Mentawais cheap accomodation

[James123]

Hey guys and girls...me and my mate are heading to mentawais playgrounds area soon and looking dirt cheap accomodation...not resorts surf camps..we heard u can stay with locals but we trying to get a solid answer..can we get accomodation around 10$ a night

[jaffa1949]

James you are really pushing the bottom end of the scale here below feral camp level.
Have you ever been to Indonesia before?
To do this you will need to catch the ferry there and even at $35 a day, you will have to pay for every aspect of your trip, extras , food , water, boats to breaks, boats to and from the ferry.
The place you might get to stay will be Mentawai poverty level , then you will discover, why Surfaid is so desperately needed in the islands.
At feral level you will be more exposed to malaria, dengue fever, cholera and all the endemic diseases of poverty and poor sanitation and the locals will have no means to support you with any hospital or medical care. ( will you be so cheap as to not take insurance)
BTW playgrounds are islands and not all the breaks are on the same island not like coasts you will be familiar with.
Feral level boats are also not all that reliable, petrol is watered down so some pretty strange things happen at sea and each boat trip will cost rupiah and more than$10.00 equals about 100,000 rupiah
I suggest you think what breaks you would like to surf (they change each day and each swell) and try googling the camps.
Get a general idea of what you you are asking for.
There is also the Mentawai, government fees and Indonesian accommodation taxes all more than $10 if your homestay doesn't pay it and they are caught big problems for them and you.

Think seriously about this as you plan you trip, disease and government hassles do not make it pleasant.
Serious problems will blow your budget , don't risk a mess with authorities.

[James123]

Well how much can we get a local homestay near a few waves for?

[surfrat123]

Hey James. Just hunt around online. But Jaffa makes some good points. You basically need boats to "score" the Mentawais (playgrounds in particular) - but that's not to say you cant have a good time without them. But it wont be the same experience. Unless your main ambition is to just say to your mates you've been to the Mentawais. As Jaffa said, you really want to be in the hands of professionals, with decent boats, experienced surf guides, healthy food and comfortable accommodation. You're also a long way from help in the islands - and you want to be close to those that are ready (in a heart beat) to help you out. But, that said - its no secret that the place to stay (for cheap) is Ebay for the budget traveller. You're located in front of Ebay (super fickle) as well as Pitstops (fairly consistent but not world class). You're an hour walk from Nipussi and Beng Bengs (both fun but not epic waves). But thats it. All the other waves you need boats. And dont forget you're talking 20+ waves within a 30 min boat ride. Boats are available from the cheaper camps at Ebay but you're loaded on with numerous surfers of mixed experience & guided by non western guides. Hope that helps a little... Dave

[James123]

Is there anyway to get water if we run out..we will go to e land..we heard u can get a place for about for $20-$25 a day..which is good for our budget...we dont mind sleeping in tent and catching our own fish

[jaffa1949]

Water is tricky, streams are seriously polluted and you really run a good chance of getting something between bali type belly right up to cholera and typhoid the last two being life threatening. There are no shops tojust drop in and buy a bottle of water.
The area to stay is Ebay not e land, you need to do some serious research and consider that you are asking to live in a tent in someone else's backyard.
The other thing is the people there now know the value of surfers coming to the area, trying to do it cheap is disrespecting them, they will not appreciate that.
Also you are planning to fish on their reefs.
FFS wake up, you may cause problems for all other surfers there, by how you are planning to do it!

[James123]

Yeah i understand where youre coming from nd thanks for the feedback but I do believe u need to calm down a bit im just trying to get advice.
http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/ind ... nal-111805
http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/ind ... al-111805/
these are worth a read to show that the locals are quite nice and we plan to pay them in money or gifts and share amogst them aswel...they may not understand english but im sure they understand hospitality

[jaffa1949]

Oh I'm quite calm, I'm giving good advice to you.
I think it would best to suggest that all the travel parts of that are OK.
Travel through Indonesia on the first wave of explorations was often shoestring and cheap,
2005 wasn't first into the area and neither is 2015.
I have been surfing all over Indonesia since 1979 and at times it has been sketchy.
All I am doing is pointing out what you need to consider that it is not even like 2005 ( date of that article) now.
There are cheap places around $35 a day just for a roof over your head.
I point out the fishing is the main source of food (Protein) and you may well be allowed to fish for a fee to the homestay owner. but it is their livelihood, and fish are scarce after bomb and cyanide fishing pirates have struck.
I ask you again have you traveled to Indonesia before? Also what country are you coming from?
This has a basis of how you will be treated. Regardless both you and I are "Bule", foreigners. learn Jam Kerat , learn pelan pelan, and learn to slow down it will be worth it.

