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A lovely place at a lonely white beach. I liked this place a lot. The rooms are spacious, with nice furnitures and decorations. I loved the garden and the pavillions to relax. The food was very delicious. The family who running this place is very nice and helpful. The helped to organise a driver and a motorbike for self driving. There are nice snorkeling spots at the riff. Is very worth to stay some nights.
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Date of stay: June 2023
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Trip type: Traveled solo
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We had the most fabulous time in our wonderful bungalow, veranhah, very clean, comfortable bed. The coast here is one of my favourite all time places, jurassic feeling with outcrops, rock pools, fisherman on boats passing by and lovely locals. Siska and the staff here cannot do enough for you and food is fresh and tasty. A special place.
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Date of stay: October 2023
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Room Tip:This area is not touristy so expect a more simple but great experience
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Very beautiful place that we chose for our arrival in Sumba. The bungalows are spacious and equipped, in a large garden. The sea is a stone's throw away but it is difficult to swim there. There is a beach a little further away probably more suitable for swimming. The cuisine is very good and varied, and the staff very friendly. Thanks to Siska for taking care of the scooters for us😊.
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Date of stay: May 2024
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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Very welcoming family team. Around Mama Noni . Great location on the shore , with individual bungalow & simple/ good food. Great pancadkes for breakfast. Good advices to visit around and visit Sumba .
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Date of stay: July 2023
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Location
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Let me preface by saying that over the last 30 years, I've traveled at budget level in Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Malaysia, among others. We've also visited many of the Indonesian islands from Aceh to Irian Jaya, and from Timor to Maluku, staying in simple accommodation, so I'm not some spoiled newbie who wandered out of the Hilton by mistake. I'm also a frequent contributor to and user of Trip Advisor.
After reading the reviews here, my wife and I visited Oro Beach between stays at a similarly-remote place in Southern Lombok, and another budget spot in Aceh. Based on the reviews here and the information on the website, we expected comfy bungalows, a daily choice of fish and seafood brought fresh by local fishermen, a secluded beach, and excellent snorkeling in coral gardens, so we confidently booked a week. What a mistake.
First, the bungalow. We booked the large sea-view, at a price that was about double what similar accommodation ran in Lombok and Pulau Weh. The bungalow looked very substantial, with its circular concrete foundation, tiled porch and floors, and plastered walls. However, all of that was totally undercut by the surrounding limestone, traditional grass roof, and lack of electricity after 10 PM.
Consider the limestone. The resort sits on an “iron shore” of honeycombed, sharp, brittle, porous, raised reef. That means there is unlimited prime habitat for multitudes of crawling crustaceans from crabs to spiders to armies of insects, all of which invade your porch and room in numbers that must be seen to be believed.
With that invasion coming from below and all around, the last thing you need is the rotting compost pile we had for a roof. Of course, the family house has a metal roof, as do all newer houses in Sumba. However, the traditional grass roofs are bearable IF YOU HAVE A SMOKY FIRE INSIDE. The smoke kills insects, and preserves the grass. Without the smoke, the grass decays, dropping its rotting self and hosts of scavenging sowbugs onto the porch and into the room. Big spiders hang from messy webs. Large and sometimes aggressive wasps and hornets nest in the open ceiling. Battalions of geckoes feed there, and the whole menagerie drop their copious droppings on everything.
The first day sitting on the porch, I had a hairy tarantula climb my leg in the first 5 minutes. Wasps kept buzzing my wife until I located and removed their nest from under her hard bamboo chair. Hornets were always on hand, flying into the room through any opening and bumbling around. An army of big red ants marched endlessly across the porch. Forget relaxing!
Small crabs crossed the porch into the room at a rate of over a hundred an hour. As I was sweeping them out again and again, I noticed that there was an occasional brown scorpion in the mix. On another day, a 10-centimeter blue centipede raced up from the limestone and into the room. It died hard.
