The Residence Bintan

A Peaceful Island Escape

In March 2025, we escaped to The Residence Bintan, a beachfront resort managed by Cenizaro on the eastern side of Bintan Island, Indonesia. There were no packed itineraries or early morning rushes — just ocean views, gentle sea breezes, good food, and time together as a family.

Getting to The Residence Bintan from Singapore

One of the best things about Bintan is how easy it is to reach from Singapore.

From leaving home in Singapore to arriving at our villa, the entire journey took only a few hours. For families with children, it's one of the easiest tropical beach getaways you can plan.

First Impressions

The moment we arrived, we noticed how different this resort felt from many beach destinations. Instead of large hotel blocks, the property is spread across lush tropical grounds, with low-rise pool villas and garden suites tucked among the palms rather than stacked into a single building. Walking paths wind through dense greenery, and in many places it feels as though nature has been left largely untouched.

By night, the grounds take on a completely different character — pathways lit softly against the dark, palm trees swaying overhead, and a sky clear enough to actually see stars, a rare treat this close to Singapore.

Our Villa with a Private Pool

The villa was one of the highlights of our stay. The private pool sat right outside our room, tiled in deep blue and surrounded by greenery that provided plenty of privacy. The space felt bright and airy, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors bringing the outdoors inside.

One feature that immediately caught our daughter's attention was the large window daybed, built right into the wall with a view straight out into the greenery. It quickly became her favourite spot in the villa — whether she was reading, watching shows, or simply relaxing with her stuffed toy, that cosy corner was occupied almost the entire trip.

Kakatu Kids Club and the Resort's Animals

One thing we hadn't expected was the resort's Kakatu Kids Club, which keeps a small enclosure of rabbits that guests can visit and feed. It turned into one of the simplest, most genuine highlights of the whole trip — no screens, no scheduled activity block, just a bowl of greens and a patient rabbit.

Beautiful Views Around Every Corner

What surprised us most was how photogenic the resort was. The coastline was lined with tall coconut trees leaning towards the sea, and the beach itself was quiet and uncrowded — we enjoyed leisurely walks along the shore, especially during the late afternoon when the sunlight reflected across the water.

Away from the beach, a quiet lily pond sits tucked among the trees near the resort's Earth Basket area — the kind of overlooked corner that's easy to walk straight past, but worth the detour.

Food and Dining

For our first evening, we dined at Rica-Rica Specialty Restaurant, the resort's signature dining spot, and were pleasantly surprised by both the food and the warm hospitality. The local dishes were delicious, and breakfast each morning offered plenty of variety, accompanied by beautiful sea views and lush greenery.

One evening, after a day of swimming and exploring the resort, we decided to order room service instead. The food arrived promptly, and enjoying dinner in the comfort of our villa felt like a small luxury of its own.

Evenings by the Pool

Once the sun went down, the villa pool became a completely different space — quieter, cooler, lit only by the underwater lights and whatever the moon offered. Our daughter got a solid ten minutes of swimming in after dark before bedtime most nights, and we took a few evening walks of our own around the grounds.

A Resort Made for Slowing Down

The Residence Bintan is not a destination filled with non-stop activities. That is exactly why we liked it. It's a place where you can spend hours by the pool, walk along quiet beaches, read a book under the shade of palm trees, watch the changing colours of the sky, and enjoy uninterrupted family time. The resort's own map lists a Sand Bank, the Cintia Cove viewpoint, a Boathouse, and the tucked-away Rimbun dining spot among its quieter corners — plenty to explore without ever needing to leave the property.

Final Thoughts

If you're looking for a short getaway from Singapore that feels genuinely relaxing, The Residence Bintan is worth considering. The journey is easy, the surroundings are beautiful, the villas are comfortable, and the atmosphere encourages you to enjoy the simple things — a rabbit enclosure, a window daybed, a private pool after dark, and very little else on the agenda.