There are several things to be considered before your journey to Kandui Villas®, but overall the trip is almost as easy as showing up at Padang airport, getting on an amphibious sea plane or speed boat, getting out to the resort, and start finding good waves.
1. How do I get to Indonesia?
We recommend that you travel to Padang in Sumatra (port of departure) via Jakarta. We can assist with bookings for your international flights, your Garuda air ticket to Padang, any additional domestic flights with in Indonesia, and any necessary overnight accommodations. Our crew and ground staff will meet you at the airport in Padang on arrival and make arrangements to transfer you to the amphibious air plane, or speed boat, depending on what transportation option is available at the time of your trip.
2.What do I do about my flight arrangements?
Kandui Villas® utilizes several travel agents world wide including Water Ways Travel in the USA, Atoll Travel in Australia, Island Holidays in New Zealand, The Surf Travel Company in Brazil, Turquoise Surf Travel in France, Clear Water Surf Travel in Holland, Live The Life in Belgium, Line Up Explorers in Germany, and True Blue Surf Travel in South Africa. Whether you have frequent flier miles you'd like to use or simply book your flight to the Mentawai's or beyond, one of our travel partners near you is waiting to assist you.
WaterWays Surf Adventures - USA
Contact: Sean Murphy
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ph: 888-669-SURF
ph: 310 584 9900
Atoll Travel - Australia
Contact: Ian Lyon
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Phone: (03) 5682 1088
Fax: (03) 5682 1202
Toll Free: 1800 622 310 (Australia)
International Phone: +61 3 5682 1088
International Fax: +61 3 5682 1202
Island Holidays - New Zealand
Contact: Pete Head
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Telephone: (64 9) 486 7906
Fax: (64 9) 486 1613
The Surf Travel Company - Brazil
Contact: Rafael Sola
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Tel: 55 11 5052-4181
Turquoise Surf Travel - France
Contact: Jean Christophe
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Tel : +33.491.13.94.82 - Fax : +33.491.56.55.60
Cell : +33.683.83.12.75.
N° Vert : 0 800 800 610
Skype : lebouman
Clear Water Surf Travel - Holland
Contact: Edwin
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Live The Life - Belgium
Contact: Katrien Debrier
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Line Up Explorers - Germany
Contact: Tim Heising
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3. Where should I stay if I have an extra night on land?
This answer depends on where you have to stay for that extra night. We suggest the following options:
Singapore: In Singapore we suggest using the Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel. The Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel is a world away from Singapore's hustle, and just 10 minutes from key locations such as the city center, Changi International Airport, It is located on the East Coast of Singapore on Marine Parade Road Road, opposite from Parkway Parade Shopping Center and within walking distance to East Coast Recreation Park.
If you don't have enough time to leave the airport there is a "Transit hotel" inside the airport that works quite well.
Jakarta: In Jakarta we recommend using the Airport Sheraton, or FM 7 Hotels. Both of these Hotels are nice, reasonably priced, and with in minutes from the Jakarta Airport.
Padang: In Padang we recommend using Best Western Basko Hotel. This is the nicest Hotel in Padang and the meeting place for surfers all over the world. They offer decent accommodations, a hearty breakfast in the morning, are reasonably priced, and there is a shopping mall underneath the hotel.
We are more than happy to help you make your reservation in advance, and you pay for the hotel when you check out.
4.What do you suggest I pack for my trip?
The best advice when packing for a Kandui Villas® trip is to pack as light as possible, especially for the amphibious airplane which will have a strict limit on baggage weight per passenger. Please click here to view our "Essentials" page and a extremely helpful checklist you should use for your trip.
5.What kind and how many boards should I take?
The amphibious airplane will have a strict limit of 2 boards,but if we are utilizing the speed boat option then you may take a whole board coffin full of boards. Mid length boards generally get used and only occasionally do the short boards and guns get used in extreme small, or big conditions, but it is best to pack whatever you feel most comfortable surfing on. If riding traditional fiberglass boards, then be prepared to ding up your boards and possibly break a few of them on your trip. Lastly, a good ding repair kit is is important, or at least bring some sort of sun cure resin for quick fixes.
