Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Likewise my PeduliLindungi apps not working. Just show them my hard copy cert then the girl look see look see and wave me through. Not strict just pretend got do checking only but still need to be safe to ensure no trouble.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

If u are using iPhone just save to yr wallet tats it no need data.I go bangkok also the same

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Better to print out , faster processing. Anyway just need to print out once, no need to print out each time you go. I saw people who show the soft copy took a long time at check point when their phones get hang.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Then if, for whatever reason, your phone battery goes to 0% and you cannot recharge you are in deep XXXX.
I PRINT all my essential travel documents, always, as extreme solid resource.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

When u are traveling yr phone should be charge at lease 50% tis is Common sense

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Do you know that "shit happens"? You may forget. Or the phone fall on floor and be broken. Or you think you can charge, but something happens and you cannot.

Not to mention that a travel may be planned for 3 hours (from home in SIN to hotel in BTM) or for 8 hours (from Malaysia?) but for an incident take longer.

=> A wise traveller should always have a B plan, and even a C plan. Be ready for anything.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Plan b will be bring extra mobile phone to batam

Yes, better to print it out. One less potential point to screw up.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Dear Seniors, can anyone advise if venew spa is good? Any special?

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Any men spa to intro? Visited Fame few years ago. Not sure if the standard still the same.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

Any bros have any recommendation of FL coming to the hotel room? 🙏

Only HJ but was told some gals might offer full although it might be difficult since the walls are really thin. Nice place to chill for lazy afternoons.

Re: Batam Info / Interest / Help Thread
 

We're going to Batam for the first time, appreciate if anyone can help with some basic questions.

1. Is the counter to buy the ferry return ticket BEFORE Indonesia immigration? According to the ferry operator, we can only buy the return ticket in Batam (travelling from Johor). My concern is that we cannot get into Batam without a return ticket.

2. Any recommendation on which Telcomsel or XL SIM card to get? We'll mostly use it for Grab and maybe Michat/Wechat.

3. What are the best shops in Batam Centre where I can buy a local SIM card? Is this before or after Indonesia immigration? If there aren't any in Batam Centre then are there any nearby shops you can recommend?

Any help will be much appreciated!

1. Ferry counter is ouside of the customs area, like anywhere else. You can try purchasing ticket online for to/fro. Then show booking for the ticket. If you call in with some notice, they do allow changing of the timings of your return ticket. I did encounter once seeing Chinese nationals being requested for the return ticket at batam customs, and they showed their bookings. Not sure if was an attempt by customs to bring them to side office.

2 & 3. A few bros mentioned in the recent period that the sim cards purchased in batam couldn't work on their mobiles due to some registration of the mobile phone (not sim card issue). Thus I had been activating auto roam instead. I had also been approached by another visitor on the same ferry to batam asking for help after he couldn't use the purchased sim card on his mobile phone. Ended up helping him make a whatsapp call to his friend.

If you want to still try, there are a few booths selling sim cards at the the ferry terminals upon your exit clearance. Some are just data plans which you can try. They all work well as what I recalled if you are just using for whatsapp, michat, wechat & grab.

1. You can go to purchase online for round trip is easiest way. Don't worry the date n time, u can change later by email [email protected], with reference number can change ur timing.
2. Now indo law, cannot slot in local sim card in oversea phone, u will got issue. So get the roaming plan from ur telco, singtel got 5 dollars per day plan or 15 dollars for 30 days with 2GB. Other telco also have similar plan I guess.