Gili T: Where to stay, what to do, where to eat

You’ve heard of Bali, the land of brunch and beach clubs. So, let me take you elsewhere in Indonesia ( yes, there’s far more to the country! ), to a little destination that will surely surprise you.

Gili Trawangan. A tiny island that boasts its very own quirks. No motors, no

mopeds, just pure island living. We walk, cycle and occasionally catch the only

express transport available- a horsecart! Why? The reduced air pollution of course! Thriving vibrant reefs surround our little paradise, housing a plethora of sea critters. We owe our fame to these little guys! Though small in size, Gili T by no means lacks in abundance. And here’s where we come in, to walk you through your perfect trip.

Accommodation:

"Where should I stay?" Fantastic question! With us of course! My Mates Place hostel- where else WOULD you stay?

We are the biggest hostel in Gili Trawangan, with a loud, and very proud title of Best Hostel in Indonesia 2019. We welcome new mates daily and enjoy the returning embrace of old mates regularly.

With access to dorms sleeping three, twin rooms with attached ensuites, and

luxury King Private quarters, there’s a space for everyone.

Our newly built pool joins the highlights of the hostel, a lavish design to spoil our

relaxing backpackers.

Ever been on a pirate ship? Or sailed around the 3 Gili Islands? How about a party on Indonesian waters? No? Not to worry, we cover all three. Gili Boat Party is an event you keep coming back for.

A cruise around the islands, with a live DJ on a true pirate ship sporting a

downstairs bar will have your flight home in question.

We always go big, and we always do better.

But let’s talk about the REAL hostel amenities you want to know about—the free

stuff.

Free beer on arrival. Free breakfast. Free wifi. Free shot bottles all night. And yes,

free will to have the best hostel stay of your life. Queue our hostel managers. After spending a few hours running drinking games, they’ll be whisking you out to Gili T’s raging nightlife spot Jungle Bar, the biggest (and only air-conditioned) club on the island. Keeping you on your feet till the early hours of the morning.

Activities:

Once that hangover starts to wear off, it will! We promise! We have some

unforgettable experiences waiting for your attendance. “What to do? “: It's time to explore what Gili T has to offer. There are a few options for readers eager to discover what floats around the water in these parts of the world. For our snorkellers, the hostel offers two trips daily, one morning and one afternoon. This is a 4-hour trip winding through the Gili Islands and their most infamous spots. Otherwise, head to the beach and grab a set of fins and a snorkel and walk right on into the water, it'll be a matter of minutes till your eye to eye with

a turtle.

For those seeking a deeper and more personal relationship with the fish, diving is

for you. We have tourists that flock from all corners to experience our A-class

diving sites. The water life is consistently changing, often drifting in new friends.

Except for our gentle giants, the turtles. Always present, and always a highlight.

Trawangan Dive Centre is our recommendation for our guests, free beers at the

hostel for each fun dive!

For our adrenaline-water junkies, we have you covered! With a surplus of water

sports new to the island, your blood will be sure to be pumping!

Now for the land adventures. Feeling active? We’d suggest starting the day with yoga as you watch the sunrise over Mount Rinjani. Followed with an intense and competitive game of mini-golf, before heading to a beach club such as Skinny Dip or Window Bar to bask in a

breathtakingly beautiful Indonesian sunset. If you're looking to jolt that sunset one

step further, book in with a stud horse and gallop in the water as the sun dips below

the peak, an actual movie moment.

But why stop there? The night is young! If you aren't already partying with us in the

hostel, join the Gili Pub Crawl that occurs weekly, a guaranteed fun way to get to

know our night strip.

Eateries:

We’ve talked about the "Who", we’ve talked about the "Where", and the "What",

but now for the most crucial of questions....

“How do I choose where to eat?" Well, reader, let us greatly assist and break it

down for you.Our hostel has a fully equipped kitchen, serving immaculate meals from morning to evening. However, if you are eager to walk the Gili T streets, let us add a few stops along the way.

- Burgers? Voodoo, ( they give KFC a run for their money with their famous zinger

burger! ).

- Pizza? Regina and Francesco fighting for the lead. Might have to do both!

- Pub feed? Irish bar. Tastes like home.

- Tacos? Tiki Grove, and what an experience they provide! Be sure to order the

Shark Bait cocktail, you’ll thank us later.

- Vegetarian? Banyan Tree has a mouth-watering menu!

- Indian? Persona is your one-stop shop.

- Asian-fusion? Jali has it covered.

- Indonesian? Warung Wajan is the perfect spot to sit down and eat locally!

We’d write an entire article dedicated to our food spots on the island, but we’ll leave

you with a short and very sweet list to work from.

That concludes our brief tour of this small island, Gili Trawangan. Our home. And

hopefully, a home briefly to you too. We’ll be waiting with a cold beer, because ‘ Where else would you stay? ‘.

- My Mates Place Hostel.