¡Escapa al Paraíso Tropical: Four Points by Sheraton Batam!
¡Ay caramba! Let's dive headfirst into the tropical paradise that is ¡Escapa al Paraíso Tropical: Four Points by Sheraton Batam! I just got back, and honestly? My brain is still marinating in the scent of frangipani and chlorine. This review is gonna be a rollercoaster, because let's face it, real life (and even a vacation) isn't all perfectly filtered Instagram shots. Buckle up, buttercups!
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, But Mostly Alright
Okay, let's rip the band-aid off first. Accessibility isn't perfect. I'm not a wheelchair user, but I always pay attention. The elevators? Good. The ramps? Mostly there, pero (but) some areas could benefit from a wider turning radius. They do say they have facilities for disabled guests, so that's a plus. This is crucial, and it's really the bare minimum. I wish they had more concrete detail and imagery on their website, to allow potential guests to be able to make an informed decision before putting their money down.
Wheelchair Accessible? I saw some accessible rooms, which is a good start. You REALLY gotta call ahead and confirm everything if you need it. Don't assume, because sometimes, "accessible" means "sort of accessible." The hotel is big, but it's possible to navigate in one's own wheelchair. Getting There and Back: This place goes for airport transfer, it´s a must if you arrive in the island airport. Taxi service is also available, because after that, there's the option for going from place to place.
Cleanliness and Safety: They're TRYING!
COVID paranoia is (hopefully) fading, pero (but) I'm still looking for that reassurance. They really emphasize this aspect. I mean, they're talking about daily disinfection in common areas, anti-viral cleaning products, and rooms sanitized between stays. They even have staff trained in safety protocol. I saw people wiping things down constantly. They also have hand sanitizer everywhere, and individually-wrapped food options (more on that later). Safe dining setup sí, they´re doing that. The Front desk is 24-hour, which gives me a better feeling every time.
- CCTV is present in both common areas, and just like the name says, outside the property, so there's that sense of security.
Rooms: Ah, the Sanctuary!
Okay, let's talk about the actual reason we book hotels: the ROOMS! My room was, well, bonito. I'm not gonna lie. Air conditioned, of course! Free Wi-Fi (¡en todas las habitaciones!) – thank the internet gods – and a decent Internet access - wireless, which is a lifesaver. The bed was comfy, with a blackout curtain (essential for sleeping in!), and I had a window that opens (fresh air, baby!). The bathroom was clean. There was complimentary tea and coffee, that I always use. The things I appreciated the most were:
- Air conditioning: essential, because even the most hardcore lover for hot weather needs it.
- Free Wi-Fi: you´re not gonna get enough of it.
- Bathrobes: the essential you seek.
- Hair dryer: it´s there.
- Refrigerator: useful for the bottle of water, or anything else you want to keep cold.
- Smoke detector: because, safety first.
- Private bathroom: always.
I found the mini-bar a bit lacking, but hey, the refrigerator space came to the rescue! I'm not a fan of hard beds or the feeling of sleeping in prison, and the bed was just right.
Dining, Drinking, & Snacking: A Food Adventure!
El comedor (The dining room) was…interesting. They have a Breakfast [buffet], which – let's be real – is a highlight of any hotel stay. The usual suspects were there: eggs, pastries, fruit…but also some local Batam specialties. The options made me a bit overwhelmed, but that´s a fine thing, right? Asian breakfast and Western breakfast were available. You can expect coffee, tea and everything in between at the Coffee/tea in restaurant.
Now, here's where I had my momento (moment): The Poolside bar. This is the holy grail of relaxation, amigos. Imagine: sunshine, a cool breeze, and a perfectly crafted cocktail (or three…), because of the Happy hour. I spend a LOT of time here, soaking up the atmosphere and just chilling. The staff at the bar were lovely, and the Poolside bar. I can still taste my first margarita, which was heaven.
Restaurants are around the hotel, and you can find Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant. Because of this, you´ll surely find something that pleases your palate.
The Snack Bar is good for those of us who don´t want to eat much, and Room service [24-hour] is a godsend.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day, Anyone?
This is where the Four Points really shines. Okay, the swimming pool [outdoor]. It's a beauty, and the Pool with view makes you feel like you're in a movie. And guys, the spa! The spa/sauna is something else. I opted for a massage (duh!), and it was pure bliss. Just melt into the table, and let your worries drift away. There's a Fitness center if you're into that torture, and a sauna too. There's also a steamroom. Ay, dios mío. It's the dream!
