Do Mentawai Surf Packages Include Meals and Accommodation?
On this page
- Do Mentawai surf packages include meals and accommodation? The short version
- What is usually included and what is usually extra
- Accommodation: what “included” can mean
- Meals: what to expect at the table
- Common extras that add to the bill
- Full board versus all inclusive
- How inclusions change the real price
- Questions to ask before you book
- Accommodation styles you will see in package listings
- Quick facts
- Frequently asked questions
- Plan a package with clear inclusions
Do Mentawai surf packages include meals and accommodation? Almost always, yes. Standard land camp and resort packages typically include your room plus three meals a day and filtered drinking water. Charters include a cabin and full board. Alcohol, soft drinks, laundry and the Mentawai surf levy are often extra, and the room basis (twin share or private) changes the price.
The Mentawai Islands sit off the coast of West Sumatra, and most surf camps are on small islands with no shops or restaurants nearby. That is why the industry runs on full-board packages: you cannot step out for dinner, so the operator feeds you. Still, “meals and accommodation included” covers a wide range of setups, from a fan-cooled room in a family homestay to an air-conditioned villa with a chef. This guide explains what most packages include, what usually costs extra, and the questions that make two quotes comparable.
Do Mentawai surf packages include meals and accommodation? The short version
For land-based trips, a Mentawai surf package nearly always bundles a bed and full board. Published inclusion lists from camps and resorts in 2025 and 2026 commonly show three meals a day, filtered water refills, and tea and coffee. A few resorts sell breakfast-only or half-board plans as a cheaper option, but these are the exception because guests have nowhere else to eat. On a surf charter, the boat is your hotel and kitchen, so cabin and meals are part of the price by default.
Where packages differ is in the details: who you share a room with, whether the room has air conditioning and an ensuite, whether snacks and soft drinks are covered, and how alcohol is handled. These details are where the real cost of a trip moves.
What is usually included and what is usually extra
| Item | Typical land camp or resort | Typical surf charter |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Included; twin share or private room | Included; shared or private cabin |
| Breakfast, lunch, dinner | Included on full-board packages | Included |
| Filtered drinking water | Usually included | Usually included |
| Tea and coffee | Usually included | Usually included |
| Snacks between sessions | Varies; often offered but rarely guaranteed in writing | Often included |
| Soft drinks and smoothies | Often charged to a bar tab | Varies by boat |
| Beer and alcohol | Usually extra; a few resorts include limited beers | Usually extra or a set bar policy |
| Laundry | Often on request for a fee | Limited, varies |
| Wi-Fi | Ranges from free satellite internet to none | Varies; satellite on some boats |
| Mentawai surf levy | Usually excluded; a few local camps include it | Usually excluded |
Accommodation: what “included” can mean
Twin share versus private rooms
Many packages are priced per person on a twin-share basis. If you travel with a friend, you share a room and pay the headline rate. If you travel alone and want your own room, expect a single supplement, or a requirement that the camp pairs you with another guest of the same gender. Some camps publish separate rates for singles, couples, twin share and triple share, so read the rate sheet carefully before comparing prices.
Room standards
Budget camps often use simple wooden bungalows or homestay rooms, sometimes with shared bathrooms and fans rather than air conditioning. Mid-range camps usually offer ensuite rooms, and higher-end resorts add air conditioning, hot water, ocean-view decks and reliable electricity around the clock. Remote islands run on generators or solar, so ask whether power is available all day or only at set hours. This matters if you want air conditioning at night or need to charge camera gear.
Charter cabins
On a boat, accommodation means a cabin, which can be a private double, a twin with bunks, or a shared cabin for three or four. Cabin layout is one of the biggest differences between charter boats, and it is worth asking for a deck plan.
Meals: what to expect at the table
Surfing two or three sessions a day burns a lot of energy, and good camps plan their kitchens around that. A typical day starts with an early light breakfast or coffee before the dawn session, a full breakfast after, lunch around midday and dinner in the evening. Menus usually mix Indonesian dishes such as rice, grilled fish, tempeh and curries with Western options such as pasta, eggs and sandwiches. Fresh fish is common because many crews and local suppliers fish daily.
If you have dietary needs, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or a serious allergy, tell the operator when you book, not on arrival. Supplies reach the islands by boat, and kitchens cannot always source specialist ingredients at short notice. Most operators handle vegetarian diets easily. Strict medical diets need more planning.
