Arthur Homestay Telescope Mentawai

Cook wasn’t very friendly, food could take ages. Staff often very hard to find. Food a bit pricy and serving sizes weren’t great except the miegoreng and nasi goreng. Especially the nasi goreng was great. Taxi to ferry and back way over price. We also did a snorkel tour and they gave us marks but no snorkels. The snorkeling wasn’t great, and the people who did it the day before said the staff caught fish and fried them on a beach fire and got them coconuts. We didn’t get any of that. Our guide was very anti social and the tour was expensive. Cool fish at the last spot tho 🤷
Not very close to ferry, no fruit near by

The staff is not at all welcoming, and no one speaks English. Whenever you ask them something, the answer is “no.” The kitchen is never open. Either the cook isn't there, or the ingredients aren't ready. In short, a very disappointing experience. I came here for the atmosphere and to meet the locals, but it was impossible. It feels like we're annoying them more than anything else.

Non troppa ospitalità da parte di alcuni dello staff maschile, si fa gli affari propri e non cambia MAI i pattumi
Necessaria la barca per TUTTI gli spot, che rende il tutto MOLTO costoso rapportato ai prezzi indonesiani

Unfortunately we had to pay for the Mentawai tax. We get the slow ferry to avoid it, but somehow they showed up in our accommodation. I don't mind paying a tax if it's going to be used to help the community, but pay AUD 400.00 (it's a lot of money in Indonesia) for a corrupted Government piss me off! Because the tax, we have to slow down in other things. For example, We didn't make one last surf trip because it was small waves and we have to save money. We are traveling for 2 months so for us, makes a difference.
Another thing is, to surf in this area we have to pay for a boat. All the waves are far. My husband paddled from the beach couple of times with other guys, but it's a long one.

Nothing

Accueil inexistant. Le personnel ne communique absolument pas. Quand on arrive on attend, on ne sait pas trop pourquoi et combien de temps. On ne sait pas qui est en charge ici, beaucoup de petits jeunes qui certes sont sympathiques, mais qui n'adressent jamais un mot, pas même un bonjour. C'est une ambiance vraiment etrange...
Le lieu est également très bruyant. Les chambres sont toutes autour de l'espace commun. Et comme personne n'est en charge de cet établissement, personne ne "demande" le silence passé une certaine heure...
Pour les excursions, il y a seulement les prix affichés mais personne ne nous les proposes, n'y ne nous explique en quoi les excursions consistent. Lors des excursions c'est pareil, aucune communication personne ne nous parle, on ne sait pas trop où on va etc...

Le personnel pas professionnel et nonchalant, impossibilité de manger un soir pendant les heures affichées, pas d' accès aux boissons pendant qu'un employé va se chercher une boisson ailleurs .. les jeunes qui fument devant la porte de la chambre, et qui regardent leurs téléphones avachis dans l'espace commun. Pas de nettoyage régulier de l'espace commun, les déchets laissés peuvent rester là une journée entière. Pas d'accès direct à la plage, route très passante.

Price of the taxi from the harbor is 50k IDR per person, it doesn't matter if you are 1 or 5 people in the car.
Long time waiting for the food.