Services and Conveniences: Smooth Sailing
They really try to make things easy. Daily housekeeping is a blessing, and the concierge was super helpful with recommendations and booking tours (which I did, and DO NOT miss!). The laundry service was handy. They also have a currency exchange and cash withdrawal.
Business Facilities: For the Hustlers
If you're one of those people who has to work, even on vacation (no judgement!), they have you covered. Meeting/banquet facilities, meetings, and Wi-Fi for special events are available.
For the Kids: Family Fun
They're Family/child friendly, so this is great if you're travelling with your pequeños.
The Quirks & The Real Talk:
- Little Imperfections: Look, no place is perfect. The Wi-Fi sometimes stuttered a bit, even though it advertised Wi-Fi [free], and the elevator was a bit creaky. But honestly? These are minor quibbles.
- The Staff: The staff were geniales (great)! Everyone was friendly and helpful, always with a smile.
- My Over-the-Top Moment: That poolside bar, seriously. I spent hours there, just being. That's the magic of this place.
Final Verdict: ¡Vámonos!
¡Escapa al Paraíso Tropical: Four Points by Sheraton Batam! is a solid choice. It's comfortable, clean, and has a great location with plenty of activities. If you are looking for a relaxing, and relatively effortless getaway (especially for a kid-friendly trip) with a good infrastructure base, this hotel might just be your paradise found.
¡Oferta Especial - Book Now!
¡Amigos! I'm telling you:
- FREE Upgrade: Get a free room upgrade if you book directly through their site for your dates.
- Exclusive Spa Package: Enjoy a couple's massage and a bottle of champagne.
- Early Bird Discount: Get 15% off if you book your stay at least 30 days in advance.
¡No lo pienses más! Book ahora and prepare for sun, sea, and serious relaxation. Because, let's face it, don't you deserve a little slice of paradise? ¡Sí, claro que sí!
¡Vámonos!
¡Kansai: El Aeropuerto que Debes Conocer ANTES de Viajar a Japón!
¡Ay, Batam! Just the name conjures up images of sweaty humidity and… well, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. This whole "trip planning" thing? Let's just say my brain is a chaotic filing cabinet, and this itinerary is the crumpled, vaguely important document at the bottom. Hold on to your hats, folks, because it's a wild ride.
Four Points by Sheraton Batam - My Batam Breakdown (or, How NOT to Plan a Trip):
Day 1: Arrival & "Is That a Gecko on My Bed?"
- Morning (ish): Arrive at Hang Nadim Airport (BTH). Ugh, the flight! I swear, budget airlines should come with a complimentary back massage for the contortionist positions you're forced to adopt. Immigration was… well, it was immigration. Let's leave it at that. The airport transfer to Four Points was smooth, thankfully. The air-conditioning blast upon arrival was like a baptism – pure, blessed relief.
- Afternoon: Check-in. The lobby is… shiny. Like, surgically-enhanced teeth shiny. I actually got lost trying to find my room, which is embarrassing considering the hotel isn’t exactly a sprawling estate. Found it eventually. Room: Comfortable… until I saw it on the wall. A gecko. A little bug-eyed lizard thing. My inner five-year-old screamed. Apparently, the hotel is eco-friendly… eco-friendly with a roommate who might be judging my late-night Pringles consumption.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening (aka “The Great Pool Crisis”): The pool looked AMAZING in the photos. Crystal-clear turquoise. Reality? Still pretty good! But then… the sun. The sun is a monster in Batam. I lasted about 20 minutes before I was starting to resemble a lobster. Slathered on more sunscreen (lesson learned: bring the industrial-sized bottle), and decided to chill on a shaded lounger. The people-watching was top-notch, though. A family trying to photograph their seven kids in matching outfits… I'm pretty sure one kid was holding a grudge.
- Evening: Dinner at The Eatery. The food was… vast. Seriously, the buffet was an endless river of choices. I may or may not have sampled a little too much. Satay, nasi goreng, some sort of mystery meat with a suspiciously delicious sauce… My taste buds are still doing the happy dance. Dessert? Let's just say I have a serious weakness for anything with chocolate. A slightly panicked glance at my rapidly expanding stomach and back to the room.
Day 2: Spa Day & Shopping with a Side of Existential Dread
- Morning: Breakfast at The Eatery. Faced with the buffet again. Victory! This time I managed to pace myself a little better, although the temptation to load up on pastries was strong.
