If you are in Singapore and want to spend a relaxing holiday in Indonesia, then take a ferry to Bintan. Bintan resorts offer an ideal spot to relax and get away from the busy humdrum life of Singapore. Bantam resort is a 40-minute ferry ride from Singapore.
A Bintan resort is a colony of Singapore in name and has manicured lawns, expensive hotels and lovely beaches. The only recreation at Bintan resorts is relaxing on the beaches, swimming and dabbling in water sports or playing golf. The hotels at the resort are very well built and of the highest standards.
You can get to the resorts by bus, which meets the ferry, or you can rent a car or hire a taxi. All fares are charged in Singapore dollars and they are quite high. There is not much to do at the resorts unless you are into water sports or golf. Therefore, if you want to see the rest of Bintan, then visit the town areas. Here you will be able to savour the local Indonesian life style, get in some cheap shopping, and taste local food. One piece of advice about Indonesian food, it’s spicy and the spices can burn your throat so be careful when ordering Indonesian food.
The rest of Bintan is separated from the resorts by wire fences, check posts, and guards. The closest town to visit would be Tanjung Pinang. This is now the capital city of Riau Province and is growing at a rapid pace. Its a port, a fishing village, and has an airport. As most of the old part of the city is built on stilts, you can walk around. You can hire a boat and take a tour to other islands. Tanjung Pinang is one of the cheapest places for shopping, and you can haggle and bargain for wooden handicrafts. Some of the antique shops are worth a visit. You can buy electronic goods, cameras, watches, CDs, and DVDs here. You can bargain for any item though they are priced quite reasonably. In fact, they are much cheaper here than in Singapore.
There are a number of Buddhist temples and mosques to visit in Tanjung Pinang and on the nearby islands. There are food parks, and the seafood has to be tasted especially the crabs. Drinks are available although Indonesia is a Muslim country and the ‘double kiwi’, which is a local brew, is worth a try. It comes colourless like vodka or with a murky whisky-like colour.
Hotels in Tanjung Pinang are cheaper then the hotels at Bintan Resorts. In some hotels, there is an extra charge for a room with a western style toilet. You can get around the city by bus, taxi, motorcycle taxis. Tanjung Pinang is a quaint city and you will enjoy your time over there.
There are spas that are being developed in Bintan Resorts and they offer a nice way of relaxing and soothing the nerves. They are cheaper than spas in Singapore. If you do any shopping at the resorts remember the prices will be charged in Singapore dollars, because only these are accepted here.
On a holiday in Bintan, you should visit other islands in the Riau province and see the extinct and some active but dormant volcanoes. There are occasional volcano eruptions too in Indonesia.