Lelewatu Resort Sumba

We spent the first 4 days of our honeymoon in Indonesia at Lelewatu and it was magical. Our cliffside villa had breathtaking ocean views and the calming sound of the sea breeze (pure paradise!). The staff were wonderful (shout out to Rudy, Rishda, Ayu, Tasia, Wanto and Adhi) and made us feel so welcome and relaxed. We loved the massages and cool experiences like sunrise horseback riding (we even went swimming with the horses!) and a day trip to stunning waterfalls. It is a truly special place and was the best way to start our honeymoon.

Spectacular - if you manage your expectations. We enjoyed our stay, but do not expect "white glove" 5-star service. Expect a 4-star jungle lodge with lovely villas and incredible views. It is not constructed or managed to "high-end" standards. Food is average. Staff are all very friendly, and eager to assist, but they are not trained for 5-star service. Yes, go there. Your memories and photos will be spectacular. But you will likely feel that you paid an inflated price for what you get. Just manage your expectations.

One of the best views from a villa we've had in our 40+ years of travel - spectacular! But you pay a high price for that view. Do not expect "white glove" 5-star service. Expect a 4-star jungle lodge. Comfortable and relaxing, but not well-constructed, and not well-managed. Food is average. Staff are all great and friendly, but not trained for 5-star service. The resort is fine. Charming, even. Your memories and photos will be spectacular. But you will likely feel that you paid an inflated price for what you get.

We visited the restaurant at Lelewatu (without staying at the hotel) and had such a wonderful experience. What truly made our visit special was the staff and service. Nicolas took care of us with so much attention, kindness, and professionalism, he genuinely elevated the whole experience. Thanks to him, our dinner was not only memorable but also felt very personal and warm.

I had many options to celebrate my wife’s birthday & after much research I chose Lelewatu Resort in Sumba, ofcourse we never know until we arrive however wow what a wonderful experience we had from the minute we arrived to be greeted by such smiling & professional caring staff. The pool villa views & design is incredible & the resort manager Ibu Risda was enthusiastic & so helpful to ensure my wife’s birthday surprise villa decorations were made whilst we spent the day exploring the islands fairy tale like natural waterfalls. Ibu Risda arranged a romantic dinner under the stairs which was so divine that my wife & I will leave Lelewatu with the most cherish memories to last a lifetime. Huge thanks to all the team, until we meet once more GBU 🙏🏼||Warmest regards Adam & Karlina Bray

Great place to stay when you want to chill, relax, and far from noisiness. Currently, they have 13 rooms, and the remainings are still renovated. All staff are friendly and they are always ready to pick you up with a buggy car from villa to community area. The bed is super comfy, made me sleep so well. Also they provide good breakfast. Unfortunately, they can not provide seafood menu that time. Last, it has nice view here, particularly sunset time.

Some places you just fall in love with, and Lelewatu was just such a place! We stayed in villa 6 for over a week and a half. It is an absolutely great villa with the pool in front, so one wakes up overlooking the pool and then the sea! Fantastic! The room is very beautiful and well laid out. It has a very large bed and fantastically huge pillows! It's also not too far from the reception if you prefer walking (rather than buggy), as we do. The views of the sea and the Milky Way are truly amazing and the excellent, friendly staff members are always willing to help. The food really is very good, especially considering dining options near to, or even far from, the hotel are very limited indeed (in other words the hotel is not taking advantage of us as a "captive audience" as some less reputable places do).....and the portions are exceptionally generous. Wifi fast and reliable. Some people have mentioned the hotel being run down in places. Well, there were a couple of very large earthquakes South of Sumba just before Covid...and then the Covid fiasco... so as far as I am concerned, it's totally understandable. What's more important is that all of the other areas are beautifully maintained....and to cap it all more investment is coming. So, honestly, not an issue for us! Also, don't forget the price! Just down the road, there is the Nihi resort. For the price of one night at Nihi (and not even for staying in anywhere near their best villa there!) one could spend more than we did for our whole stay at Lelewatu and that must not be taken for granted at all! The absolutely lovely staff, fantastic location, and the willingness of people to help really stand out. A special thanks go to - and in no particular order - Mbak Mbak Gina, Alin, Dina, Dora, Ayu and Tasha - and apologies as I know I have forgotten to mention at least two lovely people - and of course a big "thank you" to the delightfullly helpful Pak Wanto and Ibu Risna! We absolutely loved staying here and for us, Lelewatu was unbeatable!

Stunning views, but not five-star service. Lelewatu Resort offers a breathtaking location, and our room and bathroom were beautifully designed. The view was spectacular, and the staff were kind — especially Adhy, who waited patiently at the airport when our flight was cancelled. Unfortunately, service fell far short of five-star standards. Staff lacked proper training, leading to constant confusion. Food was one of the biggest disappointments: orders rarely matched the menu, and dishes were improvised without care. For example, a chicken sandwich arrived with cold grilled chicken and egg — not listed on the menu, which could have been dangerous for someone with an allergy. Breakfast arrangements were inconsistent. Some days the kitchen accommodated early starts as agreed via WhatsApp; other days they refused, despite written confirmation. The spa was similarly uneven — one excellent therapist (Mince), one untrained with long nails who couldn’t deliver a deep tissue massage. The gym was tiny, uncomfortably hot, and poorly equipped. Tours didn’t include what was promised (no snacks nor coconut water,) and main food was stored all day in a hot car — unsafe. Prices for tours and transfers felt arbitrary and unfair. There’s no beach access — just a cliff view over rough sea. We ended up spending most of our time at another hotel with better food, service, and direct beach access. Lelewatu looks five-star on the surface, but it’s a two-star experience at luxury prices. We wouldn’t return.