Lembongan

Bunga Bungalow
Nusa Lembongan
(off Bali)
Phone: (62) 36 17 42 91 85
Web: bunga-bungalo.com
Rates: IDR100,000 for single occupancy, though others were available for IDR150,000
Stayed there: Sept 28th 2008

I ended up here as part of an overnight stay with a group I was Divemastering. As I was on the Divemaster course and not a paid employee, I assume this is one of the cheapest places to stay on Lembongan. For the price, it’s OK though.
The room was spacious with two large single beds. One had a soft mattress and the other a hard one, which I used. I loved the bedclothes – black with garish flower prints from the Bungalo logo.
No hot shower, though, or aircon. The night-time temperature was fine without the elecric aid and the cold shower wasn’t exactly freezing. The loo was western-style, but bucket-flush. All and tidy.
The only thing I’d quibble was the lack of insect/mosquito protection. Above the doors and windows were open area with wood carving which insects (or larger animals) could crawl/fly through easily. Having said that, I didn’t see too many insects so maybe it’s just not a problem round there.
The attached restaurant is fairly pricey by the standards I’m used to in Kuta, but still very reasonable and the quality is high. If you want cheaper, find your way onto the main street where there are a couple of warung specialising in local food.
Having said that, it’s a great view from their terrace as the sun sets and I noticed that a lot of people were coming from other places to eat there.

Kuta

Taman Ayu Bungalows
Poppies Lane I
Kuta Beach
Bali
Phone: (62-361) 751855
Stayed there: September 15th to October 5th 2008
Rates: IDR50000 for single occupancy, IDR70000 for double

Lovely little place we found by accident when everywhere on the main strip was full. From what we saw, it’s on a par with a lot of places, but being slightly off Poppies I, is a little cheaper.
To find it, locate TJ’s Mexican bar on Poppies I and turn up the street next to it. Just after the small alley to your right (maybe 20m up), it’s on the left after a lit blue and white sign for a Salon. A sign hung up tells if they have rooms available or are “full of sh”!
The rooms are spacious, all having a double and a single bed. These are made every day, and the thin blankets replaced as required. Showers are cold (again, common in any place around the area charging less than 100,000) and toilets western. Supply your own loo roll.
Staff are as pleasant as can be to the point you feel like you’re chilling with your mates. Don’t be surprised to find one of them dropping into a seat next to you in a nearby bar for a beer and the footie on TV.
One thing I’d recommend is avoid room number 1. I had it on my first night and there’s a lot of noise around 7am as the shops nearby open shutters and so forth. I moved up to room 9 in the upstairs corner and no such problems. There is a club nearby – this is Kuta after all – which can have “bangin’ choons” on till early hours a couple of nights a week. It’s not that noisy, but if you’re not here for late nights and partying I’d suggest earplugs wherever you’re staying.
There is always someone in the reception area and the included breakfast is served from 8-11. However, this isn’t hard and fast. As I was doing my Divemaster course and setting off early some mornings, they always made sure I was fed before I left.
As for location, you’re near tons of restaurants and bars, and the beach is maybe five minutes stroll. It’s also only a few minutes from Bemo Corner where you may be dropped off if you come down on the cheap transport from Denpasar.
For what amounts to barely £3 a night, this is a lovely place. Prices in the area are fairly standard. If you want anything extra (hot shower, wi-fi) you have to pay for it.

West Timor

Lavalon Hostel and Beach Bar
Jl. :Sumatera 1 NO: 8 Tode-Kisar
Kupang
Timor NTT
Indonesia 85229
Web: lavalontouristinfo.com
Rates: 30000IDR dorm bunk, 40000IDR per bed in a twin room
Stayed there: July 9th 2009
Lavalon is as “back to basics” as you can get and likely a prime example of hostels from many moons ago. The rooms are non-aircon, the mattresses thin, the beds creaky, the toilet bucket-flush (and you use the same bucket as your “shower”!) and there is no internet.
However, you’re in a remote town on a remote island. It’s less than £2. And the bar over the road has probably the only wi-fi in West Timor. Plus it sells ice cold Bintang for 25000IDR a bottle. And the owner has a vast amount of local knowledge and will be glad to help you sort out your trip in any way he can.
I had two quibbles. First up is not really their fault. The dog over the road started barking at around 1am and wouldn’t shut up. Thankfully earplugs took care of that issue. Secondly, if you book through Hostelbookers, although they have a bunk room at a low rate there is no way of selecting this from the menu – you have to choose a private room at the slightly higher rate (Ok, it’s 66p – not a huge amount, but still).
I can see this being a nice place when there are a few people staying there. Fortunately, the bar gets a lot of trade from the expat and surfer communities so you shouldn’t have any trouble hooking up with more foreigners over a few beers.
If you want bargain basement accommodation in Kupang, this is the only option. And after a few bottles of the local brew, a bed’s a bed anyway.

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