I was planning a last-minute weekend getaway to Batam for a friend’s birthday celebration and was searching for a nice hotel when Batam Marriott came up in my search. The fact that the hotel is connected to the ferry terminal, the hotel was a perfect location for a chill weekend stay
The moment you exit the customs check at the ferry terminal, you will see Starbucks, just exit from the glass doors on the left of Starbucks and you are at the basement level of the hotel itself. There are no clear signs so I took the long route of going one round outside of the mall to find that the hotel could be reached by this door
From the mall, you will arrive at the basement lobby of the hotel which has lovely sofas for guests to rest and also ample space for large groups of guests to load and unload their luggage as this level is linked to their carpark which has limited lots. The check-in counters are located on the 2nd level of the hotel which is extremely spacious. The check-in service was prompt and helpful and offered us early check-in and a welcome drink. Opposite the check-in counter was a small cafe selling bake and chocolate. As we travelled around using Grab, it will be helpful to let the drivers know that they have to pick you up at the slope and not at the carpark level which is street level
The corridors to the rooms were well-lit and maintained well with a dark wood colour theme. The room itself was pretty huge with natural wood furnishings and grey walls. There were 2 small double beds provided as we booked the twin room and a lounging bed positioned next to the windows. As we had 3 people, the staff offered to help us make up the lounge bed with bed linens and pillows and it was as comfortable as a small single-sized bed. The room faced the front of the hotel which was a huge carpark and the sea in a distance away
There was a small round table where you can eat or work from although it is not a proper work desk, there are powerpoints just next to the table and the natural light from the windows is quite sufficient. As we were celebrating my friend’s birthday, the staff made us a cute towel cake and mascot with a personally written message as well as an actual slice of cream cake on the table
The beds and pillows were very comfortable and the overall comfort of the room was perfect for a staycation. The lounge bed was quite hard but still comfortable enough to get proper sleep but for bigger framed guests, the lounge bed is not recommended as I had some difficulty turning and I was glad that we took turns with the proper bed
The wardrobe in the room was huge with 4 doors so there is sufficient space and hangers for 2 -3 guests. Ironing board and iron are provided within the wardrobe, there is also a safety box in the side cabinet next to the closet with amenities like laundry bags, shoe shine and shoe bags and bedroom slippers. Other amenities provided included coffee and tea bags, a kettle, drinking water, toothbrushes, soap, a sewing kit, a comb, a shaver and cotton wool. Shower gel and shampoo are provided inside the shower cubicle which is separated from the toilet. I loved the shower as the water temperature was hot and powerful enough for a relaxing bath
As expected of a Marriott hotel, there were many facilities available like the gym which had quite a complete range of machines and high-tech treadmills and cycling machines with individual screens for Netflix or news. The gym had many bottles of drinking water provided as well as a changing room and towels. At the same level as the gym was the swimming pool which is not huge but enough for casual dipping and lounging.
There was good shade provided by the trees so the lounge chairs were placed perfectly for guests to relax or read a book. There was also a bar where you can get drinks by the poolside. A tip for those who wish to visit, as the hotel is right next to the harbour there tends to be a swampy smell from the waters below which affects the joy of lounging at the pool. When the tide is high, the smell is completely unnoticeable so for those sensitive to smells, do visit the pool during high tide
The rooftop bar at the top level is also one of the more popular places for guests and non-guests to visit as it has nice views across Batam especially at night when all the lights come on. The circular seats are only available with a minimum spend so we could only take the high tables which is ok for a short while but not too comfortable if you intend to stay for a long time. The drinks were decent and priced similarly to the ones you get in 5-star hotels in Singapore
Breakfast was available at level 2 at the Goji Kitchen and Bar and with my prior experience at another Marriott hotel, I expected the hotel breakfast to be wonderful. Unfortunately, we did not get the room rates which came with breakfast so we opted for a la carte breakfast which was also just right as we had too much food the prior night. The restaurant was vast with extensive seating available for guests to choose the view of their preference
I chose the American breakfast at IDR 170,000 which is about SGD 15 and it was sumptuous and way beyond the amount of food I could stomach in the morning. The breakfast came with tea or coffee, juice, milk, yoghurt, a platter of pastries which included muffins, croissants and Danish pastries and a platter of fresh fruits. The side were served from the buffet line and staff were actually coming around to serve us more food from the buffet but I could not even finish the food on the table. The food was good although some of the items were slightly cold. I generally had no complaints at all with the food quality or value for money
Overall, I have no complaints about my stay at Marriott Batam as they upheld the 5-star service and the quality of my stay was impeccable. I am still looking forward to catching a good deal to head back to the hotel for another staycation
Address: Harbour Bay Downtown, Jl. Duyung, Sungai Jodoh, Kec. Batu Ampar, Kota Batam, Kepulauan Riau 29453, Indonesia
Room rates from SGD 277
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