Nihiwatu

Need to know

Rooms

10, including seven bungalows, two two-bedroom villas and one private villa compound consisting of a two-bed villa and a bungalow.

Rates

$440–$1,350, including a full body massage, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks; excludes 21 per cent tax and service charge. There’s a $40–$80 surcharge between July and September.

Check-out

Flexible, depending on the day’s flight schedules.

Facilities

Jungle spa, gym, yoga, stables, Pilates pavilion, library. In rooms: minibar, WiFi ($30 a day).

Poolside

Carved into a hilltop terrace a short distance from the villas and bungalows, Nihiwatu’s swimming and plunge pools offer fantastic coastline views from the spacious, lounger-lined terrace.

Eco-friendly

A staunch advocate of responsible tourism since its creation, Nihiwatu plants trees, makes and uses bio-diesel, and recycles extensively. Its owners have created the Sumba Foundation to preserve the area and alleviate the poverty of the people,

Hotel closed

10 January to 28 February.

Also

Because transport to and from Nihiwatu depends on a weekly charter flight from Bali, there’s a minimum stay of seven nights. Smoking is not allowed in rooms.

Food & drink

Hotel restaurant

Nihiwatu’s main dining area us a sand-floored open-air pavilion where pan-Asian cuisine is served on two long communal tables, a few feet from the sea. The intricately carved wooden beams that support the roof have been salvaged from Sumbanese villag

Dress code

Quite literally, anything goes.

Top table

For thee ultimate in starlit beachfront romance, ask to be served a private dinner in one of Nihiwatu’s many atmospheric nooks – or enjoy the full-on Blue Lagoon experience with a lingering picnic lunch in a secluded beach cove.

Last orders

10pm. The bar by the restaurant stays open for the last man standing.

Hotel bar

During the day, the Seventies-style Californian beach bar slakes the thirsts of bathers and wave-riders, but after dark it’s the cliff top bar by the restaurant that muddles up the aperitifs and post-prandial caprioskas.

Other facilities

Children

Under-12s stay free; 13- to 16-year-olds sharing a room cost £95 a night. Babysitting can be arranged in advance for $30 a day. Plenty of Nihiwatu’s activities, such as horse riding, diving and snorkeling, can be tailored to children. more info

Weddings

This hotel is suitable for weddings. More info…

Smith card offer

A choice of an extra full-body massage each or an in-shore fishing trip

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Smith concierge

If you’d prefer to talk to someone, or you’re having trouble booking online, ring our travel team on 0845 034 0700 (+44 20 8987 4312 from outside the UK). We guarantee you’ll get the best available rates, and we don’t charge a booking fee.