Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[kbt7046]

Originally Posted by DDAMn

What is the exchange rate like at batam?Money changers at front of formosa hotel & jln imam bonjol still operating.Just getting a heads up info for this weekend trip.thanks

RP10,200 to S$1, I changed at Batam Center. Some money changers around Formosa Hotel area still open, but i didn't check the rate there.

[DDAMn]

Originally Posted by kbt7046

RP10,200 to S$1, I changed at Batam Center. Some money changers around Formosa Hotel area still open, but i didn't check the rate there.

thank u bro

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by kbt7046

I've been in Batam since May 6, not seeing any booking joint open. Disco at Planet Holiday has already reopen,

Many restaurants that i usec to go have already closed down as well, some have change boss. I also heard that Formosa Hotel is going to reopen under new management, the new owner is a Indonesian who bought the hotel from the previous Taiwanese owner.

Price of everything seems getting more expensive than before 2020, one hour traditional massage cost RP150,000 ( below Star Hotel) Ride on Gojek here has also gone up. Taxi fare from Batam Center to Planet Holiday now cost RP150,000. They claim because of high fuel cost.

I really love to read your reports from field. Please be as much specific as you can. I cannot go there for a while, I am trying to imagine the place through your words.

What discos are open? Did you check P2 and P3? Same as before?

The news that Formosa is going to reopen sounds as a myth. Good luck to the new Indo owner, if he dares! However, I read here that they dismantled and sold all reusable furniture... I guess that, whatever will be the new Formosa, if there will be, we lost forever its old atmosphere, even the smell of corridors.
Imagine walking there now, in lonely corridors. It sounds like walking in a ghost building in a movie.

Price up?? Jeez... A girl should jump on the first tourist she sees, considering the rarity, not ask for more money!

[kbt7046]

F1 Batam Club which is located at level 1 of Planet Holiday is the only disco i know is open. I no longer interested to frequent at disco at my age, so don't look around and explore. I know F1 club is open as I've already been staying in Planet Holiday for a week. Went to Lucky Plaza and Nagoya Hill again yesterday. All shops at Nagoya Hill seem business as usual, the mall doesn't look any different as i last went there in 2019. However, Lucky Plaza and Center Point which used to be vibrant 20 years ago are half dead. Especially Center Point, only shops at the external part of the building seem occupied, like ghost building. While Lucky Plaza, seem that only hp shops are doing well, no more food court,Matahari also no longer there. Most shops opposite there are closed. Beside some shops space at the ground floor of Formosa Hotel, the entire building is in darkness at night. Covid has killed several well known popular hotels such as Formosa and Harmoni at Batam. Businesses here don't get the level of government support as their counterparts in Singapore. Some of the Gojek drivers have tell me that many ceweks are now staying at Reddoorz awaiting for booking, some are staying at Pacific but those staying there charge RP2 to RP3 million for overnight booking. Many Gojek drivers have offer me to find ceweks.

[Sochaipom]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I really love to read your reports from field. Please be as much specific as you can. I cannot go there for a while, I am trying to imagine the place through your words.

What discos are open? Did you check P2 and P3? Same as before?

The news that Formosa is going to reopen sounds as a myth. Good luck to the new Indo owner, if he dares! However, I read here that they dismantled and sold all reusable furniture... I guess that, whatever will be the new Formosa, if there will be, we lost forever its old atmosphere, even the smell of corridors.
Imagine walking there now, in lonely corridors. It sounds like walking in a ghost building in a movie.

Price up?? Jeez... A girl should jump on the first tourist she sees, considering the rarity, not ask for more money!

Both P2 & P3 are open but like dead town very quiet even on a Saturday night. P3 hall/pub at level 1 is currently under renovation..

[Cougar21]

Originally Posted by DDAMn

Indo custom got check your passport whether have stayed 14 days in spore PDT requirement?thanks bro just checking for next week trip.

Basket Horizon Fast counter checked my passport to see if i have at least 14 days stayed in Sinkieland zzzz

[Cougar21]

Originally Posted by Bobducks

Going for a last minute trip there this weekend too for 3 nights, staying at planet holiday. Would really be interested in know what the pricing is like now and if any of the old booking joints (or new ones) are open

R u here in batam? Im here for 3 nights too. Seeing someone changed at Rp10200 for $1 is a terrible rate at Batam Center. And i can still find St rates for Rp 300k to 400k. I see if i can get a better rate at Nagoya Citywalk area.

[DDAMn]

Originally Posted by Cougar21

R u here in batam? Im here for 3 nights too. Seeing someone changed at Rp10200 for $1 is a terrible rate at Batam Center. And i can still find St rates for Rp 300k to 400k. I see if i can get a better rate at Nagoya Citywalk area.

How about the money changers facing Nagoya Plasa Hotel along Jalan Imam Bonjol what their exchange rate? Taking Horizon this sunday.

[Cougar21]

Originally Posted by DDAMn

How about the money changers facing Nagoya Plasa Hotel along Jalan Imam Bonjol what their exchange rate? Taking Horizon this sunday.

I didnt go there.i walked from my hotel at Hana to Formosa there n changed at the money changer opposite formosa and got Rp10400. 10200 is rubbish. Tu penukaran uang asing di pelabuhan tipu, kata kasir nya.

