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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
33 reviews
Excellent
6
Very good
8
Average
13
Poor
4
Terrible
2
blueeyes3000
Perth, Australia
Mar 2012 • Friends
Travelled here in March 2012 with a friend. We wanted to have alook around the island apart from the great hotel at Nirwana. We where lucky enough to score a driver while down at Paser Oleh Oleh where we got a great massage of 2 hours and pedicure for about $80. Anyway we organised the driver to pick us up from the hotel the next morning ( which he did).In a very clean mini van. His name was Harry , he spoke great English and was very knowledgable.
We where gone the whole day and covered the whole Island, accross the top of the island, throught small towns and down the East coast past the "Kelongs" at sea. Visiting the biggest temple I have ever seen on our way to the main town " Tanjung Pinang" ( not sure of the spelling).
The town reminded me of a quiter " Denpasar" ( in Bali). but very laid back, Lots of markets and some department stores but still quite basic. All in All a good day outing before returning to the Hotel Late afternoon for a few drinks before dinner..Definately worth $80 sing.
($40 each) . We found out afterwards that if you get a driver from the Hotel you will pay approx $100 Sing...So I think we scored a bargain. Worth going down to Pasar Oleh Oleh to organise a driver . By the way Paser Oleh Oleh is a Small purpose built Tourist Town. Not much to Buy except Bintan Soveniers, but great massage Places. Also Directly opposite Paser Oleh Oleh is another small Shopping Complex called " Lagoi " it has a few restaurants and a Spa...very nice.
We where gone the whole day and covered the whole Island, accross the top of the island, throught small towns and down the East coast past the "Kelongs" at sea. Visiting the biggest temple I have ever seen on our way to the main town " Tanjung Pinang" ( not sure of the spelling).
The town reminded me of a quiter " Denpasar" ( in Bali). but very laid back, Lots of markets and some department stores but still quite basic. All in All a good day outing before returning to the Hotel Late afternoon for a few drinks before dinner..Definately worth $80 sing.
($40 each) . We found out afterwards that if you get a driver from the Hotel you will pay approx $100 Sing...So I think we scored a bargain. Worth going down to Pasar Oleh Oleh to organise a driver . By the way Paser Oleh Oleh is a Small purpose built Tourist Town. Not much to Buy except Bintan Soveniers, but great massage Places. Also Directly opposite Paser Oleh Oleh is another small Shopping Complex called " Lagoi " it has a few restaurants and a Spa...very nice.
Written 5 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chee W M
Singapore, Singapore
Many may find boring and disappointing about this place. But i find it quite interesting and worth a visit other than resorts in bintan which are overpriced and isolated. Walk around the wet market and discover the local going about their businesses. Street food. And there be surprises. I patronise a chicken rice stall at a run down coffee shop just adjacent to the kuan im temple and it is comparable if not better than alot of stalls in singapore. Visit in the mornings where there is hub of activities. I have chanced on it while looking for the agent for ferrt operating to the Amanbas islands. Hope someone who have been to Terempa could offer some useful information or open a new review on tripadvisor as tg pinang is the gateway to Amanbas. In the evenings. Akau potong lembu is the place to go opposite bestari mall for cheap and good food and some beer while listening to the locals belting out chinese song on stage karaoke. Ot was different from just lazing around the resorts which i have been to three of them except club med which was unforgetable. The worst about staying in resorts is that you have to dine in their overpriced restaurants serving international crusine. Who needs international when there are fresh seafood at the local food centres. At a fraction of the price.
Written 19 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erico2709
Singapore, Singapore
May 2015 • Friends
You can find keropok, snacks, dried food stuff (salted fish, scallops, etc.) along the downtown market. If you are looking for a good spa, try the Bintan Paradise Spa, excellent service and only 150,000 Rp for 90 mins full massage. Just dont expect big malls although they go have small malls spread out.
Written 2 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
W.
Singapore
Dec 2011 • Couples
Tanjung Pinang is great for backpackers and leisure travellers. It's a town stuck in an era long gone from Singapore (save some areas) and it feels humbling being in a place like that. I suppose the key to going about this town and finding it's hidden treasures is an open mind, and a place to dump your luggage so you're free to wander.
I'll be honest, TP has nothing by narrow roads filled with huge vehicles (which I don't understand), numerous alleys with stalls parked in every inch and rubbish in every drain and water catchment area. But it is amazing what me and my partner found there. The beauty about this place is that it hasn't been completely tourist-fied. There are plenty of locals living in the town so the products and food are catered for them as much as us. Hardly anything is jacked up here in terms of prices. Just a quick tip - once you head out of the ferry terminal, there will be "guides" and taxi drivers calling out to you, sometimes even latching on to you but simply shaking your head and politely declining their offer (don't tell them where you're going, just say you're walking around) will do.
