Villa Tokay - Luxury Private Villas

Cars aren’t allowed on the island of Gili Air — hardly an inconvenience, as it spans less than two square miles. Part of an archipelago off the coast of Lombok, it’s a laid-back tropical getaway best explored on a bicycle, and Villa Tokay, easily one of the most luxurious places to stay, gladly provides them.

This eco-friendly, design-forward hotel is tucked away on a lushly landscaped property near the island’s west coast. Instead of traditional rooms and suites, there’s a small collection of freestanding villas, each a striking example of local craftsmanship and indoor-outdoor architecture. Bamboo takes the starring role here: both practical and decorative, it’s used as the primary material for the villas’ sweeping staircases and high, curving ceilings, and it’s bundled together to form soaring pillars that support lofted sleeping areas. Each villa is one-of-a-kind, but all have dreamy gardens with colorful foliage, whimsically shaped private pools, and fanciful treehouse-like details. One has an open kitchen at the poolside and a copper tub in the garden, while another has an open-air Art Deco-style shower and a private yoga deck. The largest, which sleeps ten, features four bedrooms and an infinity pool.

It’s hard to leave the confines of such a thoughtfully planned private paradise, so it’s fitting that breakfast is delivered directly to each villa’s dining area. When the urge arrives to venture further afield, the hotel is a great jumping-off point to discover the island. In addition to offering complimentary bicycles, Villa Tokay lends out its snorkeling gear, and the front gate is just a stone’s throw from the island’s lovely beaches.