Kuta Close Up: The Best and the Worst of Kuta

By TravelWiseMar 10, 2014 11:31 AMOther
Share:
Kuta Close Up: The Best and the Worst of Kuta
Kuta Close Up: The Best and the Worst of Kuta

Five years ago, the only way you could get to Kuta was by following a long dirt track that wound across the South of Lombok. Like a small ball in a pinball machine, passsengers would be sent flying as every pothole shook the cars suspension. The nearest airport – built with Saudi money – was slowly subsiding into the land. Lombok ‘International’ Airport was a white elephant and was attracting about as many customers as a mountai  climbing shop in the Netherlands.

Despite all of these problems, anyone who made the journey was rewarded with beautiful beaches and stunning scenery. Kuta is so nice that despite the lack of an actual functioning road, Novotel had decided to build an enormous five-star resort complex in the middle of nowhere (they were in it for the long haul). I immediately fell in love with the area. If I had the money, I would have bought a plot of land right then and there. The hills overlooking the bay offer incredible views. The white beaches were beautiful and almost completely deserted and the town had a sleepy laid back backpacker vibe.

Coming back to Kuta on my road trip, I was interested to see what had changed. The first thing I learnt was that my gut instinct had been right. A plot of land that cost $20,000 five years ago was now worth $200,000 (doh). On the hills overlooking the bay there are lots of luxury villas.

As of yet, there hasn’t been much actual development in the city. The town still has that slow backpacker vibe. It feels at once empty and busy (it is the kind of place where you could spend a relaxed week, but would probably go crazy if you were forced to live there). Bamboo restaurants line the beachfront and tired old cracked houses are on either side of the main roads. Most of the hotels are backpacker dives, and compared to Bali, the accommodation is expensive for what you get.

Change is afoot though in kuta. There are plans to tear down the beachfront restaurants – many of which are illegally built – and replace them with new properties. This new push – which is all part of the plan to ensure land rights are respected – comes as more five star resorts prepare to set up shop around Kuta. It’s the rural equivelant of gentrification and although the process will occur at Lombok pace, you can be assured that land prices will continue to rise as people who are bored of Bali look to invest in somewhere a bit more up and coming.

Outside of the town, things are a bit more mixed. Local property owners and the tourism trade in general have an uneasy relationship with illegal gold miners. Let me rewind the clock a bit to explain; Lombok, like Bali before tourism, is incredibly poor. Five years ago, apart from growing tobacco, there weren’t many options available for local people. Then they found gold and anyone with a shovel started digging up the land in search of the shiny yellow metal.

Once you go over the hills surrounding Kuta and pass the best cafe in town, you immediately find the illegal gold miners (here’s a bit more information about illegal gold mining in Kuta). It’s a big problem for the area – people are actually dying in these gold mines and willing to fight to keep them open – and although I think it’s not a long term problem for Kuta – depending on what the local government does – there’s no easy solution.

The other issue facing Kuta, which is more likly to be noticed by tourists, is trash. Unfortunately there does not seem to be any organised system of rubbish collection going on and so the beaches, which are one of the areas biggest tourist attractions, are slowly becoming filled up with plastic bags and empty bottles. It’s not a huge problem, but it is certainly an issue.

Still, despite the problems that Kuta is facing, in my opinion Kuta is still one of the nicest places to visit in Lombok. It is hands down nicer and more relxed than the Gili Islands. Though, if you are looking for a party, I’d definitely recommend the the Gili Islands, because Kuta is just one of those places that you go to relax, unwind and enjoy life.

