After a busy year, we were still a little greedy after our Australia vacation and so we decided to unwind ourselves with a short get-away to Batam, Indonesia, just before school starts in beginning January.

Batam has always been a favourite holiday spot for Singaporeans and it is convenient to get there simply via a 45-minute ferry ride.  We had visited Batam before with friends but it is definitely the first time with our boys. So, they were excited to set foot in Indonesia especially when they know that Indonesia is the homeland of our ex-domestic helper (one of their favourite, Rus, whom our boys have been pestering me to re-employ).

The ride on the ferry was comfortable, with clean and new seats and the movie “Avatar” was screened

Our accomodation in Batam is Hotel Holiday Inn.  The Hotel is located only about 3-minute drive from the Waterfront Ferry Terminal in Batam. It is a good choice (although the hotel is not located directly next to the beach).  The boys love the two-bedroom suite in the hotel for its spaciousness and good view.  They actually exclaimed when they could view Singapore TV shows over at Batam and with flat screen TV.

I shared this spacious master bedroom, equipped with toilet/bathroom and flatscreen TV, with Darren.  We were lucky that our sick birds, Papa and Brendan, were able to share a separate bedroom in the same suite. Darren was all geared for attack with the new toy gun (reasonably priced at S$10, equipped with sound, laser) that we bought from Nagoya City Centre…hehe

Imagine how excited our boys were when they saw Singapore’s TV channel at Batam and “Mommy, mommy, they are showing “Love”! Children are so easily contented huh? They actually told me that they do not mind staying in hotel just to watch these Singapore’s TV channels in a foreign land..haha:)

Our adult was excited and contented, in the living room, watching a movie that we have watched before. As for mommy - I couldn’t wait to leave the room because that was the reason we were there - to holiday.

The “pantry”. Our little one continued to terrorise us with his new toy:)

There is a Panda’s Kids Club and ideal play pools for our little ones.  We were happy that our boys actually love the resort stay (away from the busy crowd and technology and theme park) and the food (hehe, we actually visited the same restaurant several times during our stay) and had an enjoyable time at the basic  amenities (Karaoke and Pool Table) provided by the hotel. 

We were allocated a good unit, with view of the sea and pool. Hee…Such a condo unit, with sea facing and pool facing, in Singapore would have cost about or more than S$1.5 million

There are different pools (mostly smaller play pools) with indications of different depths. Ideal water playground for children

In front of one of the room suite at ground level. We prefer the high floor unit which we were allocated

Though Papa Ed and Bren were sick, the virus could not deter us from having the fun of a family letting down our hair and being crazy together…*hehe*.  Unfortunately, our boys did not have a swim since Brendan was having fever.

[Overall, no negative feedback about the hotel too except that they really have to improve on the check-in and check-out system. We cannot imagine that we have to queue for 30 minutes to process check-out when there was only another customer before us. They should also consider having a bigger shuttle bus, with luggage compartments.]

Christmas in Indonesia @ Lobby of Batam Holiday Inn

Getting around Batam is convenient as the hotel provides shuttle service to City Centre and other hot tourist spots. We got to know that the shuttle service to City Centre is not free of charge though. We chose to travel via the hotel’s arranged taxi service in the comfort of a private car and for convenience of pick-up time to wherever we want to go. Eg. a one-way trip to Nagoya (Batam’s City Centre costs S$16, exactly same rate that we have to pay when we take shuttle service provided by the Hotel) and the driver actually waited for us till we finished wandering. We were lucky to have a careful and polite driver and will engage his transport service the next time that we are in Batam again.

The main attraction - Tea Tree Spa in Batam Holiday Inn

We chose to stay in Batam Holiday Inn mainly for the experience of a relaxing treatment at the award-winning Tea Tree Spa. Set in the ideal environment of 14 spacious Balinese-styled couple villas and treatment rooms, indulging ourselves in the spa packages here is not only a soothing/rejuvenating moment for our body but also for our mind.

When we had our body scrubs and massages early in the morning, the fresh air in the open air couple villa and the sound of the chirping birds really create a perfect ambience to set our minds totally at ease. 

Our boys, of course, will not give any massage treat a miss! They joined us in the foot massage/reflexology at night and for a moment, we actually thought that the natural sound of the crickets was coming from the music player. The lizards did not miss out the fun of joining in the music concert too.”..*haha*.

We were in one of the Balinese style couple villa. For those with young kids, they can actually also enjoy a session of foot massage at the side or wait in comfort on the stretchable seats enjoying their moments of reading or game

Brendan gladly became my photographer while mommy “oink oink” during the session 

My beautiful masseur professionally kept me covered and blocked whenever I requested for privacy and censorship from our boys *haha*. I enjoyed all my sessions but feel that they could use more strength, just like what Papa Ed got from his masseur. Overall, still a thumbs up for the service and ambience.

I am sure I will miss that ambience of a spa treatment in Batam Holiday Inn the next time when I have a spa treatment in Singapore.

It is interesting how some crave for the city and exciting life while Singaporeans do not mind a get-way for some moments of peace (away from the urbanised society) to enjoy the rural style of living again. Hehe. I actually love these days when I can dress really casually and when I do not have to care about a bad hair day or a non touch-up face *grin*.

If only we could live so leisurely everyday as I repeat after our boy :”Mommy, I want to live here.”  We wish…but then I am sure we will miss the modern facilities that we have back home.

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By the way, we still have lots to share on our Australia holiday experience last month. These posts will be coming your way :)

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