1) No visa is required for Singaporean, and Malaysian.
2) Filling up of white card is not required as well (for Singaporean).
3) Batam is an hour behind Singapore meaning if Singapore is 10am now, Batam is 9am.
4) Check in is one hour (two hours during peak, please check with ferry operator) prior to ferry departure.
5) It is advisable not to bring raw foods into Batam (I know some will bring over for barbeque purpose) as they might be confiscated, and you will be ended up with a fine. So no point right?
6) No talking at Batam Custom as officers require a quiet environment when they perform their checks at the immigration. Visitors might be asked to leave immediately. Refer to the news here.
7) Do charter a private driver if you intend to visit several places of interest. Most of the taxis in Batam do not have a meter, and would probably be charging you at higher rate per trip. More details here.
8) Note that the return tickets from Batam issued at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal still requires a barcode to be provided at the Batam's Batam Fast counter unlike the ones in Singapore where you just scan the QR codes.
~ 23rd March 2016 - Day 1 ~
I have always wanted to visit Batam again, but was too afraid to bring my boy along after I read the news of Singaporeans being sent back due to talking at Batam's Immigration. My boy would be wailing even more if I asked him to stop. Now that he is 4 years plus, I have decided to try my luck. So I told him the moment he opens his mouth, the Custom officer would lock him up alone in a dark room. Lol..it worked you know, totally silence.
One thing I like about Batam Fast is, there is no hidden cost. I remembered the last time I took a ferry to Indonesia, I needed to pay terminal fee during boarding & departing time. I don't mind paying up surcharge, but the fee has to be clearly stated upon booking to avoid any inconvenience later on. Total charges including of travel insurance for the three of us are SGD159.
Breakdowns as follows:
1*Adult return ticket - SGD20
1*Child return ticket - SGD17
Surcharge - SGD42
3*SG terminal fee for three - SGD18 (SGD6 each)
3*Batam terminal fee for three - SGD18 (SGD6 each)
3*Travel insurance for three - SGD24 (SGD8 each)
We drove to Changi Village Food Centre for breakfast as there was nothing to eat at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Remember to try out the famous International Muslim Nasi Lemak stall.
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| An adorable cat resting in a bicycle's basket |
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| We went to check in our baggage, and there was a RP 10,000 fee. Should have carried it to the ferry on our own. Current rate is SGD1 equals to RP 9,400. |
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| We just need to scan the QR codes on our tickets before boarding, pretty hassle free now. |
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| We reached after about 30 minutes of ferry ride! |
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| Our receipt for baggage handling. |
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| On our way to Montigo Resort, about 10 minutes ride. |
I booked my villa through www.agoda.com/uob as there is a promotion for UOB credit card holders of up to additional 7% discount on top of usual room rate. In total, I paid SGD480 for two nights' stay. This was after 25% early bird discount by Montigo Resorts if you booked one month prior to checking in.
Montigo resort provides free return transfer only if you are arriving at Nongsa Ferry Terminal. Details of passengers, and date of arrival has to be clearly stated on comment box prior to booking with Agoda. Alternatively, you may contact Resort's staffs directly on the transfer arrangement.
Note that Montigo is extremely strict about additional person staying at their villa. We booked at the rate for two adults, and came to know later that any child above 3 years old, is considered as an adult. Hence, being the third person staying at the villa, we are required to pay my additional SGD48.40 net per night. This is the same rate for fourth person, and the fifth had to pay SGD121 net per night. Most of the villas come with two bedrooms which are accommodated for four adults only. The fifth one would have to sleep on the sofa.
I was quite upset on the charges, and it was also my own fault for failing to read the terms and conditions. Fortunately, Montigo Resort had made an exception to absorb the charges for my boy this time round. I was so thankful for their kind gesture. However, please do not assume or take it for granted that Montigo will provide the same for you. One has to be reasonable, and not making a big fuss when you travel.
