Indonesia isn't a common destination for people with children, but for those who desire a more exotic vacation than Disneyland, the island of Batam offers family-friendly travel options, if you know where to look.

Head to the Beach
What good is an island vacation if you don't spend at least part of it soaking up the sun next to the ocean? Bring buckets, sunscreen and a picnic lunch, and take the kids to one of Batam's world-famous sandy beaches. Older children and teens can join you for boogie boarding or surfing, while the younger set can build sandcastles or spend supervised time in the warmth of the Pacific.

Rent Bicycles
Batam is a small island, and it's easy to navigate on bike, which can be rented for a small fee at any number of shops. If your children are old enough, they can have their own set of wheels, while younger kids can be strapped into child seats on yours. Don't forget helmets!

Get a Babysitter
If you want to experience Batam's active social night scene, you'll need to leave the kids behind. Many hotels and resorts offer childcare, or can refer you to services that do, or you can bring along a responsible teenaged family member willing to trade an exotic vacation for providing au pair services.

Visit an open-air Market
Colors, sounds, smells, foods, people, souveniers and a learning experience: visit one of Batam's many open-air markets, and you'll get all that and more. Forgo lunch at a restaurant and dine instead on local fruits and breads.

Do what the Locals Do
It's an easy concept to forget when traveling, but keep in mind that anywhere you go, people live there. And where people live, people raise children. Ask your concierge what Batanese parents do when they want to do something special with their children and try that.

Take a Daytrip
If you want to see and experience other areas of Indonesia and its neighboring countries, the local geography makes that easy. Ferries take travelers to the other Riau Islands, Singapore, Sumatra, and other ports. Inexpensive plane tickets to Jakarta are also available.

Go West, Adventurous Family
Located on Batam's western side, Waterfront City offers a flying fox, a cable ski park, a kart racetrack and other attractions that are likely to appeal to even the surliest teenagers.