I remembered that I used to travel to Bintan once or twice a year, from 2001 to 2004. Soon we got tired of the place and stopped going to Bintan after 2004. During those four years, we stayed at Bintan Lagoon Angsoka Villa, Bintan Nirwana Villa Sumadra3 and Bintan Nirwana Resort Hotel, as one of our friends could book them at very cheap price and each of us would end up just spending less that SGD300 in total.
I was not into blogging then, so there was no posts on Bintan. After more than 5 years, I am once again embarking on my journey to Bintan this coming Friday 12 Oct 2012 and will be staying at Nirwana Resort Hotel again. I heard that there are many changes and have more activities in Bintan. Stay tune for more posts on Bintan.
About Bintan, Indonesia
"Bintan Resorts" refers generally to the area on the entire northern coast of the Indonesian Island of Bintan which is master-planned and managed by PT Bintan Resorts Cakrawala. There are currently five independently owned and operated beach resorts, four designer golf courses, as well as a range of recreational facilities and attractions located within it.
Time Zone
Bintan island is in the same time zone as Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, at GMT +7 hours. Bintan island is one hour behind Singapore time.
Language
The national language is Bahasa Indonesia. However, within Bintan Resorts area, English is widely used because the resorts is mostly catered for tourists from Singapore. The hotel pamphlets are in English. The people at the reception, butler, conceige all can speak English.
Currency
The currency of Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Singapore Dollars (SGD) is widely accepted at all hotels in Bintan Resorts, as well as at Pasar Oleh Oleh and Kampoeng Lagoi Leisure Village. Most hotels accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit card payments. Should you be heading down south to other areas in Bintan island for sightseeing or shopping, it is advisable to have ready notes and coins in Indonesian Rupiah.
Climate and Clothing
The dry, calm season during late Mar to early Nov is characterised by clear sunny days and tranquil pristine waters. The north-east monsoon during early Nov to late Mar brings with it strong winds and passing showers, though there are still many sunny hours throughout the day. The temperature ranges between 21° and 32° Celsius, with average daytime temperature hovering around 28° Celsius. Humidity levels are also high, so loose cotton and natural fibres are highly recommended.
Electricity
Electricity in Bintan is at 220V. The power plugs used are of the three-pin, square-shaped or round-shaped type.
Telecommunications
Bintan Resorts has modern telecommunication facilities. Local calls can be made with phone cards. Internet connectivity is available at most Bintan Resorts hotels.
Tipping
Tipping is not necessary as a 10% service charge and 10% government tax may have been added to your bills at the hotels and restaurants. A small tip can be given to appreciate for very good service received.
Getting to Bintan
From Singapore
There is a regular ferry service operated by Bintan Resorts Ferries (BRF) that plies between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore and Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, Bintan Resorts. The trip takes about 55 minutes Singapore-Bintan-Singapore Ferry schedules subject to changes without prior notice (please refer to to www.brf.com.sg for updated schedules).
Important Ferry Information
Passengers are advised to check-in and collect boarding passes at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, Singapore ticketing counter at least 1.5 hours before departure time. BRF reserves the right to cancel confirmed bookings if boarding passes are not collected 40 minutes before ferry departure time.
For departure from Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, Bintan Resorts, passengers are required to reconfirm their return trip and collect boarding passes at least 2 hours before departure. BRF reserves the right to cancel confirmed bookings if boarding passes are not collected 45 minutes before ferry departure time.
Local Transportation
Land Transfer From Resort To Ferry Terminal
There will be a complimentary shuttle bus (free) for every arrival from and departure to Singapore. It is provided to transfer resort guest from ferry terminal to the resort, and vice versa. The shuttle coincides with every ferry arrival and departure timing, which you can enquire further on with Guest Relations Staff at the ferry terminal or at the Resort.
Shuttle Bus Services
A regular shuttle bus service brings visitors among the different hotels, as well as to Pasar Oleh Oleh and Kampoeng Lagoi Leisure Village and back. On request, the service may also stop Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal. The simplest way to explore Bintan Resorts is to get a Day Pass (SGD5/adult and SGD3/child below 12 years old), which entitles you to unlimited shuttle bus rides for a day. Please refer to Bintan Resorts website for shuttle bus schedule.
Car Rental Services
Guests can also rent their own cars from Indorent Car Rental, available at the different hotels. There are also private cars for hire, with drivers who can take you around the island.
Shopping
Pasar Oleh Oleh
Pasar Oleh-Oleh, a souvenir gift market and shopping village set up to promote Indonesian culture, arts and crafts is located in the Township. There is a whole array of Indonesian gifts, cultural artefacts, Indonesian batik wear, beach wear, fashion and local cuisine provided by some 30 outlets. There are three restaurants providing drinks and a variety of local and western dishes as well as two mini marts selling a wide range of necessities and local delicacies. Aura Spa and Kintamani Spa also offer services at local prices.
Kampoeng Lagoi Leisure Village
Opened in 2007, Kampoeng Lagoi is located just across the road from Pasar Oleh Oleh and hosts several F&B outlets, retail shops, a games arcade, Aroma Day Spa Café Tempo, a wine and tapas bar.
Tanjung Pinang
Enjoy a scenic drive through the countryside of Bintan Island and catch a glimpse of the local village folk as you make your way down to the vibrant bustle of Tanjung Pinang – the capital of Bintan Island. Shopping at Tanjung Pinang is pleasantly affordable, with its colourful variety of goods and value-for-money bargains. Shophouses offer a diverse range of dried foodstuff, electronic goods, antique and “antique” ceramics and handicrafts, but the best buys are probably from the street peddlers. Roadside stalls with fresh produce are another common sight at Tanjung Pinang. Do note that most peddlers deal in the local Indonesian Rupiah, so it's best to have the currency in hand before you head down south.
Activities
There are plenty of activities such as All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), PaintBall, Water Sports, Spa and Massage, Mountain Biking, Go-Kart, Gunung Bintan Adventure Trek, Bintan Elephant Park, Sri Bintan Kampung Eco Tour, Traditional Fishing Tour, Mangrove Discovery Tour and many more to keep you busy. Please refer to Bintan Resorts website on Discover Bintan for more activities and pricing.
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