OYO 976 Baloi View Apartment

For the price, it’s not a bad place to sleep, but don’t expect too much. The beds were fairly clean and comfortable, and the air conditioning worked well. The building seems new, though the construction is poor and some maintenance is needed. The soundproofing is bad, so road traffic nearby can be annoying if you’re a light sleeper. Relatives told me some rooms have problems: doors that won’t lock, showers that don’t work, and bathrooms built so poorly that water floods inside. It’s near the Chinese Funeral Clan House, which is convenient for people visiting from other towns to pray for relatives. Avoid booking in person at the lobby, though. Online travel sites are cheaper. Last I knew, walk-in was around idr 250k, while agoda was about idr 140k.

From the hilltop there’s a nice view, and my dad used to say our home would stay dry and safe if Batam ever flooded. Still, it doesn’t feel like the best place to own property for the Asian community, since there’s a huge Chinese funeral site behind this block. The roads are narrow and congested, and their surfaces are in bad shape. Garbage collection is unreliable. The truck rarely comes to our block, and when it does, they won’t take your trash unless you slip them some cash. The city hasn’t done a good job with housing and land infrastructure. I don’t know if the humidity, building materials, or workmanship is to blame, but buildings here seem to crack within their first year. The city ends up looking old and dirty, with lots of abandoned, empty houses. Home sweet home, I guess.

The room was big, but there was no breakfast even though it had been advertised. I also had trouble closing the bathroom door, and water ran all over the floor.

The room was okay, but the hotel felt so dark and quiet, like nobody else was around.