Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread

[wacaofati]

Hi bros, just wanna check if atalanta spa is closed down already? Thought i might wanna visit it since i will be heading there but saw on google that it is permanently closed. Thanks!!

[wacaofati]

Hi bros, just wanna check if atalanta massage is closed down? Was thinking to visit it when going in a few days time but saw google state it is closed permanently. Thanks for the help!

[Black Page]

I have a question for Singaporeans.
Imagine I arrive to Harbour Front and I am in the hurry to go to Changi. By MRT I need something more than 1 hour.
Where is the place I should go to pick a taxi?

I am used to think that grabbing a taxi in Singapore is easy, but not always.
Last year, I made the mistake of deciding to take a taxi instead of the MRT, I followed signs through Harbour Front, and I had to wait some 45 mins at a taxi stand, where taxi were coming rarely and most of the times prebooked by some phone app.
I did not miss my flight just because a nice guy let me take a taxi before him.

He said everyone calls taxi with the phone app, but if I don't have the app, wifi connection, etc., then what?
I did not understand if it was a bad day of congestion, or is it normal that at the taxi stand of Harbour Front the waiting time is so long.

Any advice, please? Thanks.

[Rosfield]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I have a question for Singaporeans.
Imagine I arrive to Harbour Front and I am in the hurry to go to Changi. By MRT I need something more than 1 hour.
Where is the place I should go to pick a taxi?

I am used to think that grabbing a taxi in Singapore is easy, but not always.
Last year, I made the mistake of deciding to take a taxi instead of the MRT, I followed signs through Harbour Front, and I had to wait some 45 mins at a taxi stand, where taxi were coming rarely and most of the times prebooked by some phone app.
I did not miss my flight just because a nice guy let me take a taxi before him.

He said everyone calls taxi with the phone app, but if I don't have the app, wifi connection, etc., then what?
I did not understand if it was a bad day of congestion, or is it normal that at the taxi stand of Harbour Front the waiting time is so long.

Any advice, please? Thanks.

There are taxi stands at both Harbour Front and Vivo City.

[penyet]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I have a question for Singaporeans.
I did not miss my flight just because a nice guy let me take a taxi before him.

He said everyone calls taxi with the phone app, but if I don't have the app, wifi connection, etc., then what?
I did not understand if it was a bad day of congestion, or is it normal that at the taxi stand of Harbour Front the waiting time is so long.

Any advice, please? Thanks.

The nice guy is right - A ‘vital niche’, but flagging a cab is getting harder.

HF has a free wifi service. So can scan for it and register, to use ride app.

If u link the app transport payment to a multi-currency e-wallet, your ride also becomes cashless at very good exchange rates.

If the app operates also in batam (eg. Grab), this cashless convenience also in batam (and other places u travel to).

[Black Page]

Thank you very much for your very informative response.
I use Grab in Batam and KL. I did not save my credit card for cashless payment as I do with Uber, but I can do it next time.
I understand that the same Grab app will work also in Singapore. I read that Uber has ceased all operations in SEA, passing all operations to Grab.

However, the problem is that there is free wifi inside Harbour Front and Vivo City (thank you Rosfield too!), but I am not sure right outside of that, where I am supposed to wait for the car.

I hope I will not be in the emergency to rush to Changi. MRT is always the most reliable mean: it takes a bit more than 1 hour, but certainly no more than that.

Originally Posted by penyet

The nice guy is right - A ‘vital niche’, but flagging a cab is getting harder.

HF has a free wifi service. So can scan for it and register, to use ride app.

If u link the app transport payment to a multi-currency e-wallet, your ride also becomes cashless at very good exchange rates.

If the app operates also in batam (eg. Grab), this cashless convenience also in batam (and other places u travel to).

[penyet]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I use Grab in Batam and KL. I did not save my credit card for cashless payment as I do with Uber, but I can do it next time.
I understand that the same Grab app will work also in Singapore. I read that Uber has ceased all operations in SEA, passing all operations to Grab.

If u already use Grab, u'r good to go - works in Sg too. Ya Uber has withdrawn from this region.