- Late Morning/Early Afternoon: Spa Time!!! Oh. My. God. The spa was an oasis of calm amidst the Batam intensity. I booked a massage (naturally, the "Indonesian massage," because, you know, IN BATAM). The masseuse basically kneaded all the stress out of my existence. For a brief, glorious hour, I forgot about everything, including the gecko. Pure bliss. I literally floated out of there.
- Afternoon: Shopping Fiasco and Souvenir Regret. So, the hotel shuttle to Nagoya Hill Mall. Big mistake! The mall was… busy. I mean, imagine Black Friday, but make it humid and add a healthy dose of "Lost in Translation" awkwardness. Bargaining is apparently a sport, and I am a newbie. Ended up buying a ridiculously oversized batik shirt that will probably never see the light of day. More regrets.
- Evening: Dinner at the Hotel Another buffet. This time I was determined. Control. I focused on the fresh fruit and the grilled fish. (That was my intention). The dessert bar called my name. It’s my burden). After dinner back to the room. The gecko was back. It had an air of smug indifference. My nemesis.
Day 3: Beach, Beach, and More Beach (and Potential Meltdown)
- Morning: Breakfast at the hotel. Contemplated skipping it altogether and staying in bed, but the bacon called my name.
- Late Morning: A Day Trip to Nongsa Beach. Booked it through the hotel, mostly because I was too lazy (or terrified) to figure out public transport. Beautiful! The sand was white, the water was turquoise, the view was incredible. I attempted to be a graceful beachgoer. Fail. I spent half the time hiding from the sun and the other half getting sand in everything.
- Afternoon: Beach and, well, more beach. I tried to relax, I really did. I tried to read a book. But the combination of the sun, the relentless humidity, and the fact that I realized I hadn't actually done anything productive on this trip… I started to feel a little overwhelmed.
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Batam Center. This place is like an island within an island. Shopping malls, food stalls, and the buzz of local life. Dinner at an amazing seafood restaurant. Freshly grilled prawns and squid that were better than anything I've tasted in ages. The conversation with a local family was refreshing, funny, real. I actually felt a little better after laughing and talking to people who live here.
Day 4: Departure – And Promise of Return?
- Morning: Breakfast – the final round. Said goodbye to the buffet. Packed my bags (trying to jam the batik shirt somewhere). One last, reluctant glance at the gecko.
- Mid-Morning: Check-out. Headed for the airport.
- Afternoon: Hang Nadim Airport / Home.
Final Thoughts (and Utter Chaos):
Batam was… an experience. It was hot, it was chaotic, and it wasn't always pretty. But it was also delicious, relaxing (at times), and full of those unexpected moments that make travel worthwhile. I’m pretty sure I need another vacation to recover from this one. Would I go back? Maybe. After I buy a hazmat suit and learn to bargain. And maybe work on that gecko situation. He seems to be winning.
¡Hotel La Realda España: ¡El Paraíso Mediterráneo que te está Esperando!
¡Ay, Dios Mío! ¿Qué diablos es Four Points by Sheraton Batam y por qué debería importarme?
¡Ja, ja, ja! Buena pregunta. A ver, Four Points by Sheraton Batam... imagínate la típica promesa de "escape al paraíso tropical". Prometen sol, playa, relax... y sí, con más o menos acierto, lo cumplen. Batam, para los que no lo saben, es una isla de Indonesia, cerquita de Singapur. Y bueno, ¿por qué debería importarte? Porque... ¿quién NO necesita un escape? Y este, al menos, es accesible. No es que vayas a encontrar el Nirvana, pero por el precio... ¡ya quisiera yo tener mi propio paraíso fiscal! Eso sí, prepárate para un poco de ajetreo, sobre todo si vas desde Singapur; los ferries son una locura.
Vale, ok... ¿Y las habitaciones? ¿Son dignas del Instagram o qué?
¡Ay, las habitaciones! Bueno, digamos que... depende de tus expectativas. Instagram dignas... con un buen filtro, sí. Son limpias, eso es importante. Son espaciosas, también. Pero... a ver, no te esperes el lujo de un hotel de cinco estrellas en París. Yo, particularmente, recuerdo una vez que la puerta del balcón no cerraba bien. ¡Horror! Me imagino a los mosquitos haciendo cola para entrar. Tuve que llamar a la recepción, y bueno, la solución fue medianamente rápida. Un poco de cinta adhesiva y "¡listo!". Pero vamos, que el balcón era una maravilla con las vistas, especialmente al atardecer. Ah, y la cama... IM-PA-CA-BLE. Literalmente me sentí como un tronco durmiendo ahí. Perfecta.
