Lombok with Grandparents: Choosing Your Villa

A holiday in Lombok with grandparents can mean breakfast together, cousins sharing a room and enough time for a proper conversation. It can also mean three very different ideas of a good day: a surf lesson, a quiet afternoon with a book, and children who would happily stay in the pool until dinner.

The useful question when choosing a villa is how those days will fit together. Start with bedrooms and stairs, then look at the walk to the beach and how meals will work. At Wave Lombok, the difference between our two houses matters more for a three-generation family than their similar architecture might suggest.

Allocate the bedrooms before choosing the house

Write down who needs a double room, who would prefer separate beds, and which children can comfortably share. A headline capacity tells you how many guests a villa accepts; it does not tell you whether the sleeping arrangements suit your family.

Villa Serangan has four ensuite bedrooms and sleeps up to ten: three king bedrooms, one of which can be made up as twins, and a family room with two bunk beds sleeping four. One guest bedroom is on the ground floor; the other three are upstairs. It has a partial sea view.

Villa Selong Belanak has three ensuite guest bedrooms and sleeps up to eight: two king bedrooms, one of which can be made up as twins, and a family room with two bunk beds sleeping four. All three guest bedrooms are upstairs. There is also a separate staff room for a nanny or driver; it is not a fourth equivalent guest bedroom. The villa looks towards forest and hills, with no sea view.

For example, grandparents, two parents and two children could use two double rooms and a family room in either villa. Grandparents travelling with two adult couples and four children need three double rooms plus the family room, which matches Serangan’s configuration. These are room-planning examples, not recommendations to fill every bed: children’s ages and comfort with bunk beds still matter.

If someone wants the ground-floor bedroom, make that part of your enquiry before booking. Ask us to confirm the room allocation, rather than deciding who sleeps where after everyone arrives.

Check the whole route, not just the bedroom floor

Serangan’s ground-floor guest bedroom is a useful distinction for someone who prefers fewer trips upstairs. It is not a guarantee of step-free access. A bedroom on the ground floor tells you nothing by itself about entrance steps, bathroom thresholds or the route to the pool.

If anyone uses a walking aid or needs a particular access arrangement, ask for current photographs or a short video of the routes they will actually use. Specify the questions: the path from the car to the bedroom, any steps to the dining area, the shower entrance, handrails and the walk outdoors. Confirm the details you need before paying a deposit.

The same applies to the beach. Wave Lombok has two villas on a private beachfront estate, but the houses are set back from the sand. A private path across our own land takes about two minutes on foot to reach Pantai Serangan. That is an approximate walking time, not an assessment of the path’s suitability for every guest. The beach itself is public.

If the walk is a deciding factor, ask to see the path and discuss it with the person who will use it. For a broader look at the coast, our South Lombok beaches guide explains the different bays; the beach beside the estate and Selong Belanak beach are different places.

Give everyone permission to have a different day

Plan one shared anchor each day, such as breakfast or dinner, and leave the rest flexible. Some of the group might go out while others stay at the villa. That can be more comfortable than organising every outing around the youngest child or the keenest explorer.

Both houses have their own private pool, indoor and outdoor living space, and a kitchen. Think about who will stay behind during an outing, who will supervise the children, and whether anyone would prefer company. Grandparents can enjoy time with the children without becoming the default childcare plan.

For a larger family, booking both villas together gives you seven guest bedrooms and two pools, with capacity for up to eighteen guests. It also gives different households somewhere to retreat at bedtime. Ask for availability for both houses on the same dates, and discuss where everyone will gather for meals. Taking both does not add another ground-floor guest bedroom.

Settle meals and extras before arrival

Daily breakfast, daily housekeeping and concierge are included at Wave Lombok. Lunch, dinner and other services should be planned separately. If you would like a private chef, ask the concierge to confirm availability, menu and cost for your dates; a chef is an extra arranged on request.

Send dietary preferences with the group details and ask what can be accommodated. A simple first-evening plan is useful when people arrive tired: decide whether you want to cook, eat out or request a meal arrangement, and have the chosen option confirmed. Our local eating guide is a starting point for meals away from the villa.

For cots, high chairs or other equipment, name exactly what you need and request confirmation. Do the same for any transport or childcare you want arranged. Concierge support makes planning easier, but an enquiry about an extra is not a confirmed reservation for it.

What to send us before you book

The most useful enquiry is a short description of your family, rather than just a headcount:

• Your dates, number of adults and children’s ages.
• Who needs each double, twin or family room.
• Whether anyone wants Serangan’s ground-floor bedroom, and any specific access requirements.
• Dietary preferences and equipment requests.
• Any meals, transport or other extras you would like us to check.

You can check availability for one villa or contact our team to discuss the room plan and a stay across both houses. Rates depend on your dates; use the current availability page or request a quote rather than budgeting from an old article.

A three-generation holiday does not need everyone to do everything together. It needs a house that fits the family, a clear plan for the practical details, and time together that everyone can enjoy.