Travel

The Residence by the Ocean

The Residence Bintan is a first class retreat where you can escape the daily routine by staying on paradisiac beaches, relax in the exclusive spa, eat at top restaurants or choose among plenty of activities. When coming from busy and noisy Singapore, it is like being in paradise. The Residence collection has luxury hotels & resorts around the globe that reflect their strong connection to the ocean. The resorts are located at the coast offering their clients a good spot to enjoy beach activities and relaxation. We immediately felt a connection with this The Residence while talking to the managers about the concept. 

The arrival

When arriving on Bintan by ferry from Singapore (e.g. with Bintan Resort Ferries), the team welcomes you right at the port with refreshments & snack and takes you to the premium bus. The trip takes about 1h in order to get to the remote east coast on Indonesia’s biggest island in Riau Archipelago where the hotel is located. The check in is fast and easy while enjoying a welcome drink and sitting on the comfy lobby sofas.

Accommodations

The Residence Bintan has two main types of accommodations. First of all, there are different beachfront villas with private pools and secondly you can find terrace houses with proximity to the nice main pool (for additional photos click here). We stayed at the deluxe beachfront villas which are characterized by their contemporary style with Indonesian influence. They have extra-large and comfortable beds, huge bathrooms with extensive bath tubes and private infinity pools with a sea view. The pools are spectacular and invite you to stay all day while looking at the horizon.

The beach and water activities

The beach itself is yellow sanded and palm-fringed as you would draw a dream destination. In the shallow water there are hammocks as well as swings which can be walked to. During low tide it is possible to walk far out along a sand bank.

The Residence Bintan offers a lot of exciting activities, particularly at the beach. In terms of water sports/activities they offer the following:

  • Jetski riding
  • Kayaking
  • Windsurfing
  • Sailing
  • Banana boat 
  • Knee/wake boarding
  • Snorkelling
  • Fishing 
  • Island hopping

We tried wake boarding. It was  our first time and we were excited to try it out. The instructors were amazing. They were on one hand the teachers for the activity and on the other hand your entertainer and motivator. All spoke very good English and showed a lot of enthusiasm to teach you the right technic. We were both able to stand the wakeboard after a few attempts. 

Apart of water activities, the hotel offers a variety of others:

  • Climbing
  • Paintball
  • ATV
  • Archery
  • Yoga
  • Different day tours to temples/natural sights
  • Golf
  • Trekking
  • Beach volleyball/ badminton
  • Table soccer
  • Board games
  • Etc.

As The Residence Bintan stretches along the whole coastline, it has free bikes to follow the lush pathways. Furthermore, there is a buggy service in order to reach different parts of the hotel. However, do not worry, the distances are not far.

If you are traveling with kids, the hotel has the Kakatu Kids club which offers activities like painting and cooking classes. Furthermore, there is a playground and pools for them so that parents are able to enjoy the holidays as much as their kids.   

The Food at The Residence Bintan

In terms of food, The Residence Bintan has two top tier restaurants that offer Indonesian, Asian and international food. The presentation and quality of the food is of highest standard. We particularly loved the Beef Rendang, the Lasagne and the cheesecake. In the evenings, the hotel offers barbecues at the beach with some romantic and boho lightning that creates a unique atmosphere.

The staff is very welcoming, friendly and helpful with everything you wish to ask them about. They always have a smile on their face and are very attentive to see what you might need.

The spa at The Residence Bintan is a group of nicely designed villas with an amazing view and wonderful atmosphere. The massages we received were actually the best ones we have ever had. We highly recommend to do them when you are there. Their technic and skills were impressive.

All in all, The Residence Bintan is the perfect hideout to escape the city buzz and work stress. It has amazing restaurants and comfortable luxury villas. The beach is beautiful and due to the number of activities, it is ideal to pace down and get a free mind.

If you are interested in more destinations in Indonesia please read our ultimate guide for traveling in Lombok.

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