Batam Info Thread

[ErnestK]

Originally Posted by TwinTowers

To promote good massage ,fuck joints, eateries once or twice is fine. But when doing it to every request for good seafood questions then it's either good sharing or have other agenda in mind. Whichever it is then I leave you all to decide. I'm just calling as it is.

Plus 1.

Marine Live's boss must be counting his lucky stars for such a good friend who is willing to promote his restaurant for nothing in return, and even jump in to defend him for issues that, in my opinion, is more in the fault of the restaurant than the customers.

[PigletDiDi]

No need to be upset of one food stall, there are still alot places waiting for u to try. Everyone has their own taste so don't hesitate to try others.

[Jjoesucks]

Any bros wanna join me in batam.. PM me quick..leaving to batam now.

[hawkeye007]

Originally Posted by TwinTowers

To promote good massage ,fuck joints, eateries once or twice is fine. But when doing it to every request for good seafood questions then it's either good sharing or have other agenda in mind. Whichever it is then I leave you all to decide. I'm just calling as it is.

Thanks for the reminder in your sign-off....

"Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain"

I've decided that I won't argue with you.. Cheerios...

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by AppleJuiceX

Part 2, to be continued.

Hehehe...you seems to forgot part 2 of your FR.

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

Yes, there was - 1st Choice behind Gideon Hotel. You can see crumpled bedsheet, the shape of a body and oil around the shape of the body and it was fresh oil stained.

Thank you for sharing,bro.

I have been to a few massage shop that doesnt look clean in the inside,Indo rasa,Hallo Kitty,Maduran Massage,etc...but i notice they did change their sheets except the part that they just didnt have one that "look clean" enough. But for your case in 1st Choice massage,it sounds real bad.

1st Choice is a massage place that get its customers from propagandering by tour agents in Sillypore. Nearly every Sillyporean will almost always be silly enough to believe what the tourist guides tell them in any part of the world.

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

I told her, no need to put in effort to change - I am not doing massage anymore. Off, I went to other place for massage. Before I went off, I told her I am a walk-in customer, not from any tour group, and this is my first time going to First Choice Massage.

Anyway, that was 1.5 to 2 years ago and since this incident happened, I have blacklist this massage place for myself.

Good choice you made at that point of time for not carrying on with the massage. Now that you say 1st Choice massage didnt change their bed sheets,they are going to lose hundreds or maybe thousands of customer who look into the internet everyday who goes by word of mouth to good massage places.

And i believe your words.

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

I guess the reason why they didn't change bedsheet & pillow case, which is basic hygiene, was because too much work as they have bus load of tourist coming in whole day non-stop. It is really non-stop because when 1 bus load assembled on grd floor lobby, presumably finished massage, the next bus load just arrived. These tourist, comprised mostly Singaporean & Malaysian, took up offers from groupon, deal.com and other on-line package that come with hotel, free tour and just add S$10/- for 1 hour massage.

Thats the problem with groupons/deals.com deals. They coordinate with the massage places,the massage girls and boys worked hard in large quantity w/o quality,and yes...they earned more in a way but with that quantity of customers,they will have the tendency to skip part of a process of a properly-done massage. And they will also be more tired.

S$10 extra for an hour massage a good deal? Hehehe...not for me when in Batam. Its meant for the lesser intelligent Sillyporean,hehehe...

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

To be fair to them, do they still practice the same old way now or more hygiene focus now, I don't know because I have never step in since the last time I received the first impression.

I read Trip Advisor's comments (as well) by those who tried that place. For clean massage,1st Choice has never strike my mind before. My choice of Clean (non hanky panky) Massage will be Manzu Massage,Bridge Massage,Indo Thai,Nagoya Spa and Massage,Relax Massage and maybe Sports Massage (havent been to Sports Massage yet). There are however other good clean massage places too,but well…there are just too many to name here.

My choice for quality good massage was none of the above mentioned tho ,hehehe...

(not counting Sports Massage as i have not been there before)

[MovingTarget]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Thats the problem with groupons/deals.com deals. They coordinate with the massage places,the massage girls and boys worked hard in large quantity w/o quality,and yes...they earned more in a way but with that quantity of customers,they will have the tendency to skip part of a process of a properly-done massage. And they will also be more tired.

S$10 extra for an hour massage a good deal? Hehehe...not for me when in Batam. Its meant for the lesser intelligent Sillyporean, hehehe...

Another massage house that tied up with tour agency during that time was Go Massage. Go Massage was cleaned, they changed bedsheet and pillow case and pull the bedsheet in tension like army style albeit you can see some stains that cannot be completely washed off but you know it was considered clean. The therapists were good with good massage technique.

The weird things was the receptionist/counter staff serving ginger tea to walk-in customers only. That means she will asked you to sit down and brings tea to you whereas those came from tour group, the recept/counter staff will point to you where you can serve yourself tea. If the group was large, you queue for your own tea. Kind of strange that I felt, isn't those from tour group also call Customers. hehehe ....

S$10/- for 1 hour massage is really something for Singaporean when compared to Singapore massage house for per hour massage. Now, If you go to Bridge Massage, you can get S$8 for 1 hour body massage or S$7 for 1 hour foot massage. However, tour guide will never bring tourists to these places otherwise they have nothing for themselves. It is only people who been to Batam and knows where and how to go will have better bargain.

So, with this Batam thread running as it is, it is going to help many people, if they bother to read.

