The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps
Bali is famed for its beautiful sunset. However if you are there during the monsoon season, don’t get your hopes too high on watching a magnificent sunset. We tried our luck on two evenings, and twice, the clouds did a great job in blocking the glorious sun. …
▲ Accommodation Review Bali Itinerary Overview (2015). p.s. Read about our post of how to get a Taxi at Denpasar airport without being cheated – learn from our mistake! Price? S$181.72 / US$135 / IDR1.7 mil per room for 3D2N (via Expedia) Accommodation Type? Deluxe Room (Complimentary upgrade to …
Bali Itinerary Overview (2015)
If you are flying into Bali (Denpasar) on an international flight, you will arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport, located in southern Bali, 13 km south of Denpasar.
I was wow-ed by the airport – Balinese Styled! But my photos didn’t do justice to the nicely renovated airport. I couldn’t take my time to get nice shots because…
you’ll understand why as you read on.
The post is kinda long, but definitely worth the read if you are arriving at Bali International Airport.
READ ON if you don’t want to be cheated of your money.
We stepped out of the airport gate and saw the usual scene of people flashing name cards. Just that in this airport, there were also many blue-shirted men hanging around, who were obviously touters.
As we turned left to exit, we saw a TAXI signage pointing to a counter just before a stretch of DFS shops. They waved at us as we pondered if this is the official counter that we’ve read online. I noticed half of that counter was accessible in the public area, so I decided to pass through the DFS shops and get out first to see if there’s another booth. If we changed our minds, we could always go back to the counter. Once we were out, we were
We were immediately approached by the blue-shirted guys, one after another, each of them asking where we were going. I just walked on, refusing to answer them. I did my research and knew I could buy taxi tickets at an official counter. We walked around (with the men buzzing around us) and couldn’t find any. We even tried to get some help from a DFS shop staff, but the taxi driver was eyeing him, and he hesitated for a moment and decided best to leave us at the mercy of the taxi driver. So we looped back to the counter we saw earlier on to get a taxi ticket, assuming that was the official counter I read online.
I was proud to have done my research and made it past all the touters to the official counter. Got a ticket like this:
It’s only when I came back to Singapore to write on this post, that I realised I remembered the amount to Seminyak wrongly!!!! Hence we agreed to a price that’s a…
We got a taxi ticket to travel to Seminyak area for about 150,000 to 170,000 RP! I thought it’s the standard price..
Only to find out from my further research online that the official kiosk is apparently gone! The official kiosk should have a fixed price list on public display as shown below.
Though the prices listed above were as of 7 August 2013, this board serves as a good guide.
There might be inflation due to the rise of petrol prices since 2013, but it shouldn’t be so much as a 100% increase! Ya…we paid more than double. ARGH!
But it’s okay, we always learn from our mistakes.
Tutoring fees for first time mistake.
But what to do on our next visit?
There’s a blog comment by an expat in Indonesia at travelfish.org/blogs/indonesia that gave good suggestions (point 1 & 2).
When we were walking to the taxi, we decided to push our own luggage, because we didn’t want to bother our taxi driver – since they were just 2 small pieces of hand luggage.
Then came two people wearing white, trying to push our luggage, at the same time pointing to the taxi driver and saying some gibberish. So I thought he was trying to say our taxi driver didn’t do his job by pushing our luggage for us. TL didn’t understand the situation but allowed that man to push the luggage for him, while I let go for a moment and suddenly remembered reading online about these men being luggage porters, who would sometimes asked for quite a bit of money (scam of RP 100,000 dated from 2009).
The usual price for Bali airport porter service is at RP 50,000 (~US$5) per trip, although the published rate is RP 5,000: reference here and here. Do take note of the porter’s ID number as well.
So I quickly grabbed back my luggage handle, to which he reacted by trying to snatch back the handle, and thus kept touching my hand, hoping I will let go. Ewwws, can I sue him for molestation?! In the end, he gave up. And I quickly ran to TL and told him to get his luggage back, because he would get money from him later on. US$5 might be okay for some people who need help with big luggage, but I never asked for help in the first place!
So moral of the story: Carry your own luggage if you want to avoid paying extra. Taxi drivers might just ask for tips with the help as well. Better be safe than sorry.
So here’s the background story of the chaotic taxi situation at Bali airport, pieced together from comments found here:
“Unfortunately Bali airport taxis have the monopoly at the airport as the airport is run by PT Ankasa Pura and the taxi company is tied in with them somehow as well. As a result the airport itself doesn’t let other taxis have a stand. The organisation is quite well known in Bali for thuggish behaviour and have been known to physically abuse drivers of other taxis. I’m sure you all have experienced to a lesser extent the “mafia” type company culture when trying to get a taxi or when trying to pay!
