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SENGGIGI |
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With a reputation among travellers for being spoilt by big money and
big hotels, it's a pleasant surprise to find that the long sweeping bays
of SENGGIGI are in reality backed by an attractive, laid-back beach
resort. Although parts of the area are packed with hotels, it's
perfectly possible to have an inexpensive stay here, and its
accessibility to the airport makes it an ideal first- or last-night
destination. Plenty of operators here cater for people who want to dive
in the Gili Islands, but with the comforts of Senggigi. Expect to pay
around US$45-60 for two dives, including the boat trip from Senggigi and
lunch. You'll need to check whether equipment rental is included in the
price. A PADI Open Water course will cost around US$375. Contact
Albatross (tel 0370/693399), Blue Coral (tel 0370/693441), Blue Marlin (tel
0370/93045), Dive Indonesia (tel 0370/693367), Dream Divers (tel
0370/693738) or Manta Diving (tel 0370/693139). All have booking offices
in central Senggigi.
Senggigi is served by regular bemos from Ampenan terminal. The most
convenient place to pick them up is on Jalan Saleh Sungkar just north of
the turn-off to the bemo terminal in Ampenan. Fixed-price taxis also run
direct from the airport for Rp15,000. The resort is very spread out, so
it's useful to have an idea of where you're heading; the southern end of
Senggigi is just 5km north of Ampenan, and there are a few places spread
out along the next 4km until the main concentration of hotels stretching
for roughly 1km from the Pondok Senggigi to the Sheraton. Low-density
development continues for another 8km to Hillberon. Bemos serve all
accommodation north of the resort except Hillberon but they can be quite
infrequent and many terminate at the Sheraton or the Pacific Supermarket.
Many hotels on this stretch operate free shuttle services to central
Senggigi during the day, and many restaurants offer free pick-ups in the
evening. Metered blue taxis cost Rp3000-5000 from most places north of
the central area.
Several travel agents including Lombok Mandiri (tel 0370/693477), on the
main road, book long-distance bus tickets , and both they and Perama
(tel 0370/693007) operate tourist shuttles to Bali (Kuta, Ubud and
Lovina), as well as to Kuta (Lombok). Perama also has shuttles to
Tetebatu.
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