Gili Smile Bungalow

Right on the beach, there are beach chairs available, perfect for watching the sea and snorkeling. The owner thought we were Korean, but when he found out we were from China, he even learned some Mandarin from us. He was very kind.

The hotel is modest and appropriate for the price. The bungalow is spacious and clean. I didn't notice any pets. The bathroom floor is a bit uncomfortable, with large pebbles and slippery tiles. There's also a terrace, and each bungalow has a foot bath, which is very convenient. There are no tea making facilities or safe. There's no hot water, and the cold water is really cold. We asked at reception; there's no hot water at all in the smaller bungalows (I don't know about the larger ones), so if you need water, look for another hotel. Bikes are available for a fee, and there are also a bunch of shops around the area. The location is good: it's a leisurely 10-minute walk from the pier to the hotel. The beach is across the road, and there are sun loungers and tables for breakfast and lunch on the beach. We ate mostly there; the prices were reasonable, with plenty of good dishes at reasonable prices. Turtle Beach is just 3 minutes away, with some really big turtles. The staff is friendly and cheerful. Let me tell you about the route. If you don't arrive in Padang Bai before 10:00/12:30 (check the schedule), you won't make the speedboat and won't be able to get to the Gili Islands any other way. It's best to book a hotel in the Gili Islands the following day and spend the night in Padang Bai. There are inexpensive hotels near the port.

Clean enough, close to snorkeling spots, but no hot water in the shower, weak pressure.

We stayed here one night out of three and moved to another hotel. Neighborhood: It's fairly close to the port—a 10-minute walk with suitcases—but it's a very noisy, active area, with some questionable cafes and hotels. If you're looking for a fun night out, it's a great choice within walking distance. If you're looking for a chilled-out, tranquil atmosphere and a luxury atmosphere, I recommend the western part. Room: The grounds seem well-maintained and okay. There's a patio. The room is tired, with white walls that aren't white anymore. The furniture consists of a bed, a wardrobe, and one nightstand. There's no safe, refrigerator, glasses, or kettle. There's a water dispenser at the reception desk. The soundproofing in the room is very good—we woke up early in the morning to the staff cleaning the grounds and their loud conversations, and before that, we woke up earlier to the singing of a mosque, apparently very close by. The towels are on their last legs and need to be replaced. And by the way – no blanket! Just a sheet. So we woke up at night to turn the air conditioner on – it was too hot without it, but too cold with it, blowing on the bed. There was also an umbrella in the room, which was nice. Housing: there wasn't any for the entire three days (we left our suitcase there and came back). Even the ashtray on the patio hadn't been cleaned since the first day. I mentioned the towels above – they need replacing urgently; they're all threadbare. The bathroom, by the way, is beautiful and relatively clean, considering the overall cleaning situation in Bali. The staff is friendly, and the guy at reception was very nice. The hotel has its own area on the beach, free for guests. Overall, I definitely wouldn't return here even for a big discount, but I had my own expectations for my stay in Gili, plus we'll be significantly less comfortable. Perhaps someone will like the hotel for its location, price, or for those who are very light sleepers and aren't squeamish :)

The location is top notch. The room was not cleaned even once during the week.