Transportation in Bali

[Coz Sally]

Well, the planning has begun and so far we have decided on a few days in Kuta, then on to Tulamben, then to Ubud and back to Kuta. Besides renting a vehicle and driving ourselves, what are our options for transportation?

I promise a trip report upon return....

Sally
Barefoot in Cozumel

 

[Tassie_Rohan]

Hi there Sally -

Most hotels and villas offer a pick up service, even for longer 2-3 hour trips such as kuta-tumbalen. It’s often safer and faster than trying to drive yourself.

Personally I try to avoid the aggravation of driving in an unfamiliar country while on break: I go on holiday to avoid stress, not seek it.

There’s also local and tourist coaches or you can always hire a car and driver after bartering for a day rate (which won't be too high).

Cheers,
Rohan.

 

[TravelSimone]

Well, the planning has begun and so far we have decided on a few days in Kuta, then on to Tulamben, then to Ubud and back to Kuta. Besides renting a vehicle and driving ourselves, what are our options for transportation?

I promise a trip report upon return....

Sally
Barefoot in Cozumel

I really wouldn't consider renting a vehicle and driving yourself. My husband has been working in Bali for the past 3 years, and every time we rent a car, we are generally stressed and often get lost. Even with an excellent map, it is easy to get lost. Driving in Bali is not for the faint of heart.

As Tassie pointed out, most hotels can arrange a driver for you. Also, when you book with a particular place, they usually can come pick you up. This isn't the cheapest way to get around, but by western standards, the price is usually quite reasonable.

You can also privately hire a driver. There are a lot of posts on Trip Advisor discussing various drivers.

There is also a tourist bus service called Perama. They can get you to most spots on the island. They are very inexpensive, but you are limited to their bus times. They have an office on Jl Legian in Kuta.

As an aside... and not diving related... unless you like t-shirt and junk shops, street hawkers, crappy bars and many sub-par restaurants, I would reconsider staying in Kuta.

 

[opalobsidian]

Hi Sally!

As you will see once you get to Bali, the question is more like, how can you NOT find transportation in Bali? You will be assaulted on the street again and again with the question "transport? where you go? transport?" We have parked our rental car on the street and as we were getting out, been asked if we wanted transport!

They will take you places in their cars and on the back of their motorbikes, the latter of which I will do from time to time, but I have never rented a car off the street, but not for the same reason I wouldn't do it in Mexico. These guys are all very safe and I've never heard one single robbery or sequestering story. But I HAVE heard that many of the drivers will drive you to their relatives' shops or restaurants and stop understanding English when you say you don't want to go there.

The going rate for drivers as of last year was somewhere between 200,000 - 350,000 rupiah for a full day, or around 25 to 40 USD. As a Mexican resident, you know to always bargain and never accept First Price!

We have always driven our own rental car on Bali and never had much problem, we pay 80,000 rupiah a day for our vehicle, which is about 9 USD. Again, like in Mexico, you have to watch em when they gas you up at the stations.

Regarding Kuta, unless you enjoy hanging out on the Front Street there in Cozumel, you can probably pick a more desirable location to spend time in Bali. Kuta is where all the Hard Rock Cafe type places are and drunken tourist youth rage. If you're looking for beach maybe you would like the Sanur or Seminyak areas. It's always sunnier and about 20 degrees hotter down in those places than in Ubud

 

[AlanWald]

There are also minibus shuttle services that are very good value. I took one from Lovina Beach (in the north) to the Airport, since the bus company office was in Kuta, they agreed to take me there, I had dinner and then they drove me to the airport.

Check with the dive operation you are using for their recommendations.

 

[Coz Sally]

Thanks everyone... I should have mentioned we have NO intention of driving ourselves. This is meant to be a relaxing vacation.

 

[dutchpickle]

There is a checkpoint west of Tulamben where all vehicles are periodically checked for paperwork and drivers licenses. Foreigners are often targeted for a shakedown if they do not have international or temporary Indo drivers licenses.

As mentioned by TravelSimone, Perama is a cheap tourist shuttle that works for some people.