Bali driver / car service recommendations
Jan 8, 2010, 5:52 pm
#76
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1
bali
i have return from bali less than two months ago, i recommend to rent a motorbike to move in shorts ways and to be independ as it is really cheap on the other hand for day trips i will take the private driver as he will show you placs that you will never know and will explain you thinks about their cultue, religion etc that in the book guides is not written and they are cheap.
on the other hand i recommend to be in Seminyak area if you can in a villa with your service and private swimminpool i have been and it was fantastic and price was very good.
if you need more information about Bali and direct contacts that i got during my holiday trip let me know and i will send to you.
have a nice day
QUOTE=Madisonman39;13133199]Absolute get a driver, for several reasons. First, it is much safer. Second, it is not much more expensive then renting a car. Third, for all of the Balinese people's peacefulness, they are maniacal drivers. Cars a foot away from mopeds with kids. Passing on the right, on the left. Crazy. DO NOT DRIVE A MOPED OR SCOOTER there if you value your life.
As for hotels, I would definitely recommend a few days or more near Ubud. There are three hotels that are related including Alam Indah and Alam Jiwah. Less than $100 per night. Choice of air con or not and truly wonderful places. Gardens pools nice beds. I spent about $70 a night, but that was three years ago.
You can take a 15 minute pleasant walk through the monkey forest to get to Ubud.
The last reason to get a driver is to take you to places you would never go to otherwise. I met a family whose son drives me and I've been to ceremonies in a bat cave, in thousand year old river temples, in small villages. You can drive through the rice fields. Meet people. Just tell him to take you to places not normally inhabited by tourists.
As for near the beach, DO NOT STAY IN KUTA. It is like every bad place in the Caribbean. Why go to Bali? There are very nice hotels across from the beach in Seminyak. Again, around 100 a night.
So don't waste your points on an international chain hotel. There are great places for $100 or less and owned by locals. (The woman who owns Alam Indah also owns a restaurant with great duck and can help you with drivers and all that.)
Hope this is helpful. If you get out of the tourist areas and into the villages, you will find it is an incredibly beautiful and spiritual place. I love it.
Have fun![/QUOTE]
on the other hand i recommend to be in Seminyak area if you can in a villa with your service and private swimminpool i have been and it was fantastic and price was very good.
if you need more information about Bali and direct contacts that i got during my holiday trip let me know and i will send to you.
have a nice day
QUOTE=Madisonman39;13133199]Absolute get a driver, for several reasons. First, it is much safer. Second, it is not much more expensive then renting a car. Third, for all of the Balinese people's peacefulness, they are maniacal drivers. Cars a foot away from mopeds with kids. Passing on the right, on the left. Crazy. DO NOT DRIVE A MOPED OR SCOOTER there if you value your life.
As for hotels, I would definitely recommend a few days or more near Ubud. There are three hotels that are related including Alam Indah and Alam Jiwah. Less than $100 per night. Choice of air con or not and truly wonderful places. Gardens pools nice beds. I spent about $70 a night, but that was three years ago.
You can take a 15 minute pleasant walk through the monkey forest to get to Ubud.
The last reason to get a driver is to take you to places you would never go to otherwise. I met a family whose son drives me and I've been to ceremonies in a bat cave, in thousand year old river temples, in small villages. You can drive through the rice fields. Meet people. Just tell him to take you to places not normally inhabited by tourists.
As for near the beach, DO NOT STAY IN KUTA. It is like every bad place in the Caribbean. Why go to Bali? There are very nice hotels across from the beach in Seminyak. Again, around 100 a night.
So don't waste your points on an international chain hotel. There are great places for $100 or less and owned by locals. (The woman who owns Alam Indah also owns a restaurant with great duck and can help you with drivers and all that.)
Hope this is helpful. If you get out of the tourist areas and into the villages, you will find it is an incredibly beautiful and spiritual place. I love it.
Have fun![/QUOTE]
Jan 8, 2010, 11:01 pm
#77
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: I am a lowly ant
Posts: 1,751
It's pretty straightforward to drive in Bali, definitely a lot better/safer than other parts of Indonesia.
There aren't that many roads to get conufsed with, the only area that is a nightmare is the Kuta area, a warren of one-way streets.
I would recommend a driver simply because they are cheap, only about $10/day, but the driving itself is not that bad.
Motorbikes in SE Asia are very dangerous, cars are much safer.
I think I paid about $20/day (bottom dollar rate) for one of the typically Indonesian cars, small but with about 7 seats. Horrible because no power steering.
