[miumiu6464]

Originally Posted by JieJieJiaoWo

Hi Bros!

Would like to thank everyone who contributed to this guide as it helped me out a lot on my solo trip over! So just to help add in fresher experience from first time solo traveller, here's a noob itinerary I used:

Went on Friday morning using BatamFast ferry. Bought the ... blah blah blah ...arrive an hour before the boarding time!

Normally is 45 minutes, collect the boarding pass from the ferry counter. Since you did online check in, you don't have to go to the Batam Fast counter. About half an hour before the ferry departure time, they will let you queue up, clear the AETOS guard before bag scan, clear bag scan and then passport scan.

This is applicable to weekdays and not so busy ferry trips during weekend. For busy trips (like between 9am to 11am, for example), timing is brought forward by another 15-30 mins.

Since you are travelling to Harbour Bay, why not buy Horizon Fast Ferry? BatamFast only have 4 ferry trips to Harbour Bay whereas Horizon have 12 trips to / fro Harbour Bay. Of course, if you have everything planned, then the numbers of ferry trips available is non material.

From Habour Bay, I actually walked to my hotel, Godes Hotel. Reason for walking is; 1) I'll be able to explore. 2) Worst case scenario for my return on the last day if I got robbed, I would at least know the way and the duration required.

Good thinking. The Dai Gor who met me on a trip to Batam last year August told me the same thing. At least when you walk, it's easier to commit memory. Let's face it.. Anyone can just take a taxi or ojet, but then everywhere would have seemed so near. And, you are always at these driver's mercy.

When you see a Mosque, Mac and KFC in the same area, then that area will most probably be the Nagoya Entertainment District (NED).

Though I did walk a big round, it actually worked in my favour as I was able to explore the ... blah blah blah ... free donut by the counter girl?? Is this common marketing/tips strategy or am I really 'special'??

You handsome lor, got free donut. It's a package. It's the basic donut anyway. JCo is very affordable, and I used to buy it last time to my regular girl joint and treat them. Even cheaper if you buy the mini donuts package. This is something like what we call "buy sweets to trick little girl."

After orientating myself with google map from the free wifi, safely arrived at the hotel around 12pm. The actual check in timing was supposed to be 2pm onward, but the staff did let me check in straight away without additional cost. I didnt choose Formosa cause it was fully booked on booking.com. And it was out of my budget

Not much comment here, since I don't even know where is your hotel, or what the standard is like. If Formosa Hotel is not in your price range, you can try Lovinna Hotel (Nagoya, beware, there are 3 Lovinna Hotels in Batam), Hotel City Central, Hotel Hana (best, just across New Berry, a booking joint and 15 minutes away from Happy8, another booking joint). These hotels are between $20 - $40 per night and in the vicinity of Formosa Hotel, so you still can use the guide by Pro NoNo to navigate around the place. (Hana Hotel is sold out, anyway, last friday.)

Though I didn't get the glass window between the toilet and bed, the standard room still did fulfil the basic requirements for a non-picky cheapo like me. ... blah blah blah ... HJ @ IDR 150k so just follow through. Massage I actually opted for 1.5 hours but it ended early so came out around an hour time. The receptionist actually only charged me the one hour massage price which is IDR 80k. RTM? Nope.

80K is about ok for a normal massage joint. 150K for milf, hmm, ok. You didn't do badly. I had a pretty good massage + vitalitas (LJ massage) for 1 hour for 200k, at my hotel. But, this deal is brokered by another Dai Gor. Initially she wanted 300k.

The NED seems kind of dead? First night I walked to the NED and I was the only one in the restaurant ... blah blah blah ... to try Blue Moon. In the end, I didn't make any booking as I realise I wasn't confident/comfortable enough to walk into a booking joint on my own...

NED not my playground as I don't drink. But, I would say they probably get alive around 10pm plus, all the way to about 1pm+. Black Page would be a better person to pass comment on this place. Didn't you go into Blue Moon? They do massage, but at 1st floor, they have a room beside the counter that's where their booking girls sat. They have some very young girls. Next time, just do research beforehand and walk into some joints bravely. The worst is what? Go inside with no girls available. The okt won't humtum you if you don't make any booking.

Second night, I went to blue moon area again. Saw the ojek uncle again and agreed to go with him. I actually was hoping I would get to see him again so I would have someone to bring me in. HAHAHAHA. He brought me to a few places, but I walked out empty handed after 3-4 places. He looked a little sad? So I asked if there were any more places. He tried to smile and said have, then he took me to the black listed morena?? There's no number, only saw morena. There's a wider selection available as compared to the others that we've been to prior. A few SYT. But 1 caught my attention when I entered as she was talking to the mama san when I entered. Then the mama san pushed/tugged her into the selection zone. So I took her. Mama san said 1.2 Juta, I said 1 Juta and mama san was shocked. I think she didnt expect me to bargain on the price as I looked docile. She said okay. So paid and off we went towards the hotel.

At least you bargain. And got a cheaper price, despite going in with a ojet. Did you have to pay the ojet? One tip.. tell any ojet or taxi driver, if you make any booking, taxi fare free. Else probably 10k per joint for the ojet. or maybe 20k for the taxi. i had never used this on taxi drivers, so the amount offered need to experiment. But, 10k for ojet is what i had used before.

Mixed feelings. She was rather sluggish. Kept sleeping and seems uninterested. Since I'm quite shy, it was quite awkward for me. But I have to say she still do her job when you ask for it.

Morena girls are like that. No discipline, no customer service enforced by the okt. You didn't do too badly on your first trip. What I would have done better is grab the map available on this thread, grab a sim card, and walk my way to the joints. Easily can cut 250k off the booking fee. You didn't hit 3 shots? Some morena girls start wanting to leave once you hit 3 shots with them.

I think the rest are more on personal experiences. Last but not least, the coffee bread at the departure area is really worth the money!![/SPOILER]

Sorry that my FR is so uneventful! But the purpose of me writing is to clear some doubts that I had before I went over.

Overall I think it was a good experience that would make my next trip a successful one!

You mean the "roti boy" coffee/bread shop beside the small corridor to the toilet? Yes, it's nice. It made a big hoo haa about 20 years ago when it first start selling at China Square at Shenton Way. Now, you can get it at JB City Square (?) too, if you are there and want to miss the taste.

How much you spent in total and break down? Just an average will do, no need accurate amount.

For a first trip, you did ok. What I would change from your trip would be

1. Book a hotel at Formosa area. Those I list above will be more affordable, yet still near Formosa. Alternatively, I would book Hotel Utama / Biz Hotel / Hotel 18 which is at DC Mall area. This area is a hot bed for booking joints (5-6 all within 10 minutes walk) and massage joints (affordable) and these hotels cost $20 - $40 per night.

2. Grab the map available from this thread (go dig), grab a sim card with data package and explore away. The map here has the the joints in batam (most of them) marked. And, Google Map is really your good friend in Batam (or anywhere else you travel to).

3. Go everywhere by foot, except for long distance. If you stay Utama area, you can save easily up to 300k from taxi fare and driver commission. And, there is a coffee shop beside Hotel 18 with very very good food, and scores of indo chinese eating there.

Great job.