Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[miumiu6464]

Bro NoNo

No disrespect, but I rarely take more than half an hour to reach Nagoya from BC. Even once few months ago where I had to take gojek outside Telkomsel building, it took me only half to reach my regular hotel.

But, I can't say the same experience applies to all.

I can't say the same

[miumiu6464]

Bro NoNo

Except that those who go frequently, will usually buy their tickets in Batam and that's automatically much more cheaper than Horizon Ferry.

Just my 2 cents.

[miumiu6464]

Originally Posted by toadd

Anyone know a place in batam where can rent bike and ride around to explore? Anyone have any experience renting bikes?

Sorry, no lobang on bike rental, but just a casual warning. I recently had the experience of riding a bike (and driving a car) on Indonesia. I don't know your biking experience, but it was horrifying for me. LOL.. I was told to drive in opposite direction, not to make u turn where it's allowed and to make u turn where it's not allowed. Add to that, a girl who scream at the slightest opportunity, sooner or later I'll die of stress from her.

Just my $0.02.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

Bro NoNo

No disrespect, but I rarely take more than half an hour to reach Nagoya from BC. Even once few months ago where I had to take gojek outside Telkomsel building, it took me only half to reach my regular hotel.

No problem. I am calculating the very second i step out of a physical ferry to the time i reach my desired hotel. Which is why i said i use more than an hour on a weekday,hehehe...

And yes,everyone's different,some walk fast,some slower. And i walk quite fast,hehehe....

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

Except that those who go frequently, will isn't buy their tickets in Batam and that's automatically much more cheaper than Horizon Ferry.

Definitely cheaper to travel via Batam Center than to Harbor Bay (no doubt on that). I have been pondering the question after reading the conversation on the previous page, "if" the ferry ticket is priced the "same" for both Batam Center and Harbor Bay,which ferry terminal would i choose to drop myself at?

My answer is obviously Harbor Bay ferry terminal.

(partly becos in real, both ferry terminal's pricing is the same for me)

My question to all; "if" traveling from Singapore via Batam Center is S$26 or S$32 as previously mentioned,and "what if" the same pricing applies to Harbor Bay, which ferry terminal would you more likely choose to drop yourself off at? (given that your final destination would be Nagoya area)

I am just looking at things from another angle of view after reading the last page 773,hehehe... (i know,i know, people will say "this kind of thing will never happen, blah blah blah...",which is why i am saying "what if",hehehe...)

Just a presumption question.

[miumiu6464]

The only reason if I were to take Horizon is the Business class where I can get out of the terminal before the rest, during ultra hot period like Hari Raya.

[OnlyLiveOnce]

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

The only reason if I were to take Horizon is the Business class where I can get out of the terminal before the rest, during ultra hot period like Hari Raya.

BC is preferred because of its efficient immigration and custom clearance. It is 30 minutes taxi from there to Eatern Food Court for our favourite Yam Fish Head Soup and Bak kut Teh costing 70k. Will try Gocar from Gojek for half price travel if possible. From Eatern to Nagoya is another 15 minutes at 50k taxi. For younger travellers, HB is obviously the preferred choice without question. Like miumiu, our group prefers BC. Cheers.

[toadd]

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

Sorry, no lobang on bike rental, but just a casual warning. I recently had the experience of riding a bike (and driving a car) on Indonesia. I don't know your biking experience, but it was horrifying for me. LOL.. I was told to drive in opposite direction, not to make u turn where it's allowed and to make u turn where it's not allowed. Add to that, a girl who scream at the slightest opportunity, sooner or later I'll die of stress from her.

Just my $0.02.

Thanks for you help I still remember at the first time you bring me to batam. Thanks!

Anyone know any beaches or resort in batam near Nagoya though most likely there is bike rental there and i want to ride to there like I did in Phuket.

[averysu]

It's raining heavily here in Batam! The streets are flooded. Hopefully it dies off for the fun tonight!

[mygirly]

Originally Posted by toadd

Anyone know a place in batam where can rent bike and ride around to explore? Anyone have any experience renting bikes?

Google search Map... there will come up a list.
Do at ur own risk hor..

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by OnlyLiveOnce

BC is preferred because of its efficient immigration and custom clearance. It is 30 minutes taxi from there to Eatern Food Court for our favourite Yam Fish Head Soup and Bak kut Teh costing 70k. Will try Gocar from Gojek for half price travel if possible. From Eatern to Nagoya is another 15 minutes at 50k taxi. For younger travellers, HB is obviously the preferred choice without question. Like miumiu, our group prefers BC. Cheers.

At HB I never waited more then 15 minutes for immigration. Usually it takes 5-10 minutes. Indonesians have a long queue, not foreigners.
After that, 2-3 minutes to reach Horizon office, 3 minutes to get my boarding pass for the return (never saw queue for that), then straight to taxi.
After 10 minutes I triumphally enter Formosa for checkin.
Btw, I am 50+ yo. Yes, I don't eat Yam Fish Head Soup, and that's the minus.

Originally Posted by nono1973

Definitely cheaper to travel via Batam Center than to Harbor Bay (no doubt on that)

Swimming is even cheaper, if one has enough time. No way I could consider the extra time and HASSLE to enter via BC worth a saving of 10 SGD. But, again, different people may give different value to time versus pocket money. To each his own.

