ALL NEW FACILITIES FOR THE YOUNG AND OLDS

Harris Barelang is only about 4-5 months old at the time of this post and is the latest resort in Batam Island.  It is currently the hottest staycation spot for Batam locals as well as weekend getaway for Singaporean/Malaysian tourists. I always love a new resort because everything seems new and clean. There are many facilities here for families with children. Allow me to give you a taste before I show you all of them one-by-one.

The next picture is a shot of the main building in the afternoon taken from the pool. The main building includes huge lobby and reception, a cafe, as well as their semi-open concept main dining hall.

To the left and right are all outdoor sitting areas with a small cafe. You could also rent bycicles, segways, and alike around here.

MOVIE NIGHT

Did you notice those bean bags and portable projection screens? Now here is a shot of it during the evening.

Yes… I love movie nights because my children love it. Sitting under the stars and relaxing while watching cartoon is a great way to keep the children quiet before heading to bed. And this also means my free time to use my phones! hahahaha… But Movie Night only keeps my children busy at night. I have to entertain them in the afternoon too right? So here goes.

FOUR DIFFERENT POOLS ARE THE HIGHLIGHT

Harris Barelang boasts not one, not two, not even three, but four different pools. So there is definitely one pool that suits you for sure no matter your age.

Pretty big right for a kids pool? My 1.5 year old can walk around no problem but beware, there is a deeper section made for older children. I would recommend this pool for families with young children.

A different angle for the kids pool. The deeper section is probably around 1 – 1.2 meter deep. Oh and you could rent floats here too.

This lagoon pool has more deeper (dark blue) section than kids section (light blue). I would recommend this pool for familes with older children.

Now here are pools for the adults. An infinity pool with beach and sea view and a whirlpool. Too bad I could only dream about it. With 1.5 yr and 3.5 yr children around, don’t even think of coming here. But still, I took a quick shot just to show you guys

PLAYGROUNDS AND KID’S CLUB

So if the pools are not enough to tire your kids… here are other options that will work.

Obviously I do not recommend the playgrounds if it’s too hot outside. Don’t worry, there is an indoor option in the Kid’s Club. It is air-conditioned too.

OTHER FACILITIES

It is very unlikely that your children would still be hyperactive after all the activities above. But just in case, they are still super high and energetic, here is the last resort.

The beach!!! Let them run around or build sand castle etc. The beach area is huge. There is a beach volleyball nett. I think there is a mini soccer goal. This is also where you could do watersports. Hopefully next time I get to do them and show you.

This beach leads directly to ocean. So please do not leave your children unattended. In fact, NEVER leave your children unattended no matter where you go okay!

HARRIS ROOM WITH SEA VIEW

So after your children are dead tired, you bring them back to the room and have your ME TIME! I stayed in their most basic Harris Room but with a sea view. Room 307.

For a basic room, their size is pretty big. There is actually a day bed (twin size) to the left under the Television.

The bathroom has a decent size. There is a water closet to the left but no bath tub. Just outside the bathroom are some closets with minibar and safe deposit box.

Did I mention sea view? I think I did!

I forgot to mention watching Sunset from my room Balcony.

RECOMMENDATIONS

I enjoyed my stay here though it was a short 2D1N. I think a 3D2N would be a better time frame for families with children so you could enjoy the resort facilities and sightseeing in nearby area of “Barelang”. There are tons of Seafood Kelong in the area. They are delicious and cheap though some may be tourist traps. Feel free to send me a message here or DM me in my Instagram @batamliciouz for food recommendations.

As much as I enjoyed my sea view, I would recommend a Garden view or whatever rooms they have on ground floor. The sea view is a little too far from the pool area. You could get a buggy though if you like. Walking down is easy, but going back up on stairs are super tiring while carrying kids.

SERVICE AND RECOGNITION

I would like to thank Mr. Hugues Hervier, Mr. Dodi Putra, and all Harris Barelang staff for the wonderful stay. Looking forward to come back here again. And a special thank you to my friend Angga for accompanying me outside of his working hours… during my ME TIME!

GIVEAWAY WINNER

Finally, what you all have been waiting for. Here is the giveaway winner for Harris Resort Barelang. And the winner for FREE SATURDAY NIGHT stay, FREE BREAKFAST, and FREE BBQ BUFFET DINNER is….
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Watch finish lah. hahhaa… this is just a temporary section. Will delete it in a few days! So yes, winner please contact me directly through Instagram DM okay!

PS: Again, sorry for the delay due to error in loading these massive comments. It took me 2 hours plus just to load 11232 comments. But it took me many days to keep checking whether the error was fixed. Every time I tried for 10-12 mins, the comments stopped loading.