[devilchan78]

Quick questions for Batam seniors. I would like to know two new hotel names.
One is beside BCC hotel and the other is infront of Nagoya Hills shopping. Both are recently built from what I know
Appreciate it with much thanks.

[nono1973]

Originally Posted by devilchan78

I would like to know two new hotel names.
One is beside BCC hotel and the other is infront of Nagoya Hills shopping. Both are recently built from what I know

Quick reply.

I am no seniors,but let me guess...2 hotels,both new..one nearby Nagoya Hill Mall,that must be Nagoya Hill Hotel (right in front of the mall). The other near BCC and yet new...could it be iHotel Baloi?

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

[HelloWAH]

Originally Posted by TwinTowers

To promote good massage ,fuck joints, eateries once or twice is fine. But when doing it to every request for good seafood questions then it's either good sharing or have other agenda in mind. Whichever it is then I leave you all to decide. I'm just calling as it is.

My thought and opinion is same as yours. You can post this sentence mean that not all samster is blind and no brain .They know what is happening here. Just keep quiet only. But you straightfoward and post what is in your mind. My decision is i fully agreed what you say is true. I believe hidden Agenda in mind is to help restaurant boss aka got friendship promote the restaurant.. My batam friend told me don,t go marine seafood. I ask him why and he told me is tourist trap. Expensive

And those promoter is friend with Marine boss. So the reason for promoting this restaurant is there. Morale of this story. Don,t anyhow believe what other people is saying.

[devilchan78]

Originally Posted by nono1973

Hope this helps.

Txs man really quick reply under 20 minutes.

Are they operations yet ?

[MovingTarget]

Just came back from Batam for a 2 days 1 night stay at iBaloi Hotel. Nice hotel, spacious and comfortable with good spread of breakfast.

Went to in-house spa called Theraz Spa on the 3rd level. While booking for a 2 hours time slot, saw a therapist who is slightly plump walking in with her food. Talked to her and she can do "kuat" massage. I kind of like it because this plump massage lady has meaty hand and when massage your neck and shoulder, you will feel very comfortable. I then told the counter staff that I book her at 2.30 pm. No comment from counter staff and I thought I had booked her.

Went to take lunch and after some rest time, go to the Spa at 2.30 pm. Was told that she cannot massage me by the same counter staff. I asked why. She said it was not her turn yet. So they picked another therapist who was in rotation for me. Then came the rotation therapist who is the opposite of plump and does not has meaty hand. I told her I am not keen to do if the plump lady was not massaging me.

She went to talk to Spa Manager who came out to reinforce the same idea saying no and I can't have the therapist that I chose earlier. They were on rotation. (I suppose each therapist deserve a chance to earn commission from the Spa itself).

Fine, I thought to myself because it is their management and they get to decide. It is whether I take it or leave it. Can't help but to wonder what kind of business model it is as competition is so keen in Batam massage environment.

Say, put in prospective of the customer where customer pays, cannot choose therapist and subsequently not happy. Customer will not come back - one time business. If customer chose himself and not happy, he can't blame the spa because he chose himself. He will still come back to try other therapist. Apparently, the Manager won't buy this idea.

I, of course can understood their position. But for my own comfort level, the money I have to pay and the value I hope to receive. I asked myself do I actually have value for money. And the answer probably No.

So, I called Sakura Spa and checked that my usual therapist was available. I cancelled the booking and took a taxi to Sakura Spa.

Theraz Spa has 4 single rooms and 2 double rooms. During the day, most of the time, it is empty even with 30% discount for staying guest. (I was there last week but did not stay). Perhaps, from strong competition from nearby massage shops and hotel in-house spa such as Reborn, universals, BCC service apt, Indo-Thai, Swiss Inn, Hotel 89, Gideon hotel and also with just a short taxi ride to Nagoya.

I am wondering how long can they last if they are not flexible with their business model. They are operating completely different from Reborn business model which the boss encourage their therapists to build rapport with their customers and hope the customers can come back to chose the same therapist. The therapist will still maintain their position in the queue. In this case, Reborn get quick repeated business and therapists get commission from shop and tip from customer, and when their turn comes, they continue to do their massage. It is a 1 stone kill 2 birds strategy. That's why Reborn opens another shop opposite BCS mall and is looking to open the 3rd shop.

Sorry, this is really boring stuff and should not be here.

[devilchan78]

Originally Posted by MovingTarget

a 2 days 1 night stay at iBaloi Hotel. Nice hotel, spacious and comfortable with good spread of breakfast.

How much for the room and type of room you booked?

[HelloWAH]

And someone here also taken his length of effort to promote marine seafood in tripadvisor.Hope those promoter don,t own any share in the restaurant.And if got any monetary gain from the boss, those go eat and suport marine seafood is fucked by their own pricks.

[MovingTarget]

Originally Posted by devilchan78

How much for the room and type of room you booked?

Superior room = S$65, excludes tax
Deluxe room = S$85, excludes tax

The above is weekday rate. I am not sure whether there is a weekend rate. You need to call them. As for me, I took Deluxe room, which is larger, and is an end room for around S$95, including tax, with free breakfast for 2 persons.

Go for high floor, highest is 16th floor, you can have sea view (ie choose facing Swiss Inn or DC mall side). The opposite side will face A2 food court and BCS shopping mall. Free wifi - quite strong as I stay on level 12.

[devilchan78]

Thanks mate