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| Welcome drink, and wet towel. |
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| The view from reception area. |
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| If you are bringing along your children, you may check out the different activities at Olo Kids' Club. |
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| The friendly staffs at Montigo, always greeting you with a smile. |
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| Villa 51, our relax-eat-swim-all-day for three days two nights. |
First Storey comes with a large living room, dining table outside the balcony with private pool, kitchenette for some light cooking, a bathroom where you could clean up after a swim. You don't even need to walk up to second storey for a bath. The two rooms along the walkway of bathroom are storerooms, don't attempt to open them. They are locked anyway.
Second storey comes with two bedrooms, one with two single beds, and a bathroom. The other one is with a King size bed, and huge bathroom.
The first thing we did? Yes, jumped into our private pool! It was also a good chance for hubby to teach our boy how to swim.
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| We were famished after our swim, so in-room dining it is. SGD or Rupiah is accepted, but only change in Rupiah will be given back. |
If your children do not wish to participate in any of the activities, they could still enjoy swimming, playing at the playground or reading some books.
After perspiring too much from the treasure hunt, we headed back to our villa to swim again. Sorry, but I will be bombarding with a lot of pools photos. And I mean a lot.
We had our dinner at Pantai Restaurant (opens only in the evening), and the Chinese foods served were extremely delicious, and affordable. Thumbs up for the waitress' service as we were informed before hand on what were the unavailable items on their menu. I personally dislike to visit a restaurant whereby almost every item I ordered was sold out. I will literally leave without having anything. The waitress even asked if we had any food allergies.
~ 24th March 2016 - Day 2 ~
Rise and shine! I took this picture from our terrace.
Montigo's buffet breakfast has a lot of varieties, even better spread than some of the hotels in Singapore. They have soup, noodle, egg, and prata stations apart from usual fruits, salads, breads, drinks, cereals etc.
Time for a stroll down the jetty. You may try out some water sports if you are interested.
We signed up for three hours' activities at Olo Kids' Club at RP 10,000++ per activity. When you are a parent, all you could think of is whether your children will enjoy themselves during their trip overseas. I felt so blessed when I looked at my boy having fun while learning new things.
Papa, and son goofing around while waiting for the first activity to be started.
Activity One - Arts & Craft
My boy learnt how to make an octopus, and a lion using toilet paper roll.
Activity Two - Hand & Face Painting
I was glad that my boy chose to draw a Dracula (the easiest of all face painting). He was given a chance to paint the Kakak's (sister) hand, that was just so fun.
Activity Three - Cookie Making
You get to roll the ready made chocolate chips cookie dough, and making shapes out of some cookie moulds. Once completed, these cookies would be sent to the kitchen for baking, and to be delivered to your villa directly. They tasted so yummylicious that we ate non-stop.
Our lunch was at Tadd's before we went back to take a dip in the pool again.
We could vaguely see Singapore from our villa. So near yet so far. Can you spot MBS?
Dinner at Pantai Restaurant again as we simply love its Chinese food.
Before we called it a night, we went to chill up at the terrace. It would be perfect if the sky is full of million dazzling stars just like the one we saw at Queenstown, New Zealand. The moon was truly round, and bright though.
~ 25th March 2016 - Day 3 ~
The breakfast menu totally changed which was kind of good or you would be bored to death eating the same food for two days straight. However, I actually missed the roti prata, and maggi goreng on our Day 2 breakfast. *cries*
Our last quick soak in the pool before checking out.
The two boys who could not take their eyes off these lovely K-pop stars on the tv. Tsk tsk..
One last shot of Montigo before we bid goodbye!
You can still buy the famous Batam Layer Cakes from ferry terminal.
Singapore Cruise Centre at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal
50 Tanah Merah Ferry Road Singapore 498833 | +65 6513 2200
http://www.singaporecruise.com.sg/index.php/terminals/scctanah-merah
Parking Fee: SGD1.07 per hour or part thereof (capped at $20.00 per 24 hours block) Mon to Sun
Batam Fast
http://www.batamfast.com/home/index.ashx
Jalan Hang Lekir, Nongsa Batam, Indonesia | +62 778 776 8888