The mosquito net on the bed becomes your best friend, until after 10 PM. At that point, the power is shut off, and the bed becomes a pool of sweat. There is no running water, so forget cooling off with a shower. And be sure you have a good flashlight, because the amount of droppings and living creatures on your floor on the way to and in the open-air bathroom will demand your attention. In futile desperation, you open all of the windows, which aren’t screened, and which are large enough for an intruder to simply step through. The gauzy little curtains provide no privacy, but since the large window on the door has no curtain, you had none anyway. And since the office won’t store your valuables, and takes no responsibility for theft, forget security!
Ah, but the food! Well, no. No fishermen are delivering any, and the refrigerator is turned off at night so none can be stored. One night, we had a choice of octopus and octopus. The next night, we were treated to octopus. The next night, for a change of pace, we had octopus. It was invariably accompanied by beans and kankung. The next night, our hostess went into town to shop, so we had a tasty seafood dinner of tofu, with beans and kankung, for variety.
Thank god for the coral gardens, right? WRONG. First, the “isolated” beach always has at least a few fishermen on it, and on two days, many motorcycles and a car with an ambulance siren drove down, and played Indonesian hip-hop well into the night. Then, there are the currents. Anyone who has seen the ripping 10-knot whirlpools with standing waves that gyrate around Komodo, just across the Strait, will get the picture. We are strong and experienced snorkelers with our own excellent gear, and it was always a struggle, and often impossible, to stay in the water. As to the “coral gardens”, there is a bit of coral and a few fish in about 20 feet of water well offshore, but it’s a coral garden to about the same extent that an upside-down goldfish bowl is a greenhouse.
We ultimately bailed after five nights, although having prepaid, our hostess insisted on charging us for six. Since there were a total of ten other guests in the five days we were there, I doubt we cost them any reservations by leaving, but it fit with the rest of the program, and was cheap ransom, all things considered.
For future guests, I’d advise booking at most two nights, in the aircon (but not at night when you need it) room in the family’s house. Then go sit on a bungalow porch for a couple of hours to do a crustacean count, and eat a couple of meals. If you decide to stay longer, there will definitely be rooms available. If not, you’ll feel a lot less ripped off by unrealistic reviews than we did.
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Date of stay: March 2013
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PRICE: EUR 45 - 55 a night STAY: 9 Feb - 14 Feb 2013 TIP/ADVICE: bring plastic sandals if you have very sensitive feet as there are rocks on the bottom of the ocean while entering the sea (see also (6) listed below).
This place is EXCELLENT!!! If you are looking for a resort, then book a room or villa at the Nihiwatu Resort at Sumba and stop reading this review. As I do not have that kind of money nor do I like resorts, then Oro Beach is the place to stay at Sumba!
PRO'S: Where to begin? I just loved this place!
(1) ROOM: we (2 people) stayed at a bungalow close to the sea. The room is big and clean. There is no air conditioning, but a only a fan attached to the ceiling. The bed is huge and surprisingly comfortable (including a mosquito net). The bathroom is outdoors and it provides a Western toilet, shower and sink. Pleas note that you might have some "visitors" while taking a shower: very tiny crabs.
There are six (6) bungalows and during our stay, a 7th bungalow was under construction (no noise nuisance).
(2) TOWELS: besides towels to be used after showering, Oro Beach also provides beach towels. Very handy!
(3) BED: see also (1). Very good bed!
(4) FOOD: there are no pubs, bars or restaurants nearby so you will have breakfast, lunch (except when you might take a tour during the day) and dinner at Oro Beach. The food is great. Cisks who is the owner of Oro Beach is a superb cook. Again, if you fancy haute cuisine cooking, then this is not your place. Everything she cooks is very tasty. The sea food is fresh and as Oro Beach is practically on the beach, fishermen will sell their catch to Oro Beach. You can have it on your plate at lunch.
Breakfast is included in the price and the other meals are not.
(5) LOCATION: Oro Beach is almost on the beach. You only have to descend some stones in the garden and you are on the beach.
This place is not very accessible when you are disabled. (I hope I do not offend any person by making this comment, because that is not my intention at all).
(6) BEACH: bring plastic sandals if you have sensitive feet as there are rocks on the first 2 metres on the bottom of the sea. But these rocks are only a "problem" during low tide. I did not brought any plastic sandals and I had no problems going into the sea.
