Saturday, January 19, 2013

Batam Trip

Batam is an island in Riau Islands Province of Indonesia. It is located approximately 20km off Singapore, with the ferry journey from Singapore to Batam taking around 45 minutes – the perfect weekend getaway near Singapore.

I blogged about going to Batam the last time here: http://coffeeluvs.blogspot.sg/2010/08/time-to-finally-blog-about-my-batam.html. My previous blog post is so duh with no photos, etc. I will blog better this time. As I read my old blog entries, I find that my blog posts are getting better. Hope that my readers will like and appreciate it and that I can improve my writing skills.

Anyway, Onyee said that she wanted to spend her birthday overseas. Due to budget and time constraint, Onyee, Rachel and I decided to just head over to Batam for a short getaway. We took the 9:30am ferry from Singapore Cruise Centre at Harbourfront centre. More info here: http://www.batamfast.com/home/index.ashx. For hotel wise, we stayed at The Hills. More info here: http://www.thehillshotelbatam.com. Although it is a budget hotel, the staff's service is excellent. Very prompt and polite. Moreover, it is located just across Nagoya Hill which is superb. Very convenient to go shopping, spa, facial, etc. Although I heard some people mention that there's only wifi in the lobby but not in their rooms but we had wifi in our room. Perhaps it is because we stayed on the second floor which is quite close to the hotel lobby, that's why there's free wifi in our room. By the way, we stayed in a deluxe room.

When we reached Batam, there was a bus to take us to The Hills. After we had checked in and left our luggages in our hotel room, we crossed the road to Nagoya Hill for lunch at A&W. After lunch, we got a driver (Onyee booked him when we were still in Singapore) to drive us around Batam and see some of the tourist attractions. We even went to a temple where I prayed. The driver cost $7 per hour. Actually, there wasn't really any tourist attraction in Batam. It is still a better place to shop in the supermarket, do facial, spa, massage, foot reflexology, manicure, pedicure, eat, etc.



Checking in to our hotel. The hotel lobby isn't grand but doable. 





The bathtub isn't clean.


Nagoya Hill.



At one of the supposedly famous bridge in Batam.




The scenery is beautiful.




OMG! My hair is so messy!

At the Batam museum.

Batam's old jail cell.











Afterwards, we decided to stop by a kelong for some drinks.




The coconut tasted really awful =.=

Dragon fruit drinks.

Onyee enjoying her dragon fruit drink.

We went to the factory outlet near BCS Mall. They sell lots of T-shirts there. Should really explore BCS Mall one day. Didn't have the chance to do so when I was there.

Based on some blog reviews, Onyee, Rachel and I decided to try out Wey Wey Seafood. You all can just take a cab there. Most taxi drivers should know the way.







The otah is simply awesome! 

The butter crab is so-so only.


I love the sotong too.


The black pepper crab is also so-so.

After dinner, we took a cab to our hotel. Cost about Rp50,000. Rachel slept in the hotel room after dinner while Onyee and I went supermarket shopping. We bought lots of pads. The pads there are really cheap and of reasonable quality. Even their local brand Charm's (didn't see it in Singapore) quality is not bad. I also really love the Frestea (can't remember the spelling) there. Cheap and good.

We shopped in the supermarket until it's time for closing. The cashiers at the check-out counters are so slow. As some of the exit doors had closed, we lost our way and had to make a detour back to our hotel. Walked until we were so tired.

Breakfast in The Hills.




My Loots! Haha.

After breakfast, we went to Eska Wellness (http://www.eska-wellness.com/aboutUs.php). I did facial, eye-brow trimming and foot reflexology. Onyee did facial and body massage. Rachel did facial and eye-brow trimming. I would do manicure and pedicure if I have the time and money. By the way, they do accept Singapore dollars there. If you simply can't survive without Internet, there's free wifi in Eska and the Hypermart at Nagoya Hill.

Their facial room. Not much privacy but you can do facial with your friends.

Can wear our own clothes while doing facial. Something which I like.

After facial. The therapists did a great job in removing my blackheads. Although it was really painful, at least my face was clean =). Decided to tip her Rp20,000.

Went for eye-brow trimming too. 


I also did foot reflexology. The foot reflexologist is not bad. Feel quite comfortable and he can speak English.

We had a quick lunch around Nagoya area before heading back to our hotel to get our luggages and went back to Singapore. The cab fare from our hotel to the ferry terminal cost Rp60,000.

I like the Fruit tea there too.

The Ayam Prenet is not bad as well. 


Ice-cream at A&W. Melts really fast!


38 comments:

Robin said...

Yummy seafood and nice place to visit too

elderflowertea said...

@Robin: Wanna go there some day? Hee~

Robin said...

Sure dear 

elderflowertea said...

@Robin: Yay! xD

Webbie said...

Hi elderflowertea, your trip description was awesome, that was very informative. I will surely visit Batam one of the day and must pamper myself in Eska spa massage and the Wey Wey Seafood. Can't wait to go now. Thanks for sharing. Have a nice day.
Cheers!

elderflowertea said...

@Webbie: Thanks! I will be going to Batam again soon. Stay tuned~

tracy said...

