Before arriving at your hotel in Batam, Indonesia, make sure that you know these 5 interesting facts about this hot tourist destination.
Batam is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This special designation is why a lot of factories are situated in various parts of the island, as they benefit from economic policies that are pilot-tested here. There are also no tariffs and value-added taxes slapped on goods shipped between Batam and Singapore. This just means that a wider variety of products and services are made available to locals and tourists, and that they might be cheaper here than in neighboring Singapore.
Tourist establishments actually accept Singaporean Dollars as payment.
Because of Batam's geographic location and the numerous Singaporean travelers that visit the island, many restaurants, stores, and hotels actually accept Singaporean currency. However, if you do plan to use your credit card, your Batam hotel rates or restaurant bills have to be converted first into rupiah. This step is mandated by law, and you may end up paying more or less for your stay or meal, depending on the exchange rate. So if you're coming from Singapore and spending a few nights on this island, you may want to bring some extra dollars with you to avoid this hassle.
There are almost no Kijangs around the island.
Popularly used across Indonesia as a shuttle service and as a form of public transportation, the Toyota Kijang is oddly missing in Batam. As such, tourists who want to go around the island have to take a taxi, bus, or minibus to their hotel in Batam [http://www.panoramaregency.com/packages.php], ferry terminals, malls, and so on.
The neighboring island of Galang has a former Vietnamese refugee camp.
Other than shopping and myriad water sport activities, there are other things to discover in the area especially when you cross the bridge to the other islands in the Riau Archipelago. When Batam was only a small fishing village 30 years ago, neighboring Galang Island was the site of the Galang Refugee Camp. From 1979 to 1996, this camp was home to Vietnamese boat-people fleeing the country and seeking asylum. Today, it has been restored and is open for visitors who want to know more about the community's history.
Hang Nadim Airport has the longest runway in Indonesia.
Batam's international airport may not have a lot of flights available to different parts of the world, but it sure does hold the distinction of having the country's longest runway. Originally designed as an alternative to Changi Airport -- an emergency landing area for planes en route to Singapore -- it is big enough to accommodate Boeing 747s. It is currently a popular take-off point for travelers, who would stay a day or two at a hotel in Batam, Indonesia before going to other parts of the country.
Batam is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
This special designation is why a lot of factories are situated in various parts of the island, as they benefit from economic policies that are pilot-tested here. There are also no tariffs and value-added taxes slapped on goods shipped between Batam and Singapore. This just means that a wider variety of products and services are made available to locals and tourists, and that they might be cheaper here than in neighboring Singapore.
Tourist establishments actually accept Singaporean Dollars as payment.
Because of Batam's geographic location and the numerous Singaporean travelers that visit the island, many restaurants, stores, and hotels actually accept Singaporean currency. However, if you do plan to use your credit card, your Batam hotel rates or restaurant bills have to be converted first into rupiah. This step is mandated by law, and you may end up paying more or less for your stay or meal, depending on the exchange rate. So if you're coming from Singapore and spending a few nights on this island, you may want to bring some extra dollars with you to avoid this hassle.
There are almost no Kijangs around the island.
Popularly used across Indonesia as a shuttle service and as a form of public transportation, the Toyota Kijang is oddly missing in Batam. As such, tourists who want to go around the island have to take a taxi, bus, or minibus to their hotel in Batam [http://www.panoramaregency.com/packages.php], ferry terminals, malls, and so on.
The neighboring island of Galang has a former Vietnamese refugee camp.
Other than shopping and myriad water sport activities, there are other things to discover in the area especially when you cross the bridge to the other islands in the Riau Archipelago. When Batam was only a small fishing village 30 years ago, neighboring Galang Island was the site of the Galang Refugee Camp. From 1979 to 1996, this camp was home to Vietnamese boat-people fleeing the country and seeking asylum. Today, it has been restored and is open for visitors who want to know more about the community's history.
Hang Nadim Airport has the longest runway in Indonesia.
Batam's international airport may not have a lot of flights available to different parts of the world, but it sure does hold the distinction of having the country's longest runway. Originally designed as an alternative to Changi Airport -- an emergency landing area for planes en route to Singapore -- it is big enough to accommodate Boeing 747s. It is currently a popular take-off point for travelers, who would stay a day or two at a hotel in Batam, Indonesia before going to other parts of the country.