Gili Air

Getting here takes some effort! You have to take either a fast boat or a ferry from Bali and it can take anywhere from 2 hours to 5 hours to get here, depending on the weather and water conditions. Thankfully our trip here wasn’t too bad. Once you get to the island there will be a line of horses with buggies waiting to take you to your hotel. There are no motorized vehicles here, it definitely sets you back in time. When we just got here we didn’t know what to think, it was different, and didn’t feel very luxurious,  but by the end of our stay here the island grew on us and we fell in love with life at a slower pace here!

 

We loved how laid back and easy going this island was. No one was in a rush to go anywhere; people sat longer at the cafes, sunbathed by the pool or beach with no agenda(there is not a whole lot to do here), and everyone seemed to come out to watch the firey sunsets in the evenings. Most of the days I would lay out by the pool and read books at our hotel, while Alex went scuba diving. The crystal clear waters were ideal for snorkeling and diving. Alex got his PADI certification here since there are lots of dive shops here that offer it; it’s a world class diving area.

Our friends Alina, Brian and their 8 month old Vienna were with us for most of our stay here. It was so sweet to share this experience with them. Alina and I would always be on the hunt for the best smoothie bowl or salad while the men were searching for the best places to dive.

It’s a small island but has a lot to offer, from the underwater adventures to the above ground organic cafes, to the breathtaking sunsets on the beach; there seems to be something for everyone to enjoy here.

Where to stay in Gili Air:

Gill Air Lagoon Resort– this hotel has an amazing swim up pool right outside your little villa. The spa is right in the center of the resort and offers amazing massages and spa services. Of course, I had to test it out and it was incredible! Next year they are opening a beach club, dive shop, and more villas! This place is amazing and it sounds like it’s only going to get better.

 

Where to eat:

• Gill Bliss Bar- everything on the menu is amazing
• Coffee & Thyme- awesome lattes
• Mowies- delicious food with amazing sunset views
• Mexican Kitchen- the food is okay but the sunset view is perfect
• Captain Coconuts- their smoothie bowls are so good
• Corn on the cob on the side of the road

 

What to do:

• Snorkel/dive
• Watch the sunset on the west coast
• Sunbath and read a book
• Take a horse and buggy through the village
• Eat the delicious food

 

What NOT to do:

• Try their shrooms (Indonesia has very strict drug laws)
• Drink water that isn’t bottled- Bali Belly is real!
• Go into the village in just a swim suit (cover up!)
• Try to ride a bike around the island, its mostly sand and you won’t get far

To learn more about the travelers, click here.