Let me set one thing straight, these drivers are not poor. 10 dollars to go to our house which is 6 minutes drive away? Why should we give our hard earned money to these thugs?
While Bali airport taxis do have a stand, late at night this stand closes. This makes it even harder to negotiate your price as it will then be done directly with the driver with no sign to indicate the “normal” Bali airport taxi price (which is already double what you would pay over a metered taxi).
Blue bird is not welcomed at Bali airport. You can call and get Blue bird only outside the airport but not inside the airport. The driver won’t pick you inside the airport area. In Bandung, I experienced the similar situation when I called Blue bird taxi from a mall and was end up being told that Blue bird wouldn’t come except if I went to nearby area outside the mall, because Blue bird driver would be beaten by other taxi drivers to pick passenger in ‘their’ territory.
Similar thing happened to Blue bird in Bali airport. Blue bird was attacked and intimidated in 2010 for being the choice of customers while others were not ready to join fair competition to deliver the best to the customer. They just want protection to do their crime legally!
Blue bird was also not welcomed in Batam few years back.
It is not about the USD 1.8 or USD 2 difference but all what happened signaling you about safety and security. When you are cheated and ripped off, you feel angry because you feel attacked, like something has been taken from you. You feel unsafe and insecure.”
Useful links:
travelfish.org
Bali Guide: www.mybaliguide.com
————————————————–
Updated 20 January 2015
☁ January Weather in Bali ☁ Our honeymoon trip! Yays! We told our friends that we are going Bali in January, and they went… “What??! It’s the monsoon period! The best time to go is from June to September.” ☂☂☂ So my mind went, “Oh no, tsunami, rains and no …
[Update: 10 Feb 2017] Woots! Back from Bali trip and it was awesome! Anyway, I saw signboards of useful Singapore Changi Airport Transfer information at the airport, and thought it would be useful to share with you! There are different transport options for you to consider. Skytrain …
If it’s your first time planning a trip to Bali, you will soon realised that you got to pick the area you want to be in before starting to find your accommodation. So I did a bit research for my virgin trip to Bali and found lots of useful information. I will summarise for you from these links:
www.vilondo.com/where-to-stay-in-bali
www.bali.com/accommodation.html
www.baliguide.com/balihotels.html
There are 6 different areas in Bali, North, South, East, West, Central and Southeastern Islands.
South Bali is where you get most of the tourists hanging around – flocking to world renowned Kuta Beach and chic Seminyak. My guess is, the area is developed because it is near the international airport and thus a shorter traveling time for the tourists.
South Bali includes Kuta, Western Bukit and Uluwatu, Canggu, Denpasar, Jimbaran, Legian, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Seminyak, and Tanah Lot.
Central Bali includes Ubud, Gianyar, Bedugul, and Tabanan. This region is the cultural heart of Bali and the central mountain range.
Recommended for the well-heeled tourists who want to enjoy the nature and yet indulge and pamper themselves. Also for people who want to be close enough to the action (but not too much), and have easy access to shops and restaurants. Families can venture further up north.
Highlights: Enjoy the most luxurious spas in Bali and high end shopping. Access to miles of sandy beaches.
Seminyak and Kerobokan area is famous for luxury and style. The area is upmarket with mostly luxury accommodation, fashionable boutique shops and high-end spa, restaurants and bars. Fast increasing number of hotels and villas, great but reasonably priced restaurants and Bali’s most interesting clubs, pubs as well as shops selling casual wear, furniture, antiques, decorative items and handicrafts. Area a bit north of it are great for families, with many affordable restaurants and shopping, clean beaches. Kids’ clubs and indoor play areas are also available, as are nannies at very reasonable prices.
You can also find good, off-white, sandy beach with powerful waves and some strong currents. The atmosphere is much more sophisticated and laid-back than Kuta, and the beach in particular is quieter during the day.
Accommodation: Hotels are slightly more upscale, ranging from affordable and stylish to luxurious and opulent.
Seminyak also has an incredible number of private villas available for short and long-term stays. The hotels and villas in this area are often tucked away from everything else, offering serenity, calm, and a unique Balinese aesthetic.
Recommended for action, excitement, or night out, but not for a family vacation or romantic honeymoon.
Highlights: Learn to surf, Watch Bali’s famous sunsets, Party/Nightlife
Kuta Beach has high waves and currents good for people to learn surfing. The beach is crowded day and night by tourists, vendors, masseuses, and beach boys. Yet the beach is so huge that it doesn’t feel too crowded even if there are so many people. The beach is worth a visit as it gives you some of Bali’s most amazing sunsets that signal the beginning of Kuta’s famed nightlife.