Food here is amazing. It is probably one of the highlights of this town. Though they come in pretty small portions, you can order a variety of dishes and only pay less than S$10 for two people. Stay away from the fast food restaurants and indulge in the local fare. Try everything! Coffee shops that serve ayam penyet, juice alpukat (avacado juice at only S$1.40), etc and the side stalls that sell peanut pancakes, otak-otak (you could get 10 - 20 pieces for S$1.40) and sinfully delicious pisang goreng (fried bananas). Perhaps if you think the stalls look questionable, stick to the shops (which are abundant!) alongside the road that serve food on proper plates.
On a downside, I'd have to disappoint the shoppers out there because there is virtually nothing here that is (inedible) and worth buying and bringing home. They do however have 2 malls - Bintan Mall and Bestari Mall but trust me, you won't want to go there for shopping. They have a few shops selling clothes, bags, and knick-knacks but it's not too impressive. There are also no escalators, lifts (only stairs) or air-conditioning so I would say they were more of an extension of the street shops. Unless you're interested in aquiring batiks, traditional cloths and souvenirs (which this town has little of as well) I'd suggest you'd head somewhere else.
For those heading to the resorts along the beach - stock up. I'm not even kidding. The prices at resorts are quite marked up, so pack your dinner, drinks, groceries (and whatever else you think you'll want) because everything is so inexpensive you could probably afford it and still pay for that snorkeling trip.
If you're looking to take in the views, you can try going on a tour. I didn't myself, but I have read some reviews of beautiful temples and areas that are worth visiting. However, if you're just insterested in wandering, then wander on (drop by the tourist centre and ask for a map). Just don't get lost or you'll be asking for directions as the winding streets can get a little frustrating. My partner and I managed to stumble into the residential area where several wooden huts and some slightly better built concrete homes lined a narrower-than-usual-road and it was quite fascinating walking through that neighbourhood. There were built on stilts and it was very calming being in that part of town. The people there open their doors and windows so you can have a glance of their homes and lives.
If you're looking for some spa time, you're in the right place. They have several spas scattered around town and they all cost around the same price. (An hour of traditional massage will only cost you close to S$10). Do tip the masseurs because from what I've learnt they don't quite earn a lot and they do their best to make your experience comfortable.
Some final tips - if you have luggage and you'd want to explore, find somewhere you can put it at. We left our luggage with the hotel staff stationed at the ferry terminal so do that if you can, if not, it's best to find somewhere to put it at because the streets are not kind to bulky, heavy bags. (Not to mention how much it will attract them guides!) Finally, if you really want to spend some time in town, put aside a few hours. We spent a good 5 hours there and it still wasn't enough!
So just open your mind, drink in the local scene and have a good trip!
I'll be honest, TP has nothing by narrow roads filled with huge vehicles (which I don't understand), numerous alleys with stalls parked in every inch and rubbish in every drain and water catchment area. But it is amazing what me and my partner found there. The beauty about this place is that it hasn't been completely tourist-fied. There are plenty of locals living in the town so the products and food are catered for them as much as us. Hardly anything is jacked up here in terms of prices. Just a quick tip - once you head out of the ferry terminal, there will be "guides" and taxi drivers calling out to you, sometimes even latching on to you but simply shaking your head and politely declining their offer (don't tell them where you're going, just say you're walking around) will do.
Food here is amazing. It is probably one of the highlights of this town. Though they come in pretty small portions, you can order a variety of dishes and only pay less than S$10 for two people. Stay away from the fast food restaurants and indulge in the local fare. Try everything! Coffee shops that serve ayam penyet, juice alpukat (avacado juice at only S$1.40), etc and the side stalls that sell peanut pancakes, otak-otak (you could get 10 - 20 pieces for S$1.40) and sinfully delicious pisang goreng (fried bananas). Perhaps if you think the stalls look questionable, stick to the shops (which are abundant!) alongside the road that serve food on proper plates.
On a downside, I'd have to disappoint the shoppers out there because there is virtually nothing here that is (inedible) and worth buying and bringing home. They do however have 2 malls - Bintan Mall and Bestari Mall but trust me, you won't want to go there for shopping. They have a few shops selling clothes, bags, and knick-knacks but it's not too impressive. There are also no escalators, lifts (only stairs) or air-conditioning so I would say they were more of an extension of the street shops. Unless you're interested in aquiring batiks, traditional cloths and souvenirs (which this town has little of as well) I'd suggest you'd head somewhere else.