[James123]

Yeah we probly gna stay in a place for a week for $30 or so but we cant do 2 and half weeks with that budget...were in indonesia now in bali and my friend has been here before but its my first time...were both from south africa so the currency exchange is good...but not great..im running low on cash available and with flights booked its a little too late to back out xD...but yeah were spending just over 2 weeks there so we might split the time up between a homestay and tenting it...and i appreciate the help man but try keep us on the bright side since its booked and ready to go xD

[glandjoyos]

Hello Jaffa are you ever try G-Land Surf Spot??? (only ask not promotion.. )
Iam Indonesian and i know all.. In Indonesia if you want to get all is cheap, you must find villagers not guide or other something like that. They're happy if you frindly with them, they not need your money, only care with them.. If you first time come to indonesia, please dont talk anything about money.
Right People = Good for you..
Find people with motto... Guest is Friend not a king..
Thank You.. Sorry if my english is bad..
Nice to know you too Jaffa..

[jaffa1949]

Apa Kabah joyo, I went to G land in the early days mostly at Bobbies , the waves at G land are a little in the ombak besah range for me . I'm 66 and knees stop me taking the major drops, so pelan pelan for me
Last trip I did I spent most of my time down at tiger tracks. The whole G Land time was wonderful and a great adventure.
Keep unblushing the surf reports and pictures , that is not advertising talk about the wave s and its sections speedies, money trees share the information and people will come to you. Tidak apa apa!
Terima kasih
Om Jaffa

[jaffa1949]

Yeah we probly gna stay in a place for a week for $30 or so but we cant do 2 and half weeks with that budget...were in indonesia now in bali and my friend has been here before but its my first time...were both from south africa so the currency exchange is good...but not great..im running low on cash available and with flights booked its a little too late to back out xD...but yeah were spending just over 2 weeks there so we might split the time up between a homestay and tenting it...and i appreciate the help man but try keep us on the bright side since its booked and ready to go xD

The good news then , if you get it to work it will be an amazing experience, stay safe and happy is the thinking behind everything I said to you.

So bintang not biltong to you

[Tudeo]

I've never been to the Mentawais but live in Bali for some years now. I'm bit surprised if there aren't lots of local homestays near the surfspots.
In Bali if someone starts a successful business then in no time the whole street is filled with exactly the same businesses

There is certainly a market for reasonable priced arrangements, I'm shocked to see prices of the so called luxury resorts. It would be nice to choose the luxury/price level that fits you.

[glandjoyos]

Terima Kasih Jaffa... Yeah.. Now the waves is little about 5-6ft.. but end of July we get the big.. and not one surfer want to kill the waves.. the affraid..
Back to topic.. If you a new comer to Indonesia, you must know and searching all about Indonesia First... The price and other thing about Indonesia..
Oh ya.. if you want to find surf spot for beginner, maybe i will be your solution..

[James123]

Thanks fotrall your help guys we have a good feeling about this and are sure its going to be an experience of a lifetime ...if anyone has any contacts or knowledge about anywhere u stay safe and cheap in mentawais close to nyang nyang that will greatly appreciated

[Big H]

The other thing is the people there now know the value of surfers coming to the area, trying to do it cheap is disrespecting them, they will not appreciate that.
Also you are planning to fish on their reefs.
FFS wake up, you may cause problems for all other surfers there, by how you are planning to do it!

Indonesia is cheap....for Indonesians....still relatively so for foreigners. HOWEVER, Jaffa has very good points....you unfortunately my friend are a walking $$$ to the locals, especially in kampung (country) areas where a huge part of their GDP is derived from tourists visiting. It is not "cool" to go local....I'm in country for 11 years now and speak fluent bahasa and can't do it in those areas AT ALL. You are expected to spend money when you come; that means for drinks at the dock, on taxis, boat charters (no matter the level), laundry, meals, to the kids who want to carry your board for you or hold an umbrella for you in the rain........the list is endless, the amounts are small, but it adds up and in a small village where everyone will know that you have arrived within 10 minutes it will not serve you well at all to be the "cheap" guy. ALL westerners are rich, don't you know....and even if you don't think you are, relatively speaking, relative to the situation of the local populace, yes you are and you need to not only recognise that but share a bit of it when you visit. If you don't have the dough, don't go. The waves are the local natural resource and you will have just about everyone in town looking to capitalise (fairly I might add) on that. It is just the way it goes over here; go for a driving test for instance and there will be persons in the parking lot selling pencils to take the test with. You wouldn't expect them to discount their pencils; their entire reason for standing all day in the sun is absolutely because you NEED the pencil before going inside. Same applies for the small surf boats, the taxis at the docks, etc, etc, etc.......