Flying Bali - Manado...tickets?

[nwflyboy]

We're leaving for Indonesia in about a week and a half. About 12 days later (3 weeks from now), we're planning to fly from Bali (Denpasar) to Manado, returning back to Bali about a week later.

Because of the schedules, I'm planning to fly Garuda going from Denpasar to Manado. Returning from Manado back to Denpasar, I'm planning to go on Lion Air.

Question:

When/where/how is the best way to actually book the tickets?

I've heard that booking via their websites is not reliable or optimal - true?

I've also heard that it might be best (cheapest and most reliable) to book the tickets from a local travel agent once we get to Bali -- and based on my admittedly limited experience traveling in SE Asia, that seems to make sense...although once we get there and wake up jet-lagged on our first morning, it will be just 9 days before the Denpasar-Manado flight.

Suggestions for the best way to book this flight?

Many thanks.

 

[opalobsidian]

Old aunt Pamela sez:

Wait till ya get there. Phone them daily as prices will vary from day to day, up and down and back again. Lion Air's main office is in Denpasar, in some hotel office I recall; one of the bungs from our hotel went and got them for us for a $10 USD tip. The second year we used a travel agent across from our hotel in Ubud who got us for them at the identical price quoted on the phone, I'm not sure how the agent got his commision but protested taking a tip from us (somehow we talked him into taking it)

If you have a local call for prices he will get you at least a small discount. It's very important to make friends with your hotel workers so they will do these favors for you. Tip them as you would a worker in the states and they will be utterly blown away and devoted to being your friend forever.

Selamut jalan, blessings upon your travels, namaya ganesa
Pamela

 

[nwflyboy]

That more or less squares with my previous experience in SE Asia (Thailand and surrounding). What I found utterly refreshing was that if you wanted to fly somewhere, you would just go to any local travel agent or the airport or the airline's office, buy your ticket, and you were set. No predatory fares for booking just a couple days ahead (indeed, even for the next day).

We won't have a ton of time to spend chasing a ticket, but should have a couple spare hours on the first morning after we arrive. We'll be staying in Seminyak - I assume we should be able to find a travel agent to get the tickets without too much trouble. After that we're off to Menjangen and Tulamben, and I don't expect there to be any convenient travel agents there. After that we'll have a few days in Padangbai and Ubud, where I'm sure we could also get the tickets.

 

[Wisnu]

We always use Bayubuana travel http://www.bayubuanatravel.com/ for airline ticketing and hotel voucher (except for diving package). Not the cheapest but very reliable (ISO 9001 & OHSAS certified company). They have branch office in Bali.
Our experiences - purchasing ticket on the last minute is not the best way to the get the lowest fare. Airline issue ticket with different prices; from the cheapest special / promo to to normal fare. The cheapest fare ussually very limited - and this is the expertise of local travel agent to secure the cheapest fare.
There's posibility of small travel agent to keep (read: not able to sell) the cheapest fare till last minute, if you lucky you'll get it. but unlikely. The most common, many people succesfull to get lower fare (than normal - note: travel agent get big commission on normal fare, so they may cut their profit) on last minute, but not the lowest.
My suggestion, e-mail them and ask, they will tell you if they have special price ticket. But you have to pay in advance for this ticket - then you can collect it in Bali. Their hotel voucher is very good although mostly applicable for local and resident only, but in most case still much better than if you deal directly.

 

[nwflyboy]

Thanks, I will email bayubuana travel in Denpasar and see if they can set things up.

Thanks again for all your help!