Lodgings in Pekan Baru/Bukit Tinggi

[budak]

Does anyone have recommendations for decently-priced, safe rooms at these Sumatran towns? Guesthouses and backpacker outfits are fine, but not dorms. Price range USD20 max?

[GaspingGurami]

I used to carry Lonely Planet's SouthEastAsia on a shoestring as my "bible" during my travelling days. The "yellow book" served me very well. Don't know if it is better now-a-days with its colourful cover and thicker paper. I got most of the info I needed from the book. The rest from talking to locals and fellow travellers.

If you're taking a bus from Pekanbaru to Bukittingi, do remember to have the following handy:
1) Warm, windbreaker. It tends to drizzle in the late mornings and evenings at Bt Tinggi.
2) Drinking water and some powerbar/ snacks
3) Airsick bags - pass them out to those around you when they seem unwell or soon the stench from their vomitus will encourage you to join them too.
4) Take motion sickness medication well before you get on the bus.

Have a nice trip.

[luenny]

Sorry to hijack but where is Pekan Baru or Bukit Tinggi?

[GaspingGurami]

Pekanbaru and Bukittingi are in Sumatra in Indonesia.

Pekanbaru is the administrative capital of the Riau archipelago, and is a frontier town looking city with oil and gas as it's main business.

Bukittingi is as its name suggests, a tall hill sitting on the central " spine" of mountains in Sumatra, 100km from Pekanbaru. Bukittingi is like Cameron highlands plus Bali's Ubud combined in one.