Gili Gede, Indonesia

Villa Selalu

Style

Contemporary, castaway chic

Setting

Away-from-it-all isle

Sleeps

8

Linear and luxurious, Villa Selalu stretches out in sleek style along its Indonesian island setting. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows – and indeed everything at this 360-degree clifftop villa – face firmly towards the water, with only soft, muslin drapes to separate sofa from sea. Whitewashed walls, polished concrete floors and tropical accents define the chic interior, while outside an exhale-inducing infinity pool, private beach and pavilion-style barbecue area gaze out to the meeting point between Indian and Pacific oceans. If you’re looking for a contemporary, Crusoe-style crashpad (albeit with a bigger entourage), look no further.  

 

Smith Extra

Get this when you book through us:

One free 60-minute massage for up to two guests and half-price massages for additional guests

First Glance

  • Whitewashed walls and black window-frames create a contemporary monochrome palette at Villa Selalu, with Balinese wicker chairs, tropical-print cushions and textured woven rugs adding those all-important island touches.
  • The low-lying, linear structure stretches out along its lofty, hilltop location; floor-to-ceiling glass windows help bring the outside in.
  • The vast, open-plan living room is the villa’s deserved centrepiece, with art and artefacts from the owner’s private collection, an antique dining table crafted from old railway carriages and ice-white sofas that invite after endless, indolent meals.
  • The emphasis on good food is illustrated by not one but two kitchens. The first adjoins the open-plan living and dining space; in the second, Chef Putu cooks for guests, equipped with huge fridges and gas cookers.

Villa highlights

  • Sigh-worthy island setting
  • Antidote to mass tourism
  • Water, water everywhere

Sleeping arrangements

  • Villa Selalu has four bedrooms, each with super-king-sized beds, air-conditioning and private ensuites. There’s no master as such, but the four rooms span through varying degrees of lavishness. Bedrooms 1 and 2 are slightly larger at 30sq m, while bedrooms 3 and 4 measure at 25sq m.
  • Interiors are cut from the same stylish cloth as the rest of Villa Selalu, with polished concrete floors and whitewashed walls, accented by statement artworks and sculptures. Woven rugs and wicker chairs abound.
  • Outside, each bedroom has its own terrace or patio, poised for yet more sea-gazing.
  • Smart ensuite bathrooms adjoin each of the rooms. There are no baths, but who needs them, with spacious, monsoon-style showers at every turn? Bedroom 2 and 3 have indoor and outdoor showers, where the others have only an indoor shower.
  • If you’re struggling to draw straws – all rooms have sea views.

Key kit

  • An on-site team of staff.
  • Rooms made up daily.
  • Best for couples, friends and mature family groups, as the pool isn’t fenced-in. Smaller children may require supervision.
  • Access to a Bluetooth speaker in the living room.
  • Air conditioning throughout, plus airy ceiling fans and floor-to-ceiling windows.
  • Three separate WiFi networks to ensure a decent connection.
  • Washing machine access.
  • Wheelchair friendly.

Poolside

  • The 54sq m infinity pool is a real highlight of Villa Selalu, with views over lush tropical foliage, the private beach, the sea and, finally, Lombok in the distance.
  • Bean-bag-style cushions and four parasol-shaded loungers provide space to relax and soak up the sun, though staff are on hand to roll out more when needed.

Grounds

  • Bougainvillea bushes and palms fringe the villa on all sides, making for a lush, tropical backdrop.
  • An open-sided, thatched-roofed pavilion aligns the pool, sheltering a pair of wooden Adirondack chairs, an alfresco dining table and a gas barbecue, with views towards the sea. A second similar-but-smaller structure features a further four more Adirondack chairs for lazy, book-focussed afternoons.
  • The villa has its own private, sandy beach, accessed via a smooth, staggered walkway.

Location

  • Villa Selalu stands on top of Gili Gede, the largest of a 13-island archipelago known as the ‘Secret Gilis’ or Southwest Gilis, off Lombok’s Sekotong peninsula. Not to be confused with the trio of well-travelled Gili Islands further north, the Southwest Gilis are the ultimate antidote to the trappings of mass tourism. Gili Gede’s castaway location means infrastructure on the island is minimal – though for those seeking privacy and seclusion, that’s half the appeal.
  • Bali’s Ngurah Rai airport is the main international hub. From here, flights to Lombok take 30 minutes. Part of the fully staffed service at Villa Selalu means you will be greeted at Lombok’s Praya airport by a dedicated driver. You’ll then be transported across to Lombok’s south-west coast to catch a 10-minute speedboat transfer from Tembowong to the Villa Selalu’s private beach. Alternatively, there's a fast boat from Bali, which departs each morning from Serangan, taking 90 minutes to reach Gili Gede direct.
  • It’s a short stroll from the bed to beach at Villa Selalu – with a private strip of sand waiting just down the hill. Access is via a sloping, staggered walkway and golf buggies are on hand if needed.
  • Peace and tranquility are the focus of life on Gili Gede, so prepare to relax and slip into the daily routine of sleeping, snorkelling and island-hopping to nearby Gili Rengit and Gili Layar, which offer vibrant coral reefs in which marine life thrives. Two of the world’s top 20 surf breaks – Desert Point and Bangko Bangko – are also accessible a 10-minute boat ride away. Lazing around the pool, watching sunrises/sunsets and, of course, eating, also feature highly.

The Guestbook

Whenever you book a stay at a Smith hotel or villa, we’ll invite you to review it when you get back. Read what other Smith members had to say in Villa Selalu’s Guestbook below.
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