During the year-end period, my family decided to spend the upcoming Chinese New Year overseas. Although we usually stay in Singapore during the festive period, we decided to do something different. As it was already so late, plane tickets were expectedly too expensive even to consider flying to another country. Driving into Malaysia was another big no-no as there would most likely be massive traffic jams, and we wanted to avoid adding to the long queues that Malaysians must face when they head back home for a well-deserved break. Immediately, we considered taking a ferry to a nearby island. Batam came to the top of our minds. After a quick check, we discovered that many hotels were already fully booked. Another check on the IHG mobile app showed that rooms were still available at Holiday Inn Resort Batam. Quickly, we booked a 2 Bedroom Suite at this lovely hotel!
TL:DR
Very affordable stay
Complimentary transport between the hotel and the ferry terminal
Old-looking rooms
Delicious Japanese teppanyaki restaurant
Service:
The service standards at this lovely hotel were fantastic throughout our stay. Everyone was very polite and always tried their best to meet our requests. When we arrived at the ferry terminal, a hotel staff member was waiting to pick up our luggage and drive us to the resort. For those unaware, Holiday Inn Resort Batam offers complimentary transport between the ferry terminal and the resort when you check in and out.
The hotel staff was always friendly, and we really enjoyed ourselves during the various meals and interactions we had with them.
Hotel Facilities:
As a resort, Holiday Inn Resort Batam has a large free-form swimming pool that is targeted at families. Indeed, we saw many families having fun in the pool throughout our stay. Helpfully, there is an al fresco cafe beside the swimming pool, so parents can grab a book, order a cup of coffee, and wait while their children have fun swimming and playing in the pool.
At the other end of the resort is a spacious gym with all the necessary equipment for guests to enjoy a complete workout. Complimentary water and clean towels are also provided. Bicycles are available for rent, and adventurous guests can rent one to explore the resort's vicinity. As the resort is very far from the main shopping area in Batam, we highly recommend just exploring around it to avoid getting lost.
Perhaps the most important facility in this hotel is Tea Tree Spa. Located at the end of the resort, it is very popular and advance booking is definitely recommended. We tried our luck one evening by walking in but were informed there were no more slots. The next day was also fully booked. We suggest booking a slot immediately when you check in!
Breakfast:
Breakfast is served daily at Terrace Cafe, the hotel’s main restaurant, which also has an alfresco area facing the swimming pool.
In the resort elevators, a poster helpfully informs guests of the peak period for breakfast. The busiest time is between 8 am and 9 am, while 6 am to 8 am has the least crowd. For us late owls, it should be acceptable to head down between 9 am and 10 am, where there is expected to be a moderate crowd.
The food options at breakfast were quite plentiful. Guests can enjoy different types of cuisine, and we found ourselves enjoying many kinds of food. I have always loved a Western breakfast, and it was great to see the many types of pastries served. There is an egg station, of course, and you can inform the staff how you would like your eggs done. Cold cuts, salads, and fresh fruits are some of the options you can enjoy as well.
True to its roots, the restaurant serves many Asian delicacies. There was a live roti prata station, although it had already closed by the time we arrived for breakfast, which was almost closing time. There is also a live noodle station serving local noodles. Chinese dim sum is offered, and other Asian options like curries, braised chicken, and porridge are available as well.
To end on a sweet note, guests can choose from pancakes, French toast, or one of the many sweet pastries. I knew I had to try the French toast and pancakes. They were good!
Food:
In addition to Terrace Cafe, Holiday Inn Resort Batam has other restaurants: a Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, a Thai restaurant, and a Chinese restaurant. From the cuisines of these restaurants, it is pretty clear who its clientele is!
During our time there, we could only try out the food at Akatonbo Teppanyaki, the open-air teppanyaki restaurant near the pool, and Terrace Cafe. Besides breakfast, we were also able to have dinner at Terrace Cafe.
Our dinner at Akatonbo Teppanyaki was simply the best. When we first arrived, we were provided a menu, and we wanted to indulge a little since it was the new year! We each had a lobster set and ordered additional items to start our holiday the right way! Each set had a salad appetiser, a bowl of miso soup packed with ingredients, fried vegetables, fried rice, and fresh-cut fruits for dessert.
To start, we loved the salad appetiser. It opened up our appetites, and we were hungry for more food. The miso soup had chunks of salmon inside, complementing the salad well. The chefs then expertly cooked the vegetables in front of us, and soon, they started cooking the fried rice. Everything moved like clockwork, and we only rested briefly before each course was served.
Finally, it was time for the stars of the night. The chefs began cooking the proteins, and we loved their freshness. They prepared the salmon, squid, steaks, and lobster. We were thoroughly impressed with the chefs and their cooking skills. Everything tasted so delicious, and it was truly unforgettable. When it was time to cook the lobster, the chef put on a show. Using oil and fire, it lighted up the whole area, and I was blessed to capture the moment. It showed the chef in a very cool manner! To top it all off, we loved the taste of the lobster!