Common extras that add to the bill
- Bar tab: beer, soft drinks, isotonic drinks and smoothies are often charged per item and settled at checkout.
- Laundry: usually a small charge per load or per bag.
- Internet: some camps include satellite Wi-Fi; others charge for it or have none, so a local SIM card is useful.
- Surf levy: the Mentawai surf levy is IDR 2,000,000 per foreign surfer for each 15-day period, and most packages list it as excluded.
- Padang nights: hotel nights in Padang before and after the ferry are sometimes included and sometimes not. Our guide to transfers from Padang covers this.
- Massage, rentals and excursions: priced separately at most camps.
Full board versus all inclusive
“Full board” means room plus three meals. “All inclusive” is used loosely in the Mentawai market and can add transfers, daily surf boats, a guide and sometimes drinks. Neither phrase has a fixed definition, so treat any label as a starting point and read the inclusions list. For a full breakdown of costs on the broader inclusive model, see how much an all inclusive Mentawai surf trip costs.
How inclusions change the real price
Two camps quoting similar nightly rates can end up far apart once extras are counted. Camp A might include soft drinks, laundry and the surf levy. Camp B might charge separately for all three plus Wi-Fi. Over ten nights, a daily bar tab and laundry can add a meaningful amount, and the levy alone is a fixed cost per surfer. Compare total trip cost, not nightly rate. Our Mentawai surf camp price guide sets out typical 2026 rate ranges by camp type.
Questions to ask before you book
- Is the price per person or per room, and what is the room basis?
- How many meals a day are included, and are snacks part of it?
- Which drinks are included, and which go on a tab?
- Is power available 24 hours, and is there air conditioning?
- Is laundry included or charged?
- Is Wi-Fi available, and is there a cost?
- Is the surf levy included, and if not, how is it paid?
- Are Padang hotel nights included on arrival and departure?
Accommodation styles you will see in package listings
Package descriptions use a handful of labels. They are not regulated, so treat each as a starting point for questions rather than a guarantee.
| Label | What it usually means | Ask about |
|---|---|---|
| Homestay or losmen | A room in a family house or simple guesthouse; meals sometimes included | Bathroom, fan or air-conditioning, drinking water |
| Surf camp | A small group of rooms or bungalows built around surfing, full board and shared boats | Room sharing, power hours, boat schedule |
| Beachfront bungalow | A private hut or cabin near the water, often part of a camp | Distance to the reef, insect screens, privacy |
| Boutique lodge or resort | Fewer guests, better rooms, more staff and activities | Maximum guest count, taxes and service charge |
| Eco lodge | Usually solar power, rainwater and simple materials | Exactly what is done on waste, water and power |
| Charter cabin | A double, twin or shared cabin on a surf boat | Cabin layout and bathroom sharing |
Families and groups should ask whether rooms connect or sit close together, and whether extra beds are possible. Couples should ask for a double bed by name, because many camps default to twin beds. Whatever the label, the questions in the next section matter more than the name on the listing.
Quick facts
- Meals: three a day on standard full-board packages
- Water: filtered refills usually included
- Room basis: twin share is common; private rooms usually cost more
- Usually extra: alcohol, soft drinks, laundry, surf levy
- Surf levy: IDR 2,000,000 per foreign surfer per 15 days
- Charters: cabin and meals included by default
Frequently asked questions
Are meals included at every Mentawai surf camp?
Nearly all camps include full board because there are no restaurants nearby. A few resorts offer breakfast-only or half-board plans, so confirm the meal plan on your quote.
Is alcohol included in Mentawai surf packages?
Usually not. Most camps run a bar tab for beer and soft drinks. A small number of resorts advertise limited complimentary beers, but policies change, so check before you travel.
Can I get a private room on a Mentawai surf package?
Yes, at most camps and resorts, normally for a single supplement. Some budget camps have limited private rooms, so request one early.
Can camps cater for vegetarian or gluten-free diets?
Most can handle vegetarian diets easily. For gluten-free, vegan or allergy requirements, tell the operator at booking so they can plan supplies.
Is accommodation in Padang included?
Sometimes. Many camp packages include one Padang night before the ferry, but not all. Ask which nights are covered in both directions.
Plan a package with clear inclusions
We are an independent planning guide, not a camp operator. We help travellers compare quotes line by line so the Mentawai surf package what is included question has a clear written answer before you pay. Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811 3941 4563 or email bd@juaraholding.com with your dates and budget.
