Living in the tropics, there’s no chance of a white
Christmas and you’re more likely to be decorating the
palm tree with fairy lights than decking the halls with bows
of holly, but if the spirit of Christmas is to get together
with friends and family – to eat, drink and be merry
– Lombok is the place to be during the festive season.
In this issue we give you the rundown on what’s happening
for Christmas and New Year at the island’s top hotels,
restaurants and clubs… it’s not too late to book
your ticket from Bali and have yourself a merry little Christmas
in Lombok!
The Holiday Resort in Mangsit has great packages for both
Christmas and New Year, starting with two nights accommodation
in a Garden Chalet and Christmas dinner, plus daily breakfast
for two adults and two children at just Rp 2 065 000. Other
packages are available for New Year. The popular resort is
also offering great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets
with entertainment at just Rp 125 000 ++, and a Deluxe Gala
New Year Tempo Doeloe Party for US $65++.
The Senggigi Beach Hotel has three deluxe festive season events,
starting with a Christmas Eve Party on Sunset Beach with cocktails,
buffet dinner and a visit from Santa Claus for Rp 275 000
++. Celebrate Christmas Day in style with a deluxe 5 course
Candle Light Dinner at the luxurious Beachcombers, in the
Pool Villa Club for Rp 250 000 ++. On New Year’s Eve,
the resort hosts a special Gala Buffet and party on the beach
with live music and door prizes.
The Sheraton Senggigi Resort has a special buffet dinner accompanied
by choir singers for Rp 300 000 ++ on Christmas Eve. Their
Gala Dinner on New Year’s Eve is always a huge event.
Held on the beachfront, the special night includes a live
band and dancing, raffles with great prizes, and a breathtaking
fireworks display. Tickets are Rp 1 130 000 ++.
Puri Mas Boutique Resorts in Mangsit are offering great 2
night packages for Christmas and New Year. The US $520 packages
for two include return flights from Bali, cottage accommodation,
Christmas or New Year’s Eve dinners and discounts on
spa treatments. For guests already on Lombok, the beachfront
resort has a 3 course Traditional Christmas Dinner on 25 December
and a special dinner on New Year’s Eve, with live music
and entertainment on both nights.
Around town, there are great deals at all the major restaurants.
Senggigi’s top garden restaurant, Restaurant Taman,
is offering Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day lunch and
dinner at the special price of Rp 100 000++. Good value for
a three course set menu with choices, including seafood cocktail,
smoked salmon, roast turkey with cranberry sauce and roast
lamb with gravy and mint sauce, with all the traditional trimmings.
Upmarket offerings for Christmas at the fabulous Square Restaurant
feature a special set menu created by Executive Chef, Eka.
Gili Trawangan also turns on the magic during the festive
season. Villa Ombak, the island’s largest resort, is
offering a Christmas Eve festive buffet on 24 December and
a Trawangan Night Tropical Party on New Year’s Eve.
If it’s anything like last year, this event is not to
be missed, with piles of fresh prawns, lobsters, and seafood
of every variety imaginable! The Gala Event is accompanied
by live entertainment and culminates with a spectacular fireworks
show.
Fun times and good food are what The Beach House is all about,
and celebrating the festive season at this beachside restaurant
is always a great choice. Traditional Australian Christmas
fare is on offer for Christmas Day with freshly-shucked Sydney
rock oysters, Norwegian smoked salmon and the ubiquitous “shrimp
on the barbie”. Followed by honey-glazed leg ham and
roast turkey with all the yummy trimmings, this is a feast
not to be missed! As with all things Aussie, there’ll
be plenty of champers, wine and ice cold beer to go along
with it all. Afterwards, escape gravity and float in their
newly completed beachfront swimming pool.
New Year’s Eve on Gili T is always a non-stop party
and judging by the number of places that are already fully
booked for Christmas and New Year, this season will be no
different. Check out the best parties on the island at Villa
Ombak, The Beach House, Tir Na Nog, Horizontal and Blue Marlin.
Whatever you do for silly season, Merry Christmas to all and
a Happy New Year from Lombok!