¿Qué tal la comida? ¿Me voy a morir de hambre o hay algo decente?
¡La comida! La eterna pregunta... A ver, el restaurante principal, el "The Eatery", es bastante competente. Buffet libre, ¡sí señor! Hay de todo, desde pasta a comida indonesia. Los desayunos son... generosos, digamos. Huevos, bacon, fruta... ¡y los zumos! Un desastre de azúcar, pero deliciosos. Mi consejo: no te pongas como un cerdo el primer día. Con el tiempo te cansarás, como me pasó a mi. Después descubrí un pequeño restaurante en la playa (¡buena suerte encontrándolo!), donde hacían unos pescados a la brasa... ¡Uf! Simplemente espectaculares. Ahí sí que me puse las botas. ¡Y no me arrepiento! Eso sí, cuidado con el picante, ¡puede ser mortal! Yo, que soy cobarde, siempre pedía extra suave, para estar seguro.
¿Y la playa? ¿Es de arena dorada y aguas turquesas como en las fotos? (¡Porque ya me han engañado tantas veces!)
¡Ja! ¡Qué buena pregunta! A ver... no te voy a mentir. No es exactamente como en las fotos de Instagram. Es bonita, sí, con arena... pero no es la playa paradisíaca que te venden en las revistas. A veces, hay un poco de basura flotando. Y a veces el agua no es tan cristalina. Recuerdo un día... ¡qué horror! Llovía a cántaros y el agua parecía más un caldo de cultivo que otra cosa. Pero bueno, la playa tiene su encanto, sobre todo al amanecer, donde puedes disfrutar de la tranquilidad. Eso sí, ten cuidado con el sol. ¡Quémate como yo, y te acordarás! Yo, con mi piel de "leche con canela"... ¡parecía un tomate!
¿Hay actividades que hacer, o me voy a aburrir como una ostra?
¡Ostra, no! Aunque... depende de ti. El hotel tiene piscina, que está bastante bien para refrescarse. Claro, llena de gente... y niños gritando, pero bueno. Puedes hacer deportes acuáticos, como kayak o paddleboard (¡lo intenté, parecía un pato mareado!). También puedes ir a los spas y relajarte con un masaje (¡¡¡lo mejor del mundo, os lo juro!!!). Hay excursiones a otras islas, pero yo, personalmente, me quedé en el hotel la mayor parte del tiempo. ¡Estaba tan a gusto en la piscina! Lo mío es el relax, el aburrimiento... ¡y la siesta! Lo que no me gustó, que no lo mencioné antes, fue el gimnasio. ¡Mala calidad de los aparatos y el ambiente deprimente! Mejor me voy al bar.
¿El personal? ¿Son amables o te tratan como a un número?
¡El personal! Bueno, aquí la cosa varía un poco, como en todos los sitios. La mayoría son muy amables, siempre con una sonrisa y dispuestos a ayudarte. Te hacen sentir bienvenido. Recuerdo un chico en el restaurante, un tal "Agus", que era un sol. Siempre me preguntaba qué tal estaba, y me hacía reír con sus chistes malos. ¡Un encanto! Pero, a veces, te encuentras con alguna cara seria... o con problemas de comunicación (¡el inglés no es su fuerte!). Pero en general, yo diría que son bastante amables. Y el servicio de habitaciones... ¡siempre impecable! Aunque, una vez, me olvidé la propina... ¡y al volver, no habían limpiado la habitación! ¡Ups! Pero bueno, un desliz lo tiene cualquiera.
¿Recomendaciones? ¿Algún consejo para sobrevivir a esta escapada tropical?
¡Ah, sí! Consejos de un superviviente... Primero: Lleva repelente de mosquitos. EN SERIO, que no te pase como a mí, que volví con más picaduras que una galleta de avena. Segundo: regatea. ¡Todo se regatea! Incluso en el hotel, a veces. Tercero: no te preocupes por ir vestida con ropa de diseño. Nadie te va a juzgar. Y cuarto... ¡relájate! Deja los problemas en casa. Disfruta del sol, de la comida, de la playa... y de las siestas. ¡Y sobre todo, no te tomes las cosas demasiado en serio! Porque a veces... todo puede ser un poco caótico. Pero, al final, ¡te lo pasarás bien! Eso sí, cuando vuelvas a casa, ¡necesitarás otras vacaciones para recuperarte! ¡Ja, ja, ja!
