Review of Novotel Lombok Resort & Villas 4*

Set your expectations low. A new hotel is under construction next to the Novotel, which may explain the slipping quality of this resort. Maybe Novotel is no longer investing in the resort because it knows its days are numbered. For example, the room is OK but tired. The towels are threadbare and rough as toast. The service is very poor. Expect to chase after the staff when you want service. The servers often get your order wrong or forget parts of your order. In the restaurants the servers will neglect you. The food is sometimes of a poor quality, but almost always cold. It doesn’t matter if the restaurant and bar are empty, the servers will neglect you. Don’t expect to be asked for food or drinks at your beach chair until happy hour, when the servers do make one round to collect orders. Some resorts have very friendly and hardworking pool and beach staff, don’t expect that level of service here. Do expect hawkers on the property annoying you for a bracelet or a coconut. They are harmless, but persistent. The outside hawkers and staff do use the kids’ club area toilets. The kids‘ club toilets are dirty. The kids’ club advertises activities that are not delivered upon. There is one attendant in the kids’ club, but expect to find this person on her phone often. I found the attendant showing my kids photos on her phone, which is harmless but not a service. The kids’ club amounts to a generally supervised area. Do not expect your child to be entertained as advertised. The Kids’ club does have a good playground and decent toys. The yoga class is very good. You can also expect a good massage by a professional masseuse. The gardens are one bright-spot. The pools are good, but not always clean. Be mindful of your young children, the pools are not kid friendly. The views from the beach are great. The resort’s beach is cleaned well enough by staff, but expect garbage in the water and on the surrounding beaches. This is normal in Indonesia. One night, there was very good traditional dancing with local performers in beautiful traditional costumes. Our kids had fun chasing crabs on the beach at night. The gardens are very well kept.