- 6 of The Best Hotel Choices on Gili Air for a Relaxing Stay
- 6. Mowies on the Beach
- 7. Captain Coconuts – The Best Budget-Friendly Accommodation Option
- 8. PinkCoco – Adult-Only Hotel with Direct Access to the Beach
- 9. L’Archipel
- 10. The Koho Air Hotel
- 11. Jago Gili Air
- More Indonesian Travel & Accommodation Guides
In a Hurry? Here are the Top Places to Stay on Gili Air
Gili Air is a small island with no cars or road transport. Therefore, you can walk to all the pristine beaches, restaurants, cafes, and bars within minutes. The island boasts incredible accommodation options ranging from private villas to amazing 5-star resorts right on the beach.
1. Villa Tokay Luxury
An incredible luxury choice for those looking for a uniquely styled villa to relax the day away. This bamboo palace offers a private pool and multiple rooms boasting epic views.
2. PinkCoco Adult-Only
Known as one of the best places to stay for adults wanting a child-free vacation tucked away in a pink slice of paradise on Gili Air. Situated in the perfect location on the island with rooms offering ocean views.
3. Captain Coconuts Budget
Offering dorm rooms, private bedrooms, and an outdoor swimming pool Captain Coconuts is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It's a great choice for those with a little less change in their wallets.
Wondering Where Gili Air is Located?
Located just a short boat ride from Lombok and snuggled next to Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno sits Gili Air. This 5km circumference island is the perfect place for those looking for a place to relax under the palm trees or those wanting to explore the underwater at some incredible snorkeling locations.
11 of the Most Unique Villas & Best Hotels on Gili Air
5 Unique Private Villas to Stay on Gili Air
1. Atoll Haven Villas
If you are searching for both luxury and privacy, Atoll Haven Villas is a strong option to consider during your stay at Gili Air. The one-bedroom villas offered here aren't the most budget-friendly, although they come with an abundance of amenities that are difficult to refuse if you can afford them.
Each of these villas includes your own private pool, personal seating area, and en suite private bathroom to enjoy, as well as the basic and expected amenities such as air conditioning, free wifi access, and personal flat-screen satellite TV.
One of the most significant factors of staying in the villas here is the serene natural elements that surround your every step. This includes some rather unique tropical plants around the outdoor pool spaces, which gives guests a feeling of harmony with nature as they're taking a dip.
These villas are only a short walk from Holiday Fit which is a great way to work off those extra holiday treats.
2. Kempas Villa
Kempas Villa is a remarkable villa to stay in, and that is for countless reasons.
The villa itself not only contains all of the amenities and luxuries that one could possibly need, but it is also one of the best places on Gili Air to stay in terms of location.
Why is this you might ask?
Well, the villa is within just a 5-minute walking distance from the center of town.
This means that a pleasant array of restaurants, bars, and shops are at your fingertips, all while being able to appreciate a terrific 2-bedroom villa with its own outdoor swimming pool, and friendly staff delivering excellent room service.
If all of the above isn't enough to mention, you will be happy to know that all of the private rooms are air-conditioned and contain a safety deposit box to store your beloved valuables.
Is there anything more you could really want from a villa on Gili Air?
3. Villa Tokay - The Best Outdoor Swimming Pool for a Romantic Stay
There are multiple reasons why Villa Tokay is a perfect place to stay for a lavish experience of Gili Air.
This beautiful accommodation choice offers a range of villa styles to choose from, and each one varies in both size and amenities offered.
Smaller options such as their Leaf Villa provides more than enough space for couples to fully enjoy a getaway together. Not to mention the fact that this villa has its very own tropical garden for guests to enjoy whenever they get the chance.
The bedroom at the Leaf Villa has an equally stunning garden view, allowing you to make contact with the natural elements and really take in the spectacular surroundings.
When it comes to onsite facilities and services, you will be happy to know that the villa offers free bike hire for its guests. This is especially great considering that riding a bike is one of the best ways of exploring Gili Air.
4. Anahata
Another one of the best places to stay on Gili Air for a night is Anahata, and I will explain why.