[miumiu6464]

Originally Posted by OnlyLiveOnce

BC is preferred because of its efficient immigration and custom clearance. It is 30 minutes taxi from there to Eatern Food Court for our favourite Yam Fish Head Soup and Bak kut Teh costing 70k. Will try Gocar from Gojek for half price travel if possible. From Eatern to Nagoya is another 15 minutes at 50k taxi. For younger travellers, HB is obviously the preferred choice without question. Like miumiu, our group prefers BC. Cheers.

I shall give it a try if I do land in Batam ever again.

[nitecrawllerr]

Originally Posted by Black Page

No way I could consider the extra time and HASSLE to enter via BC worth a saving of 10 SGD. But, again, different people may give different value to time versus pocket money. To each his own.

S$10 or US$13.60cts may seems meagre to one who monger few times in a year. But RP100k or M$30 to an average Indon or Msian is a substantial amt to those who cheong regularly like weekly, fortnightly or mthly. Heck..once in awhile we even have tamus who bragged they tipped cewek handsomely. Try doing tat weekly.

[OnlyLiveOnce]

Originally Posted by nitecrawllerr

S$10 or US$13.60cts may seems meagre to one who monger few times in a year. But RP100k or M$30 to an average Indon or Msian is a substantial amt to those who cheong regularly like weekly, fortnightly or mthly. Heck..once in awhile we even have tamus who bragged they tipped cewek handsomely. Try doing tat weekly.

Fully agreed with Bro nightcrawllerr.
Budget cheongster like us go to Batam instead of the more pricey Vietnam, Thailand, China and Taiwan.
Haha, the saving is not S$10 but $16 for each member or a total saving of $16x3 or $16x4 for our whole group for a trip with average transport cost of about 70k per member.
A most enjoyable trip indeed that is cheap and good, revitalises and refreshes us every month.

[iicycold]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Hehehe...i have tried going via Batam center ferry terminal to Formosa twice (or was it thrice? cant really remember). I did some calculation of my own,the moment i step out of the ferry itself upon reaching Batam, to the moment i reach Formosa, it took more than an hour on a weekday and nearly 2 hours on a weekend (according to some of my friends, even longer sometime during a super long weekend),hehehe....i doubt you are going to like that kind of waiting.

As for Harbour Bay,the moment i step out of ferry at Harbor Bay ferry terminal to the moment i reach the same hotel mentioned, took me no more than 20mins on weekdays and about 30mins on weekend,hehehe...and that bothers me a bit. During CNY time,took me about 30 mins plus minus too.

And i havent count the time i return back from Batam to Singapore,hehehe...

actualli it's quite true tat HB is faster,even fery aso take a shorter time,clear custom aso faster (no 4get btm ctr custom will kick ppl back 2 sg if tourist make too much noise when in Q + usualli most major protest happens @ BC) & traveling time aso faster 2,tis i not doubts abt it.

Originally Posted by Black Page

At HB I never waited more then 15 minutes for immigration. Usually it takes 5-10 minutes. Indonesians have a long queue, not foreigners.

actualli hor,if swimming 2 batam is cost $0, take ferry 2 HB & take ferry 2 BC all aso is cost $0, i tink all pple wil travel by HB liao lo....lol.

so it's cost vs convenience & save time liao. Pay less & sacrifice a bit convenience & time lo...lol...it's like taking a taxi 2 nagoya frm HB vs taking bus 2 nagoya liao...lol

Originally Posted by nono1973

Definitely cheaper to travel via Batam Center than to Harbor Bay (no doubt on that). I have been pondering the question after reading the conversation on the previous page, "if" the ferry ticket is priced the "same" for both Batam Center and Harbor Bay,which ferry terminal would i choose to drop myself at?

My answer is obviously Harbor Bay ferry terminal.

(partly becos in real, both ferry terminal's pricing is the same for me)

My question to all; "if" traveling from Singapore via Batam Center is S$26 or S$32 as previously mentioned,and "what if" the same pricing applies to Harbor Bay, which ferry terminal would you more likely choose to drop yourself off at? (given that your final destination would be Nagoya area)

I am just looking at things from another angle of view after reading the last page 773,hehehe... (i know,i know, people will say "this kind of thing will never happen, blah blah blah...",which is why i am saying "what if",hehehe...)

Just a presumption question.

u aa sai ma, yr ferry cost 2 cum btm frm Sg via BC or HB all is the same cost,but nt every1 like u ma....lol

the rest is jus common sense liao lo....lol...plz hor ,hopefully no one cum out wit ideas tat ferry frm sg travel faster 2 reach BC compared 2 sg reach HB, or BC can clear custom faster than HB or BC 2 nagoya road is shorter distance than HB 2 nagoya hor....lol....

u knw rite? i travel frm both BC & HB....lol....

[nono1973]

My 1st KFC delivery meal in Batam,hehehe...

Cost around 140k rupiah,5 pieces chicken,3 soft drinks, and 3 packs of rices wrapped in burger shape packing,hehehe...suppose to be a 3 person meal but yet cant fill 2 person.

hmm...,learned that the chicken drumsticks and wings were about 20% smaller as compared to those in Singapore KFC and taste was a little different too. Nonetheless, its still an experience to remember by.