Kuta and Legian are the centers of Bali’s night life with a great number of restaurants, pubs, open bars, discos, and all kinds of shops, ranging from handicrafts to departmental stores to supermarkets. We do advise you not to run too wild. Bali is a very safe place but it can also be dangerous and can show its dark sides – like any part of the world, where gangs, alcohol, drugs, prostitution come together.
Daily traffic jams and many, sometimes quite insistent hawkers, are nightmares for many visitors.
Accommodation: It’s an ideal place to find accommodation on a budget and is within easy reach of most of the southern parts of Bali. Prices here depend whether hot water, a/c, or a pool is offered, and bargaining is common in privately run homestays. A few upper class hotels are available for the traveler who likes to party and want to stay in comfort.
Recommended for people who loves traditions or seek a retreat to rest the body, mind and soul. Also recommended for families.
Highlights: Clear waters and clean beach, Tranquility, Bali Traditions
Sanur beach lures you with crystal clear waters and is ideal for a tropical paradise vacation. It is ideal for families, with a peaceful white sand beach fronting a calm section of the Indian Ocean that allows for all types of water sports, including diving and snorkeling.
Sanur is one of the oldest tourist regions in Bali, and yet has remained calm and quiet, run according to traditional principles by a tight-knit group of Balinese villages. Tradition is strong in the area, which is known as a centre for magic, meaning that visitors get a true taste of Bali while still having access to modern amenities.
Sanur is now more focused on tranquility and relaxation. The area is rather quiet compared to Kuta and Nusa Dua but is still popular with old-time visitors and some foreign residents.
Accommodation: A great place to find mid-range accommodation, an affordably priced yet stylish beachfront hotel, or a house or villa for a longer stay.
Recommended for people who loves traditions or seek a retreat to rest the body, mind and soul. Also recommended for families.
Highlights: Mountains, Spirituality/meditation, Traditional arts, and Culture
In Ubud, you will be relaxing in green lush forest among rolling hills. Because of its location at the base of the mountains, temperatures are slightly lower than in the lowlands. Families can also enjoy plenty of activities among the rice fields and rivers in the area. Ubud is also a great place to start day trips to visit temples, the zoo and bird park, hot springs.
One can also find yoga schools, meditation centres and psychic readings at Ubud. After sunset, the shops start to close and Ubud becomes more quiet. Tourists like to come here at night to watch Balinese Dance performances. Many accomplished painters, dancers, musicians, carvers and weavers live and work here, and there are a number of very good museums and art galleries.
The centre of Ubud, though focused on meditation, traditional arts and culture, is lively with restaurants and shopping options for all. Ubud is also what one could call “Green Bali”. You can find vegan, vegetarian, and even raw food restaurants. Detox smoothies, green juices and organic food are also commonly found on menus. Many shops are environmentally conscious here, with a few banning plastic straws and bags.
Accommodation:
Recommended for lovers of beaches, surfing and sun.
Highlights: Watch Bali’s famous sunsets, Eat Seafood and Relax
Jimbaran…
has a beautiful beach and coastline. Its waves not too high for swimming, wind surfing, and sailing (no motorized water sports activities) and not too many tourists. Enjoy some seafood at seafood restaurants right on the water front. Located just a few miles south of the airport.
Accommodation: Probably Bali’s best beach with decent hotels and accommodation: Backpackers accommodation for surfers available a bit off the coast, otherwise you can finda few up-market hotels and resorts.
Uluwatu…
have some world-class surf breaks on this cliff-lined stretch of coast.
Accommodation: Surf-hungry backpackers traveling on a shoestring can find the most basic accommodation here, but those who want to enjoy their time out of the water can also find many mid-range choices, often owned by local families. Main beaches are Balangan, Padang Padang, Dreamland, Bingin Beach.
Recommended for people who don’t like surprises.
Highlights: Cookie-Cutter Experience
Bali’s southern peninsula is where you find today most of the island’s international 4- and 5-star Bali Hotels and Resorts – set in Nusa Dua’s manicured and not very Balinese garden environment. Nice beach with shallow water, no high waves. All kinds of water sports, 18-hole golf course.
Nusa Dua Galleria center with a variety of rather expensive restaurants, shops, and department stores. Some more reasonably priced restaurants are located in adjacent Tanjung Benoa and Bualu village. No night life to speak of.
An increasing number of private villas is being built on the Bukit, the hill South of the airport. Many of these offer spectacular views of the sea, Kuta, Denpasar, Sanur and Bali’s mountains. The climate is much cooler and much more dry – even if it rains in most parts of Bali you can expect sunny days here.
————————————————-
Updated January 2015
Disclaimer: All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Travel.joogo.sg and/or the author shall not be held responsible for any injury, loss, expense or damage of any kind whatsoever suffered or incurred by any person who accesses or uses the information and external websites stated above. Full disclaimer here.