Gili T and the Gili Islands in general are awash with great budget hotels from $20-30 a night that include decent rooms with shared pools. Start raising your budget though and things get insane for just a few bucks more.
And prime center on this is the well located and frankly stunning Utara Villas. Here around $60 affords you not just a room, but a villa with a courtyard and a stunning private pool. Here’s my guide to the Gili T hotel scene, and why I suggest staying at Utara Villas.
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What the Utara Villas Gili T
Utara Villas was formed in the mid 2010s by a local family with years of experience in hospitality and tourism on Lombok and the Gilis. They wanted to create something different from the cookie-cutter resorts that dominate the island. The property consists of individual villas, each with a private courtyard and pool. They are built using natural materials and open layouts that catch the sea breeze and give both indoor and outdoor space.
The owners are hands-on and the staff are locals who know the island and can provide genuine advice on where to eat, snorkel, and explore. Utara Villas is not a corporate resort; it has character, proper space, and a comfortable, private atmosphere. It is located in the quieter northwest of Gili Trawangan, away from the main crowds but still within easy reach of restaurants, bars, beaches, and getting on the naughty soup.
The Gili T Hotel scene
Gili Trawangan is the largest of the three Gilis and the most developed for tourism. High season runs from June to August and around Christmas and New Year. During this time the island fills with Australians, Europeans, and other travellers chasing sun, surf, and cheap drinks. Off season is quieter, prices are lower, and the vibe is more relaxed.
Prices swing heavily. Budget rooms in low season cost around IDR 300,000 to 500,000 ($20-$35 USD) per night. In high season, those same rooms rise to IDR 700,000 to 900,000 ($45-$60 USD). Mid-range hotels are around IDR 800,000 to 1,500,000 ($55-$100 USD) off season and climb to IDR 2,000,000+ ($130+ USD) in peak season. Villas with private pools like Utara start at IDR 1,200,000 ($80 USD) off season and can exceed IDR 2,500,000 ($170 USD) in high season.
Real hotels on Gili T from expensive to cheap include:
- Aston Sunset Beach Resort – often above IDR 2,000,000 ($130+ USD) in peak season
- Gili Palm Resort – around IDR 1,800,000 ($120 USD) off season
- Alam Gili Trawangan – roughly IDR 800,000-1,200,000 ($55-$80 USD)
- Abdi Hotel & Bungalow – around IDR 500,000-900,000 ($35-$60 USD)
- Aaliku Bungalow – around IDR 400,000-800,000 ($25-$50 USD)
The downside is the island has been overrun by boring clone resorts that look the same and feel the same, which makes places like Utara Villas stand out because they have real character and proper space.
Utara Villas Rooms And Vibe
Utara Villas are around 15 minutes by horse-cart from the dock in Gili. Walking takes around 40 minutes. Despite being advertised on Airbnb, this is a hotel with rooms ready as standard after 2pm. Arriving at 3pm I was asked to wait for an hour, though it was sorted in about 15 minutes. This I can forgive.
The villa is stunning. You enter huge outdoor grounds with sun beds, a shower, and the pool. The pool is more like a big hot tub, fitting 5-6 petite people comfortably. Still, it’s bigger than what I got in Uluwatu.
The room itself is a large studio with a great office desk, a huge comfy bed, and an oddly placed small TV. Minor issue, and for all intents the only bad thing I can say. The bathroom is excellent and bigger than my apartment.
Rooms generally range from IDR 1,200,000 to 1,500,000 ($80-$110 USD) off season, and IDR 1,800,000 to 2,500,000 ($120-$170 USD) in peak season. Larger two- and three-bedroom villas go higher.
Services at Utara Villas
Utara Villas offers daily housekeeping, a simple breakfast of eggs, toast, fruit, and coffee, free Wi-Fi, and staff who can help arrange everything without upselling nonsense. Bike rentals can be arranged, as well as snorkelling trips, sunset boat tours, and cooking lessons.
They also handle ferry and airport transfers to Lombok and Bali. The on-site restaurant serves simple lunches and dinners. Laundry service is available at reasonable prices. Apparently there are even cooking lessons, although I avoided this as my opinion on Indonesian cuisine is well known….
Oh and upstairs there is of course an Irish Bar
Upstairs is the house “Utara Bar” one of the three Irish bars I alone counted on Gili T. Alas all were about as Irish as a US President, but it was decent enough place to watch the Premier League.
Location and Contact
Utara Villas
Gili Trawangan
Gili Indah
Pemenang
North Lombok Regency
West Nusa Tenggara 83352
Indonesia
Phone: +62 878 6460 6435
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