West Sumatra Province Travel Forum

Hi all, My best friend and I will coming to Padang & Bukit Tinggi for a shopping trip this coming August(8-10th 2007).Kindly advise@ update us on :

1) The economical@ safest ways of transportation (for ladies)from Tubing airport to Bukit Tinggi and Padang since we r not following any travel package.

2) The reccomendated budget hotel

3) the place for shopping and eating

Thanks in advance

Hi,
I was in Padang and Bukittinggi last year in September.
You do know there is a new airport which is much further north of the city and to get into Padang city centre takes about 30+ minutes now.
I got the DAMRI bus to get into the Padang city.
I wasn't going to Bukittinggi on that occaision, but I saw what happens.
You let the driver know you want to go to Bukittinggi and about 10 minutes into the journey the bus stops, a man gets on the bus and asks anyone for Bukittinggi. You get off and go in a travel car to Bukittinggi and they will drop you off at your hotel.
A really lovely Indonesian Hotel in Bukittinggi is the Kartini Hotel- I saw some of the rooms when I visited a Canadian girl there, before we trekked togther to Lake Maninjau. Another nice place with really big rooms is Merdeka House a big old Dutch house- I stayed there in Jan 2005.
In September 2006 I stayed at D'Enam, but that is more for backpackers- however I loved it there.

If you are going into Padang first, I really don't know a good hotel because I always stay with my special friends in Lukuk when I visit Padang.
In past years I have stayed once at Tiga Tiga but it is an old hotel and maybe not what you are looking for.
However, I know you can get the travel car from different places in Padang to take you up to Bukittinggi- cost about 35,000/person which is very cheap and so much more comfortable than the buses.

Re: shopping- I know there are a couple of good markets right in the middle of Bukittinggi,, but as for Padang I just know the local markets which sell lots of fruit and vegetables as well as other items.

If you need help in Bukittinggi,you could engage my good friend Hendri as a guide for the day.
He can be contacted at hen_westsumatra@yahoo.com or send text +628126782675
Here are two articles written about time in Bukittinggi where travellers used Hendri as their guide in March and December 2006 on my recommendation.
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/hongkongclauses/sumatra-2006/1198469580/tpod.html
and
http://forum.indahnesia.com/topic/3985/0/recent_trip_report_from_west_sumatra.php

Have a wonderful time there. I am very envious as I have to stay home here in Sydney this year and earn some money.
Pamela.