The beach is beautiful: the water has every shade of blue you you can think of and the sand is white. There are no tourists, only a couple of local kids playing in the sea and some fishermen.
Snorkelling gear is available.
You will have the beach for yourself!
(7) THINGS TO DO: there are no clubs, bars and restaurants. There is no internet and limited cell phone coverage. It is a quiet place. If you are looking for some serious partying, then please stay at Bali or Gili.
Just relax and you will forget time. Bring some books, a game and some music and enjoy.
(a) Visit the Pasolo when you are in February in Sumba. (b) Visit a funeral. Bring some gifts that you can buy at the local market. I had to bring a bag of sugar and a sarong. The relatives of the deceased were very pleased with the bag of sugar. Smile a lot and interact. If you are a vegetarian, please note that animals (pigs, buffalo's etc.) will be (traditionnaly) slaughtered and the meat will be given to each guest. (c) Or visit a wedding. (d) Make a tour and visit villages and you will also have the opportunity to swim at the most gorgeous beaches. (e) Buy some Ikat.
(8) ELECTRICITY: electricity shuts down around 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. and sometime in the afternoon.
(9) STAFF: Ciska and Lukas (owners) are fantastic and their two daughters are funny.
(10) Pick up service from and to Tambolaka Airport.
CON'S: No con's.
IN SUM: it is absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend it.
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Date of stay: February 2013
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Positive. This is Lonley Planet's absolute favorite stay in Sumba. It is our absolute favorite stay in Sumba too. After having travelled six weeks around in Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Flores, Timor, Sumba, and Bali there is absolutely no doubt. Oro Beach is our favorite lodge in Nusa Tenggara. Why? Lucas and Siska are your perfect hosts, and the great little Norma who takes care of all practicalities during your stay is just wonderful. The team speaks English, German, and Indonesian languages. The four circle round bungalows with all together six rooms, located undisturbed by each other in a four hectar plantation, are beatifully coloured, clean and practical, have good beds and an effective moskito net that we did not need to use. All bungalows have an outside patio directed toward the ocean, but you do not see - and you do not need to see - the ocean from your patio. The little restaurant is great, decorated with corals, shells and pieces of drift wood found on the beach. You will enjoy Normas good indonesian-european style kitchen, including whole grilled fish with garlic, a wonderful fish soup, or the delicious squid in sesame seeds. We stayed there for a week and never had the same dish for luch or dinner. The right from the tree picked papaya with lime is the best we had in all Indonesia. The beach is a fantastic white powder coral sand decorated with rare corals and shells, some of them extremely large and embedded in the coral rocks which raises up behind the beach. Althoung only 20 minutes drive from the airport, be aware: Oro Beach Bungalows lies by itself of the beaten track, there is nothing but some local huts in the close surroundings. If you look for peace and quiet and open air, the ocean and the Milky Way, this is the place for you. You may rent mountain bikes and snorkeling equipment. Otherwise you are dependent on the services by Oro Beach to get around. And luckily, there is a price list in your room for transport. We did a tour to three traditional villages in Kodi at the western corner of Sumba, not mentioned in Lonley Planet - extremely interesting. If you want to buy a suvernir from Sumba, visit the antique shop in Waikabukak, you may do very good deals on local items with a friendly family.
Negative. Swimming is only possible at high tide, and it may be a little difficult to get out in the see because of dead corals and some stones. But it is really no problem. Otherwise, nothing negative about Oro Beach. We had bought our traditional village tour to the Koti villages before arrival at Oro Beach. Our guide came from the tour company recommended by Lonley Planet (Phillip). Friendly young man who seemed to know the villages well, but unfortunately he had very little factual konwledge about the tradional villages and did not even remember wich country we were from when asked. Philip needs to trains his guides better. Value for money: Top.