This property offers two different kinds of villas to choose from, but both styles offer more than enough features and benefits to satisfy all needs.
I would say this includes even their smallest option known as Lumbung Villa, which comes with spacious double rooms, mosquito nets, a decent-sized private pool, free continental breakfast, and its own private entrance for saving you both time and energy.
Thinking about stepping it up a notch? their Two-Bedroom Villa is certainly a large upgrade compared with the first. Besides the two comfortable king-sized beds in both of the rooms, there is much more to enjoy in this 130-meter squared, generous villa.
Not only do you get an additional seating and dining area to relax with your family, but the villa is bigger in general, giving you significantly more space than their Lumbung Villa option.
Another aspect that I really admire about the villas at Anahata is their architectural design. It is slick and neat, combing both modern and traditional components together, resulting in a whacky and unorthodox style looking quite like no other.
5. Rimba Villas - Hidden Sanctuary with Tropical Gardens
One of the best things about staying at Rimba Villas, besides the accommodation itself, is the location.
The villas are just a short walk from the island's northernmost beach containing lush white sands and fabulous coconut palms. The surrounding area of this beach is equally special with beach clubs such as Camilla Beach Club and Formosa to grab a cocktail at.
When it comes to the villas themselves, you will be happy to know that they have a surprisingly abundant range of facilities. This list is certainly larger than the other villas we have chosen in this post, so it is worth mentioning at least some of them before continuing.
If the à la carte breakfast served inside of your chosen villa isn't enough, you can enjoy free toiletries, free private parking, your own moderately-sized private kitchen, personal luggage storage, daily housekeeping, and a gratifyingly-sized private swimming pool to take a dip in.
Now that is pretty impressive, to say the least!
6 of The Best Hotel Choices on Gili Air for a Relaxing Stay
6. Mowies on the Beach
Mowies On The Beach not only offers affordable room prices, but this 3-star hotel accommodation has a pretty rad beach bar to hang out at and enjoy a cold one.
The hotel's location matches up with its unique name, considering it is less than a 2-minute walk from the small island's west coast beach. This provides easy access to one of the island's most stunning white sand beaches.
When discussing accommodation options, there are five different kinds offered at Mowies On The Beach. One of these which is the most impressive is the Superior Double Room.
You will enjoy a large ensuite bathroom with shower facilities inside, as well as a bed that's almost hypnotizingly comfortable!
Another aspect worth mentioning about Mowies on the Beach is the hotel's online ratings. They have received a huge amount of positive feedback online, proving they are both welcoming of their guests, and one of the best bed and breakfast hotels on the entire island to stay.
7. Captain Coconuts - The Best Budget-Friendly Accommodation Option
Captain Coconuts on Gili Air is worth considering if you are on a budget and looking for a decent sleep on the tiny island.
One of the surprisingly comforting aspects of staying here is the fact that the hotel is focused on being eco-friendly. This is reflected in the entire design of the hotel, which is primarily made from both recyclable and sustainable materials.
In addition to this, the water system as a whole is heated through solar energy alone, which is certainly reassuring to the environmentalists out there.
What is another reason why Captain Coconuts is special?
I would say the fact that their restaurant's menu contains foods that are gluten-free, dairy free, and vegan-friendly. This completes the hotel's image as one of the most environmentally-friendly accommodation options on Gili Air.
8. PinkCoco - Adult-Only Hotel with Direct Access to the Beach
PinkCoco Gili Air is an extremely suitable hotel for couples as opposed to families. This is obviously reflected in the fact that it is an adults-only hotel as mentioned in the hotel's name.
What I particularly love about this hotel above all else are the numerous facilities to choose from. This includes an impressive professional spa offering services at an additional charge, and its own fast boat used for snorkeling and fishing trips known as the pink boat!
The rooms inside the hotel are spacious, with many of them offering great pool views. If you are looking for a room with direct pool access, I would opt to stay at their Grande Room.
The unique Grande Room offers exclusive and direct access to the main swimming pool which is a enormous 30 meters in length.
