When researching Indonesia, you may you come across the gorgeous sunsets from the breathtaking Gili Island and decided that your trip will not be complete with visiting them. Once you’ve made the decision and set aside a few days to visit Gili Air and you’ve arranged your transportation the next thing that you need to tackle is where exactly to stay.
One of the more magical parts about the Gili Islands is at the majority of the accommodations are owned by small business owners who are actually from the islands. You’re not going to find any large hotel chains here and for me that makes it more of an authentic stay. The easiest way to locate a Gili Air accommodation is to hop on Airbnb. I enjoy Airbnb because not only am I able to share space and accommodations with local business owners; I am also able to look at the reviews and see what other family travelers like or didn’t like about their stay.
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As a family traveling with four people, it’s imperative that we have enough space. When looking at accommodations on Gili Air there were a plethora of accommodations, but what I noticed was that the majority of them were geared towards couples or younger coeds traveling. That was until I ran across Deans place, the Bale Kampung-Family room. Dean’s place has spacious traditional Balinese style villas that are great for families, couples, and even groups.
About the space
My favorite part about this villa was that it had an adorable front porch complete with a table and four chairs, this was great for lounging in the afternoon and for eating our breakfast that the staff at Bale Kampung prepared each morning. The downstairs area of the villa is fully equipped with a television, mini fridge, a double bed as well as mosquito netting which is essential and Bali, as well as a full bathroom with an open air type shower.
If you are not a fan of lizards, this may freak you out because you may have an unexpected guest in your shower, but this didn’t bother us at all. Upstairs has an additional bed with mosquito netting as well as a terrace and extra seating. Each morning Dean’s staff will come by, and you can choose delicious breakfast options. Each morning we had a traditional Balinese pancake as well as Balinese coffee and some form of yogurt and fruit.
Dean’s place is a short 5 to 10-minute walk to the pier and beach as well as to all local restaurants and shops making it convenient to be able to get a delicious burger or a smoothie bowl first thing in the morning.
The Verdict?
For us, Dean’s place is the perfect example of what Airbnb was created for. Dean’s hospitality was so warm and inviting. He went out of his way to arrange transportation and also met us at the pier to escort us to Bale Kampung, which was something that he wasn’t required to do but stood out. Each day he would check on us to be sure that we had everything that we needed and it was comforting that he took the time to explain flora and fauna around the island for our daughter. I especially loved that he was always ready with restaurant or tour company recommendations which allowed us to have an amazingly relaxing time while on Gili Air.
So if you’re thinking about a family accommodation while visiting Gili Air be sure to check out Dean’s place, you will not regret it!
Heading to Gili Air with kids? Don’t forget to check out our Gili Air with kids Guide to help get you ready for your trip to paradise!
