Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[Black Page]

The Visa on Arrival has been reinstated for my country and many other countries. It costs 500k IDR.
Years ago, it was expressed in USD. I was bringing those 30 (?) USD on purpose to pay the VOA quickly without hassle.

Now, am I supposed to bring 500k cash with me?
Therefore, I must change some cash to IDR at HF in Singapore? Or I can pay in SGD or USD? How much in those currencies?

Anybody knows? Thank you so much for your advice!

[lincoln3010]

Pay in rupiah would be better
Change at hbf
Anyways its only 500k only

[yuanswang]

Originally Posted by kbt7046

For my experience, it is hard to get Grab or GoCar at Harbour Bay. Maybe the fare is too low, so drivers not interested to accept bookings. Anyway taxi fare from Harbour Bay to Planet Holiday or Harmoni Suites is just RP50,000. Whereas it is much easier to get the Private Hire car at the mall opposite Batam Centre. Taxi fare from Batam Centre to Nagoya cost RP150,000 compare to under RP40,000 on either GoCar or Grab Car, saving much significant. There are also more ferry service at Batam Centre, however journey take longer . Ferry trip takes extra 10 minutes and road journey to Nagoya from Batam Centre also takes extra 20 minutes.

Cos the drivers at harbourbay Will fight with them. In my last visit a crazy driver come to argue with me said you can't pick gojeck here you cancel it I will drop you where ever you want go. Then I go out in halfway to pick gojeck. I heard batam center also need to go out pick gojeck. BCS of this fucking drivers. They asking rentel also not fair, fucking high.

[nitecrawllerr]

Originally Posted by yuanswang

Cos the drivers at harbourbay Will fight with them. In my last visit a crazy driver come to argue with me said you can't pick gojeck here

I would normally walked to Morning bakery. Had my lunch. Then book grab. Np. Tat day was at Nagoya Mall. Tried to bok grab but locals told me its not allowed there. So i walked slightly away fm the mall and bok grab fm nearby MP.

[Sex Kid]

Bruder,
Batam have Grab? How to order? Use same app from Singapore?

[yuanswang]

Originally Posted by nitecrawllerr

I would normally walked to Morning bakery. Had my lunch. Then book grab. Np. Tat day was at Nagoya Mall. Tried to bok grab but locals told me its not allowed there. So i walked slightly away fm the mall and bok grab fm nearby MP.

Nice idea, I will follow on my next visit. I think private taxi business deep affect by cheap gojek make them very angry, They behave rude also le. That guy stand beside and force me to cancel ride and said i will not allowed you to get in bike. I just said no and walk away on exit road and update my new waiting place by gojeck chat. Nice driver come to the new place. I tip him extra few K rp that still very cheaper then the local riders. My girl say now maxim app is more cheaper then gojek. next time will try that

[jimfairy]

I miss batam, I miss nagoya mall, I miss kopi luwak, I miss cewek!!!

[maddog_mlvn]

Originally Posted by Sex Kid

Bruder,
Batam have Grab? How to order? Use same app from Singapore?

U hv very deep pockets, y waste ur precious time waiting for Grab. There r many local new taxi waiting at the building drop off and pick up point waiting for U.

[flex0rnaut]

Originally Posted by Sex Kid

Bruder,
Batam have Grab? How to order? Use same app from Singapore?

Grabs my go-to way of travelling in Batam.

Do note that please do not try booking grab from the ferry terminals or malls.

They are mostly conquered by the cabbies there. You may be in for a rude awakening.

It'll be better to take grab from a short walk distance away from those places or maybe even hotel lobbies.

Most trips are $2-4 only. Super cheap

If feeling adventurous, maybe try tompang gojek bike for $1+ lol

[Sex Kid]

Originally Posted by flex0rnaut

Grabs my go-to way of travelling in Batam.

Most trips are $2-4 only. Super cheap

If feeling adventurous, maybe try tompang gojek bike for $1+ lol

Brudder,
What app to download to for the grab or gojek?

Thank you Brudder

[wanfulou]

Originally Posted by Sex Kid

Brudder,
What app to download to ok the grab or goes?

Thank you Bruder

The Grab app you use in SG is the same in all the country that it supported.

Just use back the same app, it will auto convert to the respective country/currency.

[Sex Kid]

Originally Posted by maddog_mlvn

U hv very deep pockets, y waste ur precious time waiting for Grab. There r many local new taxi waiting at the building drop off and pick up point waiting for U.

Actually you say quite true. Not because pocket deep, but it is only S$5.

I think too much already. Brudder, thank you for wake up call.

[ozyamanalev]

Hi All Sifu,
anyone know Batam have proper B2B massage joint like Bangkok one?

or like previous Katrika/Berlian in Jakarta?

Confuse on Massage shiatsu...anyone know what is this meaning?

Some personal experience, tried the SPA at Batam city hotel last month, pick one girl from TV in the waiting room, forgot name and number but experience is bad, can't touch here and there, got a bathtub(Please avoid this one in future), i soak in the bathtub by myself, the girl didn't shower me also, I thought she will shower together with me lol. And the rates is like almost 500K.

Been to phoenix massage before, that one is a better experience, pop 2 times there and girls are more friendly.

Will back to batam next week so hoping to get some recommendation on B2B, thanks.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by flex0rnaut

If feeling adventurous, maybe try tompang gojek bike for $1+ lol

I do not feel adventurous, but I exclusively take ojek from street whenever I need or I am not in the mood to walk. It costs (costed? until 2020) some 10k-15k. Ojek are everywhere, promptly available at any time.
I never take a taxi, unless I have luggage or I am with a girl (I took 2 ojek for me and the girl from pub many times, escaping from the robbery of taxi drivers who stand by in front of pubs or discos at night).

[PrcLust]

Originally Posted by Black Page

The Visa on Arrival has been reinstated for my country and many other countries. It costs 500k IDR.
Years ago, it was expressed in USD. I was bringing those 30 (?) USD on purpose to pay the VOA quickly without hassle.

Now, am I supposed to bring 500k cash with me?
Therefore, I must change some cash to IDR at HF in Singapore? Or I can pay in SGD or USD? How much in those currencies?

Anybody knows? Thank you so much for your advice!

Guess most of us are asean citizens and we don’t need to pay for voa so won’t be able to verify for you. They should be ok to accept US or Euro dollars I guess but rates will be lower. To play safe , just change abit at HF to rupiahs and save you the uncertainty.

Forget to add further info. Transport fees has increased significantly after the government has cut the subsidies on petrol.