Impromptu getaway to Batam! It has been awhile since we went there. Browsed through Groupon and found several good deals, such as Harmoni Suites, BCC Hotel, Turi Beach Resort, Nagoya Mansion and of course, the one that we have decided on - Batam View Beach Resort.
Selected this resort because it has a sea view, accommodations (bathtub in all their rooms!), restaurants and types of facilities/ activities they offer within the resort. Most importantly, totally ZERO surcharge on weekends, eve of public holidays and public holidays! SAY WHUUT?! Also, NO additional top up charges such as departure fee, fuel surcharge, taxes and terminal fee, that is payable per person.
I even emailed the resort to confirm that there's no surcharges on PH and top up charges. Hahaha cannot believe it!
The deal includes a 1 night stay in a Superior room, 2-Way Ferry Tickets, 2-Way Land Transfer, Welcome drink, Buffet Breakfast, 15% off for F&B within the resort, all type of activities (sea & land) and spa services and free upgrade to Deluxe room (subject to availability).
More info of the resort (click!)
Total cost: S$88 per pax
DAY ONE (6th July 2016)
Our ferry is scheduled at 10am at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. Left the house at 7:15am for breakfast at Mcdonalds, then took the Circle line to Paya Lebar MRT to make a transfer at East West line up to Tanah Merah MRT, after tapping out and going down the escalator, turn to your right for the exit and take Bus 35 (5 bus stops away) which will stop out front of the ferry terminal.
Upon arriving to the ferry terminal, we headed for check-in at Batam Fast counter and waited for the ferry to come. After 30 minutes ride, we arrived at Nongsa Pura Ferry terminal and looked for Batam View Beach resort staffs in yellow uniform. Skipped the immigration as tourists from Batam View Beach have express immigration clearance, same goes for departure but the passports would be kept by them and return on the same day or departure date. Boarded their coach and off to their resort and its only a short 10 minutes ride! Yayyy!
Booohoo! It started pouring heavily when we're about to head out but thankfully it only lasted for 10 minutes.
Cutest boy!
Montigo resort is just beside Batam Beach View!
The lobby
Headed to the Pet's corner and its located just beside the swimming pool.
Felt so eerie when we stepped inside! The animals looks so sad and are not in the best conditions.
Flat face cat with one eye missing.
Parrot that kept on sticking one leg out, wanting to grab something.
Two flying squirrels trying to sleep but we accidentally disturbed them.
Headed off to another side of the Pet's corner and it was even more eeeeerieeeee! I don't even dare to go close and take picture because the birds were in super bad condition and so restless. There are 3-4 turkeys, 1 peacock and many chickens that is featherless. Eyyy so creepy that's all!
Herbs and Spices garden. Looks depressing lol
Quickly left the place because there were too many mosquitoes.
Back to the resort and explore their lobby area - Games room, conference/ meeting rooms, bar area, souvenir shop and cafe.
SPOT DA MOUSIEEZ
Lunch at Wangi Melati Coffee House.
We were the only ones there. So quiet~
♥
Soto Ayam
Love this! Light and flavourful.
Ayam Bumbu Siliwangi
Like BBQ chicken rice? The meat was tender and roasted skin was flavourful and juicy. So delicious!
Gado Gado Lontong (comes with a cold peanut sauce)
Its not worth the money nor appetizing. Blahhh
Total damages for lunch = IDR 203000 (S$20.70)
Massage area
Strollin' down to the beach
The so-called Jacuzzi.
The water inside was so muddy and dirty!
Found a pokemon! ZUBAT! Hahhh
First time getting so upclose to a baby bat and it was all alone!
Superbly cute!
Walking through the villa
More info: One-bedroom/ Two-bedroom
Off to our dinner at Kelong Seafood Restaurant.
We were the only ones having dinner at this place, till we were about to leave at 8pm then another family came in.
Watermelon juice
Seafood beancurd, tasted like fish cakes.
Sadly, their chillis were not as fantastic as Bintan's Agro beach resort :<
Read (here!)
