Depends which part you go. Harbor bay area under one Chinese boss taking care of both black and white, one of the safe place.
If take cab, try to look out for those with sticker on back that states where they belong to, e.g. Harbor bay, batam center. etc. But still no guarantee. Got cases, people arrive at sekupang at night, take taxi, taxi driver drive them to ulu place and rob them.
There is an area btw harbor bay and Nagoya, the village of thieves and ex convicts.
After Baraelang, recently four kenna chop and rob when they were ridding bike at night, somewhere between the sixth bridge and third bridge. So don't go too far and return to city early.... If you go visit the Viet refugee camp.
Frankly, batam nothing interesting.... even the indon says so. Batam is a complicated place, even indon Chinese working in batam, still want their family to stay Tanjong Pinang. Tanjong pinang is a better place to visit, imo.
is JB safer than Batam?
any business class hotel in Batam?
business class hotel, i mean like Amara hotel standard (no need to be too posh) in Batam>