Lelewatu Resort Sumba Reviews

This traditional Sumbanese-style villa sits high on a cliff with a fabulous 180-degree sea view and an almost constant cooling breeze. The setting is absolutely stunning. The thatched-roof villa has windows on all four sides, letting in plenty of light. The room was spacious, with a huge, comfortable bed, medium-soft pillows, and soft linen under a mosquito net. There was a fridge, desk, and two large cupboards, plus both indoor and outdoor daybeds for relaxing. The plunge pool (about 12 ft x 6 ft and 1.2 m deep) had lovely sea views — I even saw a pod of dolphins from the room. Wi-Fi was intermittent except near the desk. Only one air-conditioning unit served the large room and struggled to cool it fully; a ceiling fan would have helped. Light switches were scattered around every wall, which made figuring them out a bit of a puzzle. The bathroom had a huge bathtub but no handheld shower, so I used the separate shower instead. Towels were large and soft, though the toilet seat was poorly attached. In a wooden cliffside villa, the slightly rickety floorboards and uneven slope are to be expected, and overall the upkeep was good for the price. Staff were very friendly, welcoming, and always cheerful. Food was tasty, and although the Eggs Benedict came with thin, cold hollandaise, it was still enjoyable. The restaurant and reception are about a four-minute uphill walk away, but staff happily provided a buggy when needed, and I never had to wait long. The hotel offered a complimentary airport transfer in a comfortable car, though it struggled a bit on the steep hills — the engine even cut out once before restarting. Stopping for petrol en route was slightly stressful before a flight, but everything worked out fine in the end. Several stunning sights are nearby, and I would return in a heartbeat — I truly didn’t want to leave.