Batam island - Quick getaway from Singapore

School holiday...need a quick getaway from Singapore with my teenage daughter for some retail therapy. Batam, Indonesia! Perhaps a massage thrown in too, if time permits. 

Decided to stay 1 night. Possible to do a day trip. Leave early in the morning and back by nightfall.

Day 1

Ferries depart Singapore nearly every hour. Earliest 0755. Latest 2130.

Woke up late. No rush. When ready, left for Harbourfront Centre by MRT. Next departure 10.30am. As we were staying the night at I Hotel, nearest Batam harbour would be Harbour Bay. Took the Wavemaster boat to Batam. Quite fast - 45 minutes. Fare S$96 return for 2. Bring cash. They don't accept credit cards.

Departing Singapore. Universal Studios on Sentosa island in the background.

Passed Reflections at Keppel Bay

Arriving Batam

arriving

Immigration in Batam

Took a taxi from port terminal to I Hotel, Nagoya Hill. 5 minutes journey. 45,000* rupiah quoted by taxi driver. Felt like a millionaire in Indonesia.                  * that's about S$6

I Hotel

After settling in hotel, walked to Nagoya Hill Mall. From exit at back of hotel, there's a path that leads to shops and mall. Very convenient! My friend, J, recommended this hotel and I was not disappointed. Room was decent and clean. Felt quite safe walking along path to hotel. Coming back at night, the path's lit up and there's a guard sitting at the end of the path. Hotel is great if looking for accommodation near shops and large mall.

Pathway from hotel to shops

pathway from hotel to Nagoya Hill Mall

Walked around Nagoya Hill Mall. Prices seemed expensive-Indonesian standard. (Slightly more upmarket than 2nd mall we went to). Shops accept singapore dollar. 1 popular shop quoted prices in sing dollar.

strawberry milkshake

Had lunch at Kangen cafe. S can't get over the fact that her milkshake was about S$2 and her Pattaya fried rice was even cheaper - S$0.50. She was 'cheaping' like a bird.

Nasi goreng Pattaya

We zeroed in on 2 shops that had the type of clothes that S likes. KIV first. Decided to go to Batam City Square (BCS) Mall to shop. 10 minute ride away with taxi. Fare 40,000 rupiah. Easy to get taxi at entrance of Nagoya Hill Mall.

BCS is an older looking mall. However, clothes were cheaper at BCS and S tried many pieces that she liked. Bargained on price. S$10-S15 each. Walked away happy with all the find. Spent the afternoon shopping there.

retail therapy (:

In the evening, took the taxi back to Nagoya Hill Mall. I found a blouse there that I liked. At 50% off, it was a good buy.

Asked shop keeper if Kepri Mall was far away. Read about this new shopping mall. She said it was a 30 minute drive away. Shops selling a lot of Indonesian stuff.

 
Day 2

Had breakfast at hotel. Standard buffet fare. Lazy morning in hotel. Around noon, went to Nagoya Hill to get kuih lapis and looked around some shops. T-shirts and undergarments were cheap.

Bought Kuih lapis at Layers at Nagoya. Many outlets around Batam.

1 kg - 150,000 rupiah (butter) , 120,000 rupiah (margarine)

Metered taxi from hotel to port - 25,000 rupiah. (Cheaper with meter!)

Check-in was at Harbour Bay mall. Walked through mall and restaurants to departure. Kuih lapis shops in mall. Next time, can buy there just before leaving.

kuih lapis, Indonesian layered cake

 Departure 2pm. Earliest departure from Batam to Singapore 0645. Latest 2130.

Note
* S$1 = 7,420 rupiah (Sept 2012)
* Batam is 1 hour behind Singapore time
* 45 minutes by ferry boat to Batam from Harbour Front, Singapore.
* For cheaper alternative to go to Batam, a number of travel agents and online voucher progs offer special deals which have semi-fixed or fixed itineraries. Participants are brought to factory outlets, specific shopping places, temples, etc. A buffet lunch/dinner may be thrown in.