Sudamala Resort, Komodo, Labuan Bajo

The hotel is clean and serene. Even though it is slightly out of the major town, it provides calmness and serenity. Staff and helpful and friendly.

What I liked: - A beautiful resort with lovely grounds, a stunning pool which overlooks the beach and the ocean, swim up bar in the pool. Total island vibes - we stayed in a Manggarai Villa which is spacious, beautifully designed with indoor/outdoor bathroom (you can lay in the bath at night and look up at the stars) and is beautifully furnished. The room was spotlessly clean as was the private pool in the villa - all of the staff in the resort are sweet, hard working and so helpful. Hendra the Front Office Manager is a total asset to the resort - the food in the restaurant is very nice. The included breakfast is fantastic and includes unlimited proper coffees, fresh juices and smoothies. What I didn’t like: - price of the seafood BBQ is crazy (see photo) with jumbo prawns at IDR 295,400 per 100 grams or IDR 2.95 million per kg (around AUD $300). Price includes salads and desserts however the salad selection is simple and the dessert includes 2 types of simple cake and a local dessert. Drinks are not included. This is without a doubt the worst value I’ve seen in Indonesia and is an absolute rort. I won’t stay at any Sudamala Resort again because of this - booked a Komodo island day trip through an Aqura Dive School staff member who approached me at the cafe. He said there 4 people booked for tour next day and 2 more needed. Asked for my room number and said he’d come in 30 minutes and let me know what was happening with the tour. Left the villa gate open and waited 45 mins and he never came. We were never officially informed that our tour wasn’t happening - Komodo island tour isn’t well promoted by resort. Their tour costs IDR 2 million but is for resort guests only and takes min of 6 and max of 12 guests. Local tours charging IDR 1.2 million take 15 to 35 guests. Resort tour departs at 7:30am but local tours pick up at 5:45am so local tours seem like a longer day. This is not correct. Both tours leave the dock at 8am - Sudamala tour goes straight from resort to dock whereas local tours pick up at every hotel along the way. Group size and departure time not well explained by hotel which is a missed opportunity for them. They’d get a lot more guest bookings if they explained this well.