Puri Mas Beach Resort, Lombok, Indonesia

“Dancing with the Stars” on the Indonesian island of Lombok? Not quite, but the weekly evening dance and cultural performances at Puri Mas Beach Resort often include a delightful adaptation, with young local dancers. They’re taught through a “giving back” social dance program by the boutique hotel’s Dutch owner, a former world champion ballroom dancer.

Puri Mas has been a labor of love for Marcel De Rijk even though it never started out as a hotel. Marcel originally built a three-bedroom villa with a pool in 1987 as his holiday dream home in tribute to his grandfather who came from Java. But government rules changed, and to have a home on Lombok, he needed to add more rooms and convert the property to a hotel. So, he arranged for several Indonesian-style, dark wood bungalows to be built. Updated since, they still retain their Indonesian flavor – thatched roofs, ornately carved doors and windows, Indonesian furniture, romantic beds draped with curtains (most queen-sized), outdoor garden baths with rainforest showers (some with tubs) and dainty terraces with day beds. A favorite choice for many guests, these great-value bungalows are set within beautiful tropical gardens planted with fragrant frangipani and graced with stone sculptures; some even have partial ocean views. Puri Mas also has a newer wing with several suites with private Jacuzzi plunge pools, as well as a handful of one-bedroom villas and two three-bedroom villas with private pools – a total of 26 rooms, suites and villas in all.

Our totally private, one-bedroom villa was enclosed with a stone wall. A covered deck had a small kitchenette (with cabinets stocked with china, cutlery and breakfast beverages), a dining table and chairs, lounge chair and a large fresh water dispenser with hot and cold taps. The air-conditioned bedroom with vaulted wood ceiling and marble floor was blissfully comfortable. We only wished that the large bathroom had a fan or a.c., as it was very warm when shaving or making up in front of the mirror (the little geckos that creep in through air holes in the wall seem to like it that way though). And the hot pink plumeria blossoms arranged on our king-sized bed every day put smiles on our faces. As did the basket with sarongs and slippers to use during our stay – another charming touch. You just want to be tidy at Puri Mas, as (like most hotels on Lombok), there’s no evening turndown service.

Breakfast is included with a booking. And what a breakfast … fresh-squeezed juices, home-made yogurt, fresh fruit, warm croissants, and eggs any way you like. We’d rise late and sit on the restaurant’s cobblestone patio, gazing at the turquoise Lombok Strait separating the island from Bali (a two-hour high-speed ferry away). From there, we’d move to a teak lounger by the infinity pool – a gorgeous show-stopper overlooking the sea and decorated with statues and fountains. As there is a “no children under 12” policy at Puri Mas it was a quiet place to read or nap.

One day, we took the hotel’s free shuttle inland to the neighboring Puri Mas Spa Resort for a massage (only $30). Marcel now has his home there among the colorful parrots and exotic animals he’s rescued.

We did get off property one night for dinner, catching a $2 taxi into Senggigi. But the food was so good at Puri Mas and no pricier than the restaurants in Lombok’s main tourist town that we preferred staying put. The spicy Lombok specialties were especially tasty – a braised coconut curry lamb and Ayam Taliwang chicken (grilled with a thick chili, garlic and shrimp paste).

Every Tuesday evening the resort hosts a cocktail party for guests in the grand presidential villa (named after a visit from a former Indonesian president). Afterward, we dined watching the “Dancing with the Stars” adaptation with salsa and cha-cha performances, Balinese dance and Sasak stick fighting. A few of the adorable dancers were no more than five years old. And they waltzed right into our hearts, just like Puri Mas.