Getting There

Merpati (tel. 361/263918) and Garuda National (tel. 361/227825) fly several times daily to Lombok's Selaparang Airport (20 min.; approximately US$30) from Bali and Jakarta, respectively. Silkair (tel. 370/628254; fax 370/628292), the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, flies from Singapore daily. If you're planning on a quick hop over from Bali, note that frequent delays can turn a 20-minute flight into an infuriating several-hour ordeal, stranding you at the airport -- this makes a relaxing 2 1/2-hour boat ride seem all the more attractive. Be sure to double-check your return flight.