Kandui Resort ::: Mentawai Islands Indonesia ::: Luxury Surf Resort ::: Before Your Trip

Tuesday, August 3 @ 1:50am: Arrive in Singapore
Your flight will arrive into Singapore. You will need to clear customs and then pick up your boards and bags from the luggage carousel area. Before you leave customs we suggest exchanging a few hundred dollars into Indonesian Rupiah and for you to grab $50 in Singapore Dollars as well. After you’ve cleared customs look for the “Oversized Baggage” area that your boards will emerge from to pick up your surfboards; the rest of your bags will come out on the Carousel designated for your flight… Singapore Airlines is very responsible, it is extremely rare you will have any issues with lost baggage, if you do please contact the nearest agent to assist you.

If you have reserved a room at the "Transit Hotel" inside the airport you will have to leave your bags in the "Lost and Found" area. The Transit Hotel is inside the airport so when you get off the plane you will not clear customs; instead, you will go directly to your room and pick up your bags later that morning.

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Tuesday, August3 @ 6: 00am:
Depending on your flight time to Jakarta we suggest that you make your way towards the Singapore Air Check-In counter for your next flight to Jakarta - SQ956… You should have checked your bags all the way to Jakarta so all you need to do is hang out in the airport or better yet, rent a room at the "Transit Hotel in Singapore for 6 hopurs and rest up!

http://www.airport-hotel.com.sg/

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Tuesday, August 3 @ 6:00am: Check-In for Singapore Air flight departing at 8:00am:
Proceed to the check-in counter where you should already have a reservation on file.

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Tuesday, August 3 @ 8:00am: Plane takes off to Jakarta
There are 8 similar flights to Jakarta everyday... timing seems to work best for these ones.

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Tuesday, August3 @ 8:35am: Plane arrives in Jakarta
No, you did not experience a 35 minute long flight… there is an hour time difference between Singapore and Jakarta and the good news is you’ve finally arrived in Indonesia! Once your flight touches down you are ushered to the baggage claim/customs area. However, the first thing you'll have to do is pay the$25US VISA fee at a special booth set up inside the customs area. Once you've paid they give you a special form that you must keep until your departure, we suggest leaving it inside your passport for safe keeping. The fastest and easiest way to make it out of the customs area without having them go through your bags is to get a porter to handle your baggage. They seem to have the right connections because they can get you out of that room as fast as possible, all you have to do is have 2 or 3 dollars ready to tip them. Pay careful attention to the porter that carries your bags, the general rule of thumb is to not give them the tip until your boards are loaded on the truck and your bags are stored away where they belong.

They will hang around looking for that tip and they are not really appreciative when they get it but that's just how they are. There is no need to give them more than 2 or 3 dollars, that is a ton of money for them and is a very generous gesture on your part. Once you've made it outside the customs area you will be need to collect your bags and make your way to your next flighton Garuda or Lion Air...

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Tuesday, August 3 @ 11:00am: Check-In for flight to Padang on Garuda or Lion Air
Because we need our groups to arrive before 12:00pm Kandui Resort needs to confirm your flight details prior to arrival. This is very important!

Tuesday, August 3 @ 12:30pm: Arrive in Padang
Once you've collected your bags and made it outside the customs area you will be met by a representative from Kandui Resort.

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Tuesday, August 3 @12:30pm : Bus Ride to Speedboats
The next thing you need to do is get outside and with the help of our representative you wil be taken to our waiting speedboats for the 3 hours on average crossing to Kandui Resort - This aspect of the trip is the "transportation cost". * Please Note: Our transfers are subject to the weather, if the weather is deemed too dangerous to travel we will make alternate arrangements until it clears up. Safety is our most important policy - we will not send the speedboats out if the conditions do not warrant a safe passage.

---------------------------------------------------- Tuesday, August 3 @ 1:00pm Kandui Resort Disclaimer
Before your speedboat ride to Kandui our representative will pass out a packet of basic Kandui literature and go over the procedure about what life at Kandui is like and what to expect upon arrival. This packet of information should also be e-mailed to you when you reserve the trip.