PS2: I could just cheat my way if I wanted to and randomly pick a name. But that’s not my style. So I rather spend my own time to pick honestly. I already checked and certified that the winner has met all the conditions. The video below is unedited and uncut.

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DELUXE ROOM WITH EXECUTIVE TOUCH

I stayed in probably their most “standard” room. And if this is the standard, then I want to try their suite next time. Hahahaa

The room is spotless!

I like this corner where  I could read my reports while munching on some snacks.

Their bed is so nice and fluffy. Not too soft, not too hard. Anyone could use those extra pillows right? I had a really good night sleep on this bed.

I got a city view! I think I am more of a city view kind of person. Waking up to this view with coffee on one hand sounds pretty good right?

Their bathroom has good size and design is definitely classy and elegant. My favorite part is their see-through bathroom with automated blind. Open the bedroom window too and you get a city view while bathing

This is why I never bring my toothbrush, shaver, lotion, etc to a JW Marriott hotel. Okay fine, I am just lazy to pack these small little things that could get loss.

As with other JW Marriot hotels I had stayed in, this one also put great attention to details. Things like this universal plug and other connections that one might need for work/travel.

My favorite part though is definitely this warm and personal greeting card. I love the thought they put into this simple but expressive welcome food. They are introducing local fruits and snacks not just from Indonesia but also quite closely related to this culinary city of Medan. Well-represented indeed.

HUGE BREAKFAST BUFFET SPREAD

Needless to say, JW Marriott breakfast spread is always so massive that you won’t even have to worry about lunch. Hahahaaa just take a look at their different stations ranging from Asian, Continental, Western, even Indian cuisine. Allow me to tour you!

I think that’s enough right? hahahaha so when you book the room, make sure to include the breakfast package okay. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day afterall right.

Oh did I mention Egg stations too? I especially love it because I could customize my own eggs. I had a super cheesy scrambled egg. I also took a ltitle bit of everything. This complete breakfast lasted me till quite late in the afternoon.

Did I just say cheese? Sorry for not being sorry in repeating myself!

FACILITIES THAT I NEED WHEN I TRAVEL FOR WORK

I love to keep in shape and there are two things I look for in a hotel in this regards: Gym and Pool. Obviously they have them and I think you will like it.

Their gym has plenty of equipments spread out in quite a big area. What I love most is the city view on all sides of the gym.

After a good workout session, let’s cool down at their open-air pool with relaxing cabanas.

They also have a very spacious business lounger for meetings and such. In fact, you could just chill here if you don’t want to stay in your room. Newspapers and magazines are available upon request.

I personally like this corner of the business lounge. Feels like a living room in a penthouse I never own.

SERVICE AND RECOGNITION

From the moment I stepped in the hotel entrance, the security personnel greeted me with warm smile that apparently was highly contagious to other hoteliers. This lasted till the day I checked out.

Special shoutout to these following people for making my brief stay awesome: Mr. Amit Sakhrani, Ms. Peri, Mr. Rahul, Mr. Andika, Mr. Jaka, and many more my limited brain capacity could remember.

Thank you all JW Marriott Medan staff for making my work stay enjoyable.

For more information regarding the hotel information please click here or contact them through their Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jwmarriotthotelmedan

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THE PLACE

This is how the front looks like. A very typical eating house in Indonesia.

You will notice a small outdoor section to the right of the entrance. You will see some dudes are BBQ-ing lots of satay. I was salivating as I saw them glazing the meat with their sweet and spicy marinades.

This is how the inside looks like. It is ALWAYS crowded. They actually have a second floor seating area too, which is usually quite full as well. If you come here during weekdays lunch hours, be prepared to wait for seats

THE PROCESS

There is quite a variety of selections as you could see. The idea is, you take what you want and put them on your plate. Then you proceed to your seats. A lady will then calculate the food on your table and write you a total bill.

Their bill has been the same for the past decade at least. How much your meal costs purely depends on what items you have on your plates. On average, I would estimate a regular plate with 3 dishes cost around Rp 30,000 (SGD 3).

DELICIOUS SUNDANESE CUISINE

Let me make a disclaimer first. Dish-to-dish, I have had better ones in other upscale Sunda Restaurants. But in terms of overall satisfaction, this is my No 1 choice.