So on with my fr for today. Walked around plaza avava there. Flea market is crowded n bustling. Saw Dragon massage open. New hotel really happening with loud karaoke. Across New hotel is a brand new looking Morena Hotel! Then abt 7pm got blackout till abt 11pm. Everywhere was dark lol. Went eat sate sapi padang near avava mall at Rp15k 1 porsi.(8 sticks) what price increase man? Same as 2 years ago no change unlike Sinkieland. Den tried the sate kambing madura 1 porsi near Hotel Gajah Mada also Rp15k. Same price as 2 yrs ago. Shop at Top100 supermarket behind plaza Avava. The Ramayana beside it is still open and alive and well. Den bought the serabi pisang coklat near 777 hotel for rp4k each. Passed by Biz hotel and saw Swees curry puff still opened. Later on bungkus indo mie goreng at my fav stall near the big longkang opposite Hans Inn at Rp14k. No change of price since 2 years ago. The stall owner still recognize me & had a good chat. Kta ngomong lma juga. Den back to room.

Btw managed to retrieve my indon Dana & OVO account after getting a new sim card Telkomsel when my old sim got terminated due to forgot to extend validity. So frustrating.

Sape2 masih di daerah Nagoya bisa chat dgn sya nanti bleh temu makan ka?

[Cougar21]

Forgot to add was at Utama area and saw the Hallo Kitty Massage have a huge bright neon signboard on display! Seems they have upgraded and looks very grand & bling2!

And the food court opposite Biz hotel was very lively & crowded during dinner time.

[kbt7046]

Originally Posted by Cougar21

I didnt go there.i walked from my hotel at Hana to Formosa there n changed at the money changer opposite formosa and got Rp10400. 10200 is rubbish. Tu penukaran uang asing di pelabuhan tipu, kata kasir nya.

So on with my fr for today. Walked around plaza avava there. Flea market is crowded n bustling. Saw Dragon massage open. New hotel really happening with loud karaoke. Across New hotel is a brand new looking Morena Hotel! Then abt 7pm got blackout till abt 11pm. Everywhere was dark lol. Went eat sate sapi padang near avava mall at Rp15k 1 porsi.(8 sticks) what price increase man? Same as 2 years ago no change unlike Sinkieland. Den tried the sate kambing madura 1 porsi near Hotel Gajah Mada also Rp15k. Same price as 2 yrs ago. Shop at Top100 supermarket behind plaza Avava. The Ramayana beside it is still open and alive and well. Den bought the serabi pisang coklat near 777 hotel for rp4k each. Passed by Biz hotel and saw Swees curry puff still opened. Later on bungkus indo mie goreng at my fav stall near the big longkang opposite Hans Inn at Rp14k. No change of price since 2 years ago. The stall owner still recognize me & had a good chat. Kta ngomong lma juga. Den back to room.

Btw managed to retrieve my indon Dana & OVO account after getting a new sim card Telkomsel when my old sim got terminated due to forgot to extend validity. So frustrating.

Sape2 masih di daerah Nagoya bisa chat dgn sya nanti bleh temu makan ka?

I didn't go to that area despite staying here since May 6, going back to SG this afternoon. I eat almost every meal in hotel room, order from GoFood or Grab Food. Also if i need to go out, calling either GoCar or Grab Car, never walk around a few blocks away from Planet Holiday. Food and transport do cost more than 2020 March.This trip cost me $3000 in total for 8 nights, still acceptable with $300+ a day. Actual spending is just around $1500 (i gave the cewek RP15 million ) So overall still worthwhile, $3K is not enough to go elsewhere for 8 days anyway

[Cougar21]

Originally Posted by kbt7046

I didn't go to that area despite staying here since May 6, going back to SG this afternoon. I eat almost every meal in hotel room, order from GoFood or Grab Food. Also if i need to go out, calling either GoCar or Grab Car, never walk around a few blocks away from Planet Holiday. Food and transport do cost more than 2020 March.This trip cost me $3000 in total for 8 nights, still acceptable with $300+ a day. Actual spending is just around $1500 (i gave the cewek RP15 million ) So overall still worthwhile, $3K is not enough to go elsewhere for 8 days anyway

What? Thats like over spending man. Crazy. Just go out n walk down u have burger king, kfc and McDonald's in 1 cluster. I walked all the way to BK and went inside to look see and saw a group Middle-eastern men/bule. There r so much food around your area. If u walk behind to plaza jodoh area u can find many street stalls selling tons of local food. And i only take Grab or Gojek and the prices r still very low. Like for grabbike less than 2km is rp10k, rp17k for grabcar. Similar rates for Gojek.

Example for now, from planet holiday hotel to Batam Center ferry terminal it cost Rp34k for Grabcar economy. Where got price increase? Unless u taking those clapping hands tak si tak si mafias?

[Bobducks]

Originally Posted by Cougar21

R u here in batam? Im here for 3 nights too. Seeing someone changed at Rp10200 for $1 is a terrible rate at Batam Center. And i can still find St rates for Rp 300k to 400k. I see if i can get a better rate at Nagoya Citywalk area.

Yup I'm here! Changed money at grand Batam mall. 10400. Was wondering, what do people think is better, octopuss or fame Spa?

[Cougar21]

Originally Posted by Bobducks

Yup I'm here! Changed money at grand Batam mall. 10400. Was wondering, what do people think is better, octopuss or fame Spa?

Nice. Same rate as me. Would u like to eat the japanese buffet at Grand batam mall? I miss that place. It was raining heavily here in Jodoh area. Rain just stopped.

[Bobducks]

Originally Posted by Cougar21

Nice. Same rate as me. Would u like to eat the japanese buffet at Grand batam mall? I miss that place. It was raining heavily here in Jodoh area. Rain just stopped.

Kintan? Really wanna try that place actually. Heard great things about it from my indo friends. Let's do it. Dinner? Pm me