Plan a Surf + Yoga Retreat at Rascals: An Adults-Only Hotel in Kuta, Lombok
Tucked away on a quiet street off Kuta’s main drag, Rascals was our stay of choice on our last visit to Lombok.
It had been on our radar for many years, but we’d always returned to Mana Eco Retreat – a place we’d fallen in love with for its tranquil cabanas, vegetarian-friendly restaurant and incredible yoga teachers.
With a new building being constructed at Mana (and worried about the noise that might go along with it), we decided to broaden our horizons by staying at Rascals. It had incredible reviews (4.9/5 on Google and 9.6/10 on Booking.com), good sustainability credentials and we loved that it was adults-only.
That said, we were nervous that Rascals was going to feel “big” and lack the intimate atmosphere we craved. But in reality, I think it became our new favourite spot in Lombok and we’re already planning a return visit.
In this honest review of our stay at Rascals, I’ll explain everything you need to know about this adults-only Lombok hotel, from the rooms to the restaurant and the recovery facilities (yes, that’s right!)
I’ll also explain why it’s perfect for a build-your-own surf and yoga retreat in Lombok, without being locked into a fixed schedule.
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Location
One advantage of staying at Rascals is its location in Kuta, which is a convenient base for exploring the spectacular beaches and surf breaks of southern Lombok.
The hotel is close enough to the town’s restaurants and cafes that you can reach everything on foot, along with convenience stores, day spas and…well…everything!
The hotel can help arrange transport, activities and scooter hire, and there’s also a surf operation, EasyLife, associated with the property. It’s located at the entrance to the property and I’ll explain more about how it works later.
We also loved that there were a couple of places offering affordable laundry services near the entrance to the resort. Rascals does have an in-house laundry but it’s considerably more expensive.
For us, the location was perfect. We didn’t want to hire a scooter and wanted to be able to reach restaurants and shops on foot.
But if you’re dreaming of staying somewhere remote or with coastal views, this is not the place. In fact, there are no views from the property!
Atmosphere
As Rascals is an adults-only hotel, most of the people staying were couples, friends or solo travellers. There was a really broad range of age groups, from 20-somethings on multi-month trips around Southeast Asia to people in their 60s on a short escape from winter back home.
We found the atmosphere to be really peaceful and relaxing, with everyone respectful and quiet around the pools.
On the day we arrived, there was a group of guys sinking beers poolside in the afternoon – perhaps they had the potential to become loud. But maybe they checked out that day or were just there to use the recovery facilities, because I never saw them again!
That said, the resort doesn’t feel too quiet or “dead”. The restaurant plays music throughout the day (it’s kind of a global soundtrack) and it gives that area of the property an energised feel.
We could never hear music or noise once we were in our room, however, and as early sleepers, that was the most important thing!
The only downside for us was the fact that smoking is allowed throughout the grounds and around the pools. Coming from a country where smoking is banned in most public areas, that took some adjusting to and was probably our least favourite aspect of the stay.
Spacious Rooms + Outdoor Showers
All of the rooms are designed with a strong tropical aesthetic and, depending on the room category, they include balconies or terraces overlooking the gardens or pools.
We booked a Superior Suite and feel like we got incredibly lucky as it was at the end of walkway. This meant no guests coming and going in front of our terrace throughout the day. At the same time, it was just steps from two different pools.
Like many guests, we loved the outdoor bathroom and gazing up at the tropical foliage (or stars) while showering outside. The shower was really good, with a wide head, good pressure and ample hot water (although it’s the tropics, so sometimes we opted for cold water instead!)
The room itself was super spacious, with a queen-size bed, an open wardrobe and a mini fridge, as well as a safe and tea/coffee-making facilities. A hairdryer was also provided, although I have no idea about the quality as I never use them!
If we were to stay again, we’d book a room with a king-size bed (I think the Premium and Deluxe Suites have them), just for that extra room to move at night.
Three Pools (Rather Than One)
Our concerns that Rascals was going to feel like a crowded resort were shattered on the first day when we realised how spread out everyone was. This is largely due to the fact that there are three swimming pools and there are always enough sun loungers and cabanas to go around.
The central pool is probably the liveliest. But when I say lively, I mean you can hear the music from the restaurant. We could still read in peace here and nobody was talking loudly or being raucous.
What I loved about this pool was the tropical foliage that surrounds it…and the water fountain that was fun to swim beneath.
