The Surf Travel Company :: Surfer Reviews

SURFER REVIEWS

DIVER REVIEWS

Below is just a small sample of the great feedback we've received off our customers over the years.

Hey Mate, We had an amazing time, both the resort and boat were awesome... but the boat "Sunset Queen" was just the best!! everyone had a great time and we scored some sick waves!! We'll be on that boat again one day for sure!! Thanks for your help!! Cheers Evan.

Evan Crandon - Sunset Queen

Had an unreal time mate. Didn't really get any epic swells ... but I still scored some of the best waves of my life. Macca's is an amazing wave. Only hit the reef a few times, nothing to worry about!

Andrew Daffy - Australian Movie Festival Prize Winner

Ben, Got back from the southern atolls yesterday. Trip was excellent. Not only did we have really great waves but the boat and the crew were first class. Friday swell was a mongrel. 8 foot sets ( 17 seconds with huge amounts of power). A really good trip. Plan to do one again next year. Cheers Hunter

Hunter Southwick - MV Bolero Southern Maldives

Hi to the STC team Just wanted to say thanks for organising my Mentawai trip this year. Having the STC team packaging the fights and boat charter on Arimbi made life a lot easier for my hectic life and work schedule. The Mentawai’s is one of those places that all surfers need to visit before clocking off and the Arimbi was the ideal boat for getting around following the swell and staying away from potential crowds- not that it was real busy at all. The flight from Padang to Rokot was a blast and the 45 minute trip had to be better than a 9 hour boat trip. Seeing the Arimbi fully fitted out and ready to go on our arrival was pretty encouraging. We had 9 days straight of 6 foot swell!!!!!! The bonus of sharing the trip with good mates and meeting some great surfers like Dylan Hannah and Dane Durban was unreal. Dylan got the best tube I’ve ever seen at a left called No Kanduis and Dane was charging at double overhead HT’s. The only bummer was having to return to work but have started planning the next journey. Will be in touch soon. cheers Reg

Reg Barton - Arimbi, Mentawai Islands

Hi Hugh, I just want to say thank you very much. We had the best holiday all the places were fantastic, especially Coconuts Resort on Nusa Lembongan. The waves were great on the island, and also Padang and Canggu. Thanks again for all your help organising the holiday, we will be going again next year and will defiantly be using your company again. Thanks again, it was a perfect trip.

Lisa Dalton - Indo '07

Thanks for your great service booking our holiday, this is the 6th trip booked with STC and I continually recommend it to everyone i know going O/S.

Jan & Ben Pioli - Bali - September '07

"...this was my first time in the mentawais and i have to admit there is no better place in the world that i would rather surf.. have travelled the world but now want to call this place home.. We were making a surfing and music documentary and the crew on the boat made us feel so comfortable and made shooting a real ease. Arimbi is by far one of the most comfortable boats I have ever been on, there is so much space, you always kind find a place to sit on ya own and reflect or jam or chill. Thanks to Hutch and the Surf Travel Company we were able to put on the first ever music concert in the Mentawais islands, including performances by Ash Grunwald, Glen Mead, the legendary Jim Banks, Jason Rash Ryder (stand up comedian) and myself alongside some of the islands' best musicians."

Marco Yellin - Arimbi, Mentawai Islands

Alison, id like to say how thouroughly impressed i have been with your persistence and determination to find me a place that would suit my needs. The other places didnt bother to ring back and you did it often, never lost your patience and were always very friendly and professional . This is why i am going on this trip as i had already given up. this is my 5th OS surf trip with my son and by far the best i have even been treated. regards Bill

Bill Brown - Indo 2007

Bro it was seamlessly amazing. No hassles from front to back, awesome waves, great locals, mega food and great fun. All the folks at ER tours were superb, and the people at the hotel were great, too. I surfed Balian a few days when it was flat, I just got one of the boys to drive me around the corner. So unreal. Only thing was that the vegetarian meal never made it to the flights. Thanks a million for a great week, your superb work made it go hassle-free and made it very memorable. I'm already planning my next trip there, and I'll be sure to be calling you about it! Thanks for delivering precisely what I asked for on the phone. A week chilling in the jungle with my book and some lefts, in peace and solitude. Thanks for the stoke. xx aa

