Batam

[Black Page]

Until COVID, Square Club was used to be the place to go on Friday and Saturday. Not anymore, sadly. No FLs anymore. Only a dozen of PRs who can drink with you (for a high fee) and rich locals.

Currently, best pubs to go seem to be F1 and Grand Dragon. I still have to visit Dragon (and report).

F1 is always packed by any kind of people even on Sunday and Monday. At F1, a beer can costs 85k, a cocktail 150k-200k, a beer jug some 250k, a beer tower some 850k. An interesting option for the after hour (the main pub closed at 4am) is offered by the VIP rooms, which are large enough to host private parties for 6-10 people but are great also for a couple, which cost 300k on weekdays and 500k on weeends (3 hours). Sound system and dimmerable lights from full light down to total dark, bathroom and even a bedroom (with dubious hygiene sheet). I went there on Sunday with my girlfriend (my best friend in Batam, without doubt). We went to a VIP room at 4am to do something less ordinary than playing in the king-size bed at my hotel, and IT WAS A BLAST.

A note for the stingy gentleman: my friend has upgraded herself to "freelance" in the last 3 months (her words). These last two days she has been busy with an upscale married Indonesian couple, who have set up a large party with others in a resort in Batam to celebrate something. She has been hired as 3rd in the couple for the full two days, to enjoy with him and her. They pay her 2M per day, but this time only 3M (package of two days). There are Indonesian who really like to play! I must admit I feel jealous.

[Gaijin Gigolo]

Thanks for teaching me then. However, I will keep on aiming at higher market targets than poorest class.
Sorry for you, if you are so old to look as my dad.
ISG is full of trolls, but I am glad I had the honor to find one so happy to be on display.There is no 'higher market' in Batam. Dunno where you think you are exactly but it's not someplace where a girl is paid that kind of money except from idiots. And yes, of course she's a part-timer or semi-pro. She slept with you for pay didn't she? LOL!

[Black Page]

Paid a visit to Grand Dragon. Upscale place with upscale people. 100% Indonesian yesterday. The prices of the drinks are in line with those of other pubs (cocktails in range 150k to 200k+).

On a Wednesday night, the dozen of PR girls were mostly available, from beautiful to stunning, sitting with their short skimpy but elegant dresses. If one has no idea how beautiful can be an Indonesian girl, well he should go there and have a look.

I asked a staff guy about rates, and he told me 1M for sitting and drink together and 4M for booking. To be entirely honest, I wish to confirm that from an independent source. The booking fee at M1 was 3M just last year.

[Black Page]

After leaving Grand Dragon, I moved to Newton. A totally different environment.

This time, I was so horny after having admired the models at Grand Dragon that I took just 15 minutes to pick and go. I was lucky to find the gem alone at a table, with a glass of wine: a little spinner, typical Jawanese face, round perfect boobs as in photos on a magazine, weighting no more than 45 kg (I know because I took her naked around in my arms more than once). She works as massage therapist far away in the island. The Google reviews of thas spa are very good. I will not go there, too far, but I wish.

Going to hotel is old style, ahah. I booked a VIP room for 500k, I accepted her gentle request for obat (I stay away from that shit), then super fun in the room with locked door and dugem. Yes, I gave her 1M to close any discussion and just think about having fun. I did! We did! It was special. She's a sweetie. I left her in the room to sleep while waiting for her friend, then I went back to my hotel at 7am.

[Black Page]

When you are in Batam, you will be literally overflooded by friend requests, as soon as you enable the "search nearby" function, by profiles displaying photos of perfect Asian or Chinese models, in search of a friend, offering services, massage, etc. They are all obvsiously fake, because behind there are agents with a pool of poor girls, or if single ladies middle age ladies, or even TVs. I advance this obvious remark, because not everyone here may know that.

