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GENERAL INFORMATION
If you’re traveling to Lombok you’ll likely arrive by air via
Mataram’s Selaparang Airport, which offers connections from Bali,
Surabya, Jakarta and Yogyakarta. There are limited international
flights to and from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore as well. The Mataram
Selaparang Airport is small but has frequent shuttles to most major
destinations and resorts. Cabs and rental cars are also available at
the airport, and can get you to your hotel very quickly. When hiring
a cab be sure that the driver does use the meter, as it is common
for them to offer a flat rate that is certainly in their favor.
There are also boat services available from Padangbai and South
Bali. Regularly scheduled ferries that transport vehicles are slow
boats and normally take over four-hours to reach Lembar in South
Lombok. Fast ferries that depart from Padang Bay are restricted to
passengers and cut the travel time to a little over one hour to
ports in the Gili islands and West Lombok. There are even options to
use the shuttle bus from Kuta and get directly to Lombok for one set
fare. This is reasonably priced and makes for a quick trip. Be sure
to confirm schedules and fares well in advance and check a few days
before your trip for any cancellations or other delays that might
affect your trip.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Throughout Lombok there are the public transports known as Bemo; and
these private buses are basically minivans or small buses that will
take groups of passengers to a various destination with a shared
rate. Again, be sure to agree on the price before starting the
journey. Fares are generally cheap and they go along set routes,
sometimes taking the long way. There is also semi-regular shuttle
service via bemo, which connect the resorts with various harbors
across the island.
The alternative means of transportation are taxicabs, which
operation from most major hotels. The use of meters is fairly new,
but many of the drivers will opt to offer a set fare, which is
usually in the driver’s favor. Feel free to haggle a bit on the
price or insist the driver use the meter. And make sure there aren’t
“extras” that they’ll try to tack on after the journey.
Horse drawn carts, which are known locally as cidomo, are still a
preferred method of travel for many locals, especially outside the
towns and around the smaller villages. Some of these have become a
bit more geared to the tourist trade, but they are at times the best
way to get around and see the sights at the same time.
BALI-GILI ISLANDS-LOMBOK FAST BOAT TRANSFER |
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