Club Med Bintan Island


GO life at Ria Bintan?

Irlandaise
148 Posts
20
Sep
2006
edf40wrjww2FORUM_TOPICS:T_MESSAGE
Hi, for all of you who've been there, what's it like to be a GO at Ria Bintan? I'm a GO from the North American zone, and I've just been offered Ria Bintan for the winter. The problem is it's not a position I really want (they offered me reception), so I'm not sure if I should take it. Please tell me what it's like there!
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Kiki de M
2828 Posts
20
Sep
2006
Can't specifically answer for Ria Bintan, but IMO, it's rather the CDV (and possibly his second) who makes your being a GO at any village great or not so great.

I am sure you'll get more answers from GOs or/and GMs in the SE Asian zone, once they are up tomorrow morning.

Good luck!

D-9
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gregrusas
241 Posts
21
Sep
2006
The Irish lass,

Okay, if you've read my second book you'd know that If I accepted Phuket instead, none of that crap would have happened to me in Bintan! Although, I knew my goose was cooked when I found out who the CDV was. Anyway, Kiki is right. But seeing as how you were reception (is it Head of Reception, or just reception?) If you have NO designs on being CDV, I say TAKE IT! Few North AMericans GO's get to travel that far and you'll be missing out on a unique experience.

Hell, you're only a 45 min ferry ride, (which you have to pay for..) from Singapore, one of, if not THE most, beautiful cities around. There is not much to do on the island of Bintan itself. If you play golf then you are in heaven. If you don't, well you can go to Singapore on your day off and catch a movie, eat and go to "Takishimaya", my favorite store/mall in Singapore. You can stroll down Orchard Rd and try and look for any piece of scrap paper on the streets there..(good luck!)

You get may different Asian nationalities there. Scads of Korean honeymooners, Japanese, Taiwanese, Chinese (yes, there is a difference!), Malaysian and Singaporean. You then have the ex-pats living in Singapore, French, English, American and very few Canadians. The village is beautiful, but since you have arrivals by ferry, there are arrivals and departures everyday! Not all are big, but working at the recep. you are on the frontline so to speak.

And if you don't mind very long-haul flights (probably where you're from to NYC, NYC to Japan (that's a 14 hour leg!) and then Japan to Singapore 7-8 hours more) You will probably arrive very late at night and then you'll have to go to the CM office early in Singapore. There they will hand you a huge enveloppe for YOu to get started on your work visa. It's all laid out for you, but you have to do the legwork.

Finally, you'll catch the last ferry to Bintan at 8:00pm or so and then take a 20 min bus ride from the ferry terminal to the village. Then you'll arrive and not know what day,month or year it is and you'll find out it's the CDV's bday and you...no wait..that was my experience...

Anyway, I say go! What else are they offering you? If you want to know more, you can send me a personal mail to my box.


Greg
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Ric
520 Posts
21
Sep
2006
Hi la irlandase,

I am a GM from Hong Kong. The GOs in Bintan tell me that they can save much money in Bintan because there is not much to do in Bintan. The golf course in Bintan is the second best in Asia. On day off, Bintan GOs may take 45 min ferry to Singapore.

It is a small, but beautiful Club Med village. The outlook of the buildings in Bintan village are quite different from other Club Med village. Bintan village looks like a hotel rather than Club Med village. The reception in 4/f, not groud floor. There is one lift in the village. You can find some Bintan photos in my website http://riccheng.abnhosting.com

GMs mainly from Asia, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Korea. During Singapore school holidays, the village becomes very full.

The "arrival" and "departure" are very big. I mean CDV and many many GOs welcome in "arrival" and say goodbye in "departure".
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Minouche
143 Posts
21
Sep
2006
Bintan is considered quite isolated compared to Bali and Phuket and like Kiki says, its the CDV or his second who makes or breaks a season in a place like that. GOs either LOVE Bintan or HATE it. But yeah, if you get this chance to go halfway across the world to work, grab it!! Why not? Its an experience!
PS: Singapore has recently implemented the smoking area law. Most establishments are no smoking (yes even some bars) with only a 10% area in each allocated for smokers. Even in Starbucks! So if you smoke, make sure there is an ashtray on the table before you light up or ask the staff which tables are for smokers.

All in good time
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Sav
139 Posts
21
Sep
2006
About the no-smoking law, you might find it hilarious at first, but for non-smokers it's great. :D
Just also want to add that if you're a sporty person and if the CDV is kind enough, you can take part in the Bintan triathlon, or Pan-Am windsurfing competition, and there are heaps other organised sports activities taking places in Bintan nowadays. I think there's a Bintan Marathon too if i'm not wrong. So yeah, heaven for sporty folk, hell if you hate having nowhere to go at night (apart from Mana Mana)
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Irlandaise
148 Posts
21
Sep
2006
Thanks for all of your replies! It turns out they made a mistake on my proposal, and it's for the position I wanted (aide gestion), so I'm going to Ria Bintan this season! Thank you again, and maybe see you there!
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sass1973
83 Posts
22
Sep
2006
hello friend in gestion... it's sarah in reception!!! you should really be on this site more often :)
will miss you when you go... the piper will not be the same.
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Gingerbr75
536 Posts
24
Sep
2006
Have fun in Ria Bintan!! Thats awesome that Americans can go there...I didn't know that was possible. That's good to hear, because one day I will be an American Go hoping to work in the Asian zone. Please say hi to my friends Alin(indonesian), Cha Cha(korean), Hannah(taiwanese), and joan(nurse). THANKS!!! My name is Sarah
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Ric
520 Posts
24
Sep
2006
Hi Gingerbr75,

I met a GO from American in Bintan in 2004. She is Haliday.
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Gingerbr75
536 Posts
24
Sep
2006
Really? Thats cool!! Its always nice to know that you can go to the different zones...rather then being stuck in one of them. Plus I'll probably hvae to work in the US zone the 1st season...so I'll get that experience before moving to the Asian zone. I just hope my friends are still working there 2 yrs from now!! we'll see ;)
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Irlandaise
148 Posts
28
Sep
2006
Haha, hi Sarah! I'll miss you, too! ...You'll have to take a vacation and come visit Bobby and me!

quote:
Originally posted by sass1973

hello friend in gestion... it's sarah in reception!!! you should really be on this site more often :)
will miss you when you go... the piper will not be the same.

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sass1973
83 Posts
29
Sep
2006
it's definitely being talked about... i'm due for my vacation in january/february time. at least we have you until november :)

dood... water polo kicked my ass.
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