7 Batam resorts for a whirlwind week

Picture the scene: a romantic meal on a private, candlelit dock at dusk–you can make it a reality at Montigo Resorts Nongsa. You’ll have sumptuous dishes like fragrant Balinese chicken or juicy grilled prawns served at an intimate table for two during this dreamy experience.

In the mood for dancing and drinks? Dip into the resort’s own Tiigo Club for fruity cocktails like the Tiigo Tiki; sip on yours while the DJ sets the beat and you take to the dance floor.

After a late night, take an easy day with a novel beside the pool. If you’re feeling fresh, learn how to whip up a herby Indonesian classic–using fish caught by you–at a cooking lesson. The Palm Springs Golf & Country Club is a four-minute drive away if you’d prefer an afternoon on the fairway in luscious green surroundings.

Everything about Montigo Resort in Batam is modern, from the striking white cube-inspired suites scattered over the hills to the calming interiors elevated by chevron cushions, rattan rugs and dark wood furniture. Four-poster beds add a grand finish in choice rooms–great if you’re planning a cushy couples’ retreat. To level up on luxury, book a Premier Villa and sip on champagne from your private infinity pool.

You get tropical vibes in droves at Turi Beach Resort. With suites dotted across the hillside or beach and each room facing the sea, the resort sings of island life. Timber bungalows on stilts in the Riani wing open up to balconies overlooking the glistening sand, inviting guests to throw open the doors and settle down onto sun-warmed daybeds.

At the resort’s Nogusaya Teppanyaki and Grill, the chef will prepare dishes right in front of you at the show-cooking station. Dine on prime cuts, like mouthwateringly tender sirloin steak, alongside fresh-from-the-ocean seafood. The Island Bar is a top spot to watch the sun set–drink in 360-degree views or wander down the jetty that stretches 220 metres into the South China Sea.

The Nongsa area of Batam is known for its warm white sands and active coral reefs. You can look for graceful sea turtles and maybe even a shipwreck with a diving course–schools like Andaman Tritan run expeditions from the island. Prefer to putt? Tamarin Golf Estate is seven minutes away by car and has two courses to try. After your activity of choice, take a break in the spa with the Mind and Soul Revival treatment, which envelops you in essential oils to soothe all tensions.

Watch boats bob in the water from your personal haven at Nongsa Point Marina and Resort, a hint of the aquatic activities to come. You can even charter your own yacht for a day! Kayaking is another way to see the island’s natural beauty from beyond the shore, or you can ask at the Cabana Club about futuristic watersports like hoverboarding to amp up your adrenaline.

If you’re after rest and relaxation, the spa’s your go-to. Revive your skin with a Javanese Lulur scrub treatment using softening turmeric, then drop by the Samudra Bar to celebrate happy hour. Sit out on the patio with a lime-infused daiquiri, or spend cooler evenings inside with a game of pool. Dinner comes with divine views at the Selera restaurant, where cuisines span from Western to Thai. For a simple, flavoursome dish, order a colourful Indonesian gado gado salad.

Book into a multi-storey chalet if you’re travelling with your squad and make the most of the extra space by serving up breakfast in your own kitchen. With a spacious dining area and lounge, there’s tons of room for catching up over an ice-cold beer later on. Check into a room on the lower floor for direct sight lines into palm-fringed gardens, or let the sea air sweep in from the balcony of your beach-view space.

Let the waves serenade you to sleep in a villa at Batam View Beach Resort. These wooden cabins stand right on the water’s edge, giving an unrivalled view of the tranquil Singapore Strait. Inside, the décor is simple, with netted canopies over the beds and natural wood furnishings.

Steal out to your balcony in the early morning and watch as the natural occupants of the Nongsa area slowly come to life. Rooms in the main hotel building are just as comfortable, with scatter cushions on the beds and sweeping terraces for stargazing by night.

Request a table by the window at Kelong Seafood Restaurant to see the sky change from blue to pink while you feast on soft steamed gong-gong snails in a fiery chilli sauce. After you’ve eaten, step right out onto the sand–this restaurant gets extra points for being on the beach.

