Polonia Airport, Medan, Indonesia

[Lannatyne]

Just booked a few days away with family. Any comments about the airport? Is there an in-bound duty free? Or even out-bound for return trip home? Duty free prices? I'm just really after a couple of bottles of wine to enjoy in hotel room, or bring back here.

Visa fees for Uk and Thai passport holders? Visa on arrival seems to be offered, but fee information is sketchy on a few websites.

I've heard there's a large place somewhere in Medan that stocks imported (western) food at good prices - any idea of the name, or where it is?

Thanks.

[john b good]

"Polonia Airport, Medan, Indonesia"

What has this to do with Thailand ???

Is someone asleep at the wheel ??

[asanee]

agree with this b good-there is a separate thread for travel in SEA

Nonetheless: its quite some time ago since Ive been there. Airpt is very close to citycentre-bemo's/becaks await you riight at exit. If some one seriously asks about wine in Indonesia-this asker must have no experience at all. Would SangThip Thai whiskey be avaialble in taxfree in SFO or MEL/SYD?general for the usual tax-free things=booze+cigs- on street is cheaper in Indo as in airport.

[Lannatyne]

agree with this b good-there is a separate thread for travel in SEA

Nonetheless: its quite some time ago since Ive been there. Airpt is very close to citycentre-bemo's/becaks await you riight at exit. If some one seriously asks about wine in Indonesia-this asker must have no experience at all. Would SangThip Thai whiskey be avaialble in taxfree in SFO or MEL/SYD?general for the usual tax-free things=booze+cigs- on street is cheaper in Indo as in airport.

For crying out loud, I've just asked a question! No need to start the abuse about inexperience. Just don't understand your connection between Sang Thip (a unique thai product) being available in Sydney, when I'm asking about wine (a global product) being available in Medan.

As it happens, I've never been to Indonesia before. I know it's a muslim country, but they do brew Bintang beer. Are you saying that this beer is the only alcohol you can get, then? And wine / spirits are totally forbidden?

As for being on the Thailand Travel forum, that's because there is a direct flight from Phuket to Medan. Okay, I accept it may be suitable for SEA, but if a moderator thought that, then it can be easily moved.

[THAILIBAN]

agree with this b good-there is a separate thread for travel in SEA

Nonetheless: its quite some time ago since Ive been there. Airpt is very close to citycentre-bemo's/becaks await you riight at exit. If some one seriously asks about wine in Indonesia-this asker must have no experience at all. Would SangThip Thai whiskey be avaialble in taxfree in SFO or MEL/SYD?general for the usual tax-free things=booze+cigs- on street is cheaper in Indo as in airport.

For crying out loud, I've just asked a question! No need to start the abuse about inexperience. Just don't understand your connection between Sang Thip (a unique thai product) being available in Sydney, when I'm asking about wine (a global product) being available in Medan.

As it happens, I've never been to Indonesia before. I know it's a muslim country, but they do brew Bintang beer. Are you saying that this beer is the only alcohol you can get, then? And wine / spirits are totally forbidden?

As for being on the Thailand Travel forum, that's because there is a direct flight from Phuket to Medan. Okay, I accept it may be suitable for SEA, but if a moderator thought that, then it can be easily moved.

GOSH !

that's all u know about Indo ? then r u sure u really wanna go there ? to do what ? maybe u better should get some at least BASIC information from those plentyful travel websites.

okay, first POLONIA. it is a small, overcrowded and all-in-all horrible airport. a ridiculous airport, considering Medan has more than 3 million inhabitants. they are constructing a new one which will be located far away from the city, but no idea when it will be completed.

the good thing indeed is that it is very near to the downtown area, in fact it's virtually PART of the downtown area.

so, may I ask why u want to go to MEDAN ? honestly, this is not the best point of entry for a complete Newbie. Medan is an ugly city, probably almost intimidating to a newcomer, with nothing on offer than a few modern shopping malls and one decent area near a park at night, where there are plenty of almost sophisticated streetside restaurants and bars (that area is nice indeed). forgot the name, though.

OF COURSE there is alcohol available, in fact any kind of alcohol u may want - but spirits are subject to high taxes. You can even buy Spirits freely at the local CARREFOUR outlet there. More Indonesians than u expect enjoy a Bintang beer or two, even if they are Muslims. And Medan has as well a sizeable Indo-Chinese community who r NOT Muslim.

If flying to Medan, try to leave the city as quickly as u can and book a tour to the countryside of North-Sumatera, particularly Lake Toba. Try to google for a travel agent who offers such tours, or wait until u arrived and book through ur hotel. most of the bigger hotels have a small travel agency on their premises. shop around before booking, as some will quickly recognize that u r a Newbie and try to overcharge u. while in town, ONLY use the BLUEBIRD taxis, which have a large BLUEBIRD sticker on their front screen. many Taxis now try to look same as BLUEBIRD but they can not have the BLUEBIRD sticker on their screen. with BLUEBIRD u r on the safe side in 99% of the cases. Do NOT use any other Taxi company (except from the airport where u will have to buy a prepaid-voucher for ur transport to downtown, must be around 40.000 IDR now, I guess).

then again: Leave Medan as quickly as u can, it's not the right place for a Newbie to fall in love with Indonesia.

