I just got back from Bali staying at the Four Points Seminyak so get extra SPG points for using Uber. I didn't do my research before I left and so didn't know that there's a massive issue using Uber on the island. However, we did manage to do our airport runs using the app after a while...

Arriving at the airport we were surprised how much hassle you get from various drivers from the moment you leave immigration. We've been all over SE Asia, lived here for five years, and I think Bali airport is the worst we've experienced. No matter, I used airport wifi to order an Uber and the Uber app told me to go to the International Departures level to meet my driver. So we did.

We watched the driver head vaguely towards the airport and then turn away and eventually park up somewhere. I took screenshots of this behaviour. He stayed parked up for about 15 minutes before I cancelled. I was charged the cancellation fee which I immediately appealed against and it was credited back to my account. Same thing happened with the next driver. The third driver was the same as the second so I cancelled it immediately. Fourth time lucky, the driver phoned me on WhatsApp and told me (good enough English) she couldn't pick me up from the airport but could I walk to the airport entrance. We did this (no footpath but only about five minutes walk when we knew where to go) and met up with her. From there, a good experience and the cost was just under IDR50k. We subsequently felt astonished about how little this journey had cost us after we'd worked out the exchange rate a bit later.

My question is why the Uber app tells you to go to the International Departures level for a pick up (in theory a good idea as there are no touts there and it's not congested) when the drivers can't/don't want to come into the airport grounds.

Returning to the airport six days later I ordered an Uber at the Four Points which is down a long side road. We watched the driver park up on the main road and he Whatsapp'd me asking where I was (which is always irritating because I'm exactly where I say on the Uber app). I got an "ok" but then no movement. The Four Points concierge asked what I was waiting for and I told him at which point he told me that Uber was banned. I then got a message from the driver telling me that the hotel was in a red zone and he couldn't get me. I asked him to wait on the main road and we walked (only hand luggage) to meet him there. On the journey to the airport he pointed out the posters banning Uber and Grab. Journey price again just under IDR 50k.

So, my takeaway is that if you know the workarounds then you can use Uber in Bali however the journey prices they charge are so low I don't know why the drivers do it.