Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[HeatguyAlvin]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I am Gold member at Marriott/SPG, but I would never book Marriott in Batam. Batam is Batam, and without Formosa for me Batam is not Batam.

wow that loyalty! I would still try the Marriott once it's up. First 5-Star International Chain hotel so why not. . These hotels are best to hit your room nights to maintain your elite membership.

[HeatguyAlvin]

Originally Posted by jouky

Can I ask how the clubbing scene in Batam?

dead

[BFOMF5]

Originally Posted by lobowolf

Is it a good time to visit Batam this week (not weekend) for seafood and night scene? Anyone to advise on that would be appreciated. Thanks

You want night scene better to wait for 2 more days or untill Hariraya.
Sea foods restaurant not much affected. Except they need to put some cover to show some respect.

[miumiu6464]

Originally Posted by stlover72

Btw, a wechat girl quote me 300 for ST. At first 500 but I say her body small that is why I ask for 300. I know meet in the lobby or video call to check if she is ladyboy or not? Is it normal for 300 for ST?

Please feedback on the outcome. 300k is too cheap, even for FL working alone. Last time I got quoted 300k is when a benchong (crossdresser) tried to pull a fast one on me.

[miumiu6464]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I also tried to get the complimentary late check-out. I was checking-out at 3:30pm.
The table promises "Extend to 3pm" for for Silver and Gold.
Response by Mr. Ricky: "NO, Complimentary late check-out is until 2pm".
I rebutted about this table, which I had on my computer since long time ago (I think I downloaded from their web site? I can't remember) and he said there is no table promising until 3pm, only until 2pm. So, when I emailed him the table, his response was "This table is OLD, now expired. We have a new one".

Now, I do not doubt that he may be right about the detailed rules, but I think that this management still has to do a long path on the way of good "customer care". If they not give such a small benefit to someone who has spent more than 100 nights in the last 10 years already, how would they treat someone who just steps in for one weekend?
For a hotel, loyal guests are the best asset. Pure gold. They must be pampered, not just welcomed.

Mr. Nono, do you have the NEW table?

This late check-out at 3pm is the only member's benefit that I think is useful. I vaguely it's during the 3rd quarter of 2017 when they had a new Operations Manager that they took away the 3pm checkout and changed it to 2pm late check-out. It's also around that period that your favourite Shinta left the hotel.

I got a phone call in room asking me at 2pm+ if I'm extending, to which I replied no, I'm checking out at 3pm. It's only then that I was told late check-out is 2pm, no longer 3pm. Had a long discussion with Ricky about this, with no favourable outcome. That's the last time I gave them my business.

[BFOMF5]

GSM UDON SHOP buy one get one

At Rp52k


Add drinks, tempura ++ total rp110k

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by HeatguyAlvin

wow that loyalty! I would still try the Marriott once it's up. First 5-Star International Chain hotel so why not. . These hotels are best to hit your room nights to maintain your elite membership.

Yes, because the rate is not the same everywhere in the world, still for the stay count one night is one night.
One night at Westin Washington or Miami USA typically costs more than 400 USD, but one night at Four Points Medellin Colombia or Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur is around 80-100 USD.
The difference is the chain name, thus the service quality, and the place.
I wonder what price will be proposed by Marriott Batam. I think it will be a bit higher or same as current premier hotels in Batam, such as I-Hotel or Swiss.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

This late check-out at 3pm is the only member's benefit that I think is useful. I vaguely it's during the 3rd quarter of 2017 when they had a new Operations Manager that they took away the 3pm checkout and changed it to 2pm late check-out. It's also around that period that your favourite Shinta left the hotel.

Sinta for me is like a mithological figure. In my memory, her person is associated to my first years exploring Batam like an alien world.
When I think about her, I still feel the thrill I was feeling when I was entering the door of Formosa after months literally craving for my next travel there, with the subtle thrill of imagining new adventures were coming, but no idea what the fate was preparing for me.
SINTA, WHERE ARE YOU?

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

I got a phone call in room asking me at 2pm+ if I'm extending, to which I replied no, I'm checking out at 3pm. It's only then that I was told late check-out is 2pm, no longer 3pm. Had a long discussion with Ricky about this, with no favourable outcome. That's the last time I gave them my business.

I can well figure out. We appreciate flexibility, right? Judging also from the turnover of staff oin the last years, there must be a problem there.

However, I have to regrettably admit that I cannot stay without Formosa in Batam. It's a matter of feeling. Even the strange smell that you feel when you enter, which objectively cannot be qualified as nice, is exciting for me. It is associated to countless unrepeatable adventures that I experienced there along the years.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by miumiu6464

Please feedback on the outcome. 300k is too cheap, even for FL working alone. Last time I got quoted 300k is when a benchong (crossdresser) tried to pull a fast one on me.

It must be an attempt of scam. No decent FL on WeChat or disco would accept less than 400k, and first request is usually 500k (or even well above that).

[BFOMF5]

Originally Posted by fde83

How is batam on 1st day of Ramadan? Bazaar started?