Better to link to a multi-currency a/c debit card/e-Wallet for best exchange rates (eg. Wise). Usual credit card exchange rates are terrible. Can also use the multi-curr a/c card for other payments for convenient cashless transactions at very decent forex rates. A lot more convenient than having to change and handle thick stacks of rupiah notes!

However, the problem is that there is free wifi inside Harbour Front and Vivo City (thank you Rosfield too!), but I am not sure right outside of that, where I am supposed to wait for the car.

Once u make the booking within wifi zone and get the vehicle number, and the vehicle shows up very close by, the Grab app will instruct u to go to pickup point - think should be ok even if wifi is lost then when u go outside to wave at the vehicle.

[Ah_Hia]

Originally Posted by wacaofati

Hi bros, just wanna check if atalanta massage is closed down? Was thinking to visit it when going in a few days time but saw google state it is closed permanently. Thanks for the help!

Yes closed down.

The available spas would be
- Delta Spa (nagoya hills)
- Octopussy Spa (Pacific Palace Hotel)
- Dragon Spa (Batam City Inn Hotel)
- Fame Spa
- Venus Spa (Sahid Hotel)

There maybe more......

[btmchiong]

Originally Posted by Ah_Hia

Yes closed down.

The available spas would be
- Delta Spa (nagoya hills)
- Octopussy Spa (Pacific Palace Hotel)
- Dragon Spa (Batam City Inn Hotel)
- Fame Spa
- Venus Spa (Sahid Hotel)

There maybe more......

add more
-Phoenix Spa (Harbour Bay Area)
-Quantum Spa (Batam Center Area)
-Butterfly Spa (Batam Center Area)
-Newston Spa (Nagoya Area)
-Alpha Spa (Nagoya Area)

All Have Instagram you can check it first

[Black Page]

Thank you!

Originally Posted by penyet

If u already use Grab, u'r good to go - works in Sg too. Ya Uber has withdrawn from this region.

[penyet]

Originally Posted by Black Page

Thank you!

Thanks for all your postings on Batam! Have really enjoyed reading them.

PS: Sg is the HQ for Grab
PS2: U can also inform the driver in advance via the app that u will not have wifi at pickup pt but u will be waiting there.

[Darius]

Originally Posted by Ah_Hia

Yes closed down.

The available spas would be
- Delta Spa (nagoya hills)
- Octopussy Spa (Pacific Palace Hotel)
- Dragon Spa (Batam City Inn Hotel)
- Fame Spa
- Venus Spa (Sahid Hotel)

There maybe more......

Any spa recommendation near Nongsa ferry terminal?
Going to play golf followed by fj, day trip.

[sinthia90]

Originally Posted by Black Page

Thank you very much for your very informative response.
I use Grab in Batam and KL. I did not save my credit card for cashless payment as I do with Uber, but I can do it next time.
I understand that the same Grab app will work also in Singapore. I read that Uber has ceased all operations in SEA, passing all operations to Grab.

However, the problem is that there is free wifi inside Harbour Front and Vivo City (thank you Rosfield too!), but I am not sure right outside of that, where I am supposed to wait for the car.

I hope I will not be in the emergency to rush to Changi. MRT is always the most reliable mean: it takes a bit more than 1 hour, but certainly no more than that.

Once you exit from Immigration, turn left and walk towards the DBS/POSB ATM. You will see a gift shop (on the right) and Money Changer (on the left) after you passed the ATM. The exit is in front is where I usually wait for Grab.. When Booking Grab, select the pickup "Lobby C" Cruise Baggage Check-In.

[Black Page]

Originally Posted by sinthia90

Once you exit from Immigration, turn left and walk towards the DBS/POSB ATM. You will see a gift shop (on the right) and Money Changer (on the left) after you passed the ATM. The exit is in front is where I usually wait for Grab.. When Booking Grab, select the pickup "Lobby C" Cruise Baggage Check-In.

Thank you so much!
I appreciate you take your time to respond me.

[wolftee]

Kinda new to batam massage parlour, any recco for syt massuers?