Medan Travel Forum

Hi, I would like to ask about transportation & accomodation :

1. any flights from medan to penang besides air asia? what is the name of the airport?is it polonia?
2. if I want to go by ferry, which port should I go to? how far it from medan? how about schedule & price? how long will it take by ferry from medan to penang?
3. should indonesian citizen pay fiscal fee from medan to penang? how much is it?
4. which one is better : go by plane or ferry?
5. any recomended budget hotel in medan & penang? since i'll go backpack with my friends ( 3 of us)

Thanks,
Atta.

1. Yes, airport in Medan is Polonia. However I dont know any other airline who fly Medan-Penang besides AirAsia. I heard about firefliez, new airline, who fly from Penang, but I dont know if they have Medan-Penang route.
2. You should go to Belawan Port to go aboard ferry to Penang, which is operated by Langkawi Express. The boat departa at 09.00 am local time, and the journey will take 5 hours 30 minutes. The fares are RM110 (adult), RM60 (child), RM40 (infant). You can call their ticket counter at 6261-4521666, 4527555.
3. If that Indonesian citizens are live in Medan (have Medan ID), she/he is exempted from fiscal fee.
I hope these will help you. Have a nice trip...

Hi Atta.

1. The airport in Medan is indeed called Polonia.
Last year I flew Airasia to Penang from Medan- only 30 minute flight.
But remember the airport in Penang is a long way from the city area and the taxi fare is about 35 ringgitt-though shared amongst 3 will not be much.
Not sure what bus faciilities there are into the city.
I was lucky enough to share with a doctor who paid the taxi fare.

AirAsia Office in Medan is at Jalan Sisingamangaraja No. 19C. (061) 7331988

2.For the ferry you leave from Belawan Harbour which is 30 kms from the centre of Medan. So need to catch a bus and leave enough time to get there with the traffic in Medan.
I think there are a couple of ferry companies operating, but I am lead to believe from information I gained on my 5.5 m onth trip through Indonesia last year that they only go on certain days now- not every day of the week like years ago.
Times for the ferry journey used to advertised as 4 hrs, but reports over the years from fellow backpackers have been much longer than that.
I used the ferry back in August 2000 and it took so long because of the immigration at both ends- usually 1-1.5 hrs plus the 4+ hour ferry trip.
I basically lost two whole days just going over to Penang to return to Indonesian to get a new 60 day visa.

3. Sorry cannot help you with this question.

4. Flying is far better. From what I understand the flight is probably cheaper that is why the ferry only sails certain days now because everyone is flying.
If you get sea sick and the seas are rough which they can be, then it is a very unpleasant trip.
In 2000 I had Ginger tablets from Aust for sea sickness and I gave them out to many back packers who were also going on the ferry at that time. Luckily our trip was quite calm, but I have read many stories about the roughness of the sea during the trip.

5. If you want a cheap guest house in Medan go and stay at the old "Spoutnik" now called Ronna. It is in Jalan Tengah No. 33. Telephone No.061 7324556
Rooms have a clean mattress on the floor and it costs 20,000.
I always stay there and love it. Spent many nights there whilst I travelled bakc and forth to Bukit Lawang, Banda Aceh and Penang last year.
The owner Ronna is a great person- Indonesian woman, very friendly and helpful.
They also have great food there too.
If that accomodation is not suitable for you, then walk out of Ronna's turn left and walk up to Jalan Juanda, turn right and just a short distance there is an Indonesian hotel Penginapan Raya address Jalan Juanda Baru No. 200 where rooms are 45,000/night. Telephone No. is (061) 7366601
I have visited a friend from Bukit Lawang in those rooms and they are very nice.
Only problem would be noise because the hotel is on a very very busy road.

6. In Penang I stayed at the Oriental Guest House which is part of the Western Oriental Restaurant there.
Address is 81 Lebuh Muntri, 10200 Georgetown Penang. telephone 604-2613378 Fax: 604-2633378
Great room with fan for 18 Ringgitt which was excellent value.
I had wanted to stay at the place next door 75 Travellers Guest house, but it was full. But ny second choice proved to be a real winner.
They have a really large restaurant with high ceilings and a most pleasant atmosphere to eat in and write notes, read etc. I was very impressed with this place.
Have a great time and I hope I have been of some help.
I am so glad I collected all those business cards during my trip. They prove so useful in passing on information to future travellers.
Pamela.

Hi Atta,

Just checked your page and you are from Bogor. That is one of my special places in Indonesia. I always use Bogor as my base when in Indonesia. Have loads of guide friends in Bogor and always stay at Pensione Firman in Jalan Paledang.
Pamela.

Thanks alot for the info guys.
Pam, I stay in bogor now. If you want to visit bogor again, pls email me, maybe we can meet....:)p
anyway, any recomended places to go in medan for 2 days? I want to go to Toba Lake, Samosir Island & Berastagi. What kind of transportation should I take?

Just get a bus to Brestagi from Padang Bulan bus station- only takes two hours to get to Brestagi. Lovely cool place compared to Medan.
You can also get to Samosir Island Lake Toba from Brestagi but it is a long trip and you ahve to change buses. Sorry I do not know the details to tell you.
Probably best to either go to Brestagi or to Lake Toba if you only have 2 days!!