Bukittinggi Travel Forum

My wife and I will be visiting Bukittinggi next month (Dec 18-21) and would be grateful for advice on the following:

i) Transport - is it at all possible/advisable to hire a self-drive car?
ii) Taxi - Minangkabau airport to Bukittingi - what's the typical one-way cost? How long does it take from the airport to Bukittinggi?
iii) Accommodation - the internet searches only comes up with Hotel Pusako or Novotel - this is OK for our budget. However, are there any unique/quaint guest houses that are clean and affordable? Perhaps something like an old colonial house, eg like in Camerons Highlands in Malaysia?

Lastly - where can I sample the most awesome Minangkabau food in Bukittinggi/Padang. This is the main reason for coming over to the Minang highlands...and I must warn you, I am of Minangkabau descent and the best food is cooked by mother...so it has to be damn good!! (I love balado....where can I get the best??)

i. ofcourse bro, you can rent a car in padang. You can find rent car in padang
ii. taxi from padang to bukittinggi ia available, but "air port bus" to bukittinggi from padang is available too. it's call "DAMRI TRANEX" this bus is from air port, it's one way cost. it's taken 2-2,5 hours.
iii. if you wanna find minangkabau food you can find in bukittinggi, padang or in the "land of minangkabau food" in Padang Panjang, this city s betwen padang and bukittinggi.
if you waana find "karipik balado " you can find in bukittinggi oar padang bro,...!!!

I'm sorry my english not too good, Enjoy your travel

Hello, I have just spent 5.5 months travelling in Indonesia.
Re tranpsort from Padang Airport to Bukittinggi. My understanding is that you catch the Damri bus and mention you want to go to Bukittinggi.
About 10-15 mintues into your journey the bus will stop and someone will call out Bukittinggi. At this point you get off and take a travel car to Bukittinggi- price about 35,000 rupiah/person.
I am sure the travel car can drop you at the Hotel of your choice.

Please Note Transex Mandiri is a completely different bus that goes into Padang finishing at LUBUK BEGALUNG Corner where there is a bus terminal for all buses heading south of Padang, namely Painan, Air Hijau, Kambang etc.

Taxi to Bukittinggi from Padang airport is about 185,000 rupiah.

My choice of accomodation would be Merdeka House- an old Dutch colonial House with big rooms and high ceilings. Price about 75,000/night.
Sorry cannot help you with the food.
Feel free to email me at pamelajoyfuge@hotmail.com if you would like anymore help.
Pamela.