What a typical meals for two looks like. Let’s zoom in…

Quite a standard selection of bbq chicken, satay, and omelette. I absolutely recommend the satay. Bbq chicken is quite good too and that “sambal” is amazing. A good “sambal” is what Sundanese cuisine is all about

Not so standard selection. Why? The satay and “bakwan jagung” look quite normal. But what is that black thingy? It is a beef’s LUNG! We call this “paru paru”. I love it! And again, the satay ranks quite high in my personal standard

A little blurry but these two chili sauces are quite spicy. A good “sambal “can usually tell you how good the restaurant is! That’s what I think anyway. hahahaha

Another one of my favorite this here is this Beef rendang. The gravy is super tasty and the meat is quite tender considering the part they use are not exactly sirloin or tenderloin. hahahaha

Their “Ikan Bakar” is pretty good too. But alas, too much food for my cute tummy. I wish I could eat them all!

Finally, I would like to dedicate this post to these unsung heroes that many of us probably take for granted. These are the servers, the cooks, the cleaners, basically people behind the scene who make sure the food you eat here are good and consistent. Let’s start thanking them with proper courtesy and manner. Or if you are too shy to do so, please just appreciate them by just respecting them. I make it a habit to compliment them especially the cooks but sometimes I am guilty as charge. Customers are not always Kings you know. Okay that is all for now or else I get too carried away. Hahaha..

Terima kasih yah mbak mbak dan mas mas yang ramah dari RM Sunda Ibu Joko. Masakannya enak enak. Terima kasih sudah sering support koko dan nonton live koko yang gak karuan yah. Hahaha.. sampai ketemu lagi

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Ayam bakar = BBQ Chicken
Ikan bakar = BBQ Fish
Sate ayam = Chicken Satay
Sate kambing = Lamb Satay
Rendang sapi = Beef Rendang
Sambal = Chili
Paru paru = Lung
Bakwan Jagung = Corn Fritter
Berapa? = How Much?
Terima kasih = Thank you

#HALAL
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PRICE: Rp 3,000 per stick
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LOCATION: RM Sunda Ibu Joko
– komp jpk blok d75-76, nagoya square
– besides Lai Lai hotel
– near Goodway and Harmoni Hotel
– 15 mins walk from Nagoya Hill mall

They have another location in Batam Center just beside Harmoni One Hotel!
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HOURS: Lunch and Dinner
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TELP: 0778-424433

WHAT IS A KELONG?

The picture above depicts what a kelong is, a platform (usually wooden) on top of the ocean. Seafood around Batam is usually fresh anyway but having it in this kind of setting feels more fresh right? This seafood kelong is located by the Nongsa Beach. So if you are tourists staying in the resorts near Nongsa, you might want to give this a shot.

THE FOOD

Overall, the food here are good with some excellent dishes. My favorite is this Black Pepper Crayfish. Some call this Slipper Lobster but the locals call this “Hepo”. The sauce is simply too appetizing that makes you want more and more. Not to mention the fresh Crayfish.

This calamari is pretty good. Golden crispy crunch with soft chewy inside. Marination is just decent. Eat this with the “sambal” aka chili sauce for extra kick.

You can never go wrong with steamed seafood when they are freshly caught off the sea. Some extra seasonings wouldn’t hurt too.

Can’t go wrong with this classic dish. Salty flavor from the butter glazing through all of the succulent prawns. Not the best but still worth your time

As a bonus, the calming ocean view while eating these fresh yummy seafood. Across this kelong is actually the location of “Pulau Putri” (Princess Island). You can take a boat over and enjoy a quiet time in that small island.

You can also check out this article about Sumber Rezeki for more pictures on the restaurant and food

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Lada hitam = Black pepper
Hepo = Crayfish/Slipper lobster
Ikan = Fish
Rajungan = Flower crabs
Sotong goreng tepung = Calamari
Udang = Prawns
Mentega = Butter
Stim = Steamed
Goreng = Fried

#HALAL

PRICE: Can’t remember but very reasonable here

LOCATION: Sumber Rezeki Seafood

– This is NOT Rezeki in Batu Besar

– Nongsa Beach turn left before reaching Batam View Resort

– When in Nongsa Beach area, just ask people there

– There are only 2-3 kelong seafood here

– This kelong is located near the boats going to Pulau Putri (Princess Island)

HOURS: Lunch and Dinner

This is the stall. Located inside Long Shu Siah Kopitiam (previously Kopitiam Penuin) just next to Gideon Hotel in Penuin – Batam. It is widely known that this stall is the anchor of this coffee shop!

Just like most other Tanjung Pinang (TPI) style of noodle, you would expect some tomato and chili sauce in the mix. . Noodle texture is good and I love the fishcakes. Bbq pork (chasiu) is just normal for me.

