This trip supposed to be during Christmas but was postponed. From the respond of booking of hotel room and ferry, i am prepared for huge crowd to flock the island. This island is now a famous destination from Singapore (not just Singaporean) over to catch well-deserve break, especially for their hours of Spa massage. It was tremendous different from more 15 years ago. Shopping malls sprout the island, various type of Spa/massage and category of hotels multiply near them.
That the Indonesia Batam now.
The departure of ferry will be from harhourfront (beside Vivo Shopping Mall). It a short journey (45 mins) away to Batam Centre. Unlike going to Johor Bahru with traffic jam, this will be "human jam", but arrival time not as unpredictable. (Above) The ferry terminal has a great view overlooking Resort World Sentosa.
The map show a guide of the ferry travelling from Singapore Sentosa to Indonesia Batam.
(Above) Passengers waiting for checking-in. You can take breakfast Kaya toast or have Coffee at Singapore Kopi (Coffee) lover "ToastBox".
(Below) After check-in, watch out for your gate number/letter and be prepared to follow the snaky queue, especially during holidays long weekends.
*You can purchase cheaper Ferry tickets from Carousell ($30 with return). And you can use them as long not over the expiry date. Present this ticket at the Habourfront ticketing counter to book your departure in advance and get yourself a boarding pass. You will need this ticket (below) to book your return at Batam ferry terminal. You can reserved (email: btc@sindoferry.com.sg) your return slots.
< Our Departure was 12;20pm. Gate open 11::35am. Gate close 12:05pm. >
Arrival at Batam Centre Ferry Terminal. Can you see Harris Hotel? That's one of the Tripadvisor highly rated.
Mega Mall is connected from the 2nd floor with sheltered bridge.
View from the bridge between Mega Mall & Ferry terminal.
We took a taxi outside Ferry terminal and was charged IDR70000 for about 20mins journey to our "Grand Nagoya 68 Hotel" (above). Super-peak was charged SGD$26. It's a simple hotel with simple room, but friendly staffs and great location. I booked two rooms, one was alright but the other air-con not working well. The bed was alright. You will get a soap, bath towel and two mineral water in the room. Any other stuffs, you got to bring your own. Both rooms water pressure were low, but acceptable for me. It's a good way of learning to live in different lifestyle from Singapore.
Socket type use at Indonesia Batam
(Below) The street outside the hotel.
Nagoya Hill Mall was just 5 mins walk away.
Batam plaza (Lucky Plaza) - i did not go in as this plaza shops seem like closing down. Only left few selling those mobile phones accessories and phones.
Formosa hotel beside the Lucky Plaza.
Beside the Nagoya 68 hotel, there is this Supermart which serve like our 7-11. Toothpaste cost about SGD$2.40 (SGD$1 = IDR 9500)
You can see Nagoya Hill Shopping mall from the distance away.
Plenty of food restaurants in the mall. A cinema but mostly indo-shows. The A&W that many from Singapore missed - Root beer float. A food court with live music. A supermarket.
The Colorful and creative Egg Tart bakery shop. Those egg tarts taste great when bought but don't taste as nice when cold. They have peanuts/cheese kaya/kaya/red bean/original,etc flavor.
This is a Dim Sum and chinese Cuisine restaurant inside the Nagoya Mall. If you missed chinese food, then this the one to try. The Claypot beancurd was great! Char Siew can do without.
Spa massage can be found all along the street outside Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall.
One of the top rated in Tripadvisor is "Majesty Spa & Massage". If you want try this, you have to advance booking. They provide transport to fetch you. Business was great fully booked so i have no feedback for them but i can say that their lobby was exquisite and welcoming.
If you are skeptical about cheap and good, i can only say trying is believing.
You should try "Five star 1" to agree with me. 75 mins Foot reflexology for IDR80000 (SGD$8).
Remember to close back your mouth (in disbelieving). Initially i was too! Have you try foot reflex which massage not just your foots, your legs, your head, and even massage your back with you laying down with back face up. I truly will missed that now.
Sakura Spa massage was not recommended. We paid for two hours but everything completed very early. And massage skill not that good as compare to "Five Star 1" and cost so much more.
If you want local food, you can try stalls opposite Nagoya 68 hotel. At night they do sell Satay too.
Morning, you can have fish porridge or Noodles like Mee rebus, etc. The owner is indo-chinese and staffs are indonesian. Coffee (IDR6000), two fish porridges with eggs (IDR30000).
Time to cruise back! We shall visit you again - Batam
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