Fab Finds: Lombok, Manado, Bintan, Pangkil & Nikoi

Bintan Just 45 minutes by ferry from Singapore, it's our closest beach getaway.
Stay: Kids - and parents - will love Club Med (www.clubmed.com.sg), while couples will enjoy the beachside simplicity of Mayang Sari (www.nirwanagardens.com), or a more luxurious experience at Indra Maya Villas (www.nirwanagardens.com) and Banyan Tree (www.banyantree.com/bintan).
     Travel further by car plus a short boat ride to Pulau Pangkil (www.pangkil.com) and hire out the whole island for a true Robinson Crusoe experience - en masse. Another option is Nikoi (www.nikoi.com), which presents island living at its most private. Two-storey beach houses just metres from the sea offer ocean views and king-sized four poster beds dressed in white linen, plus en-suite bathrooms with contemporary fittings and piping hot water. Beach houses can be booked individually, or larger groups can take over the whole island. For something a little more stylish and refined, check out the new Pulau Joyo (www.pulau-joyo.com) - simply stunning driftwood palaces in breathtaking surrounds.
Contact: www.bintan-resorts.com

Lombok Low-key tourism and less-developed than Bali, with a greater variety of landscapes.
Stay: The Qunci (www.thequnci.com), Sheraton Senggigi (www.sheraton.com/senggigi) or Oberoi Lombok (www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi_lombok).
Contact: www.lombok-network.com

Manado Close to several world-class diving sites, the North Sulawesi islands are adventure playgrounds for the budget-conscious traveller.
Stay: Tasik Ria Resort & Spa Manado (www.tasikria.com) or Hotel Sedona (www.sedonahotels.com.sg).
Contact: www.north-sulawesi.com, www.visit-manado.com

Posted May 2012