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Tuesday, August 3 @ 1:00pm: Speedboat leaves for Kandui
After you have loaded up your gear on the boat you have one more quick journey across the Mentawai Strait. A typical charter boat would take 8 - 12 hours to endure this crossing, you have the luxury of covering the same distance in a about 3 hours. Each speedboat we utilize is capable of holding up to 9 people with all of their boards and gear. Since there are two boats going to Kandui per day you will be assigned to eitherone of them and they wil travel together - our manager in Padang will let you know which boat you are once you arrive.

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Tuesday, August 3 @ 1:00pm or 4:00pm: Speedboat travels to Kandui
Once you arrive at the speedboats the local crew will help transfer your gearon to the waiting boats where cold drinks and a few snacks await. Once you are on the boat the surf guide will go over the basics at the resort, address safety issues, establish a plan of attack to cater to your personal needs and to answer any questions you have. As you travel back to the resort, the surf guide will also go over the basic flow at the resort, emphasize where to keep your boards, the features available in each uma, where to hang wet items, internet usage, what the waves are like, and how they are responsible in a nightly meeting to determine the best plan of action for the next day... Total travel time back to the resort is 3 - 3.5 hours.

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Tuesday, August 3 @ 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Arrive at Kandui Resort!
Once you arrive at Kandui we have created a staging area near the restaurant to greet you and show you to your home for the next week or so in our one-of-a-kind umas. At this initial meeting you will be met by our resort manager, your surf guide, and a few other members in our staff to help carry your belongings to your room. As a general rule we prefer if you keep your boardbags down at your uma but feel free to use the boards you are using in our surfboard shack. In each uma we have an iPod hook-up and stereo, wireless internet, towels, hot water, almost everything a normal hotel room would have. We also encourage you to bring your own laptop but ask that you try to keep it in your uma to prevent damage or it getting lost. If you prefer to work in the restaurant please try to take it back to your uma at night.

During the Trip - Important Points: We've got an entire section dedicated to what life is like at the resort by clicking here. Overall the general flow of the resort dictates that your assigned surf guide is the "go to" person to seek answers. They are your personal concierge to request whatever you need during your stay. Every night the surf guide is also responsible for a nightly pow-wow covering the following topics:

A. What the swell and weather are supposed to do the next day.
B. Where people would prefer to surf the next day
C. Establish a specific time when the boats will leave the next day and volunteer if they want to get woken up.
D. A contingency plan/alternative activity in case the waves are small or weather is undesirable...

Everyone at the resort is out there to ensure you have the best experience possible!

At the end of the trip guests will be asked to cover their bar bills and given the opportunity to buy Mentawai souvenirs or Kandui t-shirts to take home.

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Saturday, August 14 @ 8:00am: Time to Leave This is the last day of your trip. We genuinely hope that you have had the time of your life with us but it's time to go back to reality. Again, the speedboat ride back to Padang will take between 3 - 3.5 hours. Once you arrive at Padang you will take the shuttle bus back to the airport and check-in for your flights.

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Saturday, August 14: Arrive in Jakarta: Once you arrive in Jakarta you will most likely need a reservation to stay overnight. We recommend the Sheraton Bandara Hotel and we will be happy to help make the appropriat reservation for you... Your flight back to Singapore will be early the next morning.

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Sunday, August 15: Singapore to Los Angeles: Flight options are shown below - most people will spend the night in Jakarta and catch Singapore Airlines from Singapore to Los Angeles:

Singapore to LAX: SQ12 @9:45am > 12:50pm – 1 stop Narita Airport in Japan.

Singapore to LAX: SQ28 @5:05pm > 8:20pm – 1 stop Taipei, Taiwan.

Singapore to LAX: SQ38 @4:05pm > 5:25pm – Direct

Please feel to visit our "Contact information" page to go over the advantages and disadvantages of each flight listed above.

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Sunday, August 15: Arrive in Los Angeles
You made it home! Going through customs will typically take about one hour. After you clear customs the easiest thing to do is grab a complimentary trolley cart, throw all of your things on there and head over to the "Oversized Baggage" area to collect your boards.