Andrew G (Australian Idol)- Bali Jun '07

Ellie’s is perfectly situated for surfers (depending on the wind, swell, direction, size and tide).Our first day spent on Kuta Reef was really fun. From Ellie’s it takes about the same amount of time as from Kuta Beach, but less traffic. Then the swell dropped and we surfed Nusa Dua (10 minutes from Ellie’s or 40 minutes from Kuta). We surfed Nusa Dua for 5 days, usually alone for the first half hour because most surfers were coming from Kuta. Nusa Dua is a heavy wave with a bit of current. The swell was closing out the wave at times. So we decided to check Green Bowl which is about 25 mins from Ellie’s but at least 45 mins from Kuta. There were a few guys out there but not too many waves, so we spent our last 3 days surfing in Turtle Island (20 mins from both Ellie’s and Kuta). This wave is really fun though not too heavy. This is my fourth time to Bali, and Ellie’s is by far the best place that I have stayed. The staff were great. We like to surf before the winds or the crowds get too much, which usually means no breakfast, but at Ellie’s they would get up early and make us a super healthy breakfast, coffee and a sandwich-to-go. It made our 3-5 hour surf session great as we weren’t starving. Then when we got out of the water, the sandwich was just what we needed. We were made to feel like we were at a 5 star hotel. We wanted motorbikes with board racks. Ellie’s arranged for them to be delivered to us and at a good price. It was nice to be out of the craziness of Kuta. We went to Kuta once to go shopping and it was way too stressful.”

Greg Matthews & John Coolombe - 'Ellies at Nusa Dua', Bali

The captain and crew couldn't have been better - very entertaining and always at your service! It was apparent on our trip that our captain's knowledge was unmatched by any other boat operator - we lucked out with swell but we scored world class Supersuck, Scar Reef & Desert Point. The best part was due to our captain and because of him we got all these waves to ourselves!! Even on the return trip we got Shipwrecks and Lacerations before other boats arrived! Everything on this trip was perfect! Thanks Surf Travel - sign me up for the next one!!

Jory Earl - 'Partama charters', Lombok & Sumbawa

The trip was fantastic. The Blue point bay villas and its staff were incredible. It was the perfect honeymoon. The food was great, The swimming pool was to die for, the room was great and the surf was pumping!!!!! The Locals in uluwatu were great and every time we went down the cliffs to have a beer or something to eat we would sit and laugh with the local ding repair man Kojak and listen to his antics for hours, people like this make your stay so enjoyable. Paddling out through the cave was a little daunting at first but one I got into the surf it was all worth while. Monday the surf was clean and around 4 foot, Tuesday was 10 to 12 foot and absolutely smoking but way to heavy and big for me, Wednesday was great a good 6 foot and glassy, it was a great day for surfing, I shouldn’t have taken out my 5’ 10” fish cause of how much speed you get on the take off but all in all was a great day for surfing. Thursday and Friday was much the same as Monday with a nice 4 foot swell and glassy conditions, the crowd factor got a bit crazy with 50 to 60 guys in the water. But all in all the surf was great. The best part of our honeymoon was sitting by the sensational pool drinking bintang and relaxing with my new wife! Thank you Gemma and the surf travel company for all your help even though it was at such short notice. We will be planning a trip to Samoa next April and will be sure to book with you again.