For those heading to the resorts along the beach - stock up. I'm not even kidding. The prices at resorts are quite marked up, so pack your dinner, drinks, groceries (and whatever else you think you'll want) because everything is so inexpensive you could probably afford it and still pay for that snorkeling trip.
If you're looking to take in the views, you can try going on a tour. I didn't myself, but I have read some reviews of beautiful temples and areas that are worth visiting. However, if you're just insterested in wandering, then wander on (drop by the tourist centre and ask for a map). Just don't get lost or you'll be asking for directions as the winding streets can get a little frustrating. My partner and I managed to stumble into the residential area where several wooden huts and some slightly better built concrete homes lined a narrower-than-usual-road and it was quite fascinating walking through that neighbourhood. There were built on stilts and it was very calming being in that part of town. The people there open their doors and windows so you can have a glance of their homes and lives.
If you're looking for some spa time, you're in the right place. They have several spas scattered around town and they all cost around the same price. (An hour of traditional massage will only cost you close to S$10). Do tip the masseurs because from what I've learnt they don't quite earn a lot and they do their best to make your experience comfortable.
Some final tips - if you have luggage and you'd want to explore, find somewhere you can put it at. We left our luggage with the hotel staff stationed at the ferry terminal so do that if you can, if not, it's best to find somewhere to put it at because the streets are not kind to bulky, heavy bags. (Not to mention how much it will attract them guides!) Finally, if you really want to spend some time in town, put aside a few hours. We spent a good 5 hours there and it still wasn't enough!
So just open your mind, drink in the local scene and have a good trip!
Written 27 December 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
May 2015 • Couples
Want to share info, if you are looking for a local tour guide to take you around. Please check Vinosa Travel & Transport Services. We used their service and it was brilliant. Our driver Mr. Ali was very good, he took us around Tanjung Pinang where the local goes to shop and eat which I enjoyed it a lot. Personally, if you want to experience the local lifestyle. I would recommend to go see because it is totally different from the resort provides you but do not expect anything fancy. Just enjoy the day. I am glad I visited there.
Our friends have never been to South East Asia before and they had a great time walking around and shopping.
Our friends have never been to South East Asia before and they had a great time walking around and shopping.
Written 28 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sigitpramono
Yogyakarta Region, Indonesia
Apr 2014 • Family
I recommended to visit that area in the weekend. so many options for clothes and foods. the price is very comfortable for our wallets.
Written 5 May 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joseph D
Moscow, Moscow City, Russia
Aug 2014 • Couples
Nothing interesting. Save your time. No historic buildings to see, no pittorsque streets, no interesting handicrafts offering. Rather go on a bicycle tour...
Written 1 September 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tinaranft
Singapore, Singapore
Aug 2012 • Family
there was nothing really there. the market stalls were really disappointing, nowhere near the standard of the street markets that we've been to in Chiang Mai, Bangkok, KL, Melaka. The streets are full of crazy drivers and no real pavements to safely walk. don't bother going here, pick one of the above places instead which have far more variety.
I have to say we never felt unsafe and the locals seemed quite friendly.
I have to say we never felt unsafe and the locals seemed quite friendly.
Written 23 August 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tanzilchoice
Jakarta, Indonesia
Oct 2012 • Friends
just a place where people sit around waiting for the evening.
There by the sea. Not Spectacular.
Just a lot of people selling.
Whether, it is worth mentioning sights or not.
If the so-called tourist attractions, local governments should undertake good governance.
While this is left confused and messy.
Indeed, in Tanjung Pinang is actually feasible to be developed as a tourist spot, dear ... local authority is less sensitive.
There by the sea. Not Spectacular.
Just a lot of people selling.
Whether, it is worth mentioning sights or not.
If the so-called tourist attractions, local governments should undertake good governance.
While this is left confused and messy.
Indeed, in Tanjung Pinang is actually feasible to be developed as a tourist spot, dear ... local authority is less sensitive.
Written 21 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Taufik Afdal Nasution
Tanjungpinang, Riau, Indonesia
Dec 2012 • Friends
this spot is never known by tourists. It is a place where the locals go especially the youngs.
its quite breezy down here since its overkooks the buildings in Dompak Island especially the Mosque and the Provincial Government Office.
U can have snacks and drinks here.
Good getaway from it all in the downtown
its quite breezy down here since its overkooks the buildings in Dompak Island especially the Mosque and the Provincial Government Office.
U can have snacks and drinks here.
Good getaway from it all in the downtown
Written 4 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Yrref, boleh tau nama pasar traditional hasil laut ini? trims
Written 7 September 2024
Any nice hotel on main street or walking distance (less than 5mins) to main street to recommend?
Written 12 October 2016
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