Getting to the Hill.

1. How to get to Padang from:

Jakarta
GARUDA INDONESIA fly daily from Jakarta to Padang and also Padang to Jakarta.
http://www.garuda-indonesia.com/
Many other Indonesian airlines fly this route, but our experience is that Garuda are the most reliable and most organised in terms of booking and paying for your flight. Lion Air, Mandala Air, Batavia Air and Sriwijaya Air are other options for travelling between Jakarta and Padang.

Kuala Lumpur
AIR ASIA has regular return flights daily between KL and Padang.
http://www.airasia.com

2. Getting from Padang to Mentawai

Padang airport arrival
Hotels: If an overnight stay in Padang is required
Speedboat transfers to Pitstop Hill
Travelling in Indonesia

Padang Airport Arrival

Once you arrive at Padang airport and have collected your luggage, you will be met by our friendly Pitstop Hill Padang crew. They will organise everything you need from that point onwards. You will be shown to the waiting vehicle(s) for the entertaining 25 minute ride from the airport into Padang city. Don't be too concerned if your flights mean that you have a little bit of extra time in Padang before or after your trip. Whilst not a holiday destination on its own, there are a few interesting things to do there, our Padang crew will happily provide you with some suggestions, and eating out is always a real highlight.

Hotels: If an overnight stay in Padang is required

If you require a hotel or home-stay for an overnight in Padang, no stress, just let us know at the time of sending through your booking form and we'll be able to give you a few options of what we believe are the best options in Padang at that time. We’ll then be able to book this accommodation for you so that we can drop you straight at your hotel after having picked you up at the airport.

Speedboat Transfers to Pitstop Hill

As of late 2009, Pitstop Hill have done away with using the public transport system in Sumatra. During the earlier years of our operation we utilized overnight ferries and Padang to Mentawai flights to bring out guests to and from Pitstop Hill, but too many times our guests were let down and had their holidays impacted by delays, cancellations and last minute schedule changes associated with these modes of transport. For 2010 and 2011, Pitstop Hill has chartered large fiberglass speedboats for transferring guests to and from Padang. What once felt like such a huge ocean crossing now feels like a much shorter distance as guests are transferred between Padang and Pitstop Hill by big powerful air-conditioned fiberglass speedboats, so that everyone (and their luggage) stays comfortable and dry for the generally 4 hours that it takes to cross the channel. If you would like to know more about the type of boat that we use and/or would like to see some recent photos, please don't hesitate to ask.

Chartering such safe, fast, luxurious boats is unfortunately not a cheap business, therefore guests are required to cover a one-off transport fee to cover their return transfers. If you ask us, or any Mentawai resort guests who came out via one of the old ways, this transport fee is well worth it, as the speedboat transfer part of the transfer process, not only maximizes island time but allows guests to arrive fresher and ready to get stuck into the serious business of surfing and relaxing. For 2010, the transport fee is AU$300 for the round trip.     

Travelling in Indonesia

Travelling in Indonesia is often very different to travelling in the west. The transport infrastructure to the Mentawai Islands is gradually improving and we will continue to embrace this with open arms and also to keep our travel information as up to date as possible. Sometimes however things can happen, such as stormy weather slowing up speedboat transfers, which can impact on our best laid plans of getting you to the resort. We ask for your patience and understanding in the event of a situation such as this occurring and give you our assurance that we will cover every option available to deal with such a situation. Pitstop Hill cannot be held liable for changes to travel arrangements or delays brought about by external transport providers.