Tourism Information
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GETTING AROUND
Officially, the scheduled departure times are every hour for shuttle buses to Sweta Bus Terminal (near the city of Mataram) and every 1 and 1/2 hours to Senggigi, from 3am until 8pm. However, you may find yourself on a bus that combines both routes, stopping first near Mataram and then continuing on to Senggigi.
LOMBOK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is a relatively small airport that handles domestic flights between Bali, Jakarta and other Indonesian cities and international flights to and from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Getting to the Airport: Lombok Taxi (Blue Bird) is the most convenient taxi operator and are allowed to drop passengers directly in front of the departure terminal. Note that they cannot pick up passengers from inside the airport grounds. Organising an airport transfer with your hotel is often the easiest option, with the hotel driver meeting you on arrival and transferring you to your hotel in comfort. Check with your hotel – charges are usually only slightly more than a taxi.
a metered taxi independently. Ignore the many touts that will approach you with offers of cheap fares – they are not licensed operators and often quote low prices, which can quickly change once you are in the car. Avoid eye contact and avoid the hassle. If you do need to use an independent driver – if you are a large group or have a lot of luggage or sports equipment, such as surf boards – make sure you negotiate a fixed price before you get in the vehicle.
Directly in front is the parking area where the official airport taxis wait. Kotama and Kotasi are the main operators, using dark blue sedans carrying a maximum of 4 passengers (less if you have a lot of luggage).
The trip terminates opposite the Galleria shops on the main street in Senggigi (just south of Asmara Restaurant). If you need to stop beforehand, let the driver know and he will usually accommodate your request. The trip to Senggigi takes around 90 minutes and costs just Rp 35,000 per person. At the shuttle stop in Senggigi, flag down a metered Blue Bird taxi to take you to your hotel or villa.
For low cost airport transfers, the DAMRI bus is the cheapest way to travel between Senggigi, Mataram and the airport (see below). From the Airport: taxis are available to meet all arriving flights. After collecting your baggage, head out of the arrivals hall and through the terminal to the exit doors.
The helpful drivers tend to stop at other popular points along the route, including dropping off passengers at the roundabout in Gerung (useful if you are heading to Sekotong or Lembar), several points near the city, and outside the old Selaparang Airport on the way to Ampenan (where taxis also await the arrival of the buses).
The public DAMRI bus uses air conditioned Mercedes buses which seat around 40 passengers and are an economical solution to airport transfers to and from Senggigi and the cities.
Around Lombok: Lombok is easy to get around. The roads are in good condition and there is little traffic, apart from in the cities. The island itself is only slightly smaller than Bali at 115km (70 miles) long and 80km (50 miles) wide; it is not practical to drive around Lombok in one day.
The DAMRI counter is located around the corner from the arrivals hall doors, just past the airport taxi counters (opposite the Maxx Coffee outlet).
The DAMRI counter is manned with an information officer who issues tickets These taxis are licensed and insured for the bus service. Prices are clearly and will use the meter to calculate your shown on sign boards at the counter. fare anywhere on the island. DAMRI operate a regular schedule of Approximate taxi fares: to Senggigi departures every day to coincide with Rp 220,000; to Mataram Rp 160,000; airline schedules. to Kuta: Rp 90,000; to Bangsal Three airport shuttle services are Harbour Rp 350,000. available – one to and from central There are official taxi counters directly Senggigi (‘Senggigi – Airport’), another outside the arrivals hall that will between Mandalika Terminal in Sweta allocate you a fixed price taxi to most (‘City – Airport’), and one to and from destinations plus charge an additional Selong in East Lombok (‘Selong – airport fee of Rp 17,500; however, it is Airport’). just as easy to walk outside and catch
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