I also loved the pool near the yoga shala and gazing up at the Javanese-style building that flanks it. In all honesty, I didn’t spend much time at the other pool, which was beside the double-storey building at the back of the property. It was probably my least favourite (if we’re picking favourites).
All three pools have a mixture of cabanas and sun loungers (depending how much sun you want) and the umbrellas do a great job of keeping you shaded throughout the day.
Included Breakfast and Dining
Breakfast was included in the rate of our stay at Rascals and it was really good! We started each morning with a flat white and one of three mixed juices (orange, yellow or green), all made using fresh ingredients (no sugar added).
I loved that you could order additional coffees and juices without an additional charge and this applies to tea as well. One coffee in the morning is never enough!
On our first morning, we also had an almond croissant, made at the onsite bakery. The staff told us that pastries are included in the breakfast package, but there were a limited number and once they’re gone, they’re gone. My hot tip is to get to breakfast early if you want one!
After day one, we actually decided against having pastries (even though they were delicious) because the main breakfast dishes were more than enough.
There are lots of different egg options (including sourdough bread baked onsite), as well as mueslis, smoothie bowls and fruit bowls. Plus our personal favourite – shakshuka. Sooooo good!
We also had several lunches and dinners at the restaurant, and ate our way through much of the menu. My absolute favourite was the Harvest Bowl with mahi-mahi, roasted pumpkin, quinoa and rucola – so many of my favourite things in one dish.
The restaurant is open from 7:30am to 10:00pm, so you can eat whenever you like throughout the day. This is great if you’re heading off on surf trips or island excursions and missing standard meal times.
We also ordered a takeaway breakfast on our checkout day when we had to leave early for the airport.
If you’re heading out before 7:30 for a surf, I’m not sure if takeaway breakfasts are available earlier. I’d suggest trying to get back by 10:30 when the included breakfast finishes.
Wellness Facilities: Spa + Yoga + Recovery
Rascals has established a reputation as being more than just one of Lombok’s best boutique hotels by putting considerable emphasis on wellness. The property has a spa offering massages and skin treatments, along with yoga classes and a new recovery facility that includes a sauna and cold-plunge pools.
I booked in for a massage and it was excellent – the therapist 100% knew what she was doing. Prices are very reasonable, especially compared to some of the upmarket day spas in Kuta.
The only downside is that Rascals’ spa doesn’t offer an extensive range of treatment options, only three different massage types and a couple of skin/facial rituals.
For example, they don’t offer hot stone massages, so I ended up going to Lina Boutique Villas & Spa for that. This relatively new, Moroccan-inspired property is just behind Rascals, but because there is no back route through, you have to walk about 15 minutes to get there.
It’s definitely worth it though! The property is gorgeous, with a courtyard that’s reminiscent of Marrakech’s gardens and a beautifully tiled hammam.
Back to Rascals’ wellness facilities. A highlight for us was the Recovery Centre, which includes a Finnish sauna, two ice baths and a magnesium pool. With tired muscles following a couple of surf sessions, it felt like absolute bliss to be in this environment.
You have to book (and pay separately) to use the Recovery Centre but I think it was definitely worth it. There’s a maximum of 8 people per session, although we only had 3, and everything is super hygienic because it gets a thorough clean in between sessions. After our gym sauna back home, it was heaven!
Rascals also offers multiple yoga classes each day in its beautiful shala and these can be purchased either as individual classes or as a multi-class pass. I actually didn’t do yoga here, as I had a connection with several of the teachers at Mana (from previous visits) and was super keen to do their classes again.
But the setup looked great and when I did walk past when yoga classes were happening, it all seemed very professional.
All up, I think the wellness facilities at Rascals really add to the experience, particularly if they’re something you’ll take advantage of. You can start the morning with a surf, head to the yoga shala for a stretch, then end the day with a massage or a session in the Recovery Centre.
We’re big sauna and cold water immersion fans, so for us, this gives Rascals an edge and is a reason we’d definitely return in the future.
Surfing at Rascals with EasyLife
EasyLife is the in-house surf operator at Rascals and it’s a really slick operation. We did a couple of trips out to Ekas with them and it was all super organised, from the transport to the boat and the board rentals.
EasyLife’s instructors worked really hard to get us in the best position for catching waves and they’re just a fun group of guys to hang out with. They provide a lot of insights about not only the surf, but also life in Lombok – I learnt a lot about local agriculture and the tobacco industry on our rides to and from Awang Harbour.
