Trip to Surabaya, Indonesia

I remember, my mum used to said " If you go to Surabaya, buy your Dad this cloth". She was refering to a cloth that i bought in Bandung, last few year. So, when I saw, Air Asia Free seats offer, I called my mum and dad, asked them whether they want to visit Surabaya. They dont take long to give me the answer. So I booked the flight tickets for my mum, dad and sis right away. It just RM 96 per person (return flight ticket). After bought the ticket, I asked my mum, why did she want to go to Surabaya?... Then she said " I dont know, I just mentioned Surabaya'.  Danggggg!. I thought she know something intresting about that place. I google for some info and found that Surabaya dont have much intresting place to visit. Bandung the best!.. But, I tried to look at the bright side, I never been there before, why not. Even just once in a life time. :)) . Not many blogger share stories about Surabaya too. So I decided to request for a quotation from a travel agency that i used to deal before. Below is the ittenaries receive :

Day 01 / Wed - 30 Jan 2013 : Kuala Lumpur - Surabaya (x/x/x)

Arrive at Juanda Surabaya Airport. Meet & greet with our tour guide. Transfer to Hotel. Check into Artotel Hotel (3«) or Bisanta Hotel (3«).No meals

 

Day 02 / Thu - 31 Jan 2013 : Surabaya - Bromo (B/L/D)

After breakfast check out from hotel , have Surabaya City tour , visit :  Submarine Monument - a real KRI Pasopati 410 type Whiskey Class Russia Submarine used in 1952 by Indonesia Navy. Next visit The house of Sampoerna – own by one of the biggest cigarette clove factory in Indonesia PT.HM Sampoerna. This buildings have a Dutch Colonial style built in 1858 and now become a museum and behind this building is a cigarette factory where we can see the processing of making cigarette clove by hand.  Have lunch at local restaurant. Afterward visit Heroes Monument & Museum of Ten November - Monument for commemorate the brave of Surabaya people during the battle of Surabaya against the allied force in 1945.  Before we go to Mt. Bromo we will stop at Cheng Ho Mosque which has a unique Chinese Architecture. Transfer to Mt. Bromo (+/-  3,5 hour drive by coach). Dinner will be served at local restaurant. Check into Bromo Cottage Hotel (3«) at Tosari area. Dinner at local restaurant or at Hotel.

 

Day 03 / Fri - 01 Feb 2013 : BROMO TOSARI – BATU (B/L/D)

Early morning wake up 03.30 A.M (tea provided by hotel). Depart to Mt. Penanjakan (2750 meter) by mini van. Continue to View Point 1 the best place to see the sunrise. After that go down to the sand ocean then continue by horse back riding acrossing the sand ocean up to Mt. Bromo and still 250 steps to climb until you reach the rim of the crater of Mt.Bromo (2300 meter). After watching the beautiful sunrise and spectacular view surrounding Mt. Bromo return to your hotel & have breakfast. Check out from hotel then transfer to to Batu Highland, visit JATIM PARK 2 which you may visit Batu Secret Zoo &  Animal Museum. Have lunch at local restaurant. Overnight at Kusuma Agro Wisata Hotel (3«) or Pohon Inn Hotel (3«). Dinner will be served at local restaurant.

 

Day 04 / Sat - 02 Fec 2013 : BATU – SIDOARJO - SURABAYA (B/L/D)

In the morning visit The Apple Plantation (visitors allowed to pick up the fruits at this plantation), next visit Singosari Temple (built in 13th century to honor king kertanegara from the singosari dynasty).  Afterward transfer to Sidoarjo City. Shopping at Tanggulangin which known for their leather products with reasonable prices (such as belts, purses, bags, shoes). Continue to buy “Oleh-oleh” at Sidoarjo Shrimp Crackers which have so many traditional snacks of Indonesia. Have lunch at local restaurant. Transfer to Surabaya City. Visit Mosque & Tomb of Sunan Ampel , one of the member of Walisongo - the nine saints - who spread the moslem religion in Java at 14^th Century , you may also have your chance to shop in this Arab street. Then the last visit  is to Tunjungan Plaza Shopping Mall. Afterward have dinner at local restaurant.  After that check into Artotel Hotel (3«) or Bisanta Hotel (3«).

 

Day 05 / Sun - 03 Feb 2013 : SURABAYA – TRANSFER OUT (B)

After breakfast free at your own leisure until departure time you will be picked up by our tour guide then transfer to Surabaya airport. End of services.

 

Package price (Minimum 4 pax) :

RM 1015 / pax  twin sharing

RM 375 / pax sgl supp

 
This not including tips for the tour guide ( a minimum of RM 10 per pax x per day). If you go with a group of 4 x RM 10 x day x 2 tour guide). This tips kind of COMPULSORY for them.
 

Woww!!. More than 4k for 4 person, That's quite a lot of money. So, I decided to visit Surabaya and plan on my own. I started it by searching for info , intresting place, duration and etc. Based on the ittenaries, I choose only what I feel suitable for my family and I.  I search from internet and found a reliable Car rental company. They rent cars with driver www.yes-rentcar.com .

Avanza G, 2010-2011 

Rp. 300.000 / 12jam

Rp. 400.000 / fullday

Xenia 2009-2011

Rp. 275.000 / 12jam

Rp. 375.000 / fullday

Grand Innova 2011-2012

Rp. 425.000 / 12jam

Rp. 525.000 / fullday

All New Avanza 2012

Rp. 325.000 / 12jam

Rp. 425.000 / fullday

All New Xenia 2012

Rp. 325.000 / 12jam

Rp. 425.000 / fullday

Avanza G, 2010-2011 

Rp. 300.000 / 12jam

Rp. 400.000 / fullday

Xenia 2009-2011

Rp. 275.000 / 12jam

Rp. 375.000 / fullday

Grand Innova 2011-2012

Rp. 425.000 / 12jam

Rp. 525.000 / fullday

All New Avanza 2012

Rp. 325.000 / 12jam

Rp. 425.000 / fullday

All New Xenia 2012

Rp. 325.000 / 12jam

Rp. 425.000 / fullday

 

 A very reasonable price, but the price exclude Toll Fare, Pertrol, Driver meals and accomotion (if have to stay over outside the area). I booked and Avanza G which is a 7 seater vehicle and very comfortable for four of us. 1 full day and the next day only for 12 hours. I booked 1 full day since we plan to go to Malang, visit the apple plntation and return on the same day, Journey to that apple plantation took 3 hours 1 way. The next 12 hours only for surabaya city tour. Settle with transportation.

The next step, search for a hotel or place to stay. I search on www.agoda.com , comparing hotels and rate with review score and found a homestay which I feel cheap and confortable. I book the for 4 nights, 2 rooms ( managed to get 1 VIP room and 1 business suite room ) . More info about the place on the next post.

I make sure accomodation and transportation settle  a week before depart to Surabaya.Finally, the day came. We went to Airport as our flight depart from LCCT at 9:45 pm. But as usual, the flight delay for 20 minutes.

We arrived in Juanda Airport surabaya  about midnight. I've informed theGuest house that we are going to stay for late check in earlier. As soon walked out from the arrival hall, taxi driver approached us. Earlier , I asked the receptionist t the guesthouse about the taxi rate and she told us it about 120,000 rp. But when the taxi driver approached us and I asked him about the rate, he said It's 92,000rp. Lots more cheaper. So, we took the cab.But, please be informed that in indonesia, your have to pay  toll fare and parking fee/entrence fee. Not included in the taxi fare. But overall still cheap since total I paid only 100,000rp.

We arrived at our destinasion and the receptionist was there to greet us. To be continue.