Kebun Rohani Cottages

English is spoken by the hotel team, alongside Indonesian, so you can deal with the practical details of a dive holiday without resorting to mime. Kebun Rohani Cottages is a small, straightforward place in Senggigi, with cottages set around a lush garden and a swimming pool with views across the surrounding landscape.

The mood is easy-going rather than polished for show. You can finish the day on the sun terrace, take a drink at the bar, or sit outside with the garden doing most of the decorating. There is free WiFi, daily housekeeping and a 24-hour front desk, which covers the useful things while leaving you to get on with the important business of eating, cooling down and deciding whether tomorrow deserves an early start.

Kebun Rohani Cottages sits in Senggigi, on Lombok, Indonesia. Senggigi Beach is about a five-minute walk away, with fine white sand and sun loungers. That is close enough for a pre-breakfast stroll, and close enough to avoid turning a simple swim into a transport project.

The surrounding area gives you plenty of reasons to leave the garden. Warung Amalia and Bumbu Cafe are only a few steps away, while Asmara Restaurant is within a few hundred feet. Oggie's Place Bar+Cafe and Sahara Lombok are also nearby. For a change of scenery, Malimbu Hill is about 4 miles away, Batu Bolong Beach about 1 mile away and Kerandangan Beach about 1 mile away.

Lombok International Airport is about 27 miles away by road. The hotel is therefore convenient for the Senggigi coast, but the airport transfer is still a proper journey rather than a quick hop across the road.

The cottages are made for two, with the choice between twin beds and an extra-large double bed depending on how you and your travelling companion prefer to sleep. The sea-view double is the obvious choice for a couple who want the view to do some of the evening work; the mountain-view twin keeps things practical when separate beds matter more than romance.

Air conditioning and a fan give you two ways to deal with Lombok's warmth, while the refrigerator is useful for keeping water cold when you return thirsty. There is also an electric kettle, so tea or coffee does not depend entirely on the timing of breakfast. A wardrobe, extra-long beds and a private bathroom with shower or bath cover the basics without fuss.

Balconies, terraces and outdoor furniture give you somewhere to sit rather than making the bed your only piece of evening furniture. A drying rack is available for clothes, and the cottages have private entrances and ground-floor access. Views vary by room, including garden, mountain and sea outlooks, so choosing by view is worth doing rather than leaving it to chance.

Restaurant Kebun Rohani serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in an open-air setting. The kitchen works with fresh local ingredients and local cooking, which gives you a reason to eat at the property rather than treating it merely as somewhere to sleep. Breakfast is continental and includes juice, pancakes, cheese and fruit.

There is also a bar and an on-site coffee house, with tea and coffee-making facilities available. That gives you the useful middle ground between a full meal and the moment when you need something to drink before deciding what happens next. A few nearby restaurants and cafés add variety within an easy walk, including Warung Excelent and Asmara Restaurant.

The breakfast is included in the accommodation arrangement. Lunch and dinner are available at the hotel restaurant, so you can keep the day simple when the sea, the heat and your own appetite have already provided enough activity.

The swimming pool is the obvious landing place for a non-diving afternoon. Sun loungers, beach chairs, umbrellas and pool or beach towels are available, while the garden and sun terrace give you alternatives when floating about starts to feel like another form of exercise. Full-body massage is available at the property as well, which is handy when your shoulders have spent the day carrying more kit than they strictly needed.

The beach is close enough for an easy change of scene, and the hotel can help arrange activities through its tour desk. Snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and boat excursions are available, with equipment hire also offered. Cycling gives you a land-based option, while hiking, fishing and canoeing are available away from the property.

For a quieter evening, there is outdoor seating, a garden and evening entertainment. Families have access to board games, puzzles and books or DVDs for children, and children of any age are welcome. The place works just as well for a couple who want a pool, a massage and an early night as for anyone still determined to make the most of the daylight.

Arrival is available from 11:00 to midnight, and departure runs from 07:30 to 10:00. You will need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, and the hotel asks you to share your expected arrival time in advance. A 24-hour front desk, private check-in and check-out, luggage storage and a tour desk make the practical edges of the stay easier to manage.

An airport transfer can be arranged on request. Car hire is available, and free public parking is available nearby without reservation. Cash and credit cards are accepted. Daily housekeeping, a safety deposit box, laundry facilities and wake-up service are the sort of details that matter more once you have salt in your hair and an early start in mind.

The hotel has free WiFi, flat-screen televisions and streaming access in the rooms, along with a desk and a computer. Non-smoking rooms are available, pets are not allowed, and cots or extra beds can be requested. Special requests depend on availability, so it is sensible to raise anything important when arranging the stay rather than hoping it will materialise at reception.