Kubuwatu Boutique Resort Review: Gili Trawangan Stay
Looking for an affordable tropical escape? Read our review of Kubuwatu Boutique Resort in Gili Trawangan, a budget-friendly gem near Turtle Point.
Gili Trawangan Accommodation
Kubuwatu Boutique Resort
Budget-Friendly & Highly Recommended Gili Resort
After making my way from Bali to the beautiful Gili Islands,
I checked into the Kubuwatu Boutique Resort.
This place offers incredible value for money, and since it's super close
to the famous Gili Turtle Point, I highly recommend it!
Gili Trawangan Stay: Kubuwatu Boutique Resort
An Amazing Value-for-Money Recommendation
1. Check-in & Lobby
The day we traveled all the way from Bali to Gili.
One of the reasons I loved this place from the start was the lobby—
it has that gorgeous, authentic local vibe! 💙
It's the same spot where they serve breakfast,
and also where we got to enjoy our welcome drinks.
This resort is located on the western side of Gili Trawangan.
It’s about a 20-minute walk or a 10-minute bike ride to Turtle Point. Renting a bicycle for the day is super cheap,
and being relatively close to everything compared to other accommodations made
our self-guided tour the day after our snorkeling trip so much more convenient.
Since we had a packed itinerary in Gili, we didn't need a pricey luxury hotel.
We started looking for something budget-friendly,
and the reviews here were so fantastic that we booked it right away!
When we arrived, they offered us welcome drinks,
and I immediately went for a Coke Zero! ♥️
They even served it with a nice, ice-cold cup.
Thank you so much!
😆
Since we had been traveling since early morning, we were absolutely starving.
The atmosphere and vibe here felt a bit different from Bali,
and it was so beautiful that I was just sitting there, soaking it all in...
When suddenly, a cute little cat came over to greet us.
This little kitty kept visiting our room throughout our stay...
(Keep reading, she'll make another appearance below! 😸😸)
2. Service
It seems to be personally run by the owner,
and just like the reviews said,
they were incredibly warm-hearted and kind. 😇
I think it was the next day when we returned pretty late
and asked if we could use a microwave.
Even though they were off duty, they told us to wait a moment
and did everything they could to help us out ㅠㅠㅠ
(Thanks to them, we enjoyed our instant rice! haha)
Whether it was generously restocking the things we consumed from the fridge
or specially packing our breakfast,
every single gesture was filled with warmth and hospitality.
3. Room Condition
To be completely honest, the room isn't huge.
It might be a bit tight for opening up large suitcases, so if you absolutely
prefer spacious rooms, this might not be the place for you. Xx
We booked twin beds, and while they weren't quite as comfortable as those in a ~$192 - ~$256 room,
they were still perfectly fine and we didn't experience any major discomfort.
The room opens up directly to the pool area,
which is highly recommended for anyone who wants to practice swimming! 👍🏻
In fact, we had planned to practice here
for our snorkeling tour the next day (reviews said the depth is about 2 meters) 🏊🏻♀️🏊🏻♀️
which was one of the main reasons we booked this place,
but we ended up just looking at it due to extreme exhaustion :P
I took a quick video showing the entire room layout
(leading all the way out to the pool).
4. Bathroom
I also took some photos of the bathroom.
Since it features a fixed
overhead rain shower, you won't be able to attach a travel shower filter.
I already knew about this beforehand, and apparently,
most accommodations on Gili Island have a similar setup.
The bathroom was quite spacious, and the large mirror
made getting ready super easy.
5. Swimming Pool
The pool stretches out beautifully, creating a great vibe—
it's absolutely gorgeous.
But since most travelers to the Gili Islands
are there for snorkeling and boat tours, haha,
I feel like this pool is mostly enjoyed by
Western tourists who have plenty of time to lounge around.
Writing this review suddenly makes me want to dive right in!
😭😭😭
6. Best Value Stay in Gili
Honestly, I had a hard time deciding on where to stay
in the Gili Islands (Trawangan, Air).
Places near Turtle Point with good locations were either way too expensive,
or if they were cheap, the hygiene was sketchy. It was tough!
Attaching my actual booking confirmation, haha.
I booked it for 2 nights (including breakfast) for around ~$132,
and it was an absolute steal!!!