At the 5th Dimension Spa, leave your cares behind you by unwinding with a couples’ massage administered with a heady mix of aromatherapy oils. Seeking adrenaline? From jet-skiing to kneeboarding, there’s a dedicated sea-sports activity centre to get you into the ocean spray. You can finish your trip on a relaxing note with a slow cruise through trailing mangroves.

Stay right in the action at Horison Ultima King’s Hotel, one of the liveliest resorts in Batam. A turret brings a whimsical touch to the contemporary building, while huge windows at every turn give you continuous views over the bustling city.

Get a taste for local life at the Pasar Mega Legenda market, a 20-minute drive away, where you can peruse the colourful tents and fill up on salty dried fish, spicy stews and fragrant coffee. Batam’s famous shopping isn’t too far either; in fact, the hotel runs a regular shuttle to the BCS Mall. Head here for designer outlets, Taiwanese bubble tea and Hong Kong-inspired dim sum.

You’ll get views that stretch as far as the South China Sea from your private room, almost like you’re surveying your own kingdom. Deluxe and Grand rooms, as well as Junior Suites, balance chocolate brown furnishings against plush cream carpets for an ultra-relaxing atmosphere. Dock your iPod and sink into a comfy mattress for a deep beauty sleep while city lights glisten through the windowpanes.

In the morning, your caffeine fix will be waiting at The Coffee Shop and Lounge. Sit beneath hanging lanterns while you observe the streets teeming with colour and activity below. Later on when day turns to night, head to the glamorous Asher Bistro and Lounge for a mojito with lashings of rum and refreshing mint leaves at the circular bar.

Grecian-style columns around the rooftop pool at Harmoni One create a feeling of grandeur that will stay with you throughout your time at this central Batam hotel. Dive in for your morning laps or simply lounge by the water’s edge under the late afternoon sun. Afterwards, let a therapist undo any knots in your back with an in-depth massage taken in-room.

The Mega Mall Shopping Centre is just a 12-minute walk away. Spend an afternoon browsing international brands like Levi’s, or drop in at Warung Tekko to try a spicy jalapeno-coated beef empal penyet. For local culture, head to the Maha Vihara Duta Maitreya Buddhist Temple, one of the largest of its kind in Indonesia; it’s a 10-minute drive from the hotel and daily tours are free.

All the sightseeing will have you eager for your private daybed back at the hotel, made even better with an aromatic coffee from the room service menu. All guest rooms have deep tubs for soaks before dinner should you want a little extra downtime.

You can satisfy your tastebuds at the Lim Garden Chinese Restaurant. Plush velvet armchairs, polished floors and low lighting bring an upmarket feel to small plates like dim sum filled with soft, flavoursome meats and spiced vegetables. Breakfast is a more casual affair at the Bamboe Café, where greenery brings the outdoors inside as you set yourself up for the day with fresh fruit and pastries.

Start your weekend away in an egg chair by the pool at Harris Batam Centre, a creamy vanilla frappe or zingy peppermint tea in hand. This hotel in Batam’s business district is a cool retreat from the exhilarating buzz beyond.

To satisfy a sweet tooth, pop over to the Harris Cafe for a banana-stuffed Pandan crepe. The dinner menu has succulent shellfish dishes like Mangrove crab salad served with elegant avocado tartar. If you’re recovering from a night at nearby THRIVE Karaoke, drop by the juice bar for an energising blend to perk you right up.

The Mega Mall Batam Centre is an easy four-minute walk from the hotel. Spend a couple of hours shopping for fab finds, or drop into a coffee shop for a foamy cappuccino and sugar-dusted donuts. For some fresh air, walk the length of the leafy palm trail at the Batam Botanical Gardens (a 30-minute drive away), then return to the hotel for a Balinese massage at H’Spa to help you sleep easy.

Rooms are simple and welcoming at Harris Batam, with pops of orange brightening up the neutral décor. Slip your feet into complimentary slippers and take five with a magazine in bed, enjoying the light streaming in through the windows.