A week all-in, so you want least hassle getting somewhere, but still probably off the main-stream track. If so, that's similar to our usual goals.
How about Lombok? Considering how close it is to Bali, it feels like a world away. It has direct flights, and hotels are efficient at organising land transfers. It has the mountain Mount Rinjani
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Rinjani 3726M high, and often sending up small plumes of volcanic smoke. [Wiki says it just started erupting again 3 weeks ago
]
I don't think we've stayed on Lombok itself, but there are three small islands a few miles off-shore called the Gili Islands. Each has it's own flavour. Gili Trawangan/Meno/Air. They are flat as a pancake and sandy, but on a clear day you can see Rinjani from them, 20 miles away. You can also do day-trips to Rinjani from the Gili's.
I'd suggest avoiding G.Trawangan it's the largest one and popular with the young 'Bali crowd' of tourists.
Wiki:
'Continued investment in tourism is seeing these islands develop very quickly and each year sees new resorts and accommodation on the islands while attempting to retain their individual character. Proximity to Gili Meno, the smallest and most secluded of the islands and to Gili Trawangan the largest island, known for its many restaurants and parties, makes Gili Air a happy Medium of seclusion with adequate services. Both other Islands are a quick boat ride away.'
I've been to all three (for the great diving!). We actually spent a night on Trawangan by accident (long story - the place I stayed has a hotel on both Trawangan and Air - and I accidently booked the Trawangan one in error
). Trawangan has a young crowd, overall still really pretty undeveloped, and yet bass-beats booming out until 1am etc. What a relief it was to get to the right place on Air the next day. Air has no cars, just a sandy beach-side lane and pony+trap taxis trotting to and fro. There are some *veeery* good restaurants there too! I've also dropped in on Gili Meno a mile away. It's very unspoilt and quiet indeed, almost too quiet perhaps.
How about looking at Tripadvisor for hotels? I'd tend to avoid Trawangan completely. Compare the hotels for Air and Meno and see what you think.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotels-g19 ... otels.html
I (and again later 'we') stayed at Manta Dive on Gili Air. British/EU owners/management. Absolutely brilliant menu including things like a divine home-made steak and ale pie under puff-pastry crust etc. Plus of course plenty of authentic local offerings. And some other *really* great dining spots within a 10-minute stroll. It's really unusual being that remote, yet having so very high quality not-too$ food offerings. Now, I went for the A1 diving, but there's plenty of other stuff to do if you wish.
Manta Dive [MD] is a blend of divers and non-divers (that's me and my wife hehe). I went diving every other day, and on non-dive days went snorkelling with my wife right off the beach in front of MD. My wife likes nothing but chilling out on/by a beach with a book, and she got plenty of that and loved the place.
I'm not sure I'd call MD high-end boutique, more mid-range/+ boutique perhaps, rather than luxury. I suppose it depends how you define it. But if you have a look at the TA link above, you will see there are also some very classy boutique operations there...
Obviously you're also going to have to check the seasons. One time I was there during monsoon but it wasn't a problem at all; nothing like those pix of Tioman. The well written MD website will give you a head's up on this matter. If Gili doesn't work for this CNY, maybe another one for the list?
