A Guide to Batam

[benandjerry]

Anyone know are there any fishing pond for fishing in batam or any boatman contact? Tia..

 

[crazydeals]

Had my visit to Batam over the weekend. Had a nice time, though it was short. The place is very hot..We were staying in Swiss-Belotel Harbourbay and it was a good hotel, though its still work in progress. Its very near to the ferry terminal and there are many good seafood restaurants nearby also. The buffet breakfast in the hotel was awesome.
The tour guide took us to some nearby attractions like the Buddhist temple, some dance performance, Chocolate Factory, some shopping mall and all. We had a Buffet lunch as well, which was also tasty. There was nothing much to be done other than this as the other attractions took more time to go and our package didn't had time for that. So we skipped that and went for a massage also, which was very good and relaxing.
Over all it was a good experience and is a place to visit, just for an outing. Only think is it will take time to adjust to the currency. Also while on return, the DFS at Singapore didnt allow me to buy liquor as they say I have to be out of Singapore for 3 days to buy..
Overall, it was a nice experience...

 

[Jollibean]

Harris Hotel - Batam Center

Hi all

Can someone share what can we do in Batam for a short 2D/1N trip? We are a couple with an almost 1-year-old baby.

I'm eyeing Harris Hotel at Batam Center, being near the port and a shopping centre. (with a baby in tow, moving about is a bit of concern)

-Is there any recommended resto or seafood place near that area?
-Is there a beach within Batam Center? How about a seafood place?

Thank you in advance!

 

[ck47.me]

Hi,

Anyone need a guide or driver for weekend base trip, can contact me.

 

[weird]

This is really nice info. Bookmarked first.

 

[nikomesh]

Important tips for fellow Singaporeans

Just to share some tips as I just came back from my trip

1) During hari raya - or for that matter, long weekends, avoid batam centre ferry terminal at all cost.

I waited 3 hours, no joke in the queue to clear the customs. Go to harbour bay terminal instead. Reason is because less ferries go there, and less people clear customs. If your hotel is near batam centre, take a cab from harbour bay, its more worth it than waiting 3 hours in the line with your family. Some people fainted literally and they brought wheelchairs.

2) Nagoya area

The area where all the action is in my opinion. Makan, shopping, massage/spa - the good parlors are all located here. Im taking about clean ones. So it make sense to book hotel here. I booked harmoni suites, which is worth the money i paid. It is clean and have quite good breakfast.

Note: There is the harmoni hotel and the harmoni suites, I stayed at suites, so i cannot comment on how the other one fare.

The 2 malls you can check out here is Nagoya mall and BCS. Eat also the famous Ayam Penyet Rai at Nagoya mall. Very shiok.

3) Taxi / cab

If you need the hotel receptionist to book a taxi, ask them to call the taxi that is not under the hotel rate. Just say you need outside taxi, and ask them help to arrange for one. If you do not mention, they will give u the "hotel taxi" which cost more.

Hope this few tips can help in your up-coming trip.

Just to add, here is a picture of my 3 hours queue at to clear the customs.

 

[dleodleo]

Just to add, here is a picture of my 3 hours queue at to clear the customs.

Wow that's very long man the queue!

 

[dleodleo]

Hi all

Can someone share what can we do in Batam for a short 2D/1N trip? We are a couple with an almost 1-year-old baby.

I'm eyeing Harris Hotel at Batam Center, being near the port and a shopping centre. (with a baby in tow, moving about is a bit of concern)

-Is there any recommended resto or seafood place near that area?
-Is there a beach within Batam Center? How about a seafood place?

Thank you in advance!

You can consider Swiss-bel harbourbay hotel which is 5 mins or less walk from the harbourbay terminal. There is a shopping mall and a cheap supermarket beside the hotel. The seafood restaurants (similar style as East Coast seafood) is near the ferry terminal too.

You can ask the hotel to arrange taxi to Nagoya Hills. However, I found that things in Nagoya Hills are abit more expensive than other area. Many locals suggest to shop at BCS instead which is nearby.