* Please Note: This itinerary is a sample itinerary - your actual trip might be different. Kandui Resort does everything in our power to make sure you have the most streamlined, efficient vacation possible but individual schedules and results will vary.

In 2010 and 2011we have adopted a 10 day/10 night or 11 day/11 night schedule. Our 2010 schedule can accommodate 18 people for each new group arriving and departing on alternate Saturdays and Tuesdays. The main advantage of our schedule is the ability to surf the same day that you arrive into Singapore! All trips are available on a first come first served basis.

Kandui Resort utilizes a speedboat to get you out to the resort from * Padang. We use a speedboat for one day transfers from Kandui - Padang and back, or make suitable alternative arrangements to minimize valuable vacation time lost.

* Please Note: Kandui Resort requires all flight itineraries to be approved to ensure it coordinates with our transportation schedule out to the island.

We also advise that guests have flexible schedules with respect to their VISA requirements. Inclement weather can potentially cause delays to the flight or boat schedules.Kandui Resort will do everything in our power to ensure you are able to make your connecting flights but we reserve the right to not be responsible for unforeseen delays during the transfer process. Thank you for your understanding.

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Sample Itinerary:Kandui Resort from Los Angeles
(1 stop flight)

Dates: August 3 - August 14, 2010

Route: Los Angeles > Singapore > Padang > Rokot > Kandui > Rokot > Padang > Jakarta > Singapore (Overnight) > Los Angeles

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Sunday, August 1 @ 11:30am: Arrive at Airport
International flights require that you check in a full three hours before departure. We suggest you get there as early as possible to ensure that your boards make it on the flight without incident and you get the seat you want for the extended flight to Singapore. The procedure once you get to the airport dictates:

1. Check-in. Please make sure you have your passport and tickets handy. The Singapore Air portion is usually electronic now so all you need is to show your passport. The other flights will also be a combination of tickets/e-tickets,

2. After check-in take your bags/boards to get scanned. You have to wait in line but essentially once they take your bags they will give you the go-ahead and you can proceed to your gate.

3. Before you get to the gate you will have to go through a security checkpoint – this usually takes 20 minutes but can be longer – be prepared!

4. After you made it through your checkpoint go to your gate and wait for your flight. We recommend purchasing a pillow that wraps around your head and once you get on the flight an international converter for your electricity conversion along the way.

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Sunday, August 1 @ 2:30pm: Plane Takes Off to Singapore
Singapore Air Flight SQ11 departs at 2:30pm and eventually arrives at 1:30am in Singapore – you lose one day in transit due to the time change. This flight has one stop in Narita, Japan. Once you arrive in Narita they will ask you to disembark the aircraft with all of your belongings – please make sure to not leave anything behind! Once you are off the aircraft they will give you a transit ticket and take you upstairs to go through a security checkpoint. This doesn’t just happen in Japan, it will happen on any of the layovers. Once you go through security proceed back to your gate quickly because the total layover will only be about 45 minutes.

A Day in the Life: Kandui Resort
What does the typical day at Kandui Resort look and feel like? This video shot during the "Fly in the Champagne" trip with Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Martin Potter, and Shane Dorian sh0uld offer a unique insight into the waves and experience found during a trip to Kandui Resort!

Kandui Resort Video Feature
Our original video feature covering every aspect of the Kandui experience on land and in the water! Click image to watch!

Buy "A Fly in the Champagne"
The first ever surf trip with Kelly Slater and Andy Irons was to Kandui Resort. See the results and pick up a copy of the movie here!

Surftech's "Tuflite Travel Program" now available at Kandui Resort
Kandui's surfboard rental program includes more than 36 boards you can choose from!

Islands Magazine Blog: Mentawais: The Faraway Escape You Must See
In October 2009 Kandui Resort hosted "Islands Magazine" for an upcoming article~ The following blog entry from Editor Eddy Patricelli provides a glimpse into their experience at Kandui.