Car rental in Manado??

[Yukon Jack]

Hello everyone! We're heading back to Indonesia for the second time. Our first visit was to Bali, Komodo and Flores -- it was thoroughly enjoyable and this time we're off to Sulawesi.

Does anyone know if it is easy to find a car to rent after arriving in Manado's airport? I can't find any rental outfits online for Manado.

We'd like to wander to Tomohon, Lake Tondano and Tangkoko and then spend a couple of days diving in Lembeh strait -- and it seems like a private car would be the best option for transport. I'd rather drive on my own instead of hiring a driver, and am not concerned about potential dangers of driving in this area (I've spent time behind the wheel in Bangkok, Manila, Rome, Manhattan, etc) -- but if the only option is to hire a driver, so be it.

Thanks for any comments!

[Mauricio]

Atlantis, I referred Yukon Jack to this board cuz I knew you'd be able to provide an answer to this Manado specific query...

[gffgold]

Atlantis is the expert on Manado.

I hired a car by the day (with driver) through the Mahkota hotel last year and I think it cost me about Rp550 000 plus fuel. Roads - by general Indonesian standards - were pretty good though signage was minimal out of town.

[Mauricio]

Atlantis, where are you?

[atlantis]

Does anyone know if it is easy to find a car to rent after arriving in Manado's airport? I can't find any rental outfits online for Manado.

I don't recall any rental agencies based in Sam Ratulangi airport, but I believe that organising a pick up at the airport with one of the city agency shouldn't be a problem. I picked from our local newspaper a list of "agencies" which are specialised in car rentals with/without driver. I can not recommend you any of them in particular, I haven't use their services.

• CV Central Rental Car: 0431-3335011 or 0811 437793
• CV kenalan Rental Car: 0431- 3304776 or 0812 4309993
• CV Kontak Rental Car: 0431-3323293 or 0812 4467055
• CV Mitra Rental Car: 04316336 6442 or 0813 40471788
• CV Efrata, AM: 0431-3304714 or 0812 440 6232
• CV Grang Min'GO: 0431-866711 or 0811 436052
• CV Mujur: (0431) 3327279 or 0813 56972244

Basically they all offer pretty much the same service, but I would advise you to check thoroughfully their car and to make a test drive before agreeing on a long term rent. My wife having a transportation business, I can tell you that I have seen the weirdest stuff when it comes to maintenance and mechanic...
Rentals start at around IDR 225.000/250.000 for a Kijang Efi or a Toyota Avanza to IDR 300.000/350.000 for a Toyota Innova or Rush or a Nissan Grand Livina. Prices does not include Gas or Driver... nor it includes any kind of road insurance. I am not sure that they provide this type of services... However, you will have the blessings of the renter, that may serve as a divine protection on the Minahasan Roads. Don't forget that we ar a "daerah agama", which means that insurance are not mandatory...

I'd rather drive on my own instead of hiring a driver, and am not concerned about potential dangers of driving in this area (I've spent time behind the wheel in Bangkok, Manila, Rome, Manhattan, etc) -- but if the only option is to hire a driver, so be it.

Both with or without driver solutions are available. IMHO, Minahasan tend to drive quite conservatively compared to their Javanese, Balinese or Sumatran cousins for example. They can even be desesperately slow sometimes and it is the reason why I am more into biking rather than driving here. At least I can overtake before that a pedestrian overtakes us!.
Though the rental car without driver is available, I'd advise you to go with a driver at least the first few days. Don't expect anyone to speak english around here. In the Minahasa, you will have the choice to either learn very fast "bahasa Manado" or any of the Minahasan language (Tombulu, Tonsea...etc) because even Bahasa Indonesia is not widely spoken nor understood. A driver may come handy in certain situation. Don't expect him to speak english either... but at least, he should know where he goes and what to do in case of a problem.
On Sundays, be aware that people are drinking in the villages, and it sometimes can be a bit messy, especially in July/August when it is the harvesting period for cingkeh.
Anyway, if you stay in the main tracks Tangkoko/Tomohon/Tondano/Bitung...etc, a driver is not an absolut necessity if you don't want to venture in the villages.

Selat Lembeh is a must for diving. I logged a few thousand dives all around north sulawesi, but still I am amazed by the critters of Lembeh.

Atlantis, I referred Yukon Jack to this board cuz I knew you'd be able to provide an answer to this Manado specific query...

Well... it's done I guess.

[atlantis]

Atlantis, where are you?

Sorry, I was a bit out and I guess I won't be much in the forum the next two days. My neighbour (a fellow french), here in Manado, passed away Sunday night and I have just learnt that my business partner's mother did the same last night in France. I consider a quick return trip to Paris. Dunno yet. I am a bit stunt.

[gffgold]

They can even be desesperately slow sometimes and it is the reason why I am more into biking rather than driving here. At least I can overtake before that a pedestrian overtake us!.

Oh that's so true. First day touring around Minahasa we got stuck behind what I took to be a funeral cortege. There was a line of 8-9 cars all going very, very slowly on a country road and I could hear hymns playing on a car stereo. It was only as the road widened and the other cars began to overtake the snail at the front that I realised there was nothing funereal about it!

[Yukon Jack]

Very helpful -- thanks!

[atlantis]

First day touring around Minahasa we got stuck behind what I took to be a funeral cortege.

Funny. Funeral cortege, on the opposite, are circulating at high speed with klaxons and sirens... Wonder why? Normally the guy inside is dead and shouldn't be that in a hurry!?
Watch out if you meet with a funeral cortege. They have ALL priorities... Anyway, no doubt that they will let you know it...

Very helpful -- thanks!

If you need anything else, buzz me.

[jstar]

later reaction

Sorry for this very late reaction, but thought this might add some value for people searching these posts: I personally feel much safer in traffic in Jakarta than Manado. Mainly because of the extremes you encounter; it's or very slow and cautious, or very fast and reckless. And those two things don't go together well.

Don't think that you can drive there if you did Manhattan, Lisbon or the Arc de Triomphe area in Paris. If you have experience in left hand drive countries like India, okay .

Something to consider when you drive yourself on the countryside: dogs are considered to be a source of income (I guess you understand what I'm pointing at ). So don't kill a dog!!!!! Easier said than done, especially at dawn with no road lighting. When it happens there will be big discussions and you will have to pay (dearly).

And in Manado itself; late at night there are quite some bikers who just love to pass you (without helmet or protective clothing) on every side driving 200. Ok, that you might also encounter on the Périphérique around Paris but not in the city center, right?

So my two cents: take a driver.

[bella121]

Hello everyone! We're heading back to Indonesia for the second time. Our first visit was to Bali, Komodo and Flores -- it was thoroughly enjoyable and this time we're off to Sulawesi.

Does anyone know if it is easy to find a car to rent after arriving in parking at auckland airport ? I can't find any rental outfits online for Manado.

We'd like to wander to Tomohon, Lake Tondano and Tangkoko and then spend a couple of days diving in Lembeh strait -- and it seems like a private car would be the best option for transport. I'd rather drive on my own instead of hiring a driver, and am not concerned about potential dangers of driving in this area (I've spent time behind the wheel in Bangkok, Manila, Rome, Manhattan, etc) -- but if the only option is to hire a driver, so be it.

Thanks for any comments!

Hi
How much days is your tour of, so that i can suggest you the best???