[nono1973]

Originally Posted by retirebatam

I went to Gideon hotel martha tilaar spa on sunday 9 October but was closed. Not sure whether is it temporary closed ?

Hehehe...bro, you went to wrong side. Not talking about outside the hotel, it's inside the hotel where the in-house massage is.

They have an in house massage with sauna & steam room too.

The last i was there, it went under renovation as Aston just took over. That was before covid time tho. It used to be call Just Me, now i don't know, hehehe...

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Seems like Batam1 hotel location is superb since it is near Formosa. As advertised online, their spa now have 30% discount for their traditional massage which is discounted from 220k to 154k for 60 min. At tower B 3rd floor.

Room price also not expensive.

Around S$35 can get fairly good room.

Now that this place is being mentioned here, i am unlikely to be heading there anytime soon,hehehe...in fact i don't visit most places mentioned in this thread. However, i will still keep them on my listings tho. Might just ask some friends to test water 1st, hehehe...

Nowaday, being CLEAR of what i am looking for in Batam, most of the places mentioned in this thread doesn't seems to fit in to me. Perhaps i am aging...hehehe...cannot keep up with new blood anymore.

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Another 2 star hotel looks not bad is Nagoya One hotel near lailai hotel, golden bird booking joint and sundanese food ibu joko. But the location a bit isolated and does not house a massage shop in the hotel.

Lai Lai is not bad, but i think its closed down (i think only, i could be wrong). Gold Bird also no more too (confirmed). I still like that area tho. Because...hmm...nevermind...

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Getting free transport from hotel really is value for money and have an exclusive vip feel. No need worry about transport to anywhere as it is well taken care by the hotel.

But for my situation, I am a bit thrifty type, so maybe will not be willing to bear the extra cost charge by hotel for transport or any other services. Unless hotel transport provided free, like the ex-formosa, if not then will not use hotel transport.

Perhaps over my time in Batam, i have often got free transport from Hotels, including Formosa. Otherwise i am reliant on hotel staffs to help me book Grab/Maxim/Gojek cab.

While i may not have those mentioned apps on my phone, my friends who are with me has it. Otherwise my girls has them too. Nonetheless, i am also not against the idea of paying 50k rupiah to shopping mall/ hotel taxis to come back to hotel (on rare case only).

Example, i take a taxi from my hotel to Mall around Nagoya/BCS area when hotel staffs booked for me. Cost 14k plus minus. I pay 20k even if i have small change. Comes back to hotel, i pay 50k rupiah. Total cost 70k divide by 2 way = 35k per trip.

I'm still fine with that.

2 trips ago, i took a Blue Bird taxi back to hotel at 20k rupiah,hehehe...from Grand Batam Mall. Hence it also quite rare that i need to pay 50k rupiah for taxis nowaday.

https://sbfsg.org/showpost.php?p=21...ostcount=17611

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Last time, whenever i reach harbourbay terminal, I will only take the 30k taxi to anywhere in nagoya. But since the promotion ended during covid time, I will not take those harbourbay taxi because I know they will charged at least 60k and above for a short trip to nagoya area.

There are actually still 30k rupiah taxi at Harbour Bay ferry terminal but you need to walk to old Arrival Hall area where the old Horizon ferry office is situated. That side usually still got 1 or 2 taxi waiting there & if you ask them, they will quote you 50k rupiah but you can bargain for 30k rupiah (depend on bargaining skill tho).

Have often been debating with bro Blackpage on this over the last 9 odd years regarding trying to save the 10k to 20k rupiah on taxi. I think back today,...i would have done what he has done if i am in his position too. By not bargaining (if you see how big size & heavy his luggage is).

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Now that I have experience the use of GrabCar in Batam was so efficient, fast, cheap, flexible and comfortable, I could not find a reason to take taxi anymore.

Great!

It is becos i do not have those apps, thats probably why i am still constantly seeking the best (& cheapest) method to move around Batam on taxi. Yep, even after more than 9 years later, hehehe...because i needed to.

Originally Posted by retirebatam

For short distance in Batam i will walk ....

Same for me too.

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Grab fare from Batam City Square to DC mall is 10k (cheaper than Grab bike at 11k)

Grab fare from Batam City Square to Harbourbay Ferry Terminal is 18k

Grab fare from Batam City Square to Nagoya Hill Mall is 12k

Grab fare from Batam City Square to Batam Centre Ferry Terminal is 29k

Grab fare from Batam City Square to Batam Airport is 76k

I remember 2 trips ago i used a Maxim taxi, made that driver bring me from Harbour Bay to around Holiday hotel (change money), then to around Da Vienna Hotel (Pharmacy), then to around Paragon Hotel (to fetch a girl), then finally reach BCS mall. He got worried that i would just pay him only 14k rupiah (stated on the apps),hehehe...but at the end of my trip, i paid him 50k rupiah & he is happy with it.

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Previously, I ever walked from DC mall all the way to Batam City Hotel by cutting through those residential estate. exploring the lifestyle of Batam residents. It can be considered a form of exercise and save transport fee too.

Walking is good. I see more when i walk around Batam. But the taxi pestering is not good.

I walked from Harbour Bay to Formosa countless times,hehehe...talk about time, 1 hour in Batam doing nothing cost S$5 nowaday,hehehe... (joking).

Originally Posted by retirebatam

For me, I will never go Batam again during public holiday season, weekend was still acceptable. Few years ago, ever went to Batam during new year eve period and the crowd was almost everywhere, malls, massage place, etc

Made a mistake going to Batam on the last Sept school holiday, chose the wrong date to come back (back on the last day of school holiday) end up all 4 of us got hit with covid on the ferry.

I knew i got it from Horizon ferry while heading back to Singapore because we all did a negative ART test a day before & on the following morning before i head to board ferry during late noon.

More than half the ferry is coughing, around 75% of the people in the ferry not masking up. Ferry is full, including Business class. A really bad move made on Sept 2022's trip.

Other than CNY, for other peak time like public holiday's long weekend or school holiday peak. I would choose not to go to Batam (even if someone pays for my trip).

I made a mistake, i try to make sure i won't repeat them again.

Originally Posted by retirebatam

Another disappointment was that massage cewek were fully booked, this was the nightmare that i had experienced before.

I will be competing with Indians from India & Bangladeshi Bangladesh (mostly foreign workers from Singapore). But i learned to book girls in advance tho (if i need to be there), hehehe...

Another point, i usually get lousier service because most girls will be overworked (& tired). They didn't like those red dates in Singapore & Malaysia either (hearsay from them).