Accomodations in Sumbawa vary from area to area. The main thing to remember is that the island is not a prime tourist destination. Therefore, the quality and number of hotels and homestays and losmens is far different from Lombok, Bali or the tourist areas of Java. The cheap type of quality accomodations available in Bali are generally not available in Sumbawa. In otherwords, don't expect to find a small hotel with a pool and a restaurant for 60,000 a night. Sumbawa is not Ubud. I'll start here with my home area where I have some first hand experience and then move on to other areas of Sumbawa where my information comes from guidebooks and web sites.

Maluk/Sekongkang

This is the area in the southwest of the island. I live in Sekongkang and travel frequently to Maluk. As you have probably read on other sections of this web site, I am currently living in Hotel Yoyo. And while I enjoy living here as the staff are friendly and slightly eccentric, this is not a backpacker/surfer place. Anyway read on...

Yoyo

This is a large property right on the ocean. It has a bar/restaurant which is quite expensive by Bali standards. Of course, one of the things here that you always hear is that the prices are higher because of the cost of transport. True enough. Most of the things that we get like beer and a lot of the food that we eat is from Lombok or Bali. Nonetheless, Yoyo could be much cheaper than it is. AC rooms with televisions are rented out for !50,000 a night. Nasi goreng at the restaurant is 22,000. Just in front of the hotel is a corel reef which is nice for snorkeling, but usually very shallow. Surfing places are about a 30 minute walk from the hotel.

Tropical Beach Resort and Spa

This is an upscale hotel which is frequented by the expatriate staff of the local mine run by Newmont. Prices start at US$50 per night. Tropical provides a number of services like jet skis, rental cars, deep sea fishing and others. They have a pool here. Not for the financially challenged. Tropical has its own web site

Mega Arafa

This is an Indonesian owned and run hotel located in the village of Sekongkang. No expats involved in this place. The rooms are fairly large and come with a television, fan, and bathroom. Pak Haji is the owner and a good guy. The prices here are Indonesian prices - 35-45,000 for a room depending on your bargaining ability. My future house is next door.

Kiwi Bar

I've never been here, but it has a reputation. Located on the beach in Maluk.

Hotel Trophy

This is located in Maluk and run by the folks who own Tropical in Sekongkang. It has a bar and a pool. You find expats from the mine there ocassionally. You might also find some working girls around.