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Date of stay: July 2014
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
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We've been to this beautiful hotel several times during our two months stay on the island Sumba. The owners are very friendly and welcoming! The hotel is just wonderful and so is the location. Staying in a comfortable and spacious bungalow, just next to a perfectly white beach, snorkeling through an untouched coralgarden (we even spotted dolphins!), eating delicious food at the hotel's main building and chatting with the nice owners while enjoying a campfire ... what else can you wish for at a holiday? Wish we were back! Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: May 2011
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Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am so happy I found the delightful and welcoming Oro Beach houses. Owners Lukas and Sisca and family were charming and very warm hosts and went out of their way to make my week there so good including really interesting tours around the island.The food was delicious at EVERY meal and the circular shaped bungalow was very clean and comfortable and just a few steps from the most wonderful beach you can imagine with clear blue sea and fantastic long walks. I will most definitely return to Oro Beach houses and encourage friends and family to do so too!
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Date of stay: November 2011
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Trip type: Traveled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We wanted to visit Sumba to discover the distinctness and charm of local culture, people, habits. Here in Oro you would find nothing of it. The place is full of European guests, food is - to put it mildly - below average (almost no choice, you have to wait really long and the taste of food does not reward it) and there are NO attractions in the vicinity (considering waliking distance you can only get to the beach which - comparing to that on the south of Sumba is nothing special at all).
In my opinion the bungalow and surroundings are quite unsafe (one match may burn all the dry surroundings and bamboo roofs). To make it even more dangerous, there is no running water for guests between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Our bungalow was not clean - thousands of ants and bugs got inside through many gaps near the door, roof etc. What is more, there were many dead bugs on our mosquito net and also on our sheets what was really disgusting.
The owners (especially young staff) are very nice but … the owner is German, all the prices are given in dollars - no Sumbian spirit at all …The place is really expensive having in mind the standard and comparing it with other places in Sumba.
The worst thing is that you are forced to rely on the infrastructure of Oro Houses as there is NOTHING in the surroundings - no traditional villages, no shops, no gas station, no attractions - if you don't have car or motorbike, you just have to rely on food and services offered here and you have no possibility to discover sth about Sumba and it's people, culture etc.
The only advantage of that place is the vicinity of the airport - so I can recommend staying here ONLY for a transfer night or if you prefer to do nothing in not so attractive surroundings.
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Date of stay: September 2015
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Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Oro-Mutu, Inhaber at Oro Beach Houses
Responded Nov 27, 2015
What a pity that you didn't understand our concept. We are not comparable to the mass tourism, as it takes on hand for example in Bali. We try to do individual and resource-friendly tourism to operate in harmony with our nature. Of course there are sometimes bugs, but to be save, every bed got a mosquito-net. We are sorry about your special adventures with bugs, we changed already our cleaning personal because of that. It's not easy to get good staff in Sumba. The owner is NOT German. If you look at our website, you can see that this place is located on a secluded white sandy beach, the sea is clean and natural. This is pure spirit of Sumba: lonely beaches, grass roofs and clean nature. We are fare from infrastructure, even not connected to public current so it is not possible to keep food long in the freezer, that's why we don't have a menu card and we prepare what we get fresh from the sea, from the market and from our garden, every time fresh and healthy food. This takes time to be prepared. We and so many guests are so happy NOT to have shops and gas stations around, so that keeps the place clean as we like it. That's the difference to stay in middle of town. You can rent motorbikes, bicycles or charter a car with driver (same as you did), to get to the town. Our prices are in US-Dollar and stable, we didn't change the prices since last 5 years. We remember, you came as budget travelers and asked for discount, we gave you, extra-bed for free and free drinks, what we normally not do. By the way, that was your last words in your last email to us after your visit: "Thanks for a nice stay in your bungalows. Greetings, Monika W" We can't understand: why did you change your mind for 180 degree? the Owner (Indonesian) of Oro Beach Houses
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Sumba has as well Australian Winter from July till September, the nights are cool the days are dry and hot, not humid. The rainy season can start in November, ends in April, that's humid time, but nice green.
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Oro Beach Houses
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PRICE RANGE
$37 - $43 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndonesiaEast Nusa TenggaraSumbaKota Tambolaka
NUMBER OF ROOMS
7
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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