Once in awhile, we need to escape the hustle and bustle of our urban city life.
As a typical
kiasu Singaporean couple, we would look for a "DAMN WORTH IT" deal for everything – including for our travel plans. We want the best, at an affordable price!
I wouldn't say that Harris Resort Waterfront is the best, however they are able to offer you more than what most resorts can do. In just one location, you will find accommodation, food, and activities to keep you entertained for a satisfied 3 Days 2 Nights stay.
We're talking about decent massages provided by their in-house spa center, kayaking to the sunset with your beloved, and being spoilt with options at the four eateries available within the resort! Read on to find out more.
#1 | Accommodation
Bright and cheerful lobby at Harris Resort Waterfront Batam
Here at Harris Resort Waterfront Batam, you can choose between three options:
- Deluxe Room or,
- Harris Suite or,
- A Cabana!
All three rooms were newly renovated and decorated using the theme colours of Harris Hotels.
You will find the rooms equipped with a comfortable bed, an ensuite toilet with bath tub, fully air-conditioned, an LCD 32" TV with satellite channels, free WIFI, aromatherapy, mini bar and an in-room safe.
Cabana Room (Bedroom)
Cabana Room (Outdoor Porch)
Harris Suite (Bedroom)
Harris Suite (Living Room)
Deluxe Room (With Pool Access)
For my sponsored stay, I was provided with the HARRIS deluxe room (with pool-access).
I enjoyed the ease of shuffling in between my room and the pools without the use of a key card, while my then-fiancé (now husband) stayed back in the room to catch up on his work.
Deluxe Room (Ensuite Bathroom)
Deluxe Room (View From The Room's Window)
For swimming pools, Harris has three major pools to cater to the different needs and age groups. From a baby pool for the toddlers, to a rainy pool and a free-form swimming pool for the masses. Pool towels are free for rent with the show of your hotel key card.
Do note though that pool-access rooms are located on the first floor and thus it comes with a certain level of noise – from guests who are returning to their room late in the night, and those who are heading out to the dining hall for breakfast in the early morning.
#2 | Entertainment
There are more activities than you can possibly imagine at Harris Waterfront Resort! From outdoor activities to indoor activities, they've got something for everyone but hey let's start talking about the indoor activities first.
On the first day of my stay, it rained and we were forced indoors. We made use of the opportunity to explore the premises and discover the possible indoor entertainment available within the resort.
It began with a game of table tennis
The bats and balls are placed on the table, free for any guest to use!
Next, we explored the Games Room
Various sets of board games, ranging from English Checkers to Chinese Chess and more, were available within the room. You can also have a go at their PS4 – it is free for guest to use, but you do have to make a trip to the reception counter at the lobby to exchange your room key card for the game sets and game consoles.
Harris Waterfront Resort has their own in-house spa center, H Spa, located in their annexe building
We scheduled a massage session around the evening time, to loosen up the knots in our shoulder and back muscles.
You can indulge in a variety of spa, facial or massage treatments based on your needs (click
here to see their spa menu)
Starting off my spa session with a foot wash
The outdoors massage pavilion
Indoors couple room, fully air-conditioned
Bathroom and Jacuzzi Tub
The next day, the sky cleared up and we were able to enjoy some of the outdoor stuff.
They've got archery and air soft guns for those who fancy shooting at some targets!
If you are going with a group of friends and looking for some group activities to keep everyone entertained, why not arrange for an exciting session of paint ball with their staff!
Price list for outdoor activities
Water sports are also available at a small charge for those looking to get a splashing fun time!
Choose from a myriad activities like banana boat, jet ski, kayak and many more. Do note that water sport activities require advance booking at the lobby's reception counter and it is dependent on the water tide.
Action in the water on the jetski!
Kayaking through the gentle waves
Price list for water activities
#3 | Dining
Most hotels only have 1 or 2 restaurants to feed their hungry guests. Harris Waterfront Resort has surpassed the masses with
FOUR astonishing eateries – with one of them not being owned by the hotel!
1) Starting off with
Harris Café
Their signature restaurant with a panoramic view of the giant swimming pool
Spread of food from their international breakfast buffet
Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – report to Harris Cafe in the morning to enjoy your delightful breakfast buffet!
Appetiser from main menu: Beef meatballs with roasted potatoes + assorted greens
Entrée from main menu: Nasi Campur
Entrée from main menu: Local fried fish served with spicy sauce and rice
2) Next we have
HARRISSIMO!