Said that, it is NOT completely pointless to have a look. It may be worth to spend some time on that. In the past, I have met some genuine ladies, even a horny one with hijab (report posted years ago). So, the recipe is:
1) consider only profiles with photos not obviously fake because displaying Miss Singapore;.
2) consider only profiles with a series of Moments, which look genuinely presenting a real person;.
3) NEVER invite the person directly to the room after just chatting (someone got a TV in the room, and if you are not super street-smart it will be difficult to expel that out of the door), but: a) videocall first to see the real person; b) meet in the lobby or better in a cafe, before even considering to invite to the room.

Now what? Yesterday my attention was caught by a profile which passed tests 1) ad 2), except the photos were strongly photoshopped. Well, I thought, in Asia it is normal, so I considered step 3).

I start chatting, she offers ST for 600k and LT for 1.3M. I tell her "I am going to dinner, so join me there". After some struggle, a lady completely different from the young cutie in the photos shows up at my table. She was fine anyway, gentle and looking honest. She insists to go to my hotel as soon as I finish dinner, and she wants ST with money first, because she has been cheated by many already. That's plausible, however I rebut that my intention is to go to party first, then I will call her later. She leaves and says "ok call me if you want later".

At this point, I go to Grand Dragon Pub (report below). Then I go back to my hotel and I think to text her, because I feel tired to hunt. She responds immediately, even if it's 2am: "room number please". Even if I got to meet her just 2 hours before, I never do that. So I tell her I will wait in lobby.

INDONESIA BOLEH!
ANOTHER GIRL, fattie, sweaty and ugly appears saying "I am XXX" (the name of the girl I thought I met). So, there was no real XXX, the moments were all fake, the profile is by an agent managing a pool of poor girls, who must think I am stupid and I could take the girl 2 without seeing the difference with girl 1. The person on wechat even insists asking what is my problem with this girl. I just send him to hell.

Good thing I was in the lobby and not in my room. So I simply left the hotel leaving her there, without paying her taxi or what else. She looked very sorry and desperate, to say it all. She is a victim of the system, but I cannot victim too.
I moved quickly to Newton, and that story is the report below.

I report this, to warn those who do not know and may be scammed for trusting others too much.

[Black Page]

What is good of Batam is that nothing is easy, but nothing is impossible. Anything can happen, at any time. I just don't know when, and if something happens.

So, yesterday night I wasted my night until 3am, waiting a beer girl from food court, who promised we would have met after 2am when she'd finished her shift. I was extremely sleepy and dizzy on my bed, but I forced myself to move. At 3:30am the only option is Newton.

Newton was half empty, few people and nearly no girls available AND interesting (note the logical operator).

I spotted a group of 30yo-something ladies, out for partying. The one I liked was shaking head, out of the environment. I tried to call her attention, but she was on the clouds. I roam around until 4:30, then I move downstairs for a juice. At 5am, the disco closes. I note that group waiting for Grab. No need to be shy at this time of the day, so I introduce myself with a bare "Anda cantik!"
They put one of them on a Grab car and the other 4 propose me "Let's go to VIP room!" Said, done. I love when ladies go out with the goal of partying hard until possible.

At 5:30 we are in the VIP. After all, 500k for 3 hours in a private room is not much. We select the music, order drinks, and turn off lights.

My lady is a great lady, the type of those I was used to meet at NoName at Old Golden Times. Regular lady who goes out with friends, and is still so new to Batam to be impressed by a bule, just for the sake of exotic. She's HOT, sexy, great lips and big deep eyes, typical Indonesian, and after 1 hour and more obat she forgets her initial shyness, the reluctance to play in a room while there are her friends dancing at the other side. I don't know what the other girls thought about her, after all that they have seen... We started from a polite conversation holding the hand, sitting with good manners, we ended with multiple positions almost completely naked.

I came back to my hotel at 9am, exhausted. She's a lady I wish I could keep as a friend.

