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TRAVEL
248
July14
S
ometimes it’snice toget away from
Singaporewith friends you’vemet
here. If you don’t know them really
well, though, it can be a bit of a
leap of faith. Here’s some advice, below,
for enjoying this kind of friends’ weekend
away, applicable both to “first-timers” and
to existing friends you’d like to keep.
Voyage – it’s called
Chilen
. Oh, and
don’t forget a cooler-bag of “sparkling”
and some plastic glasses!
The Montigo residences have a large
open-plan living/dining area leading on
to a kitchenette and area for a helper
to stay – if you want to eat in and are
terrible cooks, this is the way to go. If
you’re bringing children along, you can
take your own babysitter, but do note that
the property isn’t practical for younger
ones as there are steep steps down to an
open pool and a few other no-go areas.
Children over six would be fine, though,
and it’s perfect for teenagers.
There’s a lovely double bedroom,
with large bathroom and balcony on the
same level as this living area, as well as
a large deck area where we sat out at
night under the stars.
Down the steps is a seating area,
pool and lounging area, with the master
Guide
(with friends)
By Rebecca Bisset
1.
Keep enough space between you and them when needed.
2.
Make sure you’re on your own schedule. If they want to go for a run at
sunrise, let them do it without waking you up! The same thing applies
at the other end of the day when they feel like having that fifth bottle of
red under the stars while you’d rather be under the duvet.
3.
Try to find accommodation that has a private space where you can
hang out together as a group and be loud or stupid without worrying
about other guests.
4.
Find a place where you can eat and even cook together
– it creates good bonding moments.
5.
And, it’s
so
much better if you aren’t sharing bathrooms.
I recently took the
Expat Living
sales
team to Montigo Resorts Nongsa on
Batam for a girls’ night, and the three-
bedroom residences ticked all the
boxes. It’s easily accessible by ferry from
Singapore, though if you want to add a
bit more fun and glamour, splash out
and line up a private yacht through Aqua