Outside EasyLife’s shopfront is a blackboard where they list the surf breaks they’re heading to the following day. This makes it really easy to get out in the water and plan your day, without having to go from surf shop to surf shop to find one that’s going where you want to go.
Usually, they do a couple of different trips each day, heading to Selong Belanak (for beginners), Tanjung Aan, Gerupuk or Ekas. It all depends on the conditions. On the blackboard, they list the departure times too so you can plan other activities around your surf sessions.
If you want to join a trip, there’s always someone at the shop to chat to. Simply let them know your experience level and preferred board size. Then turn up the next day at the designated time, armed with sunscreen, a water bottle and (ideally) a hat. EasyLife provides a rash guard and everything else you need.
If you can’t remember all this, don’t worry – they’ll send you a WhatsApp message after booking with all the info.
If you don’t have a scooter or aren’t comfortable getting to the breaks independently, having an in-house surf operation makes it all sooooo stress-free. Local knowledge is absolutely key when it comes to swells and tides, and these guys will get you to the best place for your ability and hustle to make sure you’re catching waves.
For more info about surf breaks in Lombok, check out our detailed guide here.
Sustainability at Rascals
Rascals doesn’t go out of its way to market itself as an “eco resort”, but it’s also taking lots of positive steps in the right direction.
One of the most notable sustainability measures is its approach to plastic waste, with no single-use plastic water bottles or straws used. There are water-bottle filling stations scattered throughout the property (bring your own bottle) and all of the toiletry containers are refillable to reduce plastic waste.
In a destination like Lombok where plastic waste is really visible on local beaches and waste management is largely left up to individuals, this is something that can’t be underestimated.
Rascals also does its bit by recycling and reducing food waste wherever possible, with some excess food being donated and/or composted.
While the resort isn’t locally owned, it hires and trains its staff directly from the local community, helping to elevate local livelihoods and keeping the economic benefits of tourism within the island.
(Incredible) Staff at Rascals
Speaking of Rascals’ staff, let’s talk more about them. If there is one theme that appears repeatedly throughout guest reviews, it’s just how amazing the people who work here are.
Perhaps it’s due to the size of the property, but everything feels personalised and there is a natural ease with the way staff interact with you.
From the reception desk to the restaurant staff and the grounds personnel, everyone is super friendly and helpful. We had some really nice chats with the waiters and baristas during our stay – about their lives, about our lives, about Lombok life. It was just a great opportunity for cultural exchange without ever feeling forced.
I also witnessed the restaurant staff managing a really difficult customer (he was being demanding and completely out of line). They handled it sooooo well – so much better than I ever would have – and I told them straight up how impressive it was!
Every time we went into the reception to ask about tours, airport transfers or logistics, they had detailed answers and solutions on hand. It’s just a really well-oiled operation run by wonderful people who seem to genuinely enjoy their jobs.
Staying at Rascals as a Build-Your-Own Surf + Yoga Retreat
Surf and yoga retreats are big in Lombok and there are lots of places where you can book in for a week of waves and stretching. But we prefer a bit more flexibility and the option to decide where we want to surf and when we want to yoga.
With its on-site surf operation and daily yoga schedule, Rascals is the perfect place to do just that. You can basically build your own surf and yoga retreat, joining the surf trips that suit your skill level, plus the yoga classes that move the way your body wants to.
If you’re a beginner surfer, join EasyLife’s daily trips to Selong Belanak or Tanjung Aan. More at the intermediate level? Ekas has fewer crowds and several different breaks to explore. EasyLife heads here every second day or so.
Added to that, there are the recovery facilities (sauna, ice baths, magnesium pool), which feel amazing after a surf session, and massages are available at the spa. I mean, there really is everything you could want from a retreat at Rascals and you can do it all at your own pace.
Aside from breakfast (which is included in the rates), there are no fixed meals, so you’re free to explore all of the amazing restaurants in Kuta. One night you can have Mexican, another night Chinese and another slurping down Ramen. If you’re in Kuta on a Sunday, we highly recommend the all-you-can-eat Greek brunch at Elamu.
Yes, Kuta is getting busier and busier every year and there is lots of development going on. But we still think Rascals is such a gem of a place to stay. It feels like an oasis while being in the middle of everything and the kindness of its team is the cherry on top!
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