Crispy wood-fired pizza
HARRISIMO is their outdoor dining area (by the pool) which serves up pastas and crispy pizzas – baked using a wood-fired oven.
Chicken breast pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, topped with grated cheese
3)
D Bar is where you head off to when you're in need of an (adult) drink!
Cool off with a cold bottle of Bintang Beer or pick a cocktail from their drinks menu
If you're looking for something non-alcoholic, then check out their mocktail section. I am a huge fan of this zesty pink dragonfruit mocktail – which had additional touches of lime and strawberries!
P/S: On some evenings, the bar turns on their popcorn machine and makes some fresh popcorn! A free side of homemade popcorn (seasoned with some simple salt and pepper) is provided for guests to enjoy with their beverage. Alternatively you can also purchase a bag of the freshly popped corns for SGD$3
At D Bar, guests who have purchased a drink are entitled to use their pool table for free. Simply ask the staff for the pool cues and balls, and get your game rolling!
4) The last eatery is
Arirang Korean & Japanese Restaurant.
As the name goes, you can probably guess the kind of cuisine they serve. I walked into this restaurant with low expectations, but came out utterly amazed at the standard of their food!
It was so good that we returned there for dinner again the next night!
Arirang served up some pretty legit
ban-chan (translate: Korean side dishes) which I couldn't get enough of. The anchovies and kimchi were so addictive!
Unfortunately there isn't little to no change in their side dish menu, so if you return the next day you can expect to be served the same few side dishes – then again their side dishes are so good that I wouldn't mind the lack of variety!
Arirang Korean & Japanese Restaurant: Hot Plate Bulgogi and Soondubu-jjigae
Arirang Korean & Japanese Restaurant: Grilled Pork Belly
Arirang Korean & Japanese Restaurant: Lettuce-Wrapped Samgyeopsal
#4 | Basic Supplies & Shuttle Bus Service
If you are worried about where to get basic supplies such as water, snacks, insect repellent and etc, there is a mini mart located within the first floor of the resort to meet your supply needs.
However if you are looking to do some major shopping, look no further than Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall – the largest shopping centre in Batam! Harris Resort includes a free shuttle bus service to and fro Waterfront Ferry Terminal and Nagoya Hill Shopping Mall.
For more information on their shuttle bus and its schedule, you can find out
here.
*******
We had a fun-filled yet relaxing 3D2N stay at Harris Resort Waterfront Batam! As proven in this travel post, there was no need to travel outside for entertainment nor food as all of our needs were met within the resort.
Things that I would recommend:
- A stay in the Cabana Room
In addition, check out the BBQ package (which comes only with the Cabana Room) for a chillax + memorable dinner! The package is fit for 4 pax, and it includes the BBQ pit with food provided.
- A relaxing row on the Kayak for just SGD$5
For just five dollars, you can enjoy a relaxing cruise around the water bay area for half an hour! Enjoy the cooling sea breeze as you glide through the gentle sea waves.
- Kneading out the muscular knots at H Spa
We all need a gentle (or perhaps you like it hard?) rub on our shoulders and back once every few months, just to ease out all the kinks and knots in our muscles – and that is precisely what H Spa provides!
Together with your beloved, pick your desired massage/spa package, request for the couple room and have a relaxing time with the professional staff at H Spa.
If you're going alone, you might want to consider opting for the outdoor massage pavilion. It brings you a tad closer to nature as you listen to the nearby cicadas while enjoying your soothing massage.
- Pizzas from HARRISIMO
Thin pizza crust with a light smoky flavour? YES PLEASE! I am a huge fan of the wood-fired pizza oven built on-site at Harris Resort, and the pizza flavours available have proved to be pretty decent!
- Authentic Korean Cuisine at Arirang
This restaurant caters to the Korean tourists (from tour groups) who are staying at the resort for the night, and so you can expect a certain level of authenticity for the Korean cuisine. At a surprisingly affordable price, we could indulge in grilled pork belly, hot plate bulgogi beef and a decent soondubu (tofu) jjigae!
(P/S: They serve really good ban chan too!)
*******
To book your upcoming vacation at Harris Resort Waterfront Centre, click
here.
If you're heading to the city centre, book a room at Harris Hotel Batam Center by clicking
here.
When making your online reservations, quote the promo code
[SOPHLEOW] to enjoy up to 10% discount for
BOTH hotels – don't say I
bo jio ah!