There aren't that many roads to get conufsed with, the only area that is a nightmare is the Kuta area, a warren of one-way streets.
I would recommend a driver simply because they are cheap, only about $10/day, but the driving itself is not that bad.
Motorbikes in SE Asia are very dangerous, cars are much safer.
I think I paid about $20/day (bottom dollar rate) for one of the typically Indonesian cars, small but with about 7 seats. Horrible because no power steering.
Jan 9, 2010, 4:10 am
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 26
In Bali driving a car or moped you will get stopped several times by the corrupt police and you have to pay them money to dismiss the trumped up charge. If you have an accident it is your fault as under Bali law they were there before you and if you had not come the accident would not have happened. Keep your wits about you at all times in Bali as you are fair game no matter where you come from and what hotel you stay at.
Jan 13, 2010, 4:18 am
#79
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
Jan 19, 2010, 8:13 pm
#81
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
In Bali driving a car or moped you will get stopped several times by the corrupt police and you have to pay them money to dismiss the trumped up charge. If you have an accident it is your fault as under Bali law they were there before you and if you had not come the accident would not have happened. Keep your wits about you at all times in Bali as you are fair game no matter where you come from and what hotel you stay at.
Jan 23, 2010, 5:19 pm
#82
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 101
I lived in Jakarta for a long time and drove there frequently, but even when I headed to Bali on vacation I would not bother driving myself. It's cheap enough for a driver that you are just wasting time even without the other concerns if you drive yourself in my opinion.
Jan 25, 2010, 7:00 pm
#83
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: LAS, SMF
Programs: Marriott Plat, Global Entry
Posts: 184
I vote for self-drive
I rented a car two times out of the three times I have been in Bali. So about 6 of the 7 weeks I have been there, I have had a car. It is difficult driving at times, because of the many users of the road being different sizes moving at different speeds. But the freedom you have by renting a car is worth it in my opinion. I don't want to have to worry about another person when I am on vacation.
If you are willing to make the effort to use Bahasa Indonesia, you will never get lost. I speak it with the grace and sophistication of a three year old, and I can still usually get my point across. Just roll down the window and ask any local.
I did have one encounter with the local police, in Denpasar. I made an illegal turn, which was signposted. So I knew I was certainly wrong. I went with the policeman to his police box for negotiations. I admit, I did tell a small fib to the man which had a bearing on our negotiations. I told him I was a high school math teacher (high status but low pay). So we settled the violation for Rp 50000. He enjoyed our encounter, as he gave us a police escort to our destination complete with flashing lights.
I've driven in 24 different countries on 5 continents. The only place I visited that I felt too uncomfortable to drive at all was Cairo. The place I felt the most uncomfortable driving was Manila. Bali driving is easier; perhaps about the same as driving in urban parts of the Caribbean.
If you are willing to make the effort to use Bahasa Indonesia, you will never get lost. I speak it with the grace and sophistication of a three year old, and I can still usually get my point across. Just roll down the window and ask any local.
I did have one encounter with the local police, in Denpasar. I made an illegal turn, which was signposted. So I knew I was certainly wrong. I went with the policeman to his police box for negotiations. I admit, I did tell a small fib to the man which had a bearing on our negotiations. I told him I was a high school math teacher (high status but low pay). So we settled the violation for Rp 50000. He enjoyed our encounter, as he gave us a police escort to our destination complete with flashing lights.
I've driven in 24 different countries on 5 continents. The only place I visited that I felt too uncomfortable to drive at all was Cairo. The place I felt the most uncomfortable driving was Manila. Bali driving is easier; perhaps about the same as driving in urban parts of the Caribbean.
Jan 28, 2010, 3:23 am
#84
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
In Bali driving a car or moped you will get stopped several times by the corrupt police and you have to pay them money to dismiss the trumped up charge. If you have an accident it is your fault as under Bali law they were there before you and if you had not come the accident would not have happened. Keep your wits about you at all times in Bali as you are fair game no matter where you come from and what hotel you stay at.
When I was in Bali a few years ago I ran into a couple from Germany who were studying Indonisian in Jakarta.
They had rented a motor bike and been shaken down four times in two days by the fuzz. And, they spoke the language and knew the local ropes.
Feb 13, 2010, 1:41 pm
#85
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: SFO
Programs: AA EXP 3 MM
Posts: 4,576
I just came back from Bali and used Dewa Marco for three days of driving. Our driver was Pedro for all three days. He was an excellent driver. He spoke English very well.
