We are a family of 5 and stayed at Geckos for 2 nights in the deluxe rooms. Rio and Lopez were the best hosts and we felt very welcome. Our first day we had so much fun with Rio, he took us to see the local coffee plantation, hot springs, waterfalls, and our son (8yrs) even got to play football with the local kids. Then we had an amazing family dinner - cooked over the fire. The next morning we started early to see the sun rise at Kelimutu and it was so worth it, breathtaking 🌋🌞 So thanks to the wonderful team at Gecko's, we miss you already 🙏
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:No need to worry with these guys, we had planned nothing and they sorted out everything for us 👍
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 spent one night there before going to see the sunrise on Kelimutu. Each room is a little house and very well equiped. Bathroom is on the outside part and very nice. Nights are fresh so be sure to have warm clothes with you. Breakfast is very good and Lopes very friendly & kind.
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Date of stay: September 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled 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.
Wow! After traipsing among Bali’s hoards of tourists, I was feeling a bit underwhelmed by my experience in Indonesia. Then came Flores, and smack dab in the middle: Moni, its magic, and Kelimutu, an enchantress.
Staying at The Geckos only made the experience all the more rewarding. Short on time, I was greeted at Ende airport by John, who gave me tips about Moni and Kelimutu while he maneuvered the winding roads to The Geckos. A tantalizing introduction to all that awaited...
I stayed in the new bungalows recently opened. Charming in every aspect, the impeccably designed bungalows offer an outside en-suite and a really comfy bed. More so, though, the magic is found in the team working to foster a unique vision of responsible tourism.
Lopez and Yvonne have pinpointed an exemplary balance catering to tourists’ comfort and a local sense of community. In fact they act as a bridge between travelers and the residents of the area.
By encouraging the traveler to make purchases in the local shops rather than supplying beverages and snacks, they open up economic opportunity for the area residents. Also, they negotiate transportation prices with drivers whom the traveler pays directly. It’s a win-win situation for travelers and those reliant on the tourism trade.
Vegetarian dinners, served family-style, give travelers ample opportunity to exchange tips around delicious fare. There is also plenty of space to while away an afternoon on the bungalow’s porch, and motorbikes are available to explore Moni’s charms.
Most travelers pass through for a night, but I would recommend staying for at least two to enjoy the area around Moni and the delights The Geckos has to offer. Thank you, Yvonne, Lopez and John for an amazing experience!
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled 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.
Lopez his homestay is located in Moni, a small remote village close to the Kelimutu vulcano. The rooms are basic, the bathroom shared, but everything is neat and sufficient. The hospitality of the hosts was superb. We were driven back and forth to the village, which is 5 mins by bike away. Also, we were helped with organizing our trip in flores and to the kelimutu, got many tips, and had a nice meal together with the other guests. When I forgot my phone, the nephew of Lopez even raced on his motorbike to catch us on the road to Ende and returned the phone. It was heartwarming.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled 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.
The rooms are nice with an outside seating area and beds are good. The location is nice and quiet, away from town. The dinner for 50.000 rp was delicious. Waterrefill is possible, this should be free of charge. We loved the dogs! There is no sink to brush your teeth. We don't mind a cold shower, but there was no water pressure at all. So taking a shower is quite a problem. Going to the shower and toilet during rain is a very muddy experience. Breakfast was just pisang goreng and fruit. Mind that they don't provide WiFi.
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Date of stay: December 2018Trip type: Travelled 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.
Had a fabulous stay with Lopez and his team, great hospitality, fabulous bungalows on the garden , family cooking evenings and we were even invited to a ceremony down by the river . Don’t hesitate to book
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Date of stay: October 2023Trip type: Travelled 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.
The new Bungalows are beautiful and very comfortable. Very clean. Outdoor bathroom and very good bed with moskitonet.. Very good food especially the breakfast with fresh fruits and fried bananas and mangos. Lopez is a very nice guy with a lot of recommendatios for trips. Helps to organize transportatios etc.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled with family
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 spend the first night in a lovely bungalow with an open air ensuite bathroom (Rp 400k). Everything was neat and tidy. For the second night we were relocated to a smaller room with shared bathroom a bit outside the main areal, which was okay, considering the lower price (Rp 250k). What's really great about the 'The Geckos' is the atmosphere they have created. They offer a 'family dinner' (Rp 50k) where you get to know your fellow travellers, can share experiences and might find opportunities (e.g. sharing a ride to Mt. Kelimutu or to the next town) - all while eating tasty food. Also, the owners are very kind and helpful.
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Date of stay: August 2019Trip type: Travelled 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.
Moni is a small village near Mount Kelimutu and there aren’t many options for accommodation or hot showers so temper your expectations.
Great hosts (thank you Yvonne and Lopez)! I really enjoyed the family dinner each night, it’s home-cooked, vegetarian and was delicious each time (costs 50k IDR). The conversation at dinner was interesting and i likes listening to Lopez’s stories. The breakfast is included and is also so yummy (fresh fruits with fried bananas/sweet potatoes).
They also rent out motorbikes for 100k IDR and have good suggestions for things to do around the area (Mount Kelimutu, hot springs, small traditional village).
Re: Kelimutu, we left around 3am and motorbiked to Kelimutu to see the Milky Way in the sky and catch sunrise at 6am, which was amazing. The roads are paved and quite curvy at times but easy. If you don’t care for the stars or sunrise, go at 9/10 so you can see the lakes in their full color!
The shower and toilet is very clean but outdoors and no hot water (yet). There’s no sink so be prepared for that!
The rooms are basic and come with bed and mosquito net. Walls are thin and nights can get quite cold because Moni is higher in elevation! Bring warm clothes.
Also the family is super nice! One helped me with laundry while I was there. They also pick you up and drop you off the main road in Moni village to get to/from Ende, so I felt well taken care of.
They are also building some new bungalows with private bathrooms and nicer quality....if you have the chance, stay in those!
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Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Travelled 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 stayed at the geckos for 2 nights and had a great time. Definitely order the family dinner, it's delicious and really creates a great vibe. The rooms are basic with a shared bathroom, but clean and tidy. They are building new and gorgeous rooms right now, so you might even be able to stay there soon. Highly recommended!
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Date of stay: June 2019Trip type: Travelled 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.
There are more places to choose from in the Moni area.
PRICE RANGE
C$14 - C$16 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndonesiaEast Nusa TenggaraFloresMoni
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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