Soup and fish ball are actually really good. A rather generous portion. Many wanton noodles in Batam, regardless of styles and origins, do not focus much on their soup. This stall is different. The soup is very fragrant and flavourful. My guess is the the minced pork used to boil soup.

One bowl is never enough here. Especially if you are into tomato sauce kinda base for wanton noodle

Can you see the abundance of tomato sauce mixed with lard? Can you feel the sinfulness? I am salivating just looking at this picture. This is good good and good. May be a little too oily for some of you but it did not bother me at all

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Kedai = Shop
Kopi = Coffee
Mie = Noodle
Pangsit = Wanton

#NONHALAL

PRICE: Rp 20,000

LOCATION: Kopitiam Long Shu Siah (previously Kopitiam Penuin)
– Komp Penuin Center Blok OA No 1-2
– Behind Gideon Hotel in Penuin
– 5-7 mins walk from BCS Mall, I-hotel Baloi, and BCC Hotel
– Tourist Friendly Location

HOURS: 06:30 – 12:00 (estimate)

TELP: 0778-453699

Must try! Each of us has own favorite ketoprak stall. Well, this is mine. Regardless what we like though, this stall is still gonna be popular as it has always been since 2004. If you are into real local street food, then this is a must visit. The location is easily accessible by tourists too

WHAT IS KETOPRAK?
This is authentic Indonesian street snack. It has white vermicelli, lontong, bean sprout, fried tofu, and fried/boiled egg. All these topped with peanut sauce. Not just any peanut sauce, but it is ketoprak peanut sauce. It is different sauces than satay, gado gado, pecel, etc. I absolutely adore their peanut sauce. You just have to try this if you love peanut sauce!

Hariyono, the owner, is a very friendly person. He does not speak English but just tell him “Pak, ketoprak satu” or just use your body language to order. Please also try the Toast and Banana Stalls next to him. In fact, you can try any stall on this stretch and I am sure you would more or less like it

ORDERING TIPS
1. Without beansprout, less lontong, and 3 chilis
2. You could request more chilis if you love it spicy
3. If you would like vegetarian option, let the owner knows when ordering

You MUST also try the Toast and Bbq Bananas located just beside this stall. Read more here

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Pak = Sir
Satu = One
Lontong = Rice Cake
Pedas = Spicy
Bungkus = Takeaway
Makan = Eat (which usually means eat on spot)

#HALAL or #VEGETARIAN

PRICE: Rp 10,000-12,000

LOCATION: Ketoprak Tenda Biru
– Roadside Blue Color Stall – just opposite of 1st factory outlet
– next to roti/pisang bakar stall
– the roadside stalls stretch along Astro Kopitiam to BCS mall
– Opposite to I-Hotel Baloi
– 5-7 mins walk from BCS Mall

HOURS: 18:00 – midnight (estimate)

LOBBY WITH EXCELLENT INTERIOR

My very first impression of Radisson batam hotel was most definitely a great one. Totally deserving of their rating 4.5 star hotel. I would bum them up to 5 stars if I could.

As I parked my car in the parking spot across the hotel, one of the bellboy came up to me and offered to carry my luggage. I was surprised he could notice me from quite a distance away. Then I was greeted with friendly smiles from the doormen, security, and even the lobby staff.

Upon entering, I was taken by this nice waiting area in the lobby. Mostly for guests to chill while waiting for check-in process. There were quite a lot of magazines and newspapers around for your choosing. That nice big sofa with TV was also quite inviting. I wonder if they have movies showing here. Sounds like an idea right?

To the right is a nice waiting corner for the guests. I notice mostly guests who were about to check out were waiting here with their luggage. The lobby ceiling is high and hanging down are these nice lighting and fixtures.

On the left was the reception desk to check in and out.

While waiting for the check-in process, I was approached by these two sweet ladies for welcome towel and drink! Nice touch right?

FAMILY FRIENDLY HOTEL

I came in thinking that Radisson was more suitable for Business and Couple type of travelers; not family. The name Golf and Convention Center does not really sound like a family place to me but oh boy, I was so wrong. I came with a family of six: 1 wife (I envy those with 2) and 4 children (I envy those with 1). Guess what, we all had so much fun even though the kids were driving me nuts. We stayed in connecting rooms: Executive Suite and Deluxe Suite. Let me show you how luxurious and spacious these Suites are.

