Re: Batam Info Thread
 

I asked Kaha how much is the rate for City Central Hotel but they don't deal with them. May I know how much the bro here paid for each nite at City Central Hotel?

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

:eek: Borrowing cash at 5% would be better than using ATM??
WRONG.
The important difference is between CREDIT cards and DEBIT cards.

With CREDIT (e.g., VISA or MASTERCARD), the issuer basically advances money to you, and for that you are charged:
- 4% (applied by the VISA or MASTERCARD circuit);
- about 1.2%-1.5% on the inter-bank official exchange rate (the one you see on Yahoo or XE), applied by the VISA or MASTERCARD circuit.

With DEBIT (e.g., MAESTRO, CIRRUS), that is plain ATM using your normal bank ATM card, you are charged:
- say 3$ fixed fee (the exact amount depends on the bank), in whatever foreign country you are;
- about 1.2%-1.5% on the inter-bank official exchange rate (the one you see on Yahoo or XE), applied by the MAESTRO circuit.

In other words, in most situations and in most countries, it is largely more convenient to withdraw local currency from an ATM (DEBIT card), rather than exchanging your home currency to local at an exchange office or bank. At best, a bank will charge 2% on the official exchange rate. Exchange offices at airports may charge even 20% (yes).

Please note: when you enter a multi-function card (credit and debit) in an ATM, you SHOULD be able to select whether you want to use the credit or debit function (the bank might hide that, but don't be fooled).

There are exceptions though. One most notable exception is in BATAM when you want to exchange USD or SGD to IDR (the same may hold also for other currencies, but I never investigated).
The golden rule is always to AVOID using the credit function. The 4% fee is really outrageous.
In Batam, exchange offices are probably involved in local currency trading (so to speak), so they offer very competitive rates even compared to ATM (debit card).
I am not expert about SGD/IDR exchange, but with USD I was able to get rates (by hard negotiation and offering new 100$ notes) which were virtually the same as the XE official rate, that is even saving most of the 1.2%-1.5% applied by the MAESTRO circuit (such a favorable rate cannot be achieved in any bank or ATM).

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

i dont know how they do it but is i get my cash when the bill come is like i buy something or spent in ktv.i think is inside job lah.

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

Took ojek on an almost weekend from Harbour Bay to Kaha,and then to Formosa at 20k. Took another ojek from Formosa to Meximo pub and back at 20k.

Just sharing.

Sorry,bro...whats the meaning of orang asli of Batam? :confused:

Looking forward to your return,hehehe...:D

Practically all 1st tier massage places like the Spa Secret,Majestic Spa, GO massage etc etc commissioned taxi drivers to bring their customers there. Why no Spa Secret,Majestic Spa or Go Massage etc for me except Nagoya Spa and Massage is becos it is different and stands out from the rest of those other 1st tier spa. It is a potential place for me to "rest in peace",hehehe...;)

Enough said.
(discretion required)

Reason one why i didnt like to try. Too "clean".
(i will still need to try it one day)

Reason two why i didnt like to try. Always too many people in it.

Thank you for your understanding. I guarantee as a newbie,you will 100% make mistakes along the way,but following my guide/s definitely wont lead you too wrong. Till today,i am still learning from other bros mistakes (and my own too),note them down so as to cross-reference it later whenever i am going to Batam.

Not asking you to make mistakes so i can learn tho,but to avoid making mistake made by me and others.

You only have yourself to answer to.If you are shy to post your FR in public,you can always PM them my way.

May you have a good upcoming Batam trip.

Cheers!

None. There was no good booking joints,only the most suitable girl in a booking joint for oneself. Every booking joint is run differently and w/o understanding how each joint (or their OKTs) deal with their customers/girls,every booking joint may end up as a lousy joint or the best joint.

Comparing the both places you mentioned and in my personal point of view,one is more expensive than the other. One has more zombie-like pretty girls,the other has more desperate-for-booking pretty girls. I happen to like both kind,hehehe...i'll flip a coin for my own case.

Nope. Taxi fare in Batam is never standardized. Base on the info of this thread,it can be any amount ranging from 25k (blue bird/silver cab) to 80k (carrot chop) from Harbour Bay to Nagoya (those advertise on the internet is even way higher).In one of my trip to Batam, I tell taxi driver in Formosa Hotel that i have no money left on my last day,the taxi driver drives me to Harbour Bay for free (but that’s for me only,I guess..lol). Up to end of Sept 2015,out of 20 times taxi rides in Batam,if i dont remember wrong ,i only pay once for a 50k taxi ride (unless i am traveling to Sekupang (KTM),Pulau Galang or Nongsa).

Hehehe...i guess as much. My fetish is watching 2 or more girls (in nude some times) in my hotel room bed "rubbing" each other. Everyone has a different fetish,hehehe...:D


Good advise. I learned something today and I thank you.

99% taxi drivers in Batam are unreliable. I would have add another 0.9% if i didnt met a taxi driver who drives me to Harbour Bay for free (free things usually cost more later).

Just personal opinion.

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

Permata indah and bunga which ones quality and service is better? From harbour bay to Nagoya is it fixed at 50 K?

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

I hope the following info (from Formosa Hotel) helps:

http://d5273117.u114.gohsphere.com/u...006_093933.jpg

http://d5273117.u114.gohsphere.com/u...929_185834.jpg

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

u welcome. I beliefs in return back where i take from. yes,i had a good time,thx to info here & nono guide.

Thk u bro iicycold. I check wit u,u say u up me lil 3 pts only but my pts like so high nw. If no wrg i tink i only 20 pts b4. U up me 29 pts?

Sorie for out of topic,hw do i up u back 29 pts?

Keyza i read is a btm massage shop? They looking for recept? :confused:

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

It's meant to be a joke.

As the recept at Keyzha is a LB (Ah Gua), those who personality like Ah Gua might as well work at keyzha as a recept.

Hope you get the joke.

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

Nice interpretation bro!! :cool:

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

Has anybody thought of buying a property in Batam? And which part of Batam if want to buy e.g. near Batam Centre or Harbour Bay?

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

Hi bro,i can up u only 3 pts,the rest of the other 26 pts could've been up by other bros who appreciated yr effort on yr earlier FR. U r new to the forum & u now have 1 power & can up others 1 pt.

Yep,u r right. :D

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

Anyone knows if coming back on a Saturday which time of the ferry from harbor bay to Sg will be crowd timing?

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

harbour bay area.

Re: Batam Info Thread
 

basically, it will be a crowded day, in and out.

Ya, anytime also crowded for Saturday.