My next trip I will try to stay near BCS mall.

Do share your experience with us when you are back.

 

[dleodleo]

Can someone advice how much money i need to carry with me for a 2D1N trip to batam, excluding hotel stay and ferry travel, for 3 adults and 2 kids..

You have asked a very difficult question. We wouldn't know your spending habit, how would we be able to advise?

I can tell you the stuff in the supermarket is very cheap compared to Singapore, It can be as cheap as 80%. An example is : sensodyne toothpaste cost $8+ in Singapore where in Batam cost only S$2+, I have checked the packaging and country manufactured, they are of the same.

Each of us changed S$200 but it was not sufficient for 1 pax.

You can change some in Singapore and bring some SGD to change in batam if not enough. The exchange should be not much difference.

 

[suangern]

My next trip I will try to stay near BCS mall.

Do share your experience with us when you are back.

BCC hotel is a good choice, just beside BCS mall only...

 

[ck47.me]

I spent a lot of time researching for what to do in Batam for a short 2D1N trip. I thought it'd be a waste not to put it up. Here are some tips on getting around, where to go etc.

Deals aren't as cheap as they seem. For most, you have to add $27 ferry terminal fees to the listed price, so you don't exactly save on them. Moreover, you have to stick to their itinerary and tip their drivers. They take you to the Polo Outlet shop, the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Temple, Batam Chocolate House etc but honestly, I wasn't interested in any of those. I wanted to go where the locals go and do some sightseeing.

I booked a deluxe room for $60/night at GGi Hotel. Then 2 return ferry tickets for $94. That makes $154 for a 2D1N trip for 2, $77/person.

Nothing to see in Batam? You'll be mistaken. A series of 6 bridges connect several islands near Batam to each other, and the view is fantastic. I only went to 2/6 bridges because I set out late. Go there for the sunset! The drive there is about 40mins. A vendor in Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall Food Street introduced me to Ab. He drove me to Barelang Bridge and back for only 200.000IDR ($25). A nice man, quiet but very helpful. I was so happy with his service I gave him 50.000IDR more. You can contact him at 0812-8670-529.Other drivers offer at least $60, min 1 day.

I did dinner at Harbour Bay Walk, Wey Wey Seafood Restaurant. It's not as fancy as the famed Harbour Bay Seafood Restuarant, but I prefer it as it is more laid-back and less lit; great for stargazing. The band is great. 4 charming young men, talented and not too loud. They set the perfect mood for a seaside restaurant. The food was cooked well but not fresh! How come?! It's a pity because you can tell the chef is skilled. I rejected one of the crabs because it smelled like ammonia. Thankfully, the lady serving us totally made up for it. She bravely went through other parts of the crab and was not afraid to try for herself. After agreeing that the dish was not up to par, she offered to replace it. My dinner mood was dampened but not destroyed. While the restaurant should definitely step up on their livestock (some fish in the tanks looked almost dead) they did the rest well. We ordered prawn, mee goreng, vegetables and crab and our bill was only 216.000IDR.

For after-dinner drinks, I hopped around the hotels and bars. In Planet Holiday's The Summit, the band was performing for tables, chairs and waiters. Other places were more dead than the fish in Wey Wey Seafood Restaurant. We found ourselves in Harmoni's NoName Bar where there was a good crowd, 50.000IDR drinks and a talented band that did covers of Katy Perry and One Direction, then moved on to sappy ballads. We were desperate to find a rock bar and trotted down a lane of raunchy bars to find one, but failed. Should have just stayed at NoName.

The next day started with a massage at Isabella Massage House. 7/10 for massage but the prices are exorbitant and the service is awful. I paid $42/person for a 1.5hr foot, hand and shoulder massage. A walk down the street got me to Eska, offering the very same massage at less than a third of the price in Isabella. Eska, according to reviews is great for massage too.

