Quick Facts
- Dates
- 17–20 June 2023
- Region
- Nongsa, Batam, Indonesia
- From Singapore
- 45-min ferry + 20-min complimentary shuttle
- Stayed
- One-Bedroom Deluxe Villa with private rooftop pool
- Good for
- A quick 2–3 night recharge trip
Montigo Resort Batam: A Short Escape
Every year, we try to make two or three short trips to nearby islands or neighbouring countries before our longer holiday in December. In June 2023, over 17–20 June, we visited Montigo Resort in Batam, a place surprisingly close to Singapore, yet far enough to feel like another world.
The journey was simple: a 45-minute ferry ride from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Nongsapura Ferry Terminal, followed by about 20 minutes on the resort's complimentary shuttle, past stretches of Batam's roadside greenery before arriving at the property gates.
Montigo is built along a hillside overlooking the Singapore Strait, with rows of modern white villas cascading down toward the water — laid out, according to the resort's own map, around landmarks with names like Tadd's Restaurant, the Tilo Kids Club, and a jetty leading straight out over the sea.
Our Villa: A Private Little Sanctuary
We stayed in a One-Bedroom Deluxe Villa, and it immediately felt like our own little sanctuary. One thing we always look for when choosing a staycation is a private swimming pool, and this villa delivered — its own rooftop plunge pool looking straight out over the water. For our daughter, it was pure magic — morning swims, afternoon splashes, evening dips while watching the sunset.
The villa itself was clean, spacious, and well maintained, with sliding glass doors opening straight onto the rooftop terrace and its own view of the strait.
Build slow days into short getaways like this — we skipped a fixed lunch time entirely, having a heavy late breakfast instead, and let the private pool set the pace of the day rather than a schedule.
Rooftop Views and Slow Mornings
Breakfast offered both local dishes and Western options. We usually had a heavy, late breakfast, leaving no room for lunch until after a refreshing swim while enjoying the sea breeze from the rooftop terrace — the view shifting from bright, clear-sky mornings to hazy gold by evening.
Out to the Jetty at Sunset
In the late afternoon, we walked down to the resort's jetty — a long wooden boardwalk stretching out over the water to a small gazebo at the end, and by far the best sunset-watching spot on the property. As evening approached, the sky slowly transformed, streaked purple and gold, the sun sinking somewhere past the Singapore skyline visible faintly on the horizon.
Out on the water, we spotted a lone fisherman working the strait in a narrow wooden boat — a quiet reminder that fishing boats still work these waters alongside the resorts.
Sunset Portraits Around the Grounds
Beyond the jetty, the resort's lawns and garden benches turned out to be some of the best backdrops of the trip once the light started to soften — a flower-draped swing near a sign for "Montigo Summerland," and a run of quiet garden corners perfect for a slower kind of photo than the usual pool shot.
Later, we treated ourselves to the spa experience as a family — deeply relaxing after a day spent mostly on our feet exploring the grounds. The resort's map also lists a Tilo Kids Club, tennis and archery lawns, an airsoft range, and even an ATV dirt track, though for us this trip was firmly about doing as little as possible.
A Chance to Recharge
What makes Montigo Resort stand out is how easy it is to reach. In just over an hour of travel from Singapore, we found ourselves surrounded by sea views, quiet villas, a proper sunset jetty, and a private pool we could dip into anytime we wished — a short trip that still felt like a genuine reset.