I have more than 10 Indo-Visas in my just 3-year-old passport, and I even do speak the language to a certain degree, but Medan is a place I wouldn't want to spend more time than necessary......

if u plan to stay at a specific hotel, PM me and I most likely will be able to tell u if it (and its' location) is ok or not.

Selamat Jalan

[Lannatyne]

agree with this b good-there is a separate thread for travel in SEA

Nonetheless: its quite some time ago since Ive been there. Airpt is very close to citycentre-bemo's/becaks await you riight at exit. If some one seriously asks about wine in Indonesia-this asker must have no experience at all. Would SangThip Thai whiskey be avaialble in taxfree in SFO or MEL/SYD?general for the usual tax-free things=booze+cigs- on street is cheaper in Indo as in airport.

For crying out loud, I've just asked a question! No need to start the abuse about inexperience. Just don't understand your connection between Sang Thip (a unique thai product) being available in Sydney, when I'm asking about wine (a global product) being available in Medan.

As it happens, I've never been to Indonesia before. I know it's a muslim country, but they do brew Bintang beer. Are you saying that this beer is the only alcohol you can get, then? And wine / spirits are totally forbidden?

As for being on the Thailand Travel forum, that's because there is a direct flight from Phuket to Medan. Okay, I accept it may be suitable for SEA, but if a moderator thought that, then it can be easily moved.

GOSH !

that's all u know about Indo ? then r u sure u really wanna go there ? to do what ? maybe u better should get some at least BASIC information from those plentyful travel websites.

okay, first POLONIA. it is a small, overcrowded and all-in-all horrible airport. a ridiculous airport, considering Medan has more than 3 million inhabitants. they are constructing a new one which will be located far away from the city, but no idea when it will be completed.

the good thing indeed is that it is very near to the downtown area, in fact it's virtually PART of the downtown area.

so, may I ask why u want to go to MEDAN ? honestly, this is not the best point of entry for a complete Newbie. Medan is an ugly city, probably almost intimidating to a newcomer, with nothing on offer than a few modern shopping malls and one decent area near a park at night, where there are plenty of almost sophisticated streetside restaurants and bars (that area is nice indeed). forgot the name, though.

OF COURSE there is alcohol available, in fact any kind of alcohol u may want - but spirits are subject to high taxes. You can even buy Spirits freely at the local CARREFOUR outlet there. More Indonesians than u expect enjoy a Bintang beer or two, even if they are Muslims. And Medan has as well a sizeable Indo-Chinese community who r NOT Muslim.

If flying to Medan, try to leave the city as quickly as u can and book a tour to the countryside of North-Sumatera, particularly Lake Toba. Try to google for a travel agent who offers such tours, or wait until u arrived and book through ur hotel. most of the bigger hotels have a small travel agency on their premises. shop around before booking, as some will quickly recognize that u r a Newbie and try to overcharge u. while in town, ONLY use the BLUEBIRD taxis, which have a large BLUEBIRD sticker on their front screen. many Taxis now try to look same as BLUEBIRD but they can not have the BLUEBIRD sticker on their screen. with BLUEBIRD u r on the safe side in 99% of the cases. Do NOT use any other Taxi company (except from the airport where u will have to buy a prepaid-voucher for ur transport to downtown, must be around 40.000 IDR now, I guess).

then again: Leave Medan as quickly as u can, it's not the right place for a Newbie to fall in love with Indonesia.

I have more than 10 Indo-Visas in my just 3-year-old passport, and I even do speak the language to a certain degree, but Medan is a place I wouldn't want to spend more time than necessary......

if u plan to stay at a specific hotel, PM me and I most likely will be able to tell u if it (and its' location) is ok or not.

Selamat Jalan

Good info, Thailiban, thank you.

Don't worry, I'm no travel newbie. Just that Indonesia, specifically Sumatra, has never been at the top of my list, whereas for a certain trip, it is now.

Polonia, and Medan, is just my gateway airport. I'm not even staying there 1 night, either inward or outward bound. Getting picked up and dropped off by our "holiday provider".

In the circumstances, think I'll pick up a couple of bottles of wine at Phuket Airport on the way out, and enjoy those and the Biintang.

[snakehips]

out of interest, which airline flys phuket-medan?

[Lannatyne]

out of interest, which airline flys phuket-medan?

Air Asia

[siam2007]

out of interest, which airline flys phuket-medan?

Air Asia

starting now in October / November, me thinks ?