To get a real view on Batam, go down to Jodoh Boulevard, where there's a very happening night market selling pirated DVDs, clothes and food. It's less hectic in the day, but still fun to tour. Keep your wallet safe, wear shoes you can throw away and it's best if you are accompanied by a male. Still, it's a great photo opportunity, just make sure you triple bind the camera to yourself.

The streets in Batam aren't very walkable, but we walked it any way. Be alert and keep your eye on people who might be tailing you. Fortunately we didn't get harassed. Some friendly people tried to make conversation, we just replied them in few words but never stopped walking. And remember to invest a body scrub to get rid of all that dirt from vehicles and the street!

a very nice and useful guide for planner who going alone instead of buying ripped off deal package from tour group..

 

[AndyMartin]

Wow that's very long man the queue!

Never been to Batam in 2 years. Is this a regular occurrence clearing customs nowadays?

 

[dleodleo]

Never been to Batam in 2 years. Is this a regular occurrence clearing customs nowadays?

I went in July and alight at harbour bay, the queue was short, less than 5 mins, we clear the custom.

 

[dede1217]

Batam if buy those online groupon is more worth right ?

 

[Handsome_guy]

Batam if buy those online groupon is more worth right ?

Not worth la

 

[ck47.me]

Batam if buy those online groupon is more worth right ?

read the footnote or term and conditions, don't missed out the surcharge (so-called "terminal tax or tips to guide"), usually near $30 / pax. so it's almost $100/pax, and minimal buying usually 2,, that would be 200/2 pax..

 

[dede1217]

read the footnote or term and conditions, don't missed out the surcharge (so-called "terminal tax or tips to guide"), usually near $30 / pax. so it's almost $100/pax, and minimal buying usually 2,, that would be 200/2 pax..

bought before groupon few years back to batam.
see some good promo like mercure hotel 35 ...
if include taxes is 30 only correct?
so total is 65 dollars per person
got day tour + one meal + transfer two way nt bad right ?

coz if book yourself mercure hotel mayb around 60+ per night for two ppl
include ferry etc will be around 80+ ?

 

[slang]

Really useful guide!

but i am still abit confused.

I am looking at Swiss-Belhotel harbour bay stay.

first time doing all these...can guide me on these? please pardon me.
intend to go free and easy without those tour package.

1) if I go hotel.com book swiss-belhotel, how do i go about with the ferry tickets?

2) besides booking hotel and ferry tickets, what else do i need to do or make phone calls or prepare anything?

3) if i book everything by myself, roughly how much will i be spending (excluding hotel price) ?

 

[ck47.me]

Really useful guide!

but i am still abit confused.

I am looking at Swiss-Belhotel harbour bay stay.

first time doing all these...can guide me on these? please pardon me.
intend to go free and easy without those tour package.

1) if I go hotel.com book swiss-belhotel, how do i go about with the ferry tickets?

Ferry is different. if you choose swiss-bel hotel@harbourbay, most likely your option of ferry is either Horizon Ferry / Batam Fast(with destination Harbourbay). Both charge at same price, 48 per return trip. However, if you choose other terminal, batam center for example, ferry ticket can be
cut down to $38, but since your hotel is at harbourbay, that $10 you saved couldn't cover taxi fare from batamcenter to swissbel hotel. The good thing about harbourbay is, there are less crowd at terminal, and many establishment around the location itself, such as seaside seafood, spa, supermarket, hangout place like de patros cafe.

2) besides booking hotel and ferry tickets, what else do i need to do or make phone calls or prepare anything?
beside booking hotel and ferry ticket, you need to define what is your goal for the trip. you want shop for grocery? you want go for spa & massage? you want eat seafood? then find what is the best place to do so.. feel free to ask. i try to help as much as i can on tips..

3) if i book everything by myself, roughly how much will i be spending (excluding hotel price) ?
again, need to define what is your target first..

 

[slang]

if decide to go Batam for massage and makan and shopping. its better to pay in SGD or in RP?

Usually how much you will exchange before leaving for batam?

anyone w experience can share?