A few errors. 50k IDR is USD $3.75. Likely you are thinking AU$ and not US$. Uber does have a time element (standby, traffic, etc) for bookings. So if the Uber was still "on",
and you paid 50k IDR in cash, you paid twice. In Dec 2015, a driver said the hourly Uber standby rate was 35k per hour, billed through the app as a normal part of the trip.
Tolls are sometimes included. Certainly the 11k for the Benoa Bay toll. Also, DPS airport parking. This is detailed in the bill emailed to you.
Estimates don't account for the toll. If you have a long wait (Like Uluwatu), double check the distance traveled, as sometimes they will show you going on 60km trips, when you really only traveled 15km.
Originally Posted by
adventuroustraveller
Am currently in Bali. Have used uber several times.
1. Denpasar airport to Kuta. Booked my uber using free airport wifi. My pickup location was set as international arrivals or similar - I guessed the uber would come to the signposted pickup area so walked around the area looking for the licence plate. Was stalked by several taxi drivers / touts along the way, in particular one persistent one. I told all the touts I had a driver sent by a local Indonesian friend picking me up. At last I spotted the licence plate and got in #likeaboss i.e. Tried to look cool as if I knew the driver ��. The persistent tout followed me to the door and closely scrutinised the driver's face and licence plate. cost from airport to Kuta was under 25k IDR.
Tip: Tell the touts your driver is picking you up.
Using uber at the airport can be difficult and stressful as there are so many cars. This is whilst trying to look like you're not using uber and avoiding the touts. If you don't mind spending a bit more using your hotel pick up service or the official taxi booth, may be worth it.
2. Kuta beach to Uluwatu temple and back to Kuta. Total cost on uber was under US$20. I paid the driver IDR 50k (US$5) per hour of waiting time in cash. He picked me up in Kuta, didn't end the trip at Uluwatu and kept the uber meter going until I got back to Kuta. No hassles at Uluwatu since the touts didn't know I was in an uber, they all probably thought he was a regular driver.
Tip: was extremely worthwhile tipping the driver to wait at locations where there is no convenient transport back.
3. Uber from Kuta to local shopping disctrict. The final bill exceeded the uber quote. Driver was 5 star and spoke reasonable English so I asked him if he would drive me to ubud + day tour. He said IDR 150k one-way to ubud (cash, off uber) several times. I repeated this price back to him several times slowly and clearly for confirmation. I booked the trip with him and organised a time for pick up in the morning. Later he texted me saying he had made a mistake with the price, should be IDR 350k. Fair enough, but I cancelled nonetheless.
Tip: helps the drivers to find you amongst the hoards of tourists if you text them telling them what you look like and exactly where you are "I have long blonde hair and am in a green shirt and yellow pants in front of the blue frog cafe".
Uber quote Kuta to ubud was 100-150k IDR, I have heard of drivers trying to extort more once you get in the car.
Uber has been great on this trip. Most of the Bali taxi drivers / touts / mafia are very anti-uber / grabcar. I would not wish for the uber drivers to be beaten up by the mafia, so am very careful to maintain secrecy whilst using uber in Bali.
Tip: book uber discreetly away from prying eyes. Once you receive the text, memorise the driver's name and licence plate number. DON'T walk around holding up the uber app.
Some drivers fudge their licence plate numbers e.g. App will say ABCD1234 but the actual plate is ABDC1243. I can understand, given the current anti-uber sentiment.
Most uber drivers here speak limited English and are not familiar with tours. They are drivers, not tour guides. Almost all will try to negotiate with you to book them for a day of driving (off-uber).
You have to pay all tolls and parking, on top of uber.
Please feel free to ask me anything.