You no longer have to burn a hole in your pocket to get whisked away to picturesque Maldives as paradise is but a 30-minute yacht transfer away from Singapore. Batam’s first 5 star hotel, Montigo Resorts Nongsa has much to offer with a villa complete with your own private pool, top-notch spa services and postcard-perfect pools where you can sip your cocktail before taking the plunge. Or if you prefer, savouring your cocktail in the private and/or public pools whilst time just stands still.
The rows of neatly spaced out villas are spacious and comfortable. It is a perfect place for family getaways as the 3-storey villas house 1 master bedroom complete with a full-sized tub and 2 double-beds in the other room. Even if it’s rainy outside, there are plenty of things to do indoors for entertainment like Nintendo Wii and WIFI are provided. Despite only being in Phase 1 (out of 3) of development, Montigo Resorts’ operations are smooth and the rooms are immaculate. It is no wonder they are perpetually full on public holidays and weekends; and gradually becoming the choice venue to host wedding ceremonies.
What took our breath away was the glorious view from the rooftop. Imagine Santorini (Greece) in Asia and there you have it – white-washed rooftops, rows of impeccable housing, stunning sunset… Words simply do no justice to the view.
When we were done gawking at the view, a trip to the spa village 5 minutes away from the main villa area left us invigorated. This zen zone is a must-try with experienced masseuses who will pamper you with their dexterous fingers and customized massages (625,00 RP for 60 mins / 950,00 RP for 90 mins) to ease muscle tension or improve blood circulation. After the spa session, we were taken to a quiet lounge area where specially brewed lemon-grass tea was served. Here, guests can sit, ponder and spend some quiet time amongst the lush greenery that enshrouds the building.
We were pampered silly as we hardly had to walk even though the entire resort was accessible by foot. Top-of-the-line service indeed.
A staycation is incomplete without food. There are plenty of options at TADD’s which offers all-day dining. The balmy breeze that greeted me as I sat on the kampung-style rattan furniture, set the tone for a tranquil dining experience with comforting Asian cuisine or Western favourites.
Tahu Telor Goreng (65,00 RP), one of our favourite Indonesian egg dishes, did not disappoint. The crumbly flakes of TADD’s version was well-complemented with the chef’s unique savoury sauce.
Before we got to Batam, we did not realize that Kueh Lapis was their specialty product. As huge fans of Kueh Lapis –we tried, we died and arrived in food heaven.
For dinner, we made our way down to PANTAI that featured Chinese-style food with an Indonesian twist. The Szechuan soup with Seafood, Shitake Mushrooms, Bamboo shoots and Tofu (65,00 RP for a small portion, 125,00 RP for a large portion) jolted the senses and tantalized our tastebuds for what was to follow.
The Deep Fried Cuttlefish coated with Three Kinds of Flour (50,00 RP for a small portion, 75,00 RP for a large portion) was the star of the show. Similar to cereal squid we have in Singapore, PANTAI’s is a more refined version with evenly spread out batter that retains the lightness of the dish despite it being deep fried. The rest of the meal was filling but quite honestly, rather forgettable. For us, the highlight of this staycation wasn’t the food, but the spectacular view, stunning architecture and outstanding room service. We could go hungry and still be contented by the serenity the villa afforded us.
Fancy some souvenirs for the folks back in Singapore? Montigo’s gift shop is stocked with, inter alia, old-school knick knacks, special edition Luxe guides, jars of specially concocted green sambal and all the amenities needed for a perfect beach-getaway.
There is never a dull day at Montigo as there are plenty of things to do during your stay – from water sports to golf, from kelong fishing to culinary lessons and more. Despite it being a short daycation for us, we were well-rested and ready to take on the world the next day. We have made plans for our next visit here, can’t wait for that to happen!
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This was an invited staycation. Thank you Montigo Resorts Nongsa for the hospitality.
Villas are priced from 295SGD ++
For more information, check out their website: http://www.montigoresorts.com/
For more pictures, click here.