EXECUTIVE SUITE

This was the room where my wife, myself, a 3-year old, and a 1-year old, stayed. As with any new hotel, I always had this anticipation how the room would look like and if it has enough space for my highly active kids to run around. Sure you can take a look at their websites and stuff, but you know how you can’t really put 100% trust in online pictures anymore. That’s why I usually just use unedited pictures in most my posts. In this case, most pictures were taken through Iphone 7! (Read: this is is my cool way of saying I am lazy in editing these pics. See I don’t even bother to put watermark… hahaha)

Just after we enter the door, there is a kitchen and dining table to our right. We were first greeted by these fresh fruits and sweet desserts, sitting nicely on top of the luxurious looking island top. They came with personalized greetings from Mr. Gavin. Thank you!

Here is a look of the kitchen and dining table. I absolutely love the full-size refrigerator because my wife is still pumping breast milk for my baby daughter. Usually we have to keep the milk with the restaurant first but this refrigerator just saved us some time.

In front of us was this spacious looking living room with a nice long couch and a working corner with built-in universal plugs. The kids were running around catching each other before I managed to round them up for this shot. As you could see, space issue solved!

To the left of the entrance is a super long and huge bathroom starting with this lovely looking vanity and toilet.

There is a sliding door separating the vanity and toilet with this section of the bathroom. As you can see they have a nice open wardrobe, a shower room, and a bath tub. To the right is the door connecting to the bedroom

A good size shower space with built-in rain shower.

I love the cozy setting in this room as well as the spacious walking area. Ever since I had two kids, having a huge space is like so important. I really appreciate how the baby cot was already prepared before our arrival. I am sure some of you parents had experienced how troublesome it is to just wait for the baby cot to arrive. Next come my favorite part!

THE VIEW! I love rooms with great views (don’t we all?). I strongly recommend you to choose this side of the hotel rather than the city view. Now, let’s move on to the Deluxe Suite

DELUXE SUITE

This suite was where my two nieces stayed. The difference between Executive and Deluxe suite is definitely the room size. But this suite itself has more than enough space for most people.

The children were also greeted with presents. Very thoughtful choices of candies, sweets, and soft toys. Again, with personalized greetings too. Thank Mr Rendy for these cute and sweet gifts.

There is no kitchen and dining table here but the living room is quite spacious. The work space is a tad small but I did not come here to work! hahahaa…. There is also a built-in universal plug here near the desk. I am guessing this is their standard in each room.

See, it is spacious enough for us to play twister! Any twister fans here? hahahaha obviously I lost to these nimble young girls.

Bathroom here is huge too with slightly different setup and layout. A little bit smaller compared to the Executive Suite bathroom but I doubt any of you would complaint this kinda of luxurious setting and spacious design

There is also a bath tub here with rain shower (the glass door to the right) and a nice size wardrobe. Safe deposit box is a plus for me when traveling. The door to the left connects to bedroom.

Same luxurious design with very comfortable bed. Space, space, and space! There is a balcony here too with the same view but let me show you a different angle!

Yes, I woke up the next day and found this view! I could get used to this view while breathing in such fresh morning air. Okay, I think that’s enough for the room tour. Let’s go and have some fun with the activities here

ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG AND OLD

Being the best hotel mean you have to be able to accommodate all type of guests. That includes great facilities as well as plenty of activities for guests to choose from. For a relatively new hotel, I think Radisson has done a splendid job in making sure their guests get to experience variety of stuffs while staying here.

You have probably noticed earlier that the swimming pool is rather large with two connected sections. The round pool is designed for children while the rectangle pool is for adults.

The kids are having so much fun at the pool. They probably don’t care about the infinity pool facing the golf course view but at least they enjoyed laying down on these giant pizza and flamingo floats. (Note: I brought my own floats but was told the hotel were already purchasing some)

Here is another swimming pool on the 10th floor. It is a see-through pool and at the end there, you can look down or up to view the beautiful upscale residential area as well as the golf course. This swimming pool is for adults and teenagers only. Kids may swim here under adult supervision.

For those who want to get some sweats going, head to the 10th floor for this gym filled with the smell of “new” flooring and equipment. They use my favorite Life Fitness brand. My favorite part here is definitely the treadmill with a view of the city. Oh and the trainer here, George, is an awesome dude. He could help you out with your workout routine.

They have many other activities that you could do on-site such as archery, segway, spa, and golf (doh!). I did not have time to experience all they had to offer but one day I will go back there. I had heard so much about their spa treatment. Everyone could use a little spa and massage time every now and then right?

For those adventurous souls, you can also engage in outdoor activities such as fishing, kayaking, sightseeing, and many more. These activities could be arranged for the hotel guests at extra cost. Find out more on their website directly or just talk to them when you are here.

