Bintan Lagoon Resort
Bintan Island, Indonesia

Guests have access to a fully equipped gym, a paintball arena, four floodlit tennis courts, outward bounds activities centre, two championship golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus and Ian Baker-Finch and a spa with extensive facilities. A wide variety of water sports and activities are also available such as banana boat rides, jet ski, windsurfing.

There are 416 well-appointed rooms, each with private balconies, and 57 three- and four-bedroom villas designed throughout with contemporary architecture and Indonesian handicrafts. Rooms overlook the South China Sea, pristine white sandy beaches and turquoise waters.

Guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to wining and dining at Bintan Lagoon. There are 12 outlets in total serving a mix of local Indonesian, Japanese and Mediterranean specialities, as well as a seafood barbecue and alfresco cafés. Try Surf and Turf at Nelayan, famed for its selection of fresh seafood and steaks, grilled on the spot.

On the Jack Nicklaus golf course, players can head to Haskells, overlooking the 9th and 18th holes, for breakfast and snacks. Try the open-air Kopi restaurant for international dishes and Indonesian flavours, while the Mediterranean-style Orzo is the venue for fine Italian cuisine. Enjoy views of the ocean while sampling Japanese dishes at the indoor Miyako restaurant.

All the venues are available for hire for group dinners of up to 200 people, while groups of up to 1,500 people can be accommodated outdoors. Why not try a beach dinner under the stars?

Business centre facilities include internet access, fax machine, photocopier and secretarial services as well as reading library and lounge.

The resort is situated to the north of Bintan Island and has 105km of pristine sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and colourful marine life, making it an ideal base for water sports.
Tanjung Uban, the second largest town in Bintan, serves as the take-off point to nearby Batam Island. The journey takes 45 minutes and features local Malay-style fishing villages on the way.

Excursions to Sumpat Island comprise a speed boat ride along the coast with drop-off, packed meal and bike ride back to the resort. Another excursion idea involves visiting Tanjung Pinang, the capital town of Bintan, which features historic churches, pre-colonial architecture and post-war local villages en route. Nature enthusiasts should not miss out on a visit to the local mangrove swamps where they will find monkeys, snakes and lizards. Closer to the resort, about 15 minutes, is Pasar Oleh Oleh village, perfect for bargain hunting and sampling local food specialities.