BATAM BASICS - 2 Minute Primers
Departing Singapore - Stepping Ashore in Batam - Hotels - Eating Out - Entertainment
Air
Batam is accessable by air from Jakarta (10x daily) and Kuala Lumpur (3 x weekly).
Ferry
Batam is accessable by ferry from Singapore (40 x daily), Johor (15 x daily) and parts of Sumarta (4 x daily).
Visa
If you do not already have an Indonesian visa in your passport, bring US$25 in cash (US currency only please) to pay for a 30 day tourist visa. Your passport is supposed to be valid for 6 months.
Harbor Bay F.T is 10 min from Nagoya
Only "Wavemaster" Ferries operate between Singapore Harbor-Front and Batam Harbor Bay (which is 5 mins from Nagoya.). Batam Fast and and Penguin Ferries will bring you to one of Batam's four other ferrry terminals: i.e. Batam Center, Nongsa, Waterfront or Sekupang. See map below :
- From Singapore ::: The first ferry departs at 7am; the last at 9pm. (Spore time)
- From Batam ::: The first ferry departs at 6am; the last at 8.30pm (Batam Time)
Batam time is 1 hour behind Singapore time
The ferry trip takes one hour (not 45 minutes).
Departing Singapore for Batam
Guide
- DECIDE WHICH FERRY COMPANY (i.e. choose which terminal you wish to arrive in Batam.)
- CHECK IN LARGE BAGS AT THE PORTER SERVICE COUNTER.
- Don't trust the porter service to put your bag on the boat, check yourself that your bag was loaded on board.
- CHANGE MONEY
- Get some rupiah (about US$100 worth) (for the Batam taxi and starter money)
- Get US$25 (to pay for the 30 day tourist visa - in US currency.)
* Batam's Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal is 10 minutes from Nagoya.* Decide which ferry terminal you wish to arrive at* The Wavemaster Ferries check-in counter at the SporeHarbourfront FT brings you to Nagoya.* Harbourfront FT check-in counters are on the 3rd level.* Singapore Harbourfront FT Departure area is on the 2nd level - same as the Porter Service (called Ferry Baggage Check In).* Immigration Counters at Singapore's ferry terminals are woefully undermanned.* Allow plenty of time for long queues
Stepping Ashore in Batam
Before You Arrive
* Your passport is supposed to be valid for 6 months.* Have USD25 in USD currency to pay for for your 30 day visa.* Double check what has been stamped in your passport.* Bring $100 worth of Rupiah to pay for incidentals until you get organized in Batam.
Arriving at the Batam Ferry Terminal
1. THE BATAM FT PORTER SERVICE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SINGAPORE PORTER SERVICE.
In Singapore's FT's, you must use their porter service for larger bags. On the Batam side, you can drag your own bag, or use a porter. Up to you.
2. INDONESIA HAS STRICT IMMIGRATION RULES
Visit visas is issued on-arrival are for tourism purposes only. Don't get caught in a work situation on a tourist visa.
3. THE FT HOTEL BOOKING COUNTERS OFFER GOOD VALUE
Look for the "Hotel Booking Counter" (immediately after Immigration/Customs); the best downtown Nagoya hotels are Panorama Regency, Harmoni, Goodway, Planet and Hotel "i". They all charge walk-in rates above Sing Dlrs 85, so anything less than that from the Hotel Booking Counter is a good deal!
4. TAXI FARES ARE POSTED ON A SIGN BOARD
Check the taxi price board; have the right amount of Rupiah ready to pay the taxi. Get a taxi to your hotel. All Nagoya hotels are guest friendly.
Stay Out of Jail
Indonesia is NOT the country to experiment with drugs. This also applies to any girl you meet in the disco who looks dazed by drugs - stay away!Stay cool. Never show your temper, Never get angry. If you find many aspects of Indonesia-Batam-Nagoya make you angry, get on the next ferry and find somwhere else more conducive.
Where to stay in Batam
Nagoya Hotels
As we just said, as the ferry teminal or airport, look for a "Hotel Booking Counter" (immediately after Immigration/Customs or Baggage Claim); the best downtown Nagoya hotels are Panorama Regency, Harmoni,Goodway, Planet and Hotel "i".- They all charge walk-in rates above Sing Dlrs 85, so anything less than that from a Hotel Booking Counter is a good deal!- Many conventions are held in Batam; if all the better hotels are full tonight, don't worry; downtown Nagoya has a ton of 1, 2 & 3 star hotels that charge in the price range of USD 10 to 40. Generally, you get what you pay for. Find one in nearly every city block. Judge the condition of upstairs rooms by how well the reception area is maintained and managed.
Kaha Hotel Booking Counter
Kaha Hotel Booking Counter is located opposite the Hotel Harmoni main entrance, next to AirAsia booking counter.
Nongsa Beach Resort
A nice change - about 40 km from the rest of Batam on fairly fast roads. Choose from Batam View , Turi Beach and Nongsa Point Marina.
Tanjung Uncang Visitors
The only two good hotels near the Tj Uncang yards are Holiday Inn and Harris Report in the Marina Waterfront City area. If these hotels are full, don't worry, it only takes 45 - 55 minutes to travel by car from Tj Uncang to Nagoya. Don't forget, Immigrasi considers that are supposed to have at least a Business Visa to even be in the Tj Uncang area.
Batam View's seafront chalets
The resort is located at Nongsa, Batam Island. The journey from Singapore will take around 35-45 minutes and is considered to be a favourite hotspot for many families and corporate clients that are looking for a cheap and affordable vacation package getaway.
Eating Out in Batam
Seafood in Nagoya
Nogoya is a predominently Chinese town, find plenty of good seafood in and around Nagoya. At the A1 Pujasera (="food court" in English), we recommend the At the Pacific Hotel food court, the 999 seafood is well run , as is the "ikan bakar" (BBQ fish) counter. At any seafod place, don't be shy to choose and inspect the ingredients.
Seafood On The Waterfront
Some of the larger seafront restaurants places are trading on their reputation; part of your bill may go to pay big taxi driver commissions. The pleasantly located Rezeki Seafood on the Batu Basar seafront, 5km past the airport, does not do this.
Western Food
In the N.E.D., the Bistro and New Place do ambitous high priced western dishes. Lucys Oarhouse serve large portions of solid pub grub e.g. fish & chips, sausage & mash or a 200 steak sandwich, each for less than Rp70,000.
Vegetarian Food
Five very reasonably priced Chinese vegetarian buffet eateries are located Komplex Bumi Indah Blok IV.
Japanese Food
The Hotel Goodway Japanese Restaurant has good food , expect to pay aroundRp150,000 per person. Try their Wednesday buffet for Rp170,000.
Batam Entertainment
The NED - Nagoya Entertainment District consists of 26 expat oriented pubs in a small area bounded by the hotels Panorama, Harmoni and Goodway.
Crime & Trouble
The NED area is self policed and largely crime free. Those who follow the Indonesian custom of staying polite, controlling one's temper and treating everyone with respect, will have an enjoyable and memorable stay. Yelling, shouting, fighting and inability to control one's tempter can result in an unpleasant and expensive detention at the police station. In some of the smaller pubs, where there are lots of girls in attendance, better to pay your bill as you go.
Taxis
The NED taxi and ojek (motorbike) drivers are a generally honest and reliable lot. But better to agree on the fare in advance. It is NOT a good idea for drivers to invite themselves inside Nagoya's pubs and give them drink; drivers should stay outside with the car.* Nagoya Entertainment Dictrict - Bird's eye view* Nagoya Entertainment Dictrict - from Hotel Panorama* Nagoya Entertainment Dictrict - from Hotel Planet