Fried rice with XO sauce
Very huge portion and tasted pretty good!
Stir Fry Baby Kai Lan
Salted Egg Live Stone Crab
Live Cockles with Garlic
This photo doesn't do justice to how big their cockles were!
*Look at the fork in the corner and look at the cockle again!
Caught the sunset while having dinner.
Home-made Mango Pudding
I really like this! Not too sweet and its really good.
Honeydew Sago
+ 1 can of Coke
Total damages for dinner (after 15% off) = IDR 517650 (S$52.75)
Found a KTV hidden at a corner, so we decided to check it out! Love the walls of the staircase area.
Totally empty and no people. I guess all went back to celebrate Hari Raya?
The individual KTV rooms were very spacious and clean!
Nothing much to do already and it was still pretty early for bed time. Thus, we ordered some drinks and sat at Islander Lounge. Enjoying music from their resident live band - Gabe.
Margarita
Iced Baileys Coffee
Total damages for cocktails = IDR 140000 (S$14.30)
DAY TWO (7th July 2016)
Happy Monthsary! ♡
Woke up at 8am for buffet breakfast at Wangi Melati Coffee House. The spread and taste of the food were average, don't expect too much~ Still, we had a hearty breakfast! There's also an omelette/ sunny side-up live station.
Woke up at 8am for buffet breakfast at Wangi Melati Coffee House. The spread and taste of the food were average, don't expect too much~ Still, we had a hearty breakfast! There's also an omelette/ sunny side-up live station.
Wae my cheeks so fat?
Quickly walked back to the resort as the weather was toooooo hot! Couldn't stand another second standing under the Sun. Lunch at the same ol' Wangi Melati Coffee House.
Hazelnut Ice blended coffee and Mochacinno
The hazelnut ice blended tasted like ice cream milkshake. Yummmerz
Ayam Bumbu Siliwangi
Ordered this for myself, because Leon had it yesterday and it tasted really good. Sadly, not sure why their standard (plating) aren't the same and even the chicken does not taste nice. Not juicy and tender enough, the meat was dry. Sighhh
Margarita Pizza
Using biscuit base/ crust hahaha! Leon got a shocked seeing it. I think it tasted really good thou! Its like eating super cheezy tomato biscuits.
Total damages for Lunch (after 15% off) = IDR 261800 (S$27.15)
Slacked at the Islander Lounge while waiting for time to pass~ Leon ordered a beer to drink too!
Finally 3.30pm had arrived and we took the shuttle coach back to Nongsa Pura Ferry terminal. Bought a Prune Kueh Lapis from the ferry terminal, wanted the original flavoured one but it was OOS :( Still, it tasted pretty good!
Cost for 500g = IDR 150000 (S$15.55)
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In all, Batam View Beach Resort (BVBR) is a really good place to have a short 2D1N getaway, to relax and spend some quality time together with your loved ones! For the price that we bought, I still think that its really a good deal! Although there is really nothing much to do at the resort, both of us still had fun and enjoyed each others' company. We went during the mid-week and the resort is running low occupancy, thus most of the places that we visited, we were the only ones there.The staffs in BVBR are polite and friendly, also able to converse well in English. Room is spotless clean and cosy, amenities seemed okay for me but the only downside, is the air-conditioner~ felt quite warm at some point of the day. Also, the resort do have quite a number of activities to do/ play and pricing is affordable. As for the beach, the "play" area is pretty small and swimming is not allowed, as there are jellyfish floating around. Thus, nothing much to do at the beach, no wonder every time we went down, there were totally no people. Enjoyed crab spotting at the coasts of the sea though.
BVBR only have 2 restaurants in their vicinity; Wangi Melati Coffee House and Kelong Seafood Restaurant. Highly recommend the seafood at Kelong Seafood Restaurant, all are very fresh, huge and affordable. Do prepare to get a lil warm inside the restaurant~ no air condition. Would suggest the resort to put up more signboards to show the attraction/ dining locations - helps to increase the patrons too, we had a hard time finding the restaurant ~.~
Thanks for reading!
K, Bye.
