The editor of Indonesia Expat had the chance to spend a weekend at the recently opened Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach. This is his story.
It was the weekend before Ramadan. On a Friday afternoon, the Citilink aircraft that carried me landed at the Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport. Even though I was born and raised in Indonesia my whole life, it is a bit embarrassing to admit that I have never set foot in Bintan Island, which is a part of the Riau Islands province. My first impression? Serene. There was an air of calm and tranquillity that one would rarely enjoy in most airports. I couldn’t help but sense that I was in for an otherworldly adventure.
Considering I was a newbie when it came to all things related to Bintan Island, the property where I was about to stay – Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach – was kind enough to dispatch a chauffeur to pick me up at the airport and bring me to my destination. The commute took approximately an hour, and I was immediately enthralled by the scenery that graced the area before me. The view of untouched forests and prairies – the kind of greenery that I thought only existed in a high-budget movie nowadays – calmed my nerves (and my jet lag), whereas the traffic-less road reminded me that a smooth car ride was not a myth after all.
I had to do a double take once I arrived at Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach – for a very good reason. The front area was designed akin to traditional local kelongs, which happen to be fishing platforms prevalent across Southeast Asia, particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, dating back as far as the 15th century. Just like the actual kelongs, the wooden structure that greets all the guests rises atop reflective ponds, creating the illusion of floating and demanding a quick snap for my Instagram feed. Once I stepped inside the lobby, I was further greeted by the view of the beach. As a context, I visited Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach during the unforgiving rainy season. Yet, what feasted my eyes were blue skies, a soft breeze, and my fellow guests being as giddy as I was.
The first day of my stay at Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach was – and please forgive my dramatic pause – sumptuous. Let’s start with the bedroom suite. If you happen to be the type who secretly enjoys a little me-time in a bathtub installed on the veranda with an un-CGI-ed nautical beauty as the backdrop for your bubble meditation, this hotel must be your next self-healing terminus. The accent of the room was a delicate combination of auburn and ivory tones, making a case that a hotel does not need to channel the typical silver-and-shiny pretentiousness to make its staying guests feel like royalty. And don’t get me started on the comfy bed. I was this close to spending the whole weekend only indulging in a heavenly siesta.
A staff member of Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach took me around the hotel complex for a little sightseeing and some ‘power walk’. Long story short, Bintan Island is best described as a hushed oasis. There is a spacious lake in front of the hotel and its neighbours, crystal clean and nearly transpicuous, and the white-hued shores of Lagoi Beach were not the stuff of fiction at all. I actually spent hours (and not just today) strolling around the beach simply so that I could dip my tired toes into the warm, milky sands. I capped off the day by indulging in a dinner at Stix Satay Bar, where guests can enjoy a modern twist on the traditional Indonesian satay. My personal favourite at Stix Satay Bar was the ikan tenggiri satay complemented with a glass of classic Gin and Tonic. Also, who would have thought that a sweet, grilled pineapple skewer could be the best dessert ever?
The second day of my stay at Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, against all odds, managed to trump what was already an incredibly impressive first day. As the type of person who typically needs a well-nurtured morning before he begins his day, I would highly recommend my fellow guests enjoy their breakfast at the hotel’s SugarBEATS. Overlooking Lagoi Beach, the mouthwatering plates of Eggs Benedict and fresh fruits that I had, all while reading the morning news on my phone screen, were the best way to start a Saturday, indeed. After my breakfast, I visited the lobby’s Me Space for a fun arts-and-crafts activity as guided by the hotel staff. We made an adorable, miniature-size tanjak: a traditional headpiece of the Malay culture crafted from songket cloth woven with gold or silver threads.
In the afternoon, I had a much-needed Indonesian urut massage. What I admired from this relaxing and rejuvenating massage was how the masseuse was deftly and flexibly able to gauge and modify the level of the physical pressure being put on my body. After another dreamy siesta to soak in my placid muscles, I had dinner at the hotel’s Ocean Kitchen, a charming coastal café with a laid-back vibe and live music to make the rest of the evening more indelible. The design concept here at Ocean Kitchen has a comfortable feel, centred around a muted palette with simple, relaxed furnishings. Rustic reclaimed wood and beach-inspired textiles, meanwhile, give the restaurant some context as it connects the latter back to those classic seaside roots.
I couldn’t help but notice that the music being performed was not exactly what you would find in tropical resorts. Instead of crooning reggaeton and the like, my fellow diners and I were serenaded by Top 40 love songs and other well-known pop hits. But somehow, it worked.
Finally, the last day of my weekend stay, and you know what they say: All good things must come to an end. That being said, it did not mean that I could not make the most of it. I visited SugarBEATS once again for breakfast, this time while having an incredible conversation with Michael Beechey, Cluster General Manager of Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach and Holiday Inn Resort Bintan Lagoi Beach – both of which are part of the prestigious IHG Group. Mr. Beechey happens to be one of the most seasoned hoteliers in the country. He described Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach as his “baby”, and it showed. Everything about this property was deliberate and well-chosen. And just like Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, Mr. Beechey exuded calm and effervescent joy.
As a journalist, it is my job to travel from place to place and report what I witness and experience. But in the case of Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, it has become my sincere wish to return to this particular property in the future, either as a journalist or as a humble, fun-loving tourist. A weekend at Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach felt pretty much like a rebirth, free from the typical urban distractions and nightclub debauchery that is actually more exhausting than it sounds. But perhaps the most endearing quality about Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach was how it educated and reminded me about the indispensable value of natural beauty. All hotels can construct new buildings and host raging parties. However, only the majestic ones can engage in a mutual symbiosis with the best that Earth has to offer.
All images are courtesy of Felix Martua. For more information about Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, visit its Instagram page @hotelindigo.bintan.