ONE OF THE BEST KIDS CLUB IN BATAM

I am biased. I love their kids club the most of all the facilities here. So I am giving this a special section.

This is my children and nieces favorite space, the Kids club! Here is the entrance to the kids club with the theme of “Tumble in the Jungle”. You can find a mini soccer field for kids just before the entrance. Do not be fooled by the entrance, there is enough space for kids to roam around inside.

I love this backdrop. There is a reading corner to the right of the picture. Toys are just lying around waiting to be played.

It is heartwarming to see my nieces trying to teach my children how to read. Sometimes things as simple as this can be so important. Okay, focus, reading corner is a plus! Please spend enough reading time with your own kids okay.

I love this hanging thingy, a tree house maybe? I am sure most children would love to just lay there. You could also see the drawing and computer corner to the left.

There is Foosball table here which can be transformed to a mini snooker table once you move the top part away. My kids were having fun watching some cartoon show as well in the TV corner.

This baby room came in handy. My baby daughter decided to drop a big one and yup, we made good use of the baby cot and the diaper-changing table! hahahaaa… So yeah overall, their Kids club is also my favorite place because I could leave my kids here with their trained babysitter. Hahhaa… then I could just do my own thing like spa! Truly a lifesaver right parents?

WORLD CLASS FACILITIES FOR EXECUTIVES AND BUSINESS TRAVELERS

Seriously, plan your business meetings and events here. I reckon that Radisson has the best Business Lounge in Batam now. Hands down!

This picture does not do justice to how elegant this lounge is in real life. You gotta be here to truly feel the different. The furniture is modern and classy, with functional meeting rooms and tables spread all around. I absolutely love the private reading corner made especially for those who would like a quiet me-time. Bring your works here and just chill.

I had the pleasure of having a cocktail party in this lounge during the evening. The atmosphere was excellent. It made me feel like throwing an event here.

And did I mention the view??? Hahahaha I think you are probably sick of me saying how refreshing the view is.

Here is another business lounge on the 1st floor near the lobby. It is simple and functional with free computers and wifi use. Connected through this lounge is the pathway towards their convention center. Their convention hall is probably the biggest in Batam right now. Check out their website for more info regarding events and meetings inquiries.

DELICIOUS FOOD SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES

I am confident to say that Radisson has probably the best buffet in town area. Their Saturday buffet was awesome. Their breakfast was no less spectacular. They had fancy food for adults and fun food for kids.

A quick look on their setting inside their all-day dining Bite Restaurant. Nice and neat right? They definitely did not skim on the furniture quality here.

You could also choose to seat outside facing the pool and golf course.

I am impressed with their selections. Lots of food and lots of varieties with some live cooking stations. And by the way, this picture is just one part!

Here is another section mainly for appetizers and desserts!

My kids favorite section, and MINE TOO! hahaha.. who doesn’t love a chocolate fondue? Good luck telling your kids to stop taking these evil sweetness. They will either create a scene or give you that dreamy “please” eyes. (Note: This was taken during their Saturday Night Buffet)

They had pizza, satay, salmon, cheese, lamb rack, fruits, Asian/Indonesian selections, and many more. I went crazy with their pizza and salmon because of the generous cheese they use.

Big spread for breakfast! Choose from Asian, Continental, or Western selections. And my favorite from the breakfast buffet is smoked salmon!

YES! Smoked salmon! I had like 3-4 plates of it before proceeding to other food. Hahahahhaa….

Are you a dessert person like me? Then you will probably love their selections. During my visit, I had Tiramisu, Creme Brulee, and Cheesecake! Many more of course, but can’t name them all.

I am sure you could tell how cool he is. Chef Alex and his team were the ones responsible for making me put on 2 kg over the weekend. Great job guys! And one thing I truly appreciate from any chef is the kind of chef that would talk to the guests and check if they are happy (and fat). To make people fat is truly the best honor for any chef, at least I think so.

And finally, if you just want to have a quick bite or coffee/tea time, come to the T-lounge! A nice cozy space for you to spend your afternoon

EXCELLENT SERVICE AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION

I can go on and on but let me just say this, the most important aspect for me during my stay, was their high level of service attitude. Each and everyone of their staff that I came across did not fail to greet me with a smile. Truly a service level that should be the benchmark for those who are trying to be the best hotel in Batam. I would strongly recommend you to stay here when you visit Batam, regardless if it is for business or pleasure; solo, couple, or family!

