‘Everyone loves Bali, but this laid-back island is even better’
When researching the best places to go on a holiday with a young toddler, one spot kept coming up over and over again. Bali.
But, for us, Bali wasn’t quite right. We wanted a similar vibe (beach resorts, cheap local food, easy to get to), but at the same time wanted to go somewhere a little off the typical tourist trail.
Bintan Island ticked all our holiday-need boxes. iStock
Enter: Bintan Island. I found this Indonesian island after asking an AI chatbot to find me holiday spots that were similar to Bali, offering amenities that make family travel pain-free.
It’s hard to find a location that caters to what both my partner and I want – he’s a golf fanatic and major foodie, I want to swim and lay by the beach and catch up on sleep.
Then you factor in the needs of a toddler – quiet rooms, easy access, activities, pools, and meals he will want to eat – and things get even harder.
That’s why stumbling upon Bintan was like finding a nugget of gold.
Is it worth visiting Bintan Island?
If you want an ‘easy mode’ holiday, without the stress of too much planning or booking, this is the spot.
The island is part of Indonesia (just like Bali), but is further north. The easiest way to get there is by a one-hour ferry ride from Singapore.
We couldn't have picked a better spot for our toddler. Supplied/JemimaSkelley
Though there are plenty of activities – temples, snorkelling, fishing, golf, hiking, mangroves, and even a wildlife centre – it’s also the kind of place where you can just flop down on the beach or by the pool and while away the day.
What appealed most to me was just how quiet it was – even though we stayed there over the Easter long weekend, the beaches were relatively empty and the hotel felt uncrowded.
And I appreciated that there are still facets of Indonesian culture to engage with, from temples to local eateries, so it doesn’t feel like a sanitised ‘resort island’.
The beaches are all great for kids. iStock
Where to stay on Bintan Island
Though we longingly looked at the clifftop villas and luxury retreats on offer, we ended up choosing a resort in the much more family-friendly area of Lagoi Beach – just 10 minutes from the ferry terminal and perched on a long stretch of sandy beach with barely a wave in sight.
We picked the Holiday Inn Resort for our four-night stay, and honestly, it was a lot nicer than I was expecting, especially for the price.
The Holiday Inn Resort had plenty to do, including bikes for guests to ride on. Supplied/JemimaSkelley
The beachfront resort had two pools, a kiddy splash playground and pool, a kids club, multiple restaurants, a café, an indoor lounge with pool tables and video games for hot days, and (my personal favourite) a swim-up bar.
For families, there are suites, but we just got two interconnecting rooms. After sharing a room with our son for a week in Singapore, it was great to have our own room and not have to turn the lights out at 7pm!
Though my son was too young for the kids club, it had a dedicated toddler indoor play area, filled with toys, books, games, soft play, and plenty of things to climb on. A perfect place to kill a few hours when it’s too hot to be outside.
We spent a lot of time in the pool. IHG
The food options here were great for our varied tastes, from snacky bites by the pool to themed buffets in the restaurant at dinner time. Kids food and drink is free too, which was a major tick for us.
There’s also a Club Med on Bintan, which could be a good option for kids who are a bit older and can really take advantage of the activities.
Where is Bintan Island?
Bintan is an island in the west of Indonesia, located just 50 kilometres south of Singapore.
It’s a popular holiday spot for Singaporean families, and is often considered a quieter, more laid-back alternative to Bali.
How to get to Bintan Island
The easiest way for Australians to visit Bintan is to come through Singapore. We combined destinations and did five nights in Singapore then four nights on Bintan.
The ferry from Singapore to Bintan takes about one hour, and the ferry terminal is about a 10-minute drive from Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Some all-inclusive resorts, like Club Med, will include the price of the ferry in your accommodation package.
The island is a short ferry ride from Singapore. iStock
How many days are enough for Bintan?
We found four days on the island to be perfect.
However, we stayed quite near to the ferry terminal and we didn’t do many activities other than my partner playing two rounds of golf.
If you wanted to incorporate some day trips into your itinerary to see the sights of Bintan, maybe five or six nights would be ideal so you get a mix of adventuring and relaxation.
Best time to visit Bintan Island
March to October is the dry season, so for the best weather, this is the time to visit.
Because it’s a popular spot for Singaporean families, Bintan can get busy during school holiday periods – but we visited over the Easter long weekend and despite crowds at the ferry terminal, didn’t find it too busy at all. Especially compared to Bali.
The writer travelled at their own expense with support from IHG Hotels & Resorts.