Top Articles
Top 14 all-inclusive Marriott resorts: Cool locations for fun adventures and wish fulfillment

Top 14 all-inclusive Marriott resorts: Cool locations for fun adventures and wish fulfillment

Mar 28, 2024 19:55 PM
Top 10 great hotels in Kefalonia: the perfect vacation in the middle of the Ionian Sea

Top 10 great hotels in Kefalonia: the perfect vacation in the middle of the Ionian Sea

Mar 28, 2024 16:17 PM

The best California resorts for a flawless vacation, stacked with recommendations and traveler reviews

Mar 28, 2024 11:18 AM

Top 9 hotels in Atlantic City: with luxury accommodations, beautiful ocean views and exclusive entertainment

Mar 27, 2024 21:49 PM
More News
March will turn the life of this zodiac sign upside down: They will receive news that will change everything

March will turn the life of this zodiac sign upside down: They will receive news that will change everything

Mar 29, 2024 12:39 PM
Manchester Airport has resumed flights to Casablanca

Manchester Airport has resumed flights to Casablanca

Mar 29, 2024 12:32 PM

A Stellar Year Ahead: Astrotourism's 2024 Forecast

Mar 29, 2024 12:30 PM

£50 Million Investment Transforms Cornwall's Public Transport

Mar 29, 2024 11:30 AM
Aerial view of buildings during daytime

Discovering Bristol's Vibrant Music Scene in a Day

Mar 29, 2024 10:30 AM
Female chef preparing some kind of dessert

Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C., celebrates spring

Mar 29, 2024 09:34 AM
Photo of house near cliff and body of water

Sicilian Adventures: From Palermo to Mount Etna

Mar 29, 2024 08:30 AM
Delta Air Lines aircraft tail fin at sunset

Delta Air Lines Prepares to Unveil March Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Mar 29, 2024 07:35 AM
A large jetliner sitting on top of an airport tarmac

Norse Atlantic Takes a Gamble on London to Las Vegas Route

Mar 29, 2024 06:30 AM

Festival "After Dark" at Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans featuring jazz trumpeter Branden Lewis

Mar 29, 2024 05:33 AM

Three zodiac signs have significant financial prospects in 2024

Mar 29, 2024 05:30 AM
The number of refusals of entry to Vietnam for tourists is increasing

The number of refusals of entry to Vietnam for tourists is increasing

Mar 29, 2024 05:02 AM
Total Solar Eclipse

Total Solar Eclipse 2024: A Spectacular Sky Event Affecting US Air Travel

Mar 29, 2024 04:30 AM
International symbol of organizations and individuals supporting the fight against cancer

Four Seasons Hotel Houston Presents the 5th Annual Charity Event "Celebrity Chefs Against Cancer

Mar 29, 2024 03:36 AM
Dreams and desires of the three zodiac signs will come true: horoscope for 2024

Dreams and desires of the three zodiac signs will come true: horoscope for 2024

Mar 29, 2024 03:30 AM

Japan Sets Its Sights on a Revolutionary Next-Gen Passenger Jet

Mar 29, 2024 02:30 AM

FAA Gears Up for Spring Break Rush and the Great North American Eclipse

Mar 29, 2024 01:32 AM
New opportunities for Aries and long-awaited rest for Virgo: Horoscope for all zodiac signs for March 29

New opportunities for Aries and long-awaited rest for Virgo: Horoscope for all zodiac signs for March 29

Mar 29, 2024 01:31 AM
A large blue airplane is on the runway

The Lufthansa-ITA Merger: A Complex Route to Consolidation

Mar 29, 2024 00:30 AM
Tourists who will conquer Everest will have to take an unexpected thing with them on the journey

Tourists who will conquer Everest will have to take an unexpected thing with them on the journey

Mar 28, 2024 23:58 PM
"Anniversary Sale": Holland America Line announces holiday discounts on cruises

"Anniversary Sale": Holland America Line announces holiday discounts on cruises

Mar 28, 2024 23:51 PM
Three zodiac signs will plunge into relationships

Three zodiac signs will plunge into relationships

Mar 28, 2024 23:45 PM

United Airlines Introduces a New Era of In-flight Entertainment This April

Mar 28, 2024 23:30 PM

The space cable car in Singapore: tourists are excited about the design

Mar 28, 2024 23:10 PM
Copenhagen

Top 10 unforgettable experiences in the magical city of Copenhagen

Mar 28, 2024 22:52 PM
A large jetliner sitting on top of an airport runway

Condor's Strategic Move: Year-Round Frankfurt-Miami Flights

Mar 28, 2024 22:30 PM