Internet, ATMs & Essentials in Gili Trawangan: What to Know Before You Go

Sometimes when you travel to smaller, more remote places, it can be hard to know all the basics of traveling. Will there be access to ATMs? How well will your phone work? What kind of access to healthcare facilities will there be? Having all this information in one place takes the hassle out of having to google every single question. Being prepared and knowing your stuff before you go is the best (and safest) way to travel. So here you go, all the Essentials in Gili Trawangan all in one place for you

Internet in Gili Trawangan

WiFi Availability

WiFi is available across most of the island, especially in hotels and resorts, cafes, beach clubs, co-working hubs, and dive centres. This doesn’t mean the connection is always stable though. Speeds can vary significantly so the best thing to do is to find a spot that has good speeds and stick to it if you need a good connection. During peak tourist seasons (June-Sept and Christmas/New Year) connection speeds can be slower than usual due to the higher than normal traffic on the servers.

Mobile Data

Most Indonesians rely on mobile data for their internet connection as many people don’t have computers. This means mobile data is often more reliable than wifi. The two most widespread providers in Indonesia are Telkomsel and XL Axiata. Telkomsel generally has the best coverage on the Gili Islands. Download speeds are usually good enough for social media, video calls, and google maps. Sometimes you can stream but it can be slow.

You can buy a sim card for either of these providers at most phone shops, supermarkets, or mini marts all over Indonesia, but make sure to buy one before you arrive in the Gilis. At the time of printing it wasn’t possible to buy a sim card on the Gili Islands due to registration rules. Registering and buying credit is simple so this is often the best way to manage your mobile while you are traveling in Indonesia.

Co-working Options

If you need a strong connection to work while you are in the Gilis, there are now several cafés promoting themselves as “work-friendly”. They offer stable internet and charging outlets, and sometimes quiet spaces where you can have meetings or make calls.

The only full service co-working space on Gili Trawangan is Gilis Rock Creative Studios, which is not far from Villa Almarik on the east coast of the island.

Are There ATMs on Gili Trawangan?

Cash is king on the Gilis and although you can use cards in some places, you will definitely need cash for bike rentals, local food stalls, small shops, horse drawn taxis (cidomos), snorkeling & tour kiosks, and street markets.

One of the main questions we get when people book into Villa Almarik is “Are there ATMs on Gili Trawangan?”. The answer is yes, Gili Trawangan has several ATMs located in key areas. There is one near the harbor, a few on the main street, and some convenience stores have them.

Saying this, ATMs often run out of cash, especially on weekends or by the end of the day in peak season. It is best to withdraw cash earlier on in the day to avoid being left without money. Also be aware that there are usually daily limits and limits to the amount you can withdraw at one time. This is usually IDR 2-3 million at the most.

If you can’t get money out of the bank, there are a couple of options. You can choose places that take cards (not all do), or if you have foreign currency with you, visit a money changer. Be aware to choose wisely and only go to registered currency exchanges. If you get completely stuck, some hotels will offer cash advances on a card, but may charge a fee for this service.

Electricity, Charging & Power Outages

We all travel with multiple devices these days, and that means chargers. The power supply is 230V and the plug type you will need is the European style F plug. Most Indonesian buildings are built with less plug sockets than we are used to in Europe but there is generally one around to charge your devices.

Power outages are less common these days than they used to be, but they are always possible, especially during storms. Most hotels and bigger bars and restaurants have backup generators, but it’s always good to have a power bank with you just in case.

Essentials to Pack for Gili Trawangan

Because the island is small and somewhat remote, certain items are more expensive or harder to find. It’s worth considering bringing your own reef-safe sunscreen as it can be very expensive. Mosquito repellent is easy to find but if there is a specific brand, or if you have sensitive skin, definitely bring your own. The ones available on Gili T can be highly scented and cause issues for those with easily irritated skin.

A reusable water bottle is always a good idea. There are plenty of places where you can refill your bottle, just remember that the tap water is not safe to drink. Villa Almarik will supply you with glass bottles of clean drinking water, and are happy to refill bottles anytime.

It is possible to get basic medications in Gili T but it’s always best to pack the essentials with you. Antihistamines, pain relievers, and stomach meds are the types of meds you are most likely to need, but of course we hope you don’t have to use them.

There are a few small clinics on the island, where you can have non-serious injuries like scrapes and burns seen to. For any other major illness or injuries, you would have to be taken to mainland Lombok.

Enjoy the Gili Islands!

That’s it really, now you know everything you need to know, the only other thing you need to do is enjoy the Gili Islands!

If you have any questions about something we haven’t covered, send us an email info@almarik-lombok.com or search for the topic you’re interested in on our website. We have blog posts covering every subject you can think of.