Combine cocktails by infinity pools, golden sunrises at sea by dawn and rooftop stargazing sessions by dusk, garnish with some of the best service staff you’ll find, and you get a getaway at Montigo Resorts, Nongsa.
Long before our stay, we’ve heard so much about Montigo Resorts, Nongsa. Too much, almost – you can only imagine how high our expectations were for this weekend getaway. True enough, the five-star resort is everything we’ve expected and more.
Batam might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of a beach getaway, but there’s no denying that the resort dispelled that with its villas-meet-sea setting, ingenious use of Bermuda-blue themed decor, and blissfully quiet atmosphere permeating the whole premise. And being barely 30km away from home? The icing on this tropical cake.
Setting foot on Montigo Resorts, Nongsa’s soil immediately brought us a sense of tranquility – a much-needed lull amidst our stressful work weeks. We were greeted by the friendliest staff the moment we arrived in our limousine. Yes, a friggin’ limousine just to escort us from the ferry terminal! Pity it was merely a five minutes drive away.
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The seafront deluxe two-bedroom villa was our home for the weekend – a weekend seeing us waking up to golden sunrises, rooftop-stargazing past the wee hours, soaking in bubble baths till we’re pruny, lounging on every bed and sofa just because... It unfortunately also felt like the shortest weekend we’ve ever had. Checking out was hard. We’ll be back soon, villa 78.
Montigo Resorts, Nongsa has four types of two-bedroom villas: Hill Top villa, Seafront Villa, Spa Villa and Hill Side Villa. The four villa types are largely similar, only varying in their locations and amenities e.g. the Spa Villas afford private cabanas for guests to indulge in massage and spa sessions right in their villas.
Each deluxe two-bedroom villa boasts a three-storey layout, with a private infinity pool, kitchenette, dining and living room on the ground floor, bedrooms on the second, and a huge rooftop sky terrace.
The master bedroom is a sanctuary on its own. Marshmallows for pillows, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the South China Sea, and a bathroom that is anything but modest, with a spacious bathtub and opened rooftop – our favourite spot in the villa!
The premier one-bedroom villa option is perfect for couples or friends looking for a cosy yet roomy stay. This villa type offers most of the amenities of its two, three, and four-bedroom counterparts, and with a private infinity pool, no less.
And if breakfast-in-bed is your thing (because why wouldn’t it be), an in-villa breakfast service is available as well!
Unabashedly extravagant, the spacious premier three & four-bedroom villas are the sublime getaway to pamper yourselves with friends and family. Enjoy a barbecue with an ocean view, lounge at the sky terrace, or start a friendly match of Mario Kart on the Nintendo Wii - the premier villas are the heart of connecting with your loved ones.
P.S. These villas even provide butlers at your expense!
The most luxurious of the lot, the premier 5-bedroom villa is not only generous with its space, but its lavishness as well. This villa type accommodates up to 11 guests, and makes the perfect vacation choice for a family get together, social gathering, or even company retreats.
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Believe us when we say the resort is unapologetic for its infinity pools. One in every of its villas, and one with an unobstructed seaview at Montigo’s beach bar, TIIGO. Our brazen selves, too, unapologetically dipped into both pools about a dozen times each. And needless to say, snapped a dozen times more photos while at it.
TIIGO’s infinity pool also doubles up as the best place in the resort to catch the sun’s nightly retreat. Grab a cocktail, (try to gracefully) get on a floating beanbag, and lay back as you witness the blood-red sun sink down the horizon.
The Montigo Spa offers a range of signature treatments that will rejuvenate even the weariest of souls. These treatments include herbal compress massages, traditional facials, foot reflexology, hair cream baths, firming wrap sessions, Javanese massages, ginger baths and couple spas.
Whether you opt for a 2-hour full body massage or a quick foot reflexology fix, the treatments are personalised to your problem areas and strength preference. That means if you’re a wimp at massages like me, you’ll finally experience a massage session that isn’t going to feel like a wrestling match.
A table spread of honey ginger herbal tea and Indonesian cookies served to us before and after the massage, which perfectly wrapped up the spa experience. Pro-tip: Use the flower you snuck from the table decoration as a hair piece to complete the whole beach vibes.
It’s without a doubt that beach resorts are the best at pampering its guests – cocktails and hot teas at your call, private buggies ferrying you wherever, whenever, and basically feeling like a queen for a night or two. Hold on while I adjust my crown.
But things are slightly different here at Montigo Resorts, Nongsa. One of the activities it offers is the Chef Experience, where you take matters to your own hands for an afternoon. The Chef Experience sees guests preparing a menu of Indonesian home-style favourites using herbs they picked from Montigo’s herb garden and fish they caught by the jetty.
Other novel activities you can participate include: paintball, karaoke, batik painting and even a game of treasure hunt.
No beach getaway is complete without a go at water activities. Doesn’t matter if you’re a dolphin in the water or have seven left feet, you’re bound to find something that suits you with the variety of water activities Montigo offers – from idyllic ones like fishing trips, mangrove tours and kayaking, to not-so-idyllic ones including wakeboarding and jet skiing.
Montigo Resorts, Nongsa has a handful of dining options – whether you’re in for an authentic Indonesian cuisine or a Western meal to cure your homesick palettes, trust the chefs to whip up something that will satiate your desires.
It might be a bias, but our favourite was definitely Pantai restaurant, an intimate kelong-style eatery serving up Chinese seafood delicacies. A must-try you have to indulge in is the wok fried black pepper crab!
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Fancy dreamy rides in timeless antiques? The resort has a resident vintage arctic-blue Volkswagen, which is more than just an Instagram bait. This classic automobile can also cruise resort guests around the compound. Whether you have a destination in mind or not, allow the guides to chaperone you on your journeys and put you in momentary trance.
Montigo Resorts, Nongsa prides itself for being an all-inclusive resort, with villas specially designed for people with disabilities and the elderly, where rooms are built on ground floors for easy access.
Buggy services are also available 24 hours from anywhere you are! So if you’re travelling with seniors, it’s no sweat getting around the resort. (We were absolutely addicted to the buggy rides and might have taken advantage of its accessibility...)
Montigo Resorts, Nongsa’s logo, which comprises three circles increasing in size, might not be something most guests muse over. But being our inquisitive selves, we found out from a buggy driver that these ‘3 blue dots’ symbolise the ethos of Montigo – an inclusive getaway destination for the whole family: the sons and daughters, the parents, and the gramps, each represented by the small, medium and large circles respectively.
Montigo Resorts, Nongsa is barely 30 minutes from Singapore, so that makes getting there a breeze. Hop on a ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Nongsapura Ferry Terminal, which will cost you S$49 for a two-way ticket. Once you hop off the ferry, you’ll be greeted by the resort drivers who will get you to Montigo in five minutes.
Alternatively, if you’re coming from the Batam Center Ferry Terminal, easily flag a local taxi to Montigo Resorts for about IR200,000.
If idling and lounging in the resort isn’t exactly your thing, the resort also offers golf tours, sunset cruise tours, bicycle tours, and jungle treks around the vicinity. Simply make the necessary arrangements with the front desk and you’re all set for an afternoon of outdoorsy fun.
There are also a handful of restaurants and local eateries a good 10 to 15-minute drive from the resort, including Kelong Seafood Restaurant, Selera Restaurant and Bella Italia Ristorante Italiano. We were stuffed from the food options in the resort but should you wish to venture out for a second round of gluttony, you can easily arrange with the resort for a taxi out.