Roz & Talbot Le Page - 'Blue Point Viila's', Uluwatu

Just wanted to drop you a line and let you know that my recent trip to West Java on Just Dreaming was everything I hoped for, and more! This was my first real overseas surf trip and I can confirm it was a true adventure... We were fortunate enough to get some solid swell on this trip so we were able to surf every day, 3 -4 times a day. The first three days of the trip we had the whole area to ourselves so you are correct in advertising perfect, uncrowded conditions. First three days we surfed Pussies which is a fairly mellow left hander but a perfect wave to get your eye in. I surfed some of the best lefts of my life on this wave over the next 10 days. By Wednesday the swell had jumped and it was time for some waves that were a bit more challenging for the better surfers on the trip. Napalms was the spot on Wednesday morning and it was cranking. Again no other surfers except our crew. The swell kept building and after a few sessions at Illusions the talk was of One Palm the next morning. One Palm was on the following morning and it was absolutely smoking. The wave was a bit heavy for me but some of the other guys in the crew charged it and got some of the best waves of their lives. By now there were a few other boats that had arrived in the area but that was no real issue as the skipper had a secret spot or two to get us away to. After a two hour trip or so we arrived at a spot called Angels which was a fast and fun little wave and a really beautiful spot to stop and hang out on the beach. No other people there !!!! The skipper really looked after everyone and was able to cater to all surfing levels, nothing was to much trouble and John really knew what spots would be on. The crew was fantastic and really anxious to please us as their guests. The food on the boat was, at times, restaurant quality. Raffy the chief really knows his stuff and we were fed like kings for the majority of the trip. Overall the trip was about a 9 out of 10 and I will be recommending this trip to anyone that asks about an Indo surfing adventure!

Wayne Smith - 'Just Dreaming' Yacht charter, Panaitan Island (West Java)

Let me sum up our surf trip on the 'Partama' evey reef surfed in the area with Yo Yo's 6ft, Deserts 5ft, Scar 8ft, Inside Scar 3ft, Supersuck 4ft, Donuts 5ft, Playgrounds 2ft, Shipwrecks 4ft and Lacerations tiny. As well we got Kuta Reef 4ft, Bingan up to 7ft .. we're keen for next year and thanks to all at STC, Nyoman, Ketut, Wayan 2 and Col - Trip of a lifetime!!

Shawn Coggan - 'Partama' Charters, Lombok & Sumbawa

Boat is super comfortable – shits on most of the Mentawai boats I’ve been on. Tahiti is a paradise, air temp not too hot and water very pleasant. Saw and experienced the beast of Teahapou and surfed some super fun rights and lefts. Brett does a fantastic job with the food while Ben and Mike are very competent seamen and know their shit regarding weather and surf spots. All in all a really great experience! Travelled on the recent director/shareholder charter

Ed Armytage - 'Vigilant' Yacht charter - Tahiti

Wow what a trip! Waves were pumping, food was great and the crew went out of there way to make sure we had the best boat trip possible. The boat was awesome very comfortable heaps of space to chill. Tahiti is one of the most amazing places I have been and will be coming back for another trip in the future. To the boys on the boat good luck with everything im sure it will go off! Travelled on the recent director/shareholder charter

Matt Jorgensen - 'Vigilant' Yacht charter - Tahiti

We went on a 8 day trip to Tahiti and Moorea, surfed twice a day from 6ft heavy teahupoo to super fun hittable rights. Trip ended in beautiful Moorea with two days at a secret pumping left. Food was awesome, service and crew great. Scenery and the sorkelling would always keep you amused between sessions. Travelled on the recent director/shareholder charter

Ian Cridland - 'Vigiliant' Yacht charter - Tahiti

This was my first trip to Tahiti and my first time onboard a yacht charter! The boat was Awesome (spacious, fast, comfy) and the Crew are way cool. They have plenty of local knowledge of Tahitian breaks and wind conditions. Boat food was very good. Catch of the day fish to eat, plus more. Enjoyed having DVD and TV in own bedroom. Waves - So many waves, so many spots. Swell is most powerful I have experienced. Awesome lefts and rights. Super fast, top to bottom pits and playful pits. Plenty of “OOOOOOOH” and WOWWWWWW” moments. Water is temperature is like air temperature (Can’t tell weather I’m in or out of the water). Climate is not humid and hot and stuffy like Indo. Water is super clear, aqua blue. Color of waves is the most amazing crystal blue. Reefs are about 1km off shore. Ocean energy is very raw. Going again for sure! Travelled on the recent director/shareholder charter

Robert Geranio - 'Vigilant' Yacht charter - Tahiti

Bali was so much fun- as usual... everything was real smooth, no troubles at all, and having recently been there, all the ways of Bali seemed so easy. Had some real good waves, got an epic barrel at Ulu's and had a session at Nusa Dua with two others out and 4 foot waves breaking for ages. I think Im still sunburnt! And then there's the nightlife - met heaps of cool people and loved the Bintangs. Can't wait to get back there. Cheers Gemma and STC, Tom