Finally, I would like to end this by recognizing these fantastic people for their great personalities:
Mr. Gavin, Mr. Yann, Chef Alex, Silvana, Edouard, George, Rendy, Sri Oliver, Vian, Nurul, Hanif, Hamid, Tia, Yanti, and some others I could not recall. Thank you all Radisson staff for making my visit enjoyable

For more information regarding the hotel information please click here or contact them through their Instagram https://www.instagram.com/radissongccbatam/

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STEAMED FISH NYONYA STYLE

Must try. I would come back here just for this dish. A fantastic peranakan touch that is super rare to be found in Batam. In fact, this is probably my first time seeing this in Batam. Price depends on the type of fish and weight

GOLDEN PUMPKIN CALAMARI

Very very good. Another rare dish in Batam. Sweet, fresh, and fragrant pumpkin sauce all around crunchy calamari. An excellent combo with this fresh squid.

ICE FIRE CHICKEN

Very good. I would rate this fantastic just because of the sensation. Hot chicken served on a bed of ice. When I bite it, I could really taste hot and cold together. Talk about Yin and Yang! hhahhaa

HOTPLATE TOFU

Almost very good. Common dish but cooked to a high standard. I was told that the tofu was made fresh from soy. Maybe I heard wrongly but the inside was silky smooth while the skin got this rugged sexiness to it

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT

Their food made my tummy super happy but these people definitely made my time special. Here is a special shout for you guys who made my dining experience fine and thank you again for putting up with my awesome children:
Yogis, Johan, Abhi, Yeni, Dede, Rio, and Ika

CONCLUSION

Highly recommended if you love seafood with a different twist. If they keep the quality consistent, then I am confident you will enjoy as much as I did. For more information please contact Montigo Resorts Nongsa directly at 0778 7768888 or visit their website here.

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Ikan = Fish
Stim = Steamed
Sotong = Squid
Labu = Pumpkin
Es = Ice
Api = Fire
Ayam = Chicken
Tipan = Hotplate
Tahu = Tofu

I absolutely love the location. Located within minutes of walking from Harbour Bay Terminal, this is one of the best hotels for tourists who are looking to explore the city center of Nagoya. Read more on why you should choose Harbour Bay Terminal here

As you enter the hotel, you will notice a huge open space spanning from your left to right. Right in the center in this Reception counter. To your left and right are Lobby/Lounge area for you to rest while waiting for check-in/check-out or simply just to chill

A simple but a nice touch is always welcome drinks. This is located just near the reception so you won’t miss it. I personally love the infused water they provide

DELUXE ROOM

I stayed in a deluxe room that comes with breakfast. Room size is definitely huge though a little quaint. My children absolutely love the space and so did I. They were running around as soon as they entered the room

King size bed is always great. I spent quite some time relaxing in that long lazy couch

You can accurately see how big the space is from this picture

The work desk is pretty decent with universal plugs located under the table. I am not sure about you but I appreciate Ergonomic chair. The TV is pretty dated but who cares, I didn’t come here to watch TV. They have quite the decent amount of channels though. Now, the big size refrigerator is a plus for me considering I have a baby who is still breast-feeding. We get to keep all the fresh milks there

Don’t you love full size mirror? And the safe deposit box is quite important for me to keep some valuables.

Bath-up is a plus for me because my infants love ‘swimming’ inside the tub

FOOD

I had both their breakfast and Saturday buffet at Swiss Cafe, located near the main lobby. I will do a separate blog on their food later with more pictures. Overall, their buffet standard is great for Batam hotel standards

This is just one of the many stations they have for their breakfast buffet. They had live egg-cooking station, noodle, chicken rice, and many more varieties

I also had their Saturday Night Super Buffet during my stay and again, big spread. I enjoyed the food and especially this dessert station with chocolate fondue!!!

FACILITIES

They have a decent gym and pool and also in-house Spa

A decent size gym with enough equipment to choose from

The pool though is rather small for my preference but enough to satisfy my children

There is a spa here but I did not have the time to visit yet.

SERVICE

This is probably my favorite part of the hotel, their service. Their staff are definitely well-trained to handle hotel guests, each wearing a great smile when greeting us. Thank you all Swiss-belhotel Harbour Bay staff for making my stay enjoyable.

This photo was taken during their Saturday Super Buffet with their super friendly waitress and executive chef. I also bumped into my travel blogger friend Chaycya who is honest in her review. She did a great write-up on the Buffet in Indonesian with a whole lot of pictures. Feel free to check her blog www.catatantraveler.com or view it direct here

SUMMARY

My family and I enjoyed this short stay in Swiss-belhotel Harbour Bay. For a family with kids, this might not be a good option for a longer stay. I think this is more suited for Business and Couples travelers. Regardless, Swiss-belhotel still is one of the better options to stay for tourists due to its strategic location.