Before long, we finished our food, and it was time for the fresh fruits. We were officially stuffed at this point, and the fresh fruits helped a little. That was easily the best meal of our Batam trip, leaving us with great memories. I know I must be back here again to enjoy another lobster teppanyaki!
As it was the Chinese New Year period, Holiday Inn Resort Batam had special dinner menus to celebrate the new year together. We decided to go for their dinner buffet to try something unique overseas.
We went for the dinner buffet that offered various seafood items, meats, and Asian food options. There was also the promise of satays, and together with the seafood, they were more than enough to entice us successfully.
We arrived for dinner quite late, as we were headed back to the resort from the city and stuck in a traffic jam. By the time we arrived, dinner had well and truly started. True to its promises, there were many items for dinner. We were especially attracted to the squids and prawns on a heated platform. The prawns and squid tasted very fresh, and we made multiple rounds to take more of them. That night, our tummies mainly contained prawns and squid.
There were also meats served, including beef, chicken, and huge drumsticks. The most enticing of all must be the satays, and we also took quite a few sticks and enjoyed them with the tasty satay sauce.
There was also the usual food you would find in buffets, such as fried rice, vegetables, noodles, and other deep-fried food. There were some unique dishes, including a Thai vermicelli salad, and beetroot and red bean salad, which I unfortunately did not get to try. For those who enjoy sweet stuff, you should be happy as there were mini cakes, sweet pancakes, and a logan pudding that appeared really sweet.
Overall, the food was decent but not fantastic. It was definitely an affordable dinner buffet that served many types of food. You can indulge in unlimited amounts of prawns, squid, satays, beef, chicken, and many more items. We enjoyed our dinner and were properly full by the time we finished. For those who wish to have a fuss-free dinner buffet and to enjoy dinner in the comfort of the resort, this dinner buffet is worth considering.
Room:
The two-bedroom suite at Holiday Inn Resort Batam measures 71 square metres and is divided into three sections: the main bedroom, the second bedroom, and the dining and living area.
You will find the dining and living areas when you first enter the suite. The dining area has a table and cabinets, providing bottled water and caffeine options. The living area has a sofa that comfortably fits three, while the television is in front. I quickly checked, and it only had a few television channels to enjoy. There is a balcony that faces the swimming pool, but because of where our suite was located, a tree blocked the swimming pool. A suite on the higher floors should get you a perfect view of the pool.
The master bedroom has a King-sized bed and a television, although we suspect you will not be catching many television programmes in this resort. The wardrobe has a safe and ironing board, so you can do some last-minute ironing before heading out. The master bedroom’s bathroom has a bathtub but no separate standing shower. You must step into the bathtub if you want a standing shower. Holiday Inn provides toiletries in small plastic bottles, replenished daily during housekeeping, so you should always have enough to use. Dental and vanity kits are also provided, so there is no need to rush to a convenience store to buy these toiletries. The shared bathroom has a standing shower instead of a bathtub, which is the only difference. Toiletries, dental, and vanity kits are also provided in the second bathroom.
The second bedroom comprises two single bedrooms, perfect for siblings to bunk together. A small table and lamp separate the beds, which is the ideal place to place your mobile phones. There is a small wardrobe that should be enough to store some clothes, and a small table with a wall plug for those who need to do some work. I actually had to do some work, and the table became useful. Of course, you can also use the big dining table for your working needs.
The two-bedroom suite is a simple and functional place for a family to call home for a few nights. Admittedly, the rooms are getting very old, and it is very hard to compete with the new Batam Marriott Hotel Harbour Bay in the heart of the city. Location-wise, Holiday Inn Resort Batam is not ideal too. However, the price for such a large room is incredibly affordable and is an excellent place for budget-conscious travellers. The city is just a Grab ride away and equally affordable. A resort is usually far from the city anyway, and this is a key difference between Holiday Inn Resort Batam and Batam Marriott Hotel Harbour Bay. Putting the old rooms aside, this is a nice place to stay, and we enjoyed staying in this beautiful resort.
Overall, what it lacks, Holiday Inn Resort tries to make up for it by offering excellent customer service and value-added services. Complimentary transport to the ferry terminal is another offering it provides to customers. Of course, one must remember the delicious meals the chefs at Akatonbo Teppanyaki can whip up. To this day, I am still missing the dinner I had there. If you are considering an inexpensive stay in Batam and want a quiet setting in a resort, Holiday Inn Resort Batam has got to be on your list!
Click here to find out more about Holiday Inn Resort Batam and book a stay today!
Cost of 2 Bedroom Suite: S$145.66 a night - stayed over the Lunar New Year period in February 2024
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