Batam

Batam is a budget escape one ferry hour from Singapore — people come for cheap seafood, massages and resort pools rather than sights. It suits travellers who want a low-cost breather in the middle of a pricey Singapore trip. Weather is warm year-round; showers pass quickly.

• Drive the six Barelang Bridges, Batam's signature photo stop, strung across the islands south of the city
• Seafood lunch at a kelong (stilt restaurant) on the water — chilli crab and prawns for a fraction of Singapore restaurant prices
• Spa afternoon — a 90-minute massage runs around Rp150,000-250,000 ($8-$14) at reputable places
• Go-karting or a waterpark stop if you have kids along; most resorts sell day passes for their pools

Pay in rupiah where you can. Many places quote Singapore dollars to day-trippers at a poor rate, so a little local cash goes further.

Ferries from Singapore's HarbourFront and Tanah Merah terminals reach Batam Centre, Sekupang and Harbour Bay in about an hour, running roughly hourly through the day. Book a return with the same operator, keep your passport handy, and note the time difference: Batam runs one hour behind Singapore, which catches out plenty of people racing for the last boat back.

Batam is a side trip, not a base. It makes sense as a one-day breather inside a Singapore holiday, or as a cheap resort night before flying onward — the airport has direct domestic flights to Jakarta and Bali that often undercut flights out of Singapore.