Even the breakfast was pretty good.
I did a quick search for January dates,
and found an even cheaper rate, so I'm sharing it here!
At under ~$64 per night, I highly recommend this as a budget-friendly stay in Gili.
➡️ Book the Gili Island Resort at the Lowest Price
As soon as we checked in, we were starving,
so we tore into some cup noodles
along with the breakfast box the resort packed for us, lol.
It tasted like absolute heaven ㅠㅠㅠ
We munched on snacks, took a quick nap,
and headed out feeling super relaxed.
Honestly, the travel day from Bali to Gili
takes a lot of energy out of you.
In the evening, a cat started meowing outside our door,
so we opened it, and it walked straight into the bathroom like it owned the place.
It seemed thirsty, so we gave it some water, haha.
Watching it curl up inside our laundry basket
was the cutest thing ever.
It’s a clean, well-cared-for resident cat of the resort. But if you're
scared of cats, just keep the door closed!!
Another huge plus is that the fridge gets incredibly cold,
so you can enjoy an ice-cold Bintang beer.
Seriously, the Bintang we had here was the coldest one of our entire trip, lol.
There was also an amazing fruit stand nearby.
We bought some apple mangoes? (or just mangoes) and they were so delicious that we went back the next day! So good.
I'll write more about that later - :)
7. Breakfast Service
Since we had to leave early for our snorkeling tour the next morning,
we asked if they could pack it for us to-go.
They had it waiting for us so beautifully in our room when we got back ㅠㅠㅠ
From asking how we liked our eggs cooked
to serving it with fresh fruits.
The next morning, I ordered coffee with breakfast and look at...
this latte art! How cute is that? Absolutely loved it.🍃🍃
It was simple yet delicious. If breakfast is included in your booking,
I highly recommend trying it!!
Yum yum. Doesn't it have such a cozy vibe?
😛
8. Bicycle Rentals & Turtle Point
Since motorized vehicles aren't allowed on Gili Island (only horse carts),
everyone gets around by bicycle.
You can rent bicycles right here at the resort for a very reasonable price,
so I had a great time riding mine to Turtle Point the next day.
I spotted so many sea turtles that day
and had the absolute best time.
There are definitely way more turtles in Gili T than Gili Air.
😭 Gili T's turtle spots were the one thing I truly missed when I was on Gili Air!
9. Summary & Final Thoughts
1. Finding the perfect place to stay on Gili Island can be quite a challenge,
but I highly recommend this resort as a great value option.
(During the off-peak season, it's only around ~$64 per night!)
2. Bicycles are cheap to rent, and the resort is super close to Turtle Point, making it incredibly easy to go swim with the turtles. 🐢
3. From the refreshing welcome drink to the delicious breakfast, everything was so satisfying.
4. The host is incredibly kind, and you'll get to see the most adorable resident cats too :)
5. The pool is right outside your door. If you don't feel like heading to the beach
but still want to practice your swimming, it's super convenient.
Gili Trawangan Accommodation: Kubuwatu Boutique Resort – Highly Recommended for Great Value!!
Book your stay here
Click the image below!
🔽 🔽 🔽
📍 Kubuwatu Boutique Resort
Gili Trawangan, Jl. Ikan Nautilus, Gili Indah, Kec. Pemenang, Kabupaten Lombok Utara, Nusa Tenggara Bar. 83352 Indonesia
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get from Kubu Watu Boutique Resort to Turtle Point?
It takes 20 minutes on foot and 10 minutes by bicycle. You can easily rent a bicycle at the resort at a low cost, making it convenient to get around.
Approximately how much is the room rate at Kubu Watu Boutique Resort?
You can book a 2-night stay with breakfast included for ~$132. During certain periods, such as January, it is possible to stay for under ~$64 per night.
Can I install a personal shower filter in the bathroom?
The bathroom has a fixed rainfall showerhead, so you cannot attach a personal filter. This is a common setup found in many accommodations on the Gili Islands.
Can I get breakfast if I leave early for a snorkeling tour?
If you request a packed meal in advance, they will prepare breakfast according to your schedule. They can also bring it directly to your room when you return from the tour, allowing you to dine conveniently.
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