OR A splendid island escape that boasts powder beaches, soaring volcanoes, azure dive sites and primeval rainforests, it would seem a cinch to haul in the Champagne sipping cognoscenti. Alas, not every holiday idyll has Bali as a big brother just across the strait. It is fortunate then that Lombok is now lithely stepping out of the shadow to flex some A-grade sun and sand assisted, in no small measure, by The Oberoi Lombok, a unique designer hideaway perched on Medana Beach. Epitomising seclusion and luxury, this ranks among the best Lombok resorts with its signature mix of service, style and understated élan.

For a top Lombok spa resort, look no farther. Luxury Villas stretch to a fiancé-swinging 375sq m in size, while the 90sq m Pavilions offer rustic décor, Broadband Internet access, TV, DVD player, safe, and a walled-in garden. The Luxury Villas offer the added lure of BOSE iPod docks and luxury amenities and 12 offer a private swimming pool as well. Limestone walls and thatch roofs create a

setting that blends in with the natural surrounds. A range of wellness treatments await at the spa while the open-air massage pavilions provide a soothing setting for a Javanese mandi lulur or aromatic massage. The seafront infinity pool “floats” above the ocean creating a swathe of seamless blue from nose to horizon. Service is welcoming and attentive with cool scented towels appearing at every turn.

Gourmets will not be disappointed. Sample Javanese cuisine at Lumbung Restaurant or tuck into fresh seafood and Continental dishes at the Sunbird Café. At the Amphitheatre on select evenings guests can take in a traditional sasak dance while enjoying an Indonesian buffet spread. It is never hard to find a convenient snuggery or bar perch from which to peruse the magnificent sunsets. For an excursion, head to the Gili Islands (renowned for their white, virgin beaches and colourful coral), brooding Mount Rinjani, Sendanggili waterfall, or Senggigi Beach with its bright catamarans. Just 28km from Mataram Airport, this is a beach within reach.