Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
Obvious. I said and I repeat: the Maestro circuit adds 1.25% on the official interbank rate of the day (the one posted on XE.com). Most money changers apply a much higher commission (try at Changi airport: +15% or +20%!!), so ATMs are 99% of the times the best place to get local currency
(Not in Batam, if one has cash. With negotiation, one can approach the XE.COM rate or even get a better one, sometimes. I think they need dollar cash to sell to traders involved in black market)
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So far,the people who joined me in the past 3.5 years,none holds a Maestro Debit Card. A couple of them hold Singapore local bank ATM card and try using it to draw money from the Batam ATM,and what i notice was for every 1.5 juta drawn,S$5 was deducted from their account,and that's not counting the crazily bad exchange rate given by the bank of the Singapore local bank after they returned. Hence my guess is, most Singaporean wont be taking your good advise.
(you are also a frequent traveler,most Singaporean who visit Batam probably arent)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
I was not paying for his expenses. I just directed him to the ATMs supplying 100k notes and not 50k. His savings are not my savings.
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He might probably buy you a drink or something when you help him save,hehehe... you lose nothing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
The only taxi I take is from/to Harbour Bay, with all my luggage (I pay 50k), or out of disco if I have a girl. Best saving for me is walking or taking ojek.
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I remember reading from one of your post about 7 years ago (or was it 8 years?) you paid 50k rupiah for taxi fare,today you still paid 50k rupiah,hehehe....good job on the consistency part.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
This reminds me the tale of the boiled frog. You put the frog in a pot, and if you increase the temperature slowly 1° every day, she will be enjoying the bath until she finds herself boiled without understanding what happened.
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I remember when i 1st step into Batam,my 1st hotel was formosa (the one after it too),and their most basic room cost me about S$62 for weekday. 2nd time stay cost S$63. My 3rd or 4th trip onward,i learned and find out about Kaha,and got an about S$45 pricing,but it was eventually increased to S$47.50. I talked to the hotel and they later made the same basic room to S$48 with a membership sign up. But every 15 nights stays,there's a free night stay (basic membership,on basic room).
I guess i froze the frog,hehehe...
Nowaday,depending on situation, i could pay for a 560k/610k room but gets an upgrade to a S$82 and/or a S$102 room,hehehe...its a really big room where i can play hide and seek with my girls,hehehe...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Black Page
I will be sure to remind them. I am not sure they would spontaneously apply a discount.
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Most staffs wont bother (as many are still new) but you can always ask them to check how many nights have you stayed over the last 12 months under your membership. They will get the idea. Or even simpler,just flash your card.
