[nono1973]

Originally Posted by ssleight

Here’s my FR of my first trip to Batam. First of all, much thanks and gratitude to Bro Nono for his awesome guide and assistance in various matters.

1st and foremost,i am glad you find the guides useful. And even more thankful to you for reading and keeping your words.

Originally Posted by ssleight

This trip of mine (together with a friend) was meant to be a recce trip for me, so not much expectation. If you do like my FR, thanks in advance for the up

Bro Nono, if I made any mistakes / accuracies, feel free to point them out. Hehe.

I was actually waiting for you to complete your FR before commenting. I have already gotten the other half of the other FR from the other bro who were like you,writing the FR halfway,hehehe...and with your 2nd half,i now have zero incomplete good FR in my collection.

Thank you for sharing.

Originally Posted by ssleight

Brief summary:
- Duration: 2D1N (weekdays) (0940 to Batam; 2045 back to SG)
- Damage: Approx SGD $200 (all in)
- Transport Operator: Horizon Fast Ferry @ $48
- Hotel: Formosa Hotel Batam @ $45
- Evaluation:

o Generally a recce trip to check out the various massage places. I’m generally a massage-lover, so, if there’s special, it’s a bonus for me – if not, also no problem.
o Massage is very good at those clean places; see your luck at those dirty ones.
o As for SYT quality, don’t expect too good quality at those ‘known’ places. If you want, just go booking joints or, as bro Nono says, have to self-explore those ‘hidden gems’ (perhaps).

So much information gathered on your recce trip. So the next trip,you will be more established. The recce team has gone to the ground to do the research. Now you more or less knows what Batam has in store,if you happen to find what you are looking for,next trip would be deem much simpler.

Originally Posted by ssleight

- 0940 (Batam time): Arrival + Clear Immigration. (Don’t try to jump queue by going to the Indonesian passport counter. Saw one Singaporean tried doing that – immigration officer sent him to the ‘All Passports’ queue. He start from the back – face damn black and started mouthing curse words.)

You will have to keep silence and not plan with your phone too. Jump queue? I believe most sillyporean wont jump queue tho,hehehe...

Originally Posted by ssleight

- 1030: Ate mee goreng at one of those stalls at the Habourbay Terminal (“HBT”) @ 15000 Rp (quite delicious)

Just Harbour Bay,there are a few things to "see" :

1. Get your return ferry boarding pass from Harbour Bay Harizon to Harbour Front if you are there on peak season or weekends (if you plan to return on Sundays or public holidays).

2. There's a theatre (cinema Blitz) at Harbour Bay Mall.

3. A massage shop at Harbour Bay Mall called Manzu.

4. Try looking for Ocean Massage which is beside Wey Wey 2 sea food restaurant.

Originally Posted by ssleight

- 1045: Slow walk to Pacific Palace Hotel. Want to look see look see around too. Also, on the map looks like quite near. Approx 10-15 minutes walk.

This is one of the few description that when one says Pacific Palace Hotel is just almost beside Harbour Bay but the beside was actually quite a distance away. The reason for being seemingly far is becos you can only exit from the tolling entrance.

So near,but yet so far. One will have to walk almost to Ggi Hotel 1st being being able to walk to Pacific Palace as on the map above.

Originally Posted by ssleight

- 1110: Octopuss Spa. Do note that there are two sets of elevators. One is in the main building (that will not lead you to the spa); the other is in the ballroom side of the hotel – that is the correct one. Go to the 8th floor. You can see the reception the moment you step out. There are mainly two packages:

o H1 (396k; 1.5 hours massage; include 1 HJ (thanks to Bro Nono for this info – the receptionist won’t tell you that); and
o H2 (696k, no massage; FJ; can choose girl (according to receptionist, the girls will parade for you).

We chose neither since my friend and I found it quite expensive. We requested for a tour around the place. Facilities seem ok. Rooms come in various classes. Did not inquire as to the price differences of these rooms. But they appear to be all private ones. Never got to see the girls, but saw 2 staff at one of the counters in the spa were really hot, young and slim. If those are the MLs, it would be really enjoyable. Nevertheless, still exercised self-control, since we felt it wasn’t too wise to blow 1/3 of our budgets at the start of the trip.

Pacific Hotel itself have 2 buildings,one of them was the Discotheque/KTV building. The other is where people lives. Octopuss spa is at where discotheuqe/pub/KTV building. Octopuss spa is a good place to kill time tho,hehehe...it will be up to individual to explore as even if i go there once,i believe wont have the capability to know what they have in store. I think around 400k for a 1.5 hour massage that comes with a HJ isnt really expensive,hehehe...

Originally Posted by ssleight

- 1135: Took a taxi to Formosa Hotel @ 20k Rp.

You must have sound and look like a local. Or with someone who does,hehehe...during some of solo trips,i took a taxi from Harbour Bay to Money changer opposite formosa hotel,and then to kaha to buy hotel discount voucher before heading to Formosa Hotel again to check in at 40k (as written in one of my Batam trip summary). That also doesnt mean that my point to point trip cost 10k per trip tho,hehehe...thrice in Batam,i travel from Formosa to Harbour Bay (last day of trip) with no payment too,hehehe...it really depends on how one does the maths.

Originally Posted by ssleight

- 1150: Checked in. Hotel is neat. Wifi at the 3rd floor is particularly weak. So do note that. Also, try to make sure you ask for a room that is facing away from the construction activities going on presently (read below to know why).

Thank you for your advise,it does look like there are major works in and around Formosa Hotel. Heard they will be building a new higher floors service apartment block directly behind Formosa Hotel and later merge with the main hotel building.

Dont know what the new Formosa color theme will be like,hehehe...thank you for the heads up on the construction behind the hotel. Photo above shows the front. Shall avoid the rooms behind the hotel if i were to stay there.

Cheers!