For excursions with driver who also would be the guide, there was a fixed per hour rate at Amankila. Not expensive compared to European taxi prices but FAR about what you would pay for taxi or other kind of car with driver at Bali. Much better, though. Knowledgeable, speaking English well, drinks and cold towels, brought sarongs when needed etc. We have experienced same level of drivers at FS as well but have never tried to ask at a FS to find and take us to a specific local religious ceremony. However, we have had FS drivers stop at markets with us, show us sights etc.

This was not an Aman activity in terms of being something one would be able to book. This specific ceremony was huge and would take place not even every year. It was a whole day event, really big, but there are similar and smaller ceremonies "all the time" at Bali that one can witness, even inside the hotel areas (offerings and hotel temples etc.) What Aman does really well at Dari for example is that they are very closely connected to the local village where many employees live and they let tourist take place during very small and intimate local ceremonies in this village, almost as part of the village people. We would for example go to the local temple to give offerings after the cooking class at Bali. This is something that no FS does - at least not the ones that I have been to. But find and take you to a larger ceremony, I guess they could have done. But they have never been as good as Amans in terms of making you aware of these things. I remember being at FS Jimbaran during Ogoh-ogoh and nyepi three years ago. We saw the Ogoh-ogoh being carried around and out of the FS by the staff, asked reception wether we should go and have a look at the happening at night. We were not really told what to expect and ended up not going (wrong!)