One of the best places to book a three or four star hotel in Batam is at the KAHA travel desk at the Batam Center Ferry terminal. The prices can be quite competitive but you gotta pay in advance at the desk and get a voucher. However, if you want to extend your stay you can call KAHA and they will come by the hotel and pick up the cash. So extending is no big deal.
-------
June 3, 2005

Surprise Surprise Surprise, there is a third world place that actually lowers prices when demand slides. Kaha has a bunch of new prices that are reduced because of slow business. Here are the current KAHA prices for some of the nicer hotels in Nagoya. All prices are for good for foriegners and include two daily breakfasts except where noted.

1) Harmoni Hotel 355K

2) Formosa Hotel 325K during the week 355K weekend

3) Goodway Hotel 350K

4) Regency Panorama (formely and still often referred to as the Melia Panorama 365K (1 breakfast) and 385 (two breakfasts)

5) Novotel 400K

6) Island Garden (not the Island view) 250K

7) Planet Holiday 405K

8) Puri Garden 280 K

I would say that the Panorama, and the Harmoni are the two great 4* deal. The Goodway weekday price is quite good. I haven't seen the inside of the Puri Garden but that is a very attractive price from what I see it offered elswhere.

KAHA doesn't have a contract rate with the Island View hotel. The rates there are always S$40 during the week and S$45 on the weekend. That is 2227K and 255K at the current exchange rate.


(Message edited by mongerx on June 02, 2005)

Does Harmoni have internet? If so I'd be VERY willing to stay there next trip. Hell, I'd consider staying there if I could get a room and/or bed the size of a Melia room...

E

i see they lowered regency to a more reasonable figure-- I think it was around 475k last trip

I was just looking at this list again - Island Garden has a KTV inside on the second floor. The girls there cost TWICE as much as the rooms!!

E

I think Harmoni has WiFi in lobby and in public spaces. I don't think they had it in room. I am staying in Melia now, but my feeling is that, except for the breakfast, Harmoni is a better place to stay. Dial-up Internet in Melia is putrid and expensive.

If high speed in room internet is very important to you, Planet Holiday is your choice hands down. However, the Kaha price is not anything special you can get standard/deluxe rooms for S$70/$80 pretty easily.

Oh, it turns out the there is a fair amount of good new stock in the Island Garden KTV. Interestingly it appears that there is connection or pipeline from there to the PenJay group of bars I love so much in Jakarta. Lots of the IG girls had been working in these bars.

(Message edited by mongerx on June 03, 2005)

Here are the latest prices from the KAHA desk for selected hotels in Batam. There isn't a lot of good news.

1) Harmony 510K

2) Planet Holiday 480K

3) Goodway Hotel 365 (weekend 350)

4) Melia Panorama 365 (Weekend 350)

5) Formosa 320 (weekend 345)
*** Alishan Karaoke on top the 4th floor of Formosa Hotel has some decent new talent. I found this ubber super spinner there this weekend, 37Kilos of super fun wild girl.

Photo: Alishan

------

You can also book hotels in Jakarta using KAHA who has a desk at both the Batam and Jakarta airports. Here are some hotels I have seen, have been recommended or had central locations.

Aston Atrium 315K (Weekend 275K) no breakfast
Ciputra 440K no breakfast
Ibis Mangga Dua 340K
Losari Blok M 245K
Mecure Rekso Hayum Wuruk 395K
Park Lane (5*) $53 and Up
Plaza Mangga Dua 145K (Have heard nothing about this hotel but I love its location and price)
Shangri-LA $107

And get this ultra mega deal which I almost didn't want to share

Sparks Hotel 265K (w/o breakfast) This will save you about $14 a night off the best price you can get from the hotel directly

Now for reading this post you get a cookie. This cookie is another new girl I had this weekend in Batam. She is a freelancer you can find in Pacific Disco. 40 lovely kilos with amazing firm tits with puffy nipples. Gee maybe I should cancel that Dec. trip to Thailand?

Photo: Pacific FL A

Nice touch w/the pic samplers...dreamy.

MX, do you have an email or # for KAHA, I think the price I got for Mercure is higher than KAHA's prices.

Merlin,

I don't have the number for them in Jakarta, and you need to make the reservation at the KAHA desk you are going to pick the voucher up at. E-mail ----- hahahaha This ain't a high tech operation we are talking about here!

You shouldn't have any problem picking up a voucher from the KAHA desk at the international terminal in the CGK international terminal. If you are worried, make a reservation unsecured with a credit card at the hotel, then you are covered in case you can't get one at KAHA.

BTW, why would you stick with Mecure Rekso at 395K when you can stay at Sparks for 265K. I know you aren't gonna be waking up for the included breakfast buffet. Mecure Rekso will give you an bigger room, but its dated and the who lights situation in the room is fucked up. Sparks has new updated rooms, that feel hip and unique. While definately smaller, the room is much better laid-out and you get an in room safe! Of course the Mecure Rekso does have chinese hookers soliciting in the lobby! For me its Sparks. Please the lighting is much better in Sparks to shoot pics and make movies.

One other thing I didn't say you would have more fun, but I said you wouldn't regret going to Jakarta instead of AC. It is a real apple and oranges thing, but I know your style and I am gonna bet dollars to donuts you and Jakarta are gonna get along real well. Most likely you will be like me and both places will be distinct addictions that both need to be fed frequently.

MX--

good gravy man, NICE. I'm going to have to break out those SA points after all ;)

Thanks MX, I know I'm gonna love Jakarta as you probably know my style better than anyone. I'm actually hedging my bets this time as usual, will be splitting the time Manila/AC/JKT if all hell doesn't break loose. I just cancelled my Mercure booking and I'll be looking to book at the Sparks as I arrive. I recall the wi-fi at Mercure was what interested me. See you soon.

Good thing you did switch because there is no Wi-Fi at the Mecure, Sparks has Wi-Fi in the public areas. But they are charging for it now and it's not a deal (Like $3 per hour.)

The price has gone down at KAHA for the Formosa Hotel: Weekdays 265K and Weekends 290K.

This is a pretty good deal for decent hotel in a great central location. Nice competition for the Island View Hotel at this price point.