2D1N Trip to Batam

We went on an impromptu short trip to Batam over the Christmas weekend. Ferry is pretty packed so we went via BatamFast and return via Sindo Ferry since BatamFast only have morning timings left which will be too rushed.

This is our 2nd time to Batam. The previous trip, we stayed at Nagoya Mansion which is pretty decent, and is around 10 mins walk away from Nagoya Mall. This time round, Nagoya Mansion is full-house, so we stayed at Nagoya Plasa Hotel. Honestly, after reading the reviews, this is not my top choice but since this is a really impromptu trip (we booked like just a few days before the trip!) and hotel is really full everywhere so we settled with this since it's so near to Nagoya Mall. We decided to go with an open mind and prepared for the worse. And ok la, we survived our 1 night there.

When I booked for the hotel via Agoda, I left a message asking if they can pick us up at the Ferry Terminal. No reply. I dropped them another note via their website, also no reply. I wanted to avoid the hassle for bargaining with cabs at the terminal, and not sure if there will be any cabbies who will want to take us for unwanted shopping trips. Luckily, it's easier to get a cab than we thought. The rate is standard and they have a counter there for us to get a cab. Cab from Batam Centre to Nagoya Plasa Hotel is 70,000 Rupiah (around S$7) and take around 15-20 min.

The hotel lobby looks old, but still pretty decent. Our room wasn't ready so we deposited our luggage and went for a walk at Nagoya Mall, which is really near. Around 3 mins walk via the back door. Nagoya Mall is supposedly the biggest mall in Batam, with Matahari department store, Hypermart, A&W, plenty of F&B places and lotsa random shops and many shops selling imitation goods. If you're looking for fake Prada, LV, Hermes, this place should be heaven for you. I'm not really a fan of Nagoya mall, cos its really hot and stuffy. The aircon feels non-existent, which is really awful since it's really really hot in Batam when we were there. And to make it worse, people are smoking happily in the mall, which almost killed me. =/

My favourite haunt at Nagoya mall is hypermart. The auntie in me simply loves this place! Colgate toothpaste at only 13,000 Rupiah (around S$1.30), Yakult at 8,000+ Rupiah (around S$0.80 but it's a smaller bottle and no flavours). and the sauces! We love the Sambal Terasi, Sambal Masak etc and they cost around 16,000 Rupiah there! Wood's cough drops at 3,000+ rupiah (around S$0.30/pack of 6). Great place to stock up on groceries and our favourite sauces!

Matahari is like our OG or something, and sometimes, you may manage to get some good deals, so good luck!

After paying a visit to A&W like all good Singaporeans, we returned to check in to our hotel. We requested for a no-smoking room but when I came out from the lift, the first thing i smell is cigarette smoke even though there's a big sign that says its a no-smoking floor. sigh.

Had our lunch at A&W .

Rootbeer float 13,500 rupiah (around S$1.35)

Waffle Ice-cream 27,500 rupiah (around S$2.75)

We were excited to see our room since we've read so much reviews about it. Well, I must say the room live up to the reviews we've read. Room is pretty big, and on first look, it looks ok. I wanted to use the washroom, and went I went in, the first thing that greets me is a baby cockroach on the toilet roll! GASP! and this is the first time ever I've ever stayed in a hotel that uses a half-used toilet roll. Not that it's anything serious, and on second thought, they're really eco-friendly, but this is the first time I've seen this and I've lived in a lot of budget hotels in many places before. but well, the cockroach turns me off and I refused to touch the toilet roll throught the stay.

This is the how the room look like.

The half - used toilet roll.

Some chargeable tibits & complimentary 3in1 coffee & lipton tea.

See the tiny black dot? Yes, that is another baby cockroach.

Next, we shall have some spot the stain game.

Well, the towels really live up to the reviews online. They are really greyish and dirty looking and simply looks disgusting. Thank god we listened to the reviews and brought our own towels (if you don't, you can still easily get yours from Nagoya mall).

There's stains everywhere. The husband even decides to play "Spot-the-stain" game, which honestly, is not difficult cos its everywhere. The shower curtains, the carpets, the sofa, the bedsheets, it's everywhere. You don't even have to try looking for them. Thank god our room smells ok, and doesn't have the weird mouldy smell that some people talks about.

The aircon is almost non-existent as well, which is really bad cos the weather is freaking hot when we were there, and having almost non-existent aircon both in the hotel and nagoya mall means there's no way to cool ourselves down. and the aircon is really really loud.

On another note, view is pretty ok from with window. I mean, look at the sky! so pretty!

The beautiful scenery outside our room

but, well, the good thing about this place is its close proximity to Nagoya Mall which is good after groceries shopping at Nagoya mall. though I'm really not sure if I'll want to stay here again the next trip. If really no option, maybe ok la, since it's cheap, and location is good. But if there's other options, I'll probably give this a miss.

Breakfast is pretty decent I must say but please go early as it seems like they don't replenish the food. The best item there is the scrambled egg which they have a station there so it's freshly made. No complaints about the breakfast.

After we check out, we got the hotel to send us to Batam Centre (80,000 Rupiah) so we can go shop around Mega Mall. You can deposit your luggage at the customer service counter at level 2 at no extra charge which is really good. It's our first time there, and hubby and I prefer this mall than Nagoya mall. It looks new and we can feel the aircon! Bad thing is people are still smoking but at least it wasn't as bad as Nagoya mall. It is smaller compared to Nagoya Mall but not too bad. Most of the stores we go to at Nagoya mall also have shops there: A&W, Matahari, Hypermart (though smaller), and there's also Black Canyon Coffee (our favourite in Bangkok!) and Starbucks!

Well, in conclusion, Batam is ok for a short trip and some simple groceries shopping (hahaha!). Nothing very interesting, but good place to go if you're dying to go somewhere and only have the weekend to go! :)

This restaurant Bistro Godiva look appealing to us, it has indoor seats with aircon & there is no smoking allowed inside so we decided to have our dinner here.