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

We told you there was a lot to cover. Here are a few more questions we hear quite frequently from our guests.

12. How much money do I need to take? Once you get to the resort all you have to focus on is getting as many good waves as possible. Most of our guests bring extra money for the following reasons: A. Traveling Money: $150US B. Souvenir money: $50US C. VISA money: $25US D. Mentawai Tax - $36 (collected in Padang) E. Money for tipping the staff: $75 - $? E. Beer and Alcohol : $? (Credit Cards are accepted at the resort)

Once you arrive in Padang the best way to exchange money is to simply take it out of a bank's ATM machine (If you think ahead you can do it in Singapore). If you do decide to exchange money please make sure you have immaculate, non-wrinkled bills - even then they might not get taken. Travelers Checks are useless.

13. Is there a photographer available for my trip? Please contact us for details about adding a photogrpaher to your trip and updated availability.

14. Can I recharge my video camera etc.. at the resort? The resort uses 240V electricity with 120V converters. you should be able to charge whatever you need but it doesn't hurt to bring a converter set just in case.

16. Do you have fishing and/or diving gear at the resort? We have some fishing equipment at the resort, but if you are a keen fisherman bring some of your own lures and maybe your own casting rod.

If you'd like to snorkel please bring your own equipment for sanitary reasons.

If you must bring a spear gun there is a risk of it being confiscated by customs. I suggest you break it into it's components and separate them in your baggage.

15. Can I be contacted while I'm at the resort? The resort should have its internet connection and ability to make inexpensive phone calls to anywhere in the world via Skype. We are also equipped with a Satellite phone to make calls home in case our internet connection goes down. Using the satellite phone is usually reserved for emergency purposes because the cost is prohibitive at $3 a minute. If a family member needs to reach you while you are out on the boat they need to contact our United States office and we will relay the message to them and have them contact you

16. Can I check my e-mails while at the resort?
Kandui Resort boasts one of only three high speed internet connections in the Mentawai Islands. We set up the other one for SurfAid International, a non-profit organization that works in the capital city of Tuapajet.

Internet service is charged at a flat rate of $40US during your stay. This cost helps us maintain our satellite connection, general maintenance, and bandwidth. The office, restaurant, and all umas are connected to the internet via a wireless connection; please feel free to jump on and off as much as you'd like - laptops are welcome!

Please feel free to bring along your laptop during your stay with us as our wireless connection covers a large portion of the resort including inside each uma.

Special thanks to Aaron Owens at Whoisnetworking for our internet connection and future technology ideas...

17. What is your policy on illegal substances? Our operation is drug free. We have already been searched by Indonesian authorities upon the basis of an unfounded allegation. If drugs had of been found in passengers cabins or baggage we could have lost the vessel and faced imprisonment, along with the passenger. It's just not worth it!

18. Can you give me an idea of how many other people I'll be surfing with? This question really depends on where you want to surf. It is possible to get away from the main spots and surf in solitude - everything really depends on the conditions for that day and the consensus among the group.

19. Can I celebrate a special occasion at the resort? Hopefully with enough advanced notice we can accommodate any and all requests.

20. What happens if my flight is delayed or my boards don't make it? Fortunately we rarely encounter problems with our guests boards. In the rare instance that your boards do not make it we still send the trip out on schedule and make arrangements with one of our boats or another boat to rendezvous with you and drop off your boards.

If your flight is delayed we react accordingly but since most of our groups are whole group charters if one person is delayed, the whole groups is delayed and it makes everything that much easier to cope with. Whatever time you arrive in Padang we'll be there to pick you up at the airport and take you to the boat.

21. What happens when I arrive in Padang? This is one question we hear most frequently. Perhaps the best way to answer it is to show you step by step what happens between the time you touch down in Padang and when you reach the boat. Click here for the full rundown.