For the first two days, Pedro took my parents around the island while I stayed behind at the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua. My parents told me that Pedro was very kind and courteous. They also said Pedro never made an attempt to pressure them to go shopping, which is all too common in Thailand.
On the third day, he drove me from the Four Seasons Sayan to the airport. I also found him very friendly and courteous. I asked him if it was ok to stop somewhere for lunch and he happily agreed. I of course paid for his lunch with was came to only Rp 6,000 for both of us at a roadside warung.
Pedro told me that he speaks a little bit of Japanese and he is starting to learn French. Bon courage to him!
For the first two days, Pedro took my parents around the island while I stayed behind at the Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua. My parents told me that Pedro was very kind and courteous. They also said Pedro never made an attempt to pressure them to go shopping, which is all too common in Thailand.
On the third day, he drove me from the Four Seasons Sayan to the airport. I also found him very friendly and courteous. I asked him if it was ok to stop somewhere for lunch and he happily agreed. I of course paid for his lunch with was came to only Rp 6,000 for both of us at a roadside warung.
Pedro told me that he speaks a little bit of Japanese and he is starting to learn French. Bon courage to him!
Feb 15, 2010, 10:04 am
#86
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: MESA, AZ USA
Posts: 260
We have been to Bali multiple times and use a driver by the name of Sila. He is great. He does not limit your day to 8 hours a full day is from morning to evening. He is wonderfull and takes you on great tours. You can reach Sila at http://funwithsila.blogspot.com/. I cannot recommend him high enough.
Feb 17, 2010, 5:16 pm
#87
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: PMD-ORD-AZO-ILO-NRT
Programs: UA 1K, BD Silver, Amtrak Select, SPG & PCR Plat/ICH Amb, AA, AS, DL, PR
Posts: 744
Another satisfied user of Dewa Marco and Co. here! I had his brother-in-law as a guide and was able to cover as much ground than what I would've done myself on a single day! Well worth the 500k! ^
Feb 20, 2010, 4:17 am
#88
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N Charleston South Carolina
Programs: UA PM (by 2MM), DL GM (by 3.5MM), Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 1,655
Just got back from Bali myself. Had a wonderful english speaking driver/tour guide by the name of Sang Made Merta. He charged me 450K/day and took me to some great tourist spots as well as some off the beaten path nature stuff. Also took me to his home compound. We had many long discussions about different cultures and history - quite educational!
His email address is: [email protected]
I highly recommend him.
Billy
His email address is: [email protected]
I highly recommend him.
Billy
Feb 25, 2010, 3:00 pm
#89
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,657
Ok so we tried Marco - didn't actually get him but we got one of his drivers, I believe his name was empat (four). Took us around.
The boyfriend loved the convenience, however, he was not too impressed with the driver. I guess the boyfriend expected our "tour guide" to be more engaging, and explain things as we went along. Our driver, kept silent most of the time.
The service is reliable. Our driver waited for us while the boyfriend went shopping, and waited for us while we went out to dinner
To reach marco, via cellphone from the island, don't use the plus sign on a gsm phone, instead its 0 81 239 18718
The boyfriend loved the convenience, however, he was not too impressed with the driver. I guess the boyfriend expected our "tour guide" to be more engaging, and explain things as we went along. Our driver, kept silent most of the time.
The service is reliable. Our driver waited for us while the boyfriend went shopping, and waited for us while we went out to dinner
To reach marco, via cellphone from the island, don't use the plus sign on a gsm phone, instead its 0 81 239 18718
Last edited by meFIRST; Sep 10, 2010 at 11:18 am
Sep 9, 2010, 5:39 pm
#90
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: LAS
Programs: AA EXP (2.4 MM)
Posts: 97
Another satisfied customer...
Dewa Marco and Team were tremendous.
Just returned from Bali, where we used the company twice for full day tours because of recommendations here on FlyerTalk.
First tour our driver was Susila, one of Dewa's drivers and on the second tour, we got Dewa, himself.
Both were very engaging and knowledgable. Being first time visitors to Bali, we had many questions and they did not disappoint in providing information.
Swift email responses and promptly at our hotel the day of the tours.
We will certainly be repeat customers if (when) we make it back to Bali.^
Just returned from Bali, where we used the company twice for full day tours because of recommendations here on FlyerTalk.
First tour our driver was Susila, one of Dewa's drivers and on the second tour, we got Dewa, himself.
Both were very engaging and knowledgable. Being first time visitors to Bali, we had many questions and they did not disappoint in providing information.
Swift email responses and promptly at our hotel the day of the tours.
We will certainly be repeat customers if (when) we make it back to Bali.^