For more information about the hotel info and bookings, please visit: http://www.swiss-belhotel.com/en-gb/swiss-belhotel-harbour-bay

There are many of such roadside stalls selling this in Indonesia. My favorite stall in Batam is here (see location below). Ari, the cook, makes the most consistent ones and he is good at picking ripe bananas. He is also friendly and generous. If you are a female, flirt with him a little and he will give you more toppings. If you are a male, do not attempt to flirt with him or you might have stomach ache. Hahahaa just kidding. He is really a nice and friendly guy. Have known him for many years.

He also sells “Roti Bakar” aka toast. You should try my special order Kaya Cheese toast with extra cheese on top. Tell him, he knows. If you want to go banana-crazy, you can consider putting banana+chocolate+cheese inside the toast! Go there have your supper snacks tonight!

Please also try this local street food called Ketoprak just beside this stall. Read more here

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Pisang = Banana
Roti = Bread
Coklat = Chocolate
Keju = Cheese
Kaya = A kind of spread made of coconut milk, butter, and egg
Bakar = literally means burn but in food case, it is commonly perceived as bbq

#HALAL

PRICE: Rp 8,000

LOCATION: Roadside Stall
– very near Sari Bunga Padang Restaurant
– just opposite of 1st factory outlet
– next to Ketoprak stall
– the roadside stalls stretch along Astro to BCS mall
– Tourist Friendly Location

HOURS⏰: 18:00 – midnight (estimate)

“Bagan” is the name of a remote city I do not even know where and too lazy to google. But what I don’t need google to tell me is Bagan-style Wantan Noodle is generally sweet tasting.

Bagan Noodle is one the most old-school style of Wantan Noodle in my opinion. Its sauce main base is lard/pork oil and that is where the sweetness comes from. Add some old school “chasiu” aka bbq pork and that is it. Ingredients are simple and straightforward, but the taste is nothing short of satisfying

This is easily top 3 “Mie Bagan” in Batam for me. I am hooked and definitely going to come back for this. And with Sate Sumatra and Oyster Omelette there, no wonder this Guan Guan Coffeeshop is always crowded during evening

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Mie = Noodle
Pangsit = Wanton
Kedai = Shop
Kopi = Coffee
Kopitiam = Coffee Shop

#NONHALAL

PRICE: Rp 18,000

LOCATION: Mie Bagan Apiau
– In Guan Guan Kopitiam
– Komp Srijaya Abadi Blok B No 1, Nagoya
– Near Lucky Plaza
– Same stretch as Ayam Bakar Bu de and Old Place
– Opposite Vegas Nagoya
– 15 mins walk from Nagoya Hill Mall
– 5 mins walk from Harmoni Suite Hotel and Formosa Hotel

HOURS⏰: 15:00 – 23:00

This stall is quite legendary in Nagoya area. It has been selling for almost two decades on the same spot. In terms of overall taste, meat, and sauce quality, this satay is one of the better ones in Batam

I am always a “kacang” sauce kinda person but its “padang” sauce here is delicious. Remember, you can always mix these two sauces together for some fun! Mixing it actually tastes goooooodddd

OTHER SATAY RECOMMENDATIONS
– Sate Kendal in Orchid Park
– Sate Madura Cak Umar in Tiban Indah Permai
– Sate Madura Pak Syakur in a foodcourt besides Batam Center ferry terminal
– Sate Madura Dr Soebroto klinik near Taman Nagoya Indah
– Sate Mawar Bukit Berutung residential area
– Sate Padang SS in Astro Kopitiam Penuin
– Satay Club next to Nagoya Plaza Hotel; near Nagoya Hill Mall

GOTTA HUNT THEM ALL! Happy Satay Hunting

LEARN YOUR INDONESIAN

Sate = Satay
Satu = One
Porsi = Portion
Ayam = Chicken
Sapi = Beef
Kambing = Lamb
Saus = Sauce
Kacang = Peanut
Padang = A city, in this case the name of Gravy
Lontong = Ricecake

#HALAL

PRICE: Rp 17,000 (estimate)
– Per portion, usually includes 10 satay sticks and ricecake

LOCATION: Sate Sumatra, Nagoya, Batam
– Just in front of Guan Guan Kopitiam
– Opposite Santa Ria Kopitiam
– Near Ramayana Hotel
– Same road as Lucky Plaza Nagoya

HOURS⏰: 18:00 – midnight (estimate)