How much did u spend at wey wey ?

elderflowertea said...

@tracy: I cant remember exactly how much. Around SGD30 plus.

tracy said...

Ic! Thank u!

Anonymous said...

hi, do you have the contact number for the driver? as it's quite dangerous to take cabs there, so thot if u hv a trustworthy driver, would like to get the contact number from you... thanks~ ^_^

elderflowertea said...

@Anonymous: Hi, unfortunately I dont have the number anymore. But I went there again yesterday and I took cab from Batam Ferry Terminal to Nagoya and back, it is okie. We bought the taxi coupon at the counter for cabs. Didnt take those at the roadsides. My friend said that it's more safe. Hope this helps =)

Anonymous said...

Oic.. okokies.. thank you very much! I'm going on tues.. shall try the taxi with coupon :)

Catelyn said...

Hi! Great review!

Umm by the way how much did you paid for the trip to Batam? E.g. the hotels, ferry and any taxes?

I'm looking at this website now http://store.worldvision.com.sg/1-day-batam-city-shopping-tour/

World Vision Travel has a $25 batam package, which I think is an absolute steal, right!

Thanks!

Catelyn said...

Thanks!

I finally booked a trip with World Vision Travel last, last weekend, it was absolutely worth it!

My bf and I ended up buying the 2 day batam package and really enjoyed ourselves! Only downside is the trip was kind of short, only 2 days haha.

I highly recommend the spa treatment along with the package if you want to treat yourself. Will definitely buy from them again. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks.. My friend once go to batam, he just wants to take a break. He stayed at Swiss bel harbour bay hotel, and he loves it a lot.

Now ticket to Batam is pretty cheap,My friend bought it at ebay only 35sgd.

http://www.ebay.com.sg/itm/261321802373?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Chris said...

At ferry terminal, there's a free bus to The Hills Hotel? How long does the bus reached? Need to pay anything?

Chris said...

Is the bus from ferry terminal to The Hills Hotel free? Where to take the bus? Need to pay anything?

elderflowertea said...

@Chris: If you are staying in the hotel, you can arrange for bus pick-up. It's included in the hotel stay.

Unknown said...

if u guys want get all sites travelling batam,
i recommended u guys,
must search www.batamciti.com
all sites batam is completed in www.batamcit.com




Unknown said...

@ robin : yes, u can ask the hills hotel to pick up, as i know, bus pick up is free,

thanks
vernand
www.batamciti.com

JasonNg said...

Harbour bay wey wey seafood & pacific hotel foodcourt, the last seafood restaurant is also worth trying. Cook is a malaysian chinese. Newly open Nagoya Hill hotel with free transportation, offers massage & spa services as well. u can go check out their site at www.batammassage.com

hilly said...

Cool blog! I've posted batam comparison here

batam comparison

Danial said...

hi. u mentioned about hiring a driver for $7/hour. can we get his contact?

mirahbella@rocketmail.com

elderflowertea said...

@Danial: Hi, I'm sorry but I don't have the driver's contact details. My friend just randomly googled and hired him.

Anonymous said...

hi can i ask roughly how much does it cost for a massage in batam?

elderflowertea said...

@Anonymous: Foot reflexology cost about SGD15. They have many different kinds of massages at different prices.

andy said...

Thx u for ur post. Informative.
If anyone happen to goto batam, cekidot for latest n updated info with some deals for ferry ticket.. http://www.iwantspa.com
enjoy ur time in batam

justin said...

hi all , I usuall y paid 30k for taxi trips less than 3 km .

elderflowertea said...

@justin: What's the distance from Batam Ferry Terminal to Nagoya?

Anonymous said...

How much you spend for the facial treatment?

elderflowertea said...

@Anonymous: I can't remember it now. Please check Eska website for the prices of the different facials.

Unknown said...

Hi I along with my Friend wanted to Visit Batam.. Its gonna be a 2 day trip.. Need your suggestions on it... DO you think its worth it or should we spend those 2 days in singapore... Which is better Singapoe or BATAM

Unknown said...

Hi... I and my Friend wanted to visit Batam next moth for a 2 day trip... Do u think its gonna be worth... or Do u suggest us to stay back in singapore,, Need your suggestions on this..

Anonymous said...

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Unknown said...

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The following is our address: Sei Enam Seafood, Jalan Engku Putri, Nusantara Golden Block A no: 4-6, Batam Centre.

We provide transport to and fro hotels or malls around batam centre area or the ferry terminal. Another benefit that you might not get elsewhere is the quality assurance of our seafood products. You do not pay if our seafood is not fresh.

For reservations: +62 778 748 6721 or +62 853 6009 6888, or
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Looking forward to serving you!
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Herry said...

Hi,
Great Review.
if next trip, you are looking for transportation for drive you around in Batam, you may contact Telp/WA: +628126171161 or Pin BBM 766CF877 (Herry), good services and affordable price.

Taxi Paris Orly said...

All the photos are quite good and seems your trip was a nice one. Good photo blog on your trip. Thanks for sharing.

Batam Massage said...

Nice article!