Tom Bamforth - Bali

My son and I went on a 10 day trip to the Mentawais in June 2004. In one word, the experience was fantastic. The boat itself is comfortable and kept spotlessly clean. Jorge runs a very tight ship, takes no chances, everything works, and one feels completely at ease safety-wise. The atmosphere on the boat (I suppose it also depends a lot on the rest of the passengers) was very laid-back and friendly. The crew are particularly helpful, and if it depended on them, you would not need to lift a hand, apart from raising the Bintang tin and knife and fork! The food, , was awesome – fresh, plenty, and really good quality – with something for the eye, fresh fruit, fresh fish (even lobster one night) (Jorge is a very dedicated fisherman – he even went spearfishing once), very well prepared. Surfwise, I doubt whether anyone in the business is more experienced than Jorge in finding the right spot at the right time – we had great surf for 10 days non-stop. He goes to a lot of trouble to get you there – pores over the charts day & night, sails at night to get to the spot at dawn – nobody else there!!! Thanks also for the special attention, Jorge. (For the record, I am a 60 yr old geezer who does doormatting!). The rubberduck and speedboat are always at your disposal to drop you off and go to check out spots. All-in all, a wonderful experience – well worth the money. I give the Irish Mist 110%.

Louis van Huyssteen, 'Irish Mist' Mentawai Charter

The '' Irish Mist " boat charter with Jorge and crew was one of the best surf trips I have experienced. He always got us to the best waves at the right time and we never seemed to encounter to much of a crowd from the other boats which was best thing . The food was great with fresh fish caught sailing from island to island such as dolphin fish ,GT and a combination of European , Asian and Aussie tucker (awesome lamb roast). Jorge took some great water shots of the boys surfing from the rubber ducky in the channel with a nice digital camera and he tells me Daniah's photos are even better. Over all it was the trip of a life time and I would do it again in a Heart beat on the "IRISH MIST" . I don't think anything beats cruising open ocean or island to island with open sails day and night in reasonable comfort searching for waves and waves we got . Anyway job well done guys and I will hopefully see you again soon for another Mentawai surfing adventure."

David Bennell - 'Irish Mist' Mentawai Islands

Fiji was great and we hope to go back in a couple of years. On the main Island, the Sheraton is amazing with 3 resorts, golf courses and restaurants. On Mololo Lai (Home of Plantation and Musket Cove) it is less of a resort but more beautiful. People are the friendliest in the world, food is great, there are heaps of cruises and activities and the surfing was awesome. We went out to Wilkes which is about 30mins off the Island. Both days it was 4-6 foot with about a dozen guys out and heaps of good waves. I am really looking forward to going back to Fiji to surf Cloudbreak but we have so many other places to go first. Thanks, Anthony

Anthony Rosier - Plantation Island Resort, Fiji

I've just arrived back from my trip to Mentawai and Sumbawa. I was on Arimbi, with 10 surfers (Aug21- Sep01). We had a fantastic surftrip, the food was perfect, the captain put us at the right places with least crowds, the crew was perfect, we were surfing breaks with just our boat on many days. We got the biggest swell of this season - we surfed macarroni´s perfect with one boat. It was my 3th trip to Mentawais and Arimbi crew was the best experience I have had! Andrew (surfguide) did a great job. He helped a lot during difficult times on the reefs, and he was always pushing the surfers for surfing the best waves. The skipper it is really good. I hope you could keep him for next year. Thank you very much for STC - Australia!

Eduardo Rubin - 'Arimbi' Yacht charter, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia

The trip was great and went really well. I managed a surf in Bali before I had to hand the boards over so that was good, then the transfers to G-land went smoothly. (as smooth as they can on Indo roads!) We had to wait just off the break due to the tide until we could get the boat in so plenty of chance to watch some waves run down the reef. A quick change and we were out there and as the tide pushed, so did the swell. We arrived just as a quick pulse hit, the first decent waves in weeks. It peaked at about 10' on the sets and after that we were all expecting a classic few days but sadly the next day it had dropped to around the 4' mark. Still great fun but it could have stayed good for longer. It stayed that size for the whole trip even dropping a bit depending on tide. It was a fantastic spot, great people running the place, very laid back and just what I needed. The funny thing was that the swell hit 10+ at airport lefts for my last day in Bali so I was able to get a boat out and still have some waves while thinking about the guys who had stayed on and would be catching some classic surf. Airport Lefts seemed really easy after G-Land where I would normally have been hesitating on the later ones!!