The fact that there are such a large number of available rooms in PinkCoco makes it more reliable than most other Gili Air Hotels. You can be assured that you probably are going to land a room here no matter what time you book.
These features make the 31-room hotel a safe bet for couples and solo travelers over the age of 18 years.
9. L'Archipel
L'Archipel is one of those luxury hotels which offers practically everything you need and more. The hotel itself is located directly in the heart of Gili Air, allowing easy access to a comfortable range of tasty restaurants and convenient shops.
The hotel itself has its own coffee shop, outdoor pool, 24-hour reception, and bar to enjoy, as well as public sun loungers to catch a tan on. This is quite the combination for a notably small hotel, and it really does pack everything you need in terms of public facilities right where you need them to be.
L'Archipel's room designs are another aspect worth mentioning. This is because of the fact that they each feature their own private terrace that is ideal for catching a breather. When you combine this with the sizeable double beds offered in their double rooms, you really do have everything you need.
What else is special about staying a night or two at L'Archipel?
If everything I've already mentioned doesn't resonate well with you, one of the most remarkable reasons for staying here is the outdoor pool. This is alarmingly large compared with other public hotel pools in the Gili islands, and you can be assured to get your laps in without a fuss here.
You can't help but love a hotel that offers a great pool for those hot days!
10. The Koho Air Hotel
It is safe to say that The Koho Air Hotel is one of the best boutique hotels to stay on Gili Air as a whole.
This hotel screams pure quality in every aspect, from its own restaurant serving up yummy food at affordable prices, all the way to the rooms which each come with their own minibar and plush bedding to sink into.
Another pleasant aspect of staying here is the fact that they offer airport transfers from Lombok International Airport which is the nearest airport to the hotel. This is especially welcoming for their guests and makes getting to the hotel a heck of a lot easier.
If all of the above isn't enough to float your boat, you will be happy to know that the hotel is arguably in the best area on Gili Air. You will find Gili Air Harbour nearby, as well as stunning white sand beaches that are easily within walking distance from the hotel's entrance.
11. Jago Gili Air
Jago Gili Air is one of the more newly built hotels on Gili Air, offering both simplistic and minimalistic designs in their rooms.
This is reflected in their most popular accommodation option known as their Superior Bungalow.
The bungalow is 32 meters squared and offers direct access to their fairly large outdoor public pool which is only a couple of footsteps away.
As you enter the bungalow rooms here, you will find a sizeable double bed, an ensuite bathroom with a rain shower, a personal terrace, and your own LCD TV.
Are there any more creature comforts you really need for an affordable-priced hotel on a paradise island?
If you are looking for a more social experience, you will be happy to know that the hotel also has its own shared lounge with comfortable sofas to spend your time at. This is ideal for those who don't want to be isolated in their rooms all day.
For those looking to explore the surrounding areas don't miss out on a delicious meal from Barefoot Blondie's cafe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Staying on Gili Air
The island's peak season is the best time to visit which is June to August or December to January. It is sunny almost every day during this time, so you are bound to love your vacation more if you plan on exploring the great outdoors, snorkeling, sunbathing, or reading by the pool.
Although I must add that if you do decide to visit during this time it is important to book your accommodation in advance so that you don't miss out on your favorite hotel.
I would say that Gili Air is more relaxed compared to the long list of things to do on Gili Trawangan. Ultimately you will find that outdoor activities such as diving and snorkeling are a great option as fewer people are filling the beaches or turtle snorkeling locations.
Another fun activity to try is to ride bikes around the island with your friends, family, or partner. This is without a doubt the best way of exploring and seeing everything it has to offer.
You really can't go wrong with grabbing a few bikes and riding to some of the island's best beaches or catching an incredible sunset.
More Indonesian Travel & Accommodation Guides
I hope you've liked this guide to the best places to stay on Gili Air. If you're interested in traveling to other tropical island destinations in Indonesia, feel free to check out some of the other guides we have written below.
The post 11 Best Hotels and Unique Villas on Gili Air (2023) appeared first on We Seek Travel.