[BKKguru]

Thanks for teaching me then. However, I will keep on aiming at higher market targets than poorest class.
Sorry for you, if you are so old to look as my dad.
ISG is full of trolls, but I am glad I had the honor to find one so happy to be on display.Hi, Black Page.

Thanks for your reporting. Good to know about the upscale Grand Dragon.

You can ignore GG, who is still stuck in the Year 2013.
He is a STINGY penny pincher, who likes to admonish people who Tip generously.

GG will get cardiac arrest when he sees the price list at Grand Dragon. LOL!!

~BKK

[Black Page]

Hi, Black Page.Thanks for appreciating my reports (from an "idiot").

However, it is true that many in Batam try to take advantage of the foreigner.

The other day, I decide to try massage in the "spa" of my hotel (I will not mention, but it is a 4 stars near Jodoh). The sweet girl is pretty (that's why I decided to try, eheh), but moves hands too quickly for a good massage. Near the end, the golden question: do I want massage ALSO THERE?
Hmmm. Why not? Ah, you want tip. Sure, how much?
"100 dollars".
AARRGHH! 1 MILLION RUPIAH??

I guess that some western man in this hotel in Batam for business meetings just said yes, without knowing the PARADISE that is out of the hotel.

[Black Page]

I have a story that some will like.

Most commonly, taxi and ojek drivers overcharge foreigners. Savvy travellers know how to pay no more than 30k from Harbour Bay to Nagoya, using Grab or walking outside the gate, instead of the standard 50k with taxi. (I note that the difference is just 2 SGD, but apparently there are many who believe this is worth the hassle). Standard ojek fare is 10k, but with Gojek one can pay just 6k or 7k.

I am used to pay, without negotiating, 50k to move from HB to my hotel by taxi, and 12k to 15k whenever I take ojek. I keep the small money ready for ojek in my pocket, grouped in folded notes where each set is one ride. I have met countless ojek drivers who have tried to overcharge me (20k or 30k), but without luck.

Well, last week I met an ojek driver who insisted to carry me for FREE (because "It is a short ride, Bos"). :eek:

I have never seen this over the 15 years I have been visiting Batam.

He did not know how to go from Grand Batam Mall to my hotel in Jodoh. I had to show him the way (turn left, turn right, go straight, .) At arrival, he looked very thankful to me for my patience, because he was not able to carry me without my instructions ("I am new to Batam, Bos") and insisted to not make me pay ("Free! Free!").

As obvious, I did put 15k in his hands and I rejected his kind offer. Who works must be paid.

[Black Page]

The old regulars of Batam, those who have travelled there for many years in the past, know the standing of Formosa Hotel in the common memory. That hotel is mythical. I have been regular guest of Formosa for more than 10 years until COVID, when it was closed forever (the owner escaped to his country without paying debts and even due wages to staff).

Formosa was my home in Batam. Staff knew me and treated me as a special one. I have had countless adventures in those rooms (just a minor part of them duly reported on ISG)! The smell itself of its corridor is still with me.

It has been a couple of years that they started some "renovation" of the building, which basically means to dismantle it slowly piece by piece, after all forniture had been removed.

I took this photo a couple of week ago. Third floor is gone. KTV Alishan is in our memory. My rooms 275/265 are skeletons.

[Gaijin Gigolo]

[Deleted by Admin]

EDITOR'S NOTE: This report was redacted or deleted to remove sections of the report that were largely argumentative. Please read the Forum FAQ and the Forum's Posting Guidelines for more information. Thank You!

[Black Page]

There's no way you should being paying 3 x more than what the girls at Classic in Jakarta are making.You are posting to the wrong forum.

[Gaijin Gigolo]

Looking for a Batam hotel recommendation. Hoping to be around Newton for exploring the freelance scene. Need not be expensive, just clean and convenient and not expensive. Thanks in advance.

[JackLad100]

Hi All,

I'm just planning to make my first trip to Batam.

Just looking for more experienced members to possibly guide me.