6.What types of services and amenities are available ?
Kandui Villas® has extremely nice, and comfortable luxury Uma accommodations, spa/massage facilities, a massive infinity edge swimming pool, a massive 2 story restaurant over looking the swimming pool area, connected with a massive wrap around out door wooden deck around the pool, connecting to our pool side game room, and pool side bar, and palapa. Kandui Villas® also boasts the fastest Internet connection in the Mentawai islands, with WiFi around the entire pool area, and Internet via cable in all of the umas. We have PCs available in the office, and besides that we recommend bringing your laptops. We also have a host of other activities including surfing, beach volley ball, billiards, ping pong, boce ball, snorkeling, and board games.
7.What type of health precautions should I take?
Most travelers usually update their tetanus and hepatitis shots before traveling to any remote region of the world.
Malaria is a reality in some parts of Indonesia including the Mentawai Islands; consult your doctor before coming.
If you take a prescription medication make sure you bring the necessary paperwork that goes with it in case of an emergency.
If you are prone to seasickness please bring something to counteract its effects such as Dramamine or bonine, but most people experiencing sea sickness adjust within a day.
For more information please consult your doctor.
8.Should I be concerned about malaria?
It is a matter of personal choice whether to take anti- malarial medication. Kandui Villas® does take the up most care to prevent malaria outbreaks, by screening all of our workers with rapid diagnostic tests anytime they show any flu like symptoms. Since there is no local village on our island, and thus no endemic malaria here, the chances are very small, and to date we have never had a single malaria case in our original Kandui Resort, nor at Kandui Villas®. We live at Kandui Villas® year round, and have never contracted Malaria. So far so good, but the best policy is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes..
9.Do I need travel insurance?
Travel Insurance is mandatory for your personal safety and proof of Travel Insurance is required for any guest staying at Kandui Villas®. The easiest way for United States customers to acquire travel insurance is through our travel partner, Sean Murphy at Water Ways Travel. A decent travel insurance package will provide coverage for the following: trip cancellation and interruption, baggage delay, baggage coverage, travel delay, emergency medical and dental, emergency, medical transport and evacuation, and travel accident insurance.
10.What documents do I need to take?
Citizens of the United States need a passport with at least six months of validity left and one other form of identification. Kandui Villas® requires that you send us your passport information including the number, date of issue, and place of issue prior to your departure at the same time that you pay your deposit, so we can arrange the necessary police permits for your travel to the Mentawai's. In case you misplace any vital documents you should also carry a back-up photocopy of your passport, id, and airline ticket with you at all times. It doesn't hurt to leave another copy at home as well. When you are in Indonesia you will be issued an immigration form that you must keep until your departure. When you leave they will ask to see it to determine how long you were in Indonesia. Please take care of that form once they give it to you and don't lose it!
* The most important thing to remember on this list is to make sure that you have an updated passport and a valid VISA . You will not be permitted to enter Indonesia if your passport is going to expire within six months of your departure or if you are from a country that requires a special VISA to enter. Most people can take care of their VISA upon entering Indonesia including citizens of the United States and Australia but before you purchase your airline tickets please check with your local authorities to make sure you're covered.
11.How long can I stay in Indonesia?
Most travelers coming from the US, Australia, and Europe are issued tourist visas upon arrival, but if you carry a passport from other countries it is worthwhile checking to see if you need a visa. The standard tourist VISA is applicable for up to 30 days. If you plan on staying longer in Indonesia you must apply for an extended stay tourist visa at your local Indonesian Embassy, prior to departure or in Singapore on the way to Indonesia.The extended stay tourist visas are easy and cheap to obtain and give you a full 60 days in Indonesia instead of only 30 days. Please note, that it may take up to 3 full working days to process a tourist visa at all Indonesian Embassy locations, so best not to wait until last minute to apply for one.
