Vacation. When a lot of people think of vacation, they think of the beach. They may also think of a big pool, a drink in their hand, a lounge chair, and maybe a significant other to take it all in with.
Indonesia had over 16 million people visit the country in 2019. Of those 16 million or so, half of them were going to either Bali or Jakarta.
But, Indonesia is a big country. What about the more under-the-radar destinations? What about lesser-known islands?
Places like a Rote Island resort could be exactly what you need to escape the crowds and influencers of Bali.
Most of you may not even know where Rote Island is, how to get there, or what makes it worth going to instead of more popular areas in Indonesia.
This is how and why you should go to Rote Island.
Where Is Rote Island?
Rote Island is all the way to the eastern half of Indonesia. It is a small island that is actually one of the closest pieces of Indonesian land to the Northern Territory of Australia. Only the Timor Sea separates the two.
To get to Rote Island, you must first fly into either Jakarta or Bali, by far the two biggest airports in the country.
Then, from either Jakarta or Bali, you must fly to Kupang, which is a stone’s throw away from your final destination.
From Kupang, your options get tricky. Either you need to take an early enough flight out of Jakarta or Bali to make the one flight daily from Kupang to Rote Island at 16:10. Or, you can spend a night in Kupang and take the fast ferry over to Rote Island very early the next morning.
Then, it is about one hour to the resort once you are on the island. A pick-up service is available to bring you to Seed Resort for a fee.
The transportation part of your trip will take careful planning since Kupang has very limited options. But, once you get to your final destination, everything else will be taken care of for you.
Things to Do
One of the things Rote is known for is its surf scene. Surfers from all parts of the world can use this as a surf resort and catch a wave. There are plenty of different waves offered for those looking for it. The peak to catch these are May through September.
If you have two left feet in the water, there are other options for you. Some of these include kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. With the water being as clear as it is, you can get a good look at the bottom with snorkel gear or even in your kayak or board.
There are also two private boats available for boat trips. They can be used to take surfers out a little farther to catch different waves, island hop at others nearby, or even go out for a nice date.
Those who like to stay on land, have no fear. Besides walking along the beach or getting your tan on, two options for you are biking or taking a motorbike tour.
Riding a bicycle can allow you to get some exercise and explore the area at your own pace. A motorbike tour will cover more ground and you can even get a taste of the local life by visiting the local market.
If you just want to relax, you can have a drink by the pool, or even book a spa and loosen those muscles.
What to Eat
For some of you, what you eat on your vacation can be just as important, if not more so, than the location of your trip.
The resort uses purely local ingredients and grown produce for meals here. Options lean towards healthy and organic food, but there are barbecues available to those who prefer that. Some of you who are a little more invested in trying local food may have your eye out for one of these dishes.
To compliment your meal, cocktails like a mojito, margarita, or even a long island iced tea are available for you. And for couples, one suggestion would be to have a candlelit dinner under the stars on the beach.
Accomodation Available
The majority of the lodging available caters to bungalow style setups. These include a beachfront bungalow, oceanfront bungalow, yoga garden bungalows, family garden bungalow, and a surfer loft.
Most rooms come with a queen bed, wifi, a mosquito net, complimentary drinking water, air conditioning, a swinging hammock, a safety deposit box, daily housekeeping, and more.
Best of all, there are a limited number of rooms available, so you will have fewer neighbors to worry about than other resorts and more scenery for you to enjoy!
When Should You Go?
There is no bad time to go to this island, as the temperature is very consistent throughout the year. But for surfers, the time to catch the best waves is absolutely June through September.
If you want more assurance of dry weather, go in January or February. For cooler weather and some more mercy from the humidity, July or August is your best bet.
To catch more mild waves and have a more laid back vacation, the shoulder months of March, April, October, and November are recommended for you.
Book Your Rote Island Resort Trip
So after reading this guide, are you convinced that this trip is for you? Do you feel like this is worth getting away from the crowds of Bali?
If so, book your Rote Island resort trip now at Indonesia’s Leading Boutique Resort! Prices start at 750,000 IDR (or about $52) per night.