Lelewatu Resort Sumba

We had the most amazing stay at Lelewatu Resort! Beyond the breathtaking views and perfect accommodation, what truly made our trip unforgettable was the staff. They were genuinely kind, always going above and beyond to help, while staying authentic. We couldn’t recommend Lelewatu Resort more highly, and we will definitely be back! A special thank you to Nicholas, Grace, and Tiger for making our stay so memorable simply by being themselves.

This was such a memorable experience. We loved:|1. The views and the vibes—unlike anything we’ve ever seen or experienced. Spacious, simple and peaceful. |2. The team—authentically kind and caring people. Ayu, Grace, Rudi, Raquel, Satee, Mince, Ita and Nikolaz. Thank you for your hospitality and smiles each and every day. |3. Seeing a unique culture of open-hearted connection and care. |4. The beds, pillows and towels—high quality and luxurious. |5. The coffee—cappuccinos and iced Americanos were consistently great. |6. Massages were outstanding. My husband said, “Best massage I’ve ever had.” He had the hot stone 90 minute. ||We see opportunity with:|1. The food—We had some great meals (nasi goreng, cassava fries, Thai Beef Salad, morning juices) but some were mediocre. We can’t eat gluten and while there was care, there wasn’t as much accommodation as we would have liked. |2. They are still recovering from Covid so room restoration is in process. We experienced some technical issues (AC, fridge not working etc) that were all attended to promptly. |3. The level of service. There could be more anticipation and consistency—although the team is always friendly, more training would go along way. ||This is a once in a lifetime place to experience. Come to Sumba with an open mind and heart but be open to an authentic island experience.

Our stay at lelewatu was everything we needed. Very tranquil, serene and peaceful. The resort is very secluded, perfect for the getaway we needed. Positives: The views are incredible. Our private villa was stunning and looked after everyday. All staff were so accommodating and hospitable. All of the Indonesian menu items were delicious, especially the beef rendang, which I had 3 times. Also the creamy mushroom pasta was a hit. The hazelnut colada was a perfect sunset cocktail. The pools and beach were great spots to relax and mostly had them to ourselves. Again, the staff went out of their way to make our stay very pleasant. Negatives: nothing too negative really, it would be nice to have a bit more drinking water provided free of charge (in the rooms)A few little differences between what’s written on menus and what you receive. Villas can be far from reception/ restaurant so needing pick up in buggies took a while sometimes. The gym could also use a bit of an upgrade and include some cleaning products. Overall this is a great place to come and stay. Very good value. Would definitely come back. A special thanks to: Wanto, Ayu, Dedis and Grace. But to all the staff, thank you.

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.

What was supposed to be a relaxing vacation with my girlfriend and friends turned into a disappointing experience, far from the five stars you’d expect based on the hotel’s marketing and the price charged for the rooms. Upon arrival, we were told our room would be ready in 40 minutes. Fair enough, as we arrived slightly before check-in. But the 40 minutes turned into two hours, with repeated “just 20 more minutes” updates. The excuse given was that another guest stayed longer in our villa. The villa itself had a beautiful oceanfront location and a pleasant breeze - but that’s where the magic ended. The property felt run-down. The toilet was old and poorly connected, and the shower was never properly cleaned throughout our four-day stay, even after mentioning it to staff. Mold and dirt remained visible on the walls and even on the showerhead (see photos). The bed canopy was dusty and stained, the sheets had yellow marks, and the pool was cloudy and greenish - far from inviting. The restaurant was mediocre. Not terrible, but nowhere near what you’d expect from a five-star resort. Service was inconsistent - at times attentive, other times completely absent. We once waited over an hour at dinner without a single staff member approaching our table, and our scheduled room pickup never arrived. There were also mistakes with our minibar bill and a missed spa appointment - booked three days in advance - because we found our another guest was given our time slot when we showed up to the spa. We had to cancel the massage to keep our other plans. The chaos continued even on the way to the airport, when the hotel’s driver ran out of gas mid-ride and later drove recklessly to make up for lost time. It’s a real shame. The location is stunning and the property has all the potential to be a true five-star resort, but right now it feels more like a tired three-star hotel with luxury prices. Sumba itself is beautiful - great weather, kind locals, plenty to explore, but the disappointment of this hotel cast a shadow over the entire trip. Our friends staying in other units had similar or even worse experiences and had to switch room during their stay. photos : Dirty sheets, under cooked pancakes, hair (not ours) that was never cleaned, dirty canopy above bed, view from V7 villa/

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.

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.

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.