Yes Pusat iftar started

[BFOMF5]

During Ramadan month...
Some hotel that targeted Muslim guest might offer suhoor and Iftar

As muslims taking part in puasa do not eat or drink anything during daylight hours,

The usual morning meal have to be taken
just before dawn..
so some hotel will have to start serving 'suhoor' or 'sehri' very early.

Also another meal ('iftar') are served after sunset.

[BFOMF5]

Yammy Spare parts

[BFOMF5]

Originally Posted by BFOMF5

Special food from Lake Toba Batak ppl

Last week found this RM near barelang junction.
selling Batak food

They have secrets code for the special meat.

Guess what is B1 B2

[nitecrawllerr]

Originally Posted by HeatguyAlvin

wow that loyalty! I would still try the Marriott once it's up. First 5-Star International Chain hotel so why not. . These hotels are best to hit your room nights to maintain your elite membership.

U have deep pocket...bisa lah.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by Black Page

As I thought also initially, and as I wrote before, these benefits are for most part pure crap. It's funny to have a Gold Membership card at a hotel in Batam, but their practical relevance is negligible, with the exception of the free night once in a while.

Hehehe...how true...and i 100% agreed with you.

There was a major argument with that Ricky guy for months 2 years back until i am so tired of it that i really dont bother about those "gimmicks" any longer. i concluded that its Indonesia afterall, the hotels and majority of the service industries in the country "enjoy" flip-flopping their regulations when business is in their favor.

Originally Posted by Black Page

On checkout, I tried to get a free transfer to Harbour Bay.
The table promises "4 times/year" for Silver and "8 times/year" for Gold.
Response by Mr. Ricky: "NO, you must book it online at least two days before and specify date and time for booking. If not booked onlilne, the price is 50k, as stated in this table of taxi fares."

After reading this, i am so piss. Not at you but by what this Ricky guy says.

If he says what he says to me, i will definitely blow up right at the reception counter,hehehehe...yes, i feel so cheated in this one if i am standing in your shoe. They just didnt want to honor their member's benefits in your case which is the case why they lost MOST of my friends staying regularly in Formosa.

Let me explain further. Under their rules (on the paper i posted earlier), my friends were suppose to get a FREE return ride back to airport or ferry terminal. They honor that part for my friends, but why not yours? I do not understand. Is it becos i am not there to give them a piece of my mind? I'm not sure now.

If Ricky explain that YOU must book online 2 days advance to get the free ride back to ferry terminal, then why did he tells me that by booking my room online (from formosa website), i AM NOT ENTITLED to the free night stay promotion? Meaning what he says dont add-up from what i see.

Ricky tells me (last year) i need to book via EMAIL to get myself into the 1 night FREE stay promo for members,which i did (and i am sure you did the same too). BUT, now base on your conversation with this Ricky guy, he tells you,.. "Response by Mr. Ricky: "NO, you must book it online at least two days before and specify date and time for booking. If not booked onlilne, the price is 50k, as stated in this table of taxi fares." .

So, from my perspective, i can only conclude it as they were trying to push you away from the free ride back to ferry terminal WITH AN EXCUSE and/or flip-flopping their own regulations AGAIN. If i were to book online from their website, and gotta their free rides back to ferry terminal, i dont get their 1 night free room stay. But if i book via email, i get their 1 night free room stay BUT i dont get their free rides back to ferry terminal. You see? Things dont add-up here.

Flip-flopping those rules already pissed lots of my friends off Formosa hence many of them no longer make Formosa their number 1 choice of stay anymore. But who cares (from Formosa's perspective)?! They have the good business now, the other regular customers like my friends were just "spare tire" to them today which they can do without.

And believe me, i am really angry even tho i wasnt affected by the flip-flopping regulations on paper. I still get my 2 way free pick up/drop off (yes,i dont need to pay even 1 rupiah for 2 way trip) , i still get my free room stay,hence i said in the past in this thread, a lot of things applied to me but MAY NOT apply to others. Which is the reason why i am angry now. Why all these double standards?

Originally Posted by Black Page

I also tried to get the complimentary late check-out. I was checking-out at 3:30pm.
The table promises "Extend to 3pm" for for Silver and Gold.
Response by Mr. Ricky: "NO, Complimentary late check-out is until 2pm".
I rebutted about this table, which I had on my computer since long time ago (I think I downloaded from their web site? I can't remember) and he said there is no table promising until 3pm, only until 2pm. So, when I emailed him the table, his response was "This table is OLD, now expired. We have a new one".

There was a discussion in this thread before by bro ice,bro miumiu and the others on this late check out thingy. Its another flip-flopping incident that pisses many. Their so called late check out is at 2pm NOW and not 3pm. My friends just have to live with that if they ever wish to stay in Formosa....again.

This above-said doesnt affect me as i could check out as late as 230pm+ but why the double-standard and the flip-flopping of rules AGAIN?

Originally Posted by Black Page

Mr. Nono, do you have the NEW table?

The paper posted was actually the same as the NEW table.

https://sbf.today/showthread.php?p=...6#post18652436

...but minus the late check out timing. Thats according to Ricky tho.

The supposingly free ride back to Ferry terminal surprised me when you shared in your post. Now you know the reason why its been a while since i last drop by at Formosa already, even tho i still have ONE FREE night stay outstanding with them.