1) what's the best area to stay in for easing walking Access to Massage services that are for full service and also eating, coffee shops etc.

2) if people could recommend a specific hotel with is girl friendly.

In this area say upto USD60 per night.

Also happy with an AirBnb condo if a that's a better option.

All input would be much appreciated.

I'm a regular traveller to Cebu Philippines.

If you'the like any Intel about that destination do reach out.

I'the be happy to help with that destination.

Thanks, in Advance.

[Sky Ryder]

Hi All,

I'm just planning to make my first trip to Batam.

Just looking for more experienced members to possibly guide me.

1) what's the best area to stay in for easing walking Access to Massage services that are for full service and also eating, coffee shops etc.

2) if people could recommend a specific hotel with is girl friendly.

In this area say upto USD60 per night.

Also happy with an AirBnb condo if a that's a better option.

All input would be much appreciated.

I'm a regular traveller to Cebu Philippines.

If you'the like any Intel about that destination do reach out.

I'the be happy to help with that destination.

Thanks, in Advance.I am not trying to hijack your post, but I have the exact same questions, so if someone replies I will be greatly appreciated. Been a member since 2003 with posts mostly in South America and Asia. A few other places sprinkled in as well. Spent a fair amount of time in the Philippines as well. I will also say TIA to anyone that replies.

I am curious, I've had some really good interactions with a BM using the handle JacktheLad. So yours got me attention.

I am trying to decide between Batam and Bintam for a golf vacation.

[Black Page]

Guys,

I have written TONS of reports, describing all possible ways I explored to have fun in Batam, where to stay, what to do, what to pay, etc. And I have been not the only poster.

If you just read back in the years (the posting rate is low, so it will not take you ages), you will know a lot more, and also have more specific questions to ask then "please make a summary now".

[JackLad100]

Guys,

I have written TONS of reports, describing all possible ways I explored to have fun in Batam, where to stay, what to do, what to pay, etc. And I have been not the only poster.

If you just read back in the years (the posting rate is low, so it will not take you ages), you will know a lot more, and also have more specific questions to ask then "please make a summary now".Yes I've certainly read back through the pages here.

True there's not many posting so it's quite easy to read through them.

But as we all know before and after Covid, are very different.

So that's why I just asked to 2 questions.

Hoping someone might be able to shed some light.

On the 2 questions.

As to how the situation is there now in 2025.

[Black Page]

Yes I've certainly read back through the pages here.
True there's not many posting so it's quite easy to read through them.
But as we all know before and after Covid, are very different.
So that's why I just asked to 2 questions.
I have reported quite a bit in *2023 and 2024*, to make evident what is different after COVID. From all posts, if you read, you should know without the need to ask that:

1) ALL HOTELS are girl friendly.

2) Nagoya is good for a tourist who likes to walk.

Now read, please, and you will be welcome to ask more specific questions and I will be happy to respond with what I know.

[JackLad100]

I have reported quite a bit in *2023 and 2024*, to make evident what is different after COVID. From all posts, if you read, you should know without the need to ask that:

1) ALL HOTELS are girl friendly.

2) Nagoya is good for a tourist who likes to walk.

Now read, please, and you will be welcome to ask more specific questions and I will be happy to respond with what I know.Many thanks Black Page.

Just this basic Intel gives me confidence for my first visit there.

So I can hit the ground running.

Will definitely file a report when I get to Batam.

P.S. I will re-read previous posts to understand the scene better.

[TotalFreak]

Hi everyone,

I'm a regular visitor to Jakarta and thought it's time to try something new — planning my first trip to Batam in the first week of November.

I'the really appreciate some tips or insights from those who know Batam well:

Which area is best for massage places, spas / clubs and KTVs with full service?

From what I've read, most hotels seem to be girl-friendly — could anyone recommend a good hotel under USD 50/ night?

Are there any spas / club in Batam similar to Classic or Travel Spa / club in Jakarta?

Any info or recommendations from experienced members would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!