Russel Salmon - 'Bobby's G'land Surf Camp, Indo

The trip was pretty awesome. Didn't get a lot of swell but I'll never forget the experience the cool group of guys onboard. The crew were on the ball, as well as being really friendly and helpful, and the food onboard was awesome! Kellie my consultant, was very helpful - it was my first trip overseas and I would have been lost without her! Overall, didn't get a lot of swell, but I had the best trip time of my life - what more can you ask for!

Brett Heckenberg, 'Partama' Yacht charter, Lombok/Sumbawa

Just letting ya know we had a blast over there. The weather was perfect the whole time and with the trade winds blowing at Ulus! We surfed ulus every day...the resort was beautiful and the staff were great. Very relaxing, get the fruit juces if ya go, they're mad. The boat was cool, not much swell but still some fun waves. Deserts broke both times we were there and got to about 5ft. Yo Yos and Shipwrecks also had some fun lil barrels. All the crew were cool and it was just laughes all round. Even though there wasn't much surf, it was cool just relaxing, fishing, snorkeling, spear fishing and stuff. Some of the crew from Sydney had been to G Land before the boat and said it was mad so im keen as around August for some rumbelling in the Jungle out there. Cheers for all ya hard work!

Brad Davies, 'Partama' yacht charter & Uluwatu Resort, Indo

Just got back from 10 days on Just Dreaming in West Java and I wish I was still there. We scored great surf at One Palm Point and Illusions. In addition to the surf, the food and crew were excellent. Johnny the Skipper was an added bonus to the trip - he tooks us to where the waves were at every day... I am already planning two return trips next year.

Patrick Reilly, 'Just Dreaming' Yacht charter, West Java

A white fibreglass banana boat picks us up at Kandavu for the 35 minute commute to Nagigia Island, driven by one of the burliest Fijian's you'll ever come across, with the ironic name of 'Mini' (short for his Fijian name, not an Australian type of nickname). At crack neck speeds and with immense skill Mini prepared all of us for what would be one of our best holidays. On arrival at Nagigia it didn't take Jackie and I long to unwind. Fijians have a great way of making you feel welcome and helping you relax, but if you are finding it a little tough try Fijis answer for alcohol - Cava! King Kong lefts which is straight in front of the Island, breaks on a reasonably deep reef. With a couple of other lads from Brisbane we went for our first bash at Kongs, it took a little time getting used to the speed and jackup even on the smaller waves but once I got the hang of surfing the break the sun was down and it was time for us to head back to the boat. On the way to the boat I was confident that I didn't have to worry about sharks because they are so well fed around there, unfortunately I met a sea snake and that had me in the boat quick smart (I was told later the snakes only have small mouths and can't bite you). For the next day or two the swell was coming from the wrong direction (East), which gave Jackie and I a great opportunity to hang out on the almost deserted beaches - they are awesome. You will not top these beaches anywhere else in the world - I guarantee it! Because the swell was coming from the East we were taken to a break called Uatotoka. It was there that we all had a bit of an eye opener with fluky 10 footers rolling in unannounced. I was caught inside often - but had a ball riding some beautiful walie rights. Later in our stay the swell changed direction and King Kong Lefts came alive and it was bliss! I was impressed with the speed behind the waves at Nagigia and the shape was awesome. One of the locals assured me on my last day that I still hadn't ridden it at its best. Nagigia definitely suits goofy footers and surfers with partners. The Island is not set up for young children and they make no apologies for that (not a bad excuse to leave the kids at home). This isn't a five star resort and that's what we loved about it. The beaches, surf and people are great ! This was one holiday that left Jackie and I feeling home sick when we got home.

Stuart & Jackie Voysey, Nagigia Island Resort, Fiji