NIKOI ISLAND
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NIKOI ISLAND Beach Accommodation

Niloi island is a new white sand beach island near Singapore that will remind you of the Maldives islands paradise, but is so much easier to get to.  The best way to describe Nikoi Island is Five Star meets Robinson Crusoe.  Nikoi island is an eco-friendly resort with the last of 15 beachfront cottages on the small tropical island completed in late 2009.

The architecture and feeling of freedom is superb.  Picture this...you arrive by speedboat onto a beautiful white sandy beach, where check-in is at the thatched beach bar.  Next to the bar with panoramic blue ocean views are the two dining rooms with white sand floors, distinctly "no news, no shoes" for the beachcomber in you who also wants five star comfort.
 nikoi island

It will take you half an hour to wander around this beautiful island, and only five minutes to walk through a rainforest to the two swimming pools with elevated views and another thatched bar near your beachfront accommodation.
 
And what accommodation it is!   The Australian owners recruited an American named Peter to partner them after he developed and then left another nearby Indonesian island. Peter's development of Nikoi is remarkable, enhancing Nikoi's natural palm-fringed beauty with eco-friendly design. Australian owner Andrew is a frequent visitor and his marketing expertise complements Nikoi's appeal.
beach near Nikoi Island

Your accommodation near the white coral sand beach is a perfect, natural experience; open-air two storey thatched cottages that are superb in design, from the gorgeous Queen size beds hanging from chains to the designer driftwood timber.  Everything inside is beautiful local timber, past which you gaze blissfully over your stretch of white sandy beach only metres in front of you. 
 
Below your elevated balcony is the white sand ground floor where you can rock from your hanging sofa or relax on your thatched daybed as you contemplate ordering a beachfront massage. You understand instantly why Nikoi's motto is "Relaxed by nature."
 
These elegant cottages are so open plan that there are no windows, doors or locks. Even if you're a little nervous at first, you quickly get back to nature and become one with the island spirit of honesty and freedom. There are room safes if required, but the wonderful feeling of waking up in daylight, cocooned only by mosquito netting on this island paradise, is a real revelation.
 
That may sound unprotected, but that's the whole point. Here, you're getting back to nature to enjoy the purest of holidays, and the gentle Indonesian staff become like family members. When you sleep surrounded by nature, cooling breezes and a fan above you make artificial air conditioning obviously unnecessary.  Even the elevated al fresco bathroom is all natural, from the solar-powered waterfall shower to the timber toilet roll holder hanging from the ceiling, next to the "loo with a view" of the ocean outside.
 accommodation Nikoi Island
The weather on Nikoi island is usually perfect.  It's only 1 degree from the Equator and boasts a "blue sky zone" that allows you to watch storm clouds in the distance over Singapore as you bask in sunshine.
 
Occasionally, the putt-putting of early-morning fishing boats from the village on Bintan Island across the water may wake you, but this also is a pleasurable experience if you lift your head slightly to see the silhouette on the ocean, often by the light of the moon.
 
If you're lucky, you'll catch sight of a turtle coming ashore in front of your cottage to scoop out a nest and lay her young. This really is the complete natural experience.swimming pool Nikoi Island
Accommodation with swimming pool near Singapore

The one bedroom beachfront cottages cost Singapore $330 a night, the 2 bedroom huts $550 and the 3 bedroom huts $770 a night.  Three meals a day cost an extra $80 per person or $40 for children. Enjoying the meals on Nikoi is one of life's experiences. You sit at one of the long beautifully lacquered timber tables that seat 20, with your feet in the sand and eyes on the beach.  The gentle local staff quietly advise the fresh menu items on offer and are happy to accept requests for something else. Fitra and Su are two of the outstanding Indonesian staff here.

DINING ON NIKOI ISLAND

Lunch and dinner is usually freshly caught seafood, mainland beef or vegetarian options including tasty rice and pasta.  Drink prices here are less than Singapore and local identity Yogi is happy to mix you just about any fresh-fruit cocktail imaginable, including his special Yogi-colada.
Restaurant Nikoi Island

Many guests on Nikoi are Australian or British ex-pats living in Singapore who've discovered this stunning secret before the rest of the world. Weekends are almost always booked because of Nikoi island is near Singapore, so go to the Nikoi Island website at www.nikoi.com and check availability in advance.

WHAT TO DO ON NIKOI ISLAND

There's a big white sand bar that forms in front of the beach bar from July for many months where visitors love to dip into the crystal-clear water.
Coral reefs just off shore allow for easy snorkeling, or you can kayak or windsurf. Resort boats will take you to deserted nearby islands for daytrips or fishing trips, or you can wander through the rainforest to the pool with views to Ipod rock (yes, it looks like an ipod in the ocean).  And yes, there are also Ipod docks in the rooms for all your favourite music.
 
Similar to some Maldives resorts, open-air movies are played at night on the big screen as you sit in a deck chair with your toes in beach sand.
 
If you want to keep fit, the walk around the island at low tide will take you half an hour, or you can walk through the jungle and pull yourself up and down the occasional thick rope through lush palms in the middle of the island.
Nikoi Island Jungle

HOW TO GET TO NIKOI ISLAND

Take the ferry from Singapore's Tanah Merah ferry terminal near Changi Airport.  The ferry terminal is only a 15 minute taxi ride from Singapore City, costing just 10 Singapore dollars. From Singapore, it's a 55 minute trip to Bintan Island, which is Indonesian territory and requireds US$10 for a quick visa on arrival.  Nikoi Island guests are treated as VIPs and given a separate lounge and swift customs clearance on arrival at Bintan.  Then it's a one hour chauffeur drive to the other side of Bintan for your 15 minute speedboat trip to Nikoi Island.
 
In summary, Nikoi Island is a new destination that is one of the world's most natural yet luxurious beach experiences. It's easy to see why it's ranked #1 among international travellers ahead of all other Bintan resorts including the Banyan Tree.
Go to Nikoi Island Resort for an unforgettable holiday experience - the perfect combination of a pretty, palm-fringed island with enough modern comforts to keep you happy. 
 
Nikoi Island is certainly a new and worthy inclusion as one of the world's best beach holidays.

Best beach holiday travel destinations are written by dedicated photo journalists, published and edited by the Best Beach Holidays Travel writer. Contact Best Beach Holidays to submit your beach holiday articles

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