[nono1973]

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

After reading many FR trips from Bro nono, I decide to go batam for 2D1N trip on Friday 4/9/2015. I asked my fren to join but he cant so i had to go solo.

It is a bad one for my 1st solo trip, make many mistakes.

Thank you for sharing your FR,bro.And very sorry for the delay in replying to your FR becos i was planning and heading for my Batam trip. Honestly,i read your FR quite many times and have learned much.

Its your 1st solo trip to Batam,again i wish to emphasis this,which 1st timer or newbie go Batam dont make mistake/s? One of the main reason why i am still here and keep on writing and writing and writing (and sharing) is becos i try to learn,hopefully from other people's mistakes so i dont have to make them ALL BY MYSELF when i am in Batam. When i consolidate most of the basic Batam info and share them here,i also have in my heart that others call avoid making those mistakes too. (that is of course if one choose to read and is willing to learn)

I bet with you my life,you WILL NOT make most of your mistakes you already rectified in your written FR again in your next trip. Wanna bet? Hehehe...

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

I chose Formosa Hotel because its location is ideal for me.
I booked a superior room on Formosa Hotel Main Website. Some may ask why i never book from Trivago.com, hotel.com or agoda.com because when I compare the price of the superior room, the hotel main website is cheaper.
Through hotel main website, I only need to pay $50 while at Hotel.com, I need to pay 59 plus, almost a $10 different.

Good! I learned from you to ALWAYS compare pricing from website to website (or even other sources.like Kaha etc) to get the best deal before making a trip. You saved almost S$10,which is about 99000 rupiah.Now think what you can do with 99k in Batam. If its me,i would say it is sufficient to subsidize most of my major "mistakes" in the FR you wrote,hehehe...(i am writing this by putting myself in your shoe,bro)

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

After booking the hotel, I went to book ferry to batam. As bro nono mentioned sindo ferry has a $10 discount for 2 way tickets. All the while, I thought Harbour Bay is WaterFront. This is my 1st mistake. I only realized that I chose the wrong ferry terminal to alight at Batam. I should have choose Batam Centre which is nearer. The 2 way ticket cost 38 instead of 48 due to NTUC members getting $10 off.

I still prefer to go by Horizon Ferry. Especially during newbie group trip. Beside being more comfortable,they are usually more punctual and travelling via taxi from Harbour Bay to Formosa is definitely shorter (cheaper too) as compared to Batam Center to Formosa.

After calculating most of the costing versus total effectiveness,i still prefer Horizon Ferry from Harbour Front to Harbour Bay. Just personal preference here.

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

Reach WaterFront and change SGD50 for 9800k. There is only 1 taxi which quote me 130k to Formosa Hotel. I had no choice but to accept. Due to alighting at wrong ferry terminal which disrupt my plan of visiting Ocean Massage before check in
Once reach the hotel, time is still early for check-in so i decide to explore the area. I went opposite Formosa Hotel to change rupiah. A chinese lady in spec offered 9850k to me and I asked for better rate and in the end i get 9900k for SGD100. I went around and check other money changer, no one offer higher than her.

Good! You changed your money wisely,opened your mouth to make comparison. As a newbie,i believe you yourself knows you already got a good price on that day,isnt it?

Thumbs up!!

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

I using google map to trace harmoni hotel and found blue moon, there is another massage called blue light just beside blue moon.
I chose the package D if i remember correctly for 360k for 1.5hr. I was assigned a indo chinese girl, looks 7/10. I asked her about the overnight booking, she said minimum is 1m to 1.5m and only 6 to 7 girls to choose.
She herself is 1m. I was tempted to take but in the end, i gave up the thought. She asked 200k for HJ which I tried to bargain but failed.

That place or area is a HOT tourist area,so 200k for HJ is kind of inevitable (150k is still a high possible chance tho). Tourist trap area tends to be more expensive as there are an ample availability of CARROTS with not as many carrots from Sillypore.

Allow me to share a little method here,usually when i am in Batam,i know i am going to book a girl from booking joint. I know i am going to bonk till i drop,so if a girl in a massage parlour offers me special service and i would already have a price tag in mind. I know lowest is usually 100k/hj,so unless i can bargain to 100k,there wont be deal between the girl/s in the parlour and me. Of course if language isnt a barrier,i will explain to the masseur my logic that i already have a booking joint girl in-room,taking the 200k hj is not practical for me and the story goes on. 150k is still considerable tho if they are good.

My method do not apply to those who are shy or thin-skinned and those who wish to play the "hunting game" in a particular massage parlour/Pubs/KTV/Disco tho. I am a girl-shopper,hehehe...

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

After the massage, I walked back to Formosa Hotel to check in. With the help of google map and gps, I am able to find my way easily and fast. the walking journey takes about 10mins.

Cool! Your 1st Batam walk-about,i guess. Once you learn to walk,you will get to see more,learn more and ultimately one day wont be held ransom by anyone. What you learn belongs to you till the day you leave this world,hehehe...another thumbs up!

Originally Posted by xXFreedomXx

When i enter my room, i was surprised. Spacious and nice, with bath tub too. 1 thing to note, I notice the front desk price table do not indicate superior room only deluxe room and others.

The bath tub? Hehehe...its likely the last of the few left as i heard most rooms in Formosa will be doing away with the bath tub. And yes,there isnt much difference between the deluxe and the superior room. Corner rooms are usually bigger than most rooms tho,hehehe...and their corner rooms got good fenshui too,hehehe...just that the air con may have a little problem due to the big room space. As big room equal big space,big space takes an air-con longer time or more strength to cool down.

Nonetheless,glad you like the room you were assigned to.