At a glance:

Villa Tokay is part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and offers visitors to Gili Air the chance to feel like a luxury-style castaway. With a variety of room types, many with their own private pools, Villa Tokay is one of the nicest places to stay and relax on the island.

What is actually is: A luxury private pool villa hotel similar to those in Bali. 

What it is not: Completely private, as some of the rooms adjoin to accommodate larger families and some of the ground floor rooms have upstairs neighbors.

Time of year: Fall

Room Type: the Tide

Scores:

Hotel Design: 90 – The hotel houses about 5 villas and 4 smaller rooms on a property they’ve made feel like a little village. The front desk and restaurant area are near the main pool somewhat distant from the rooms. At night, the lighting accentuates the beautiful decor and design. The grounds are small but the landscaping is very beautiful and you will get to meet the resident turtle that has its own space. 

Location: 95 – The hotel is located on the west side of the island, slightly to the north, and is only steps away from the beach—perfect for watching those stunning Gili Air sunsets. It is about a 10-minute ride to the ferry port and within 20–30 minutes of almost everything else, as Gili Air is quite small and compact. We found the setting and location very peaceful and serene.

Sleep: 85 – The bed was very comfortable and the room was soundproof; however, you can hear the call to prayer from the nearby mosque very early in the morning. In our room, the bed was elevated with a couple of steps leading down to the main floor which can take some getting used to. Our upstairs neighbors were quiet, thankfully and we did not hear any music from the beach bars nearby. 

Service: 90 – Service was excellent in all aspects! The front desk staff were very helpful and so kind and pleasant to deal with, as were the restaurant staff. 

Room Design: 95 – Our ground-floor room had a “treehouse” feel, designed with plenty of light wood and bamboo. The decor incorporated an island getaway style, complete with palm trees on the pillows.

Room Amenities: 95 – Our room had a large outdoor pool, a comfortable lounging area with reclining chairs and an umbrella, a kitchen area, a fridge, filtered water that was replenished daily, an outdoor bathroom with a shower, and they provided lovely robes and sarongs with beautiful batik prints.  

Hotel Amenities: 88 – The hotel offers complimentary bikes, a main pool, a spa, and an all-day restaurant and bar. While we found the breakfast, which can be served in the dining area or delivered to your villa, to be excellent, we were disappointed by some of the dinner options; for example, the chicken we ordered was inedible.The hotel also offers transfers at reasonable rates; we highly recommend the private boat transfer.

Vibe: 90 – Honeymooners and larger families with children on vacation. 

Cleanliness/Maintenance: 90 – Exceptional. Even with open-air elements like the kitchen and bathroom, everything was pristine

Value / Extras & Perks: 90 – We booked through Mr & Mrs Smith, and the rate included daily breakfast and a 60-minute couple’s massage. The small snacks in the room were a nice touch, and upon check-in, we were greeted with cold towels, a fruit plate, and refreshing juice.

OVERALL: 90.8

Would we stay again? YES! When can we come back?