I noticed Uber Black has launched in Bali and was wondering if anyone had any experiences using it? Specifically:

-Can they pick me up at DPS?
-Would they be willing to wait for me if I asked them to take me to Uluwatu or Tanah Lot or somewhere at the going rate on the Uber website of 600 Rupiah per minute?
-How hard is it to get one outside of the main areas of Denpasar and Kuta?

Bali - it seems that every second male person in Bali is a transport boy!!!!

There are more Bluebird (best taxi company) taxis on the rd than you can shake a stick at, and outside every hotel is a cluster of transport boys all offering you transport.

Every time you get into a taxi, you will be asked the same questions

Where you from?

First time in Bali?

What is your program?

The first two are easy to answer, the third is designed so you will say, I want to go visit the Volcano, and I want to go see some temples, and I have to go see sunset at Tanah Lot - and then I would like to do a round the island tour.

My answer is always, sit by the pool and drink Bintang (the local beer) which confuses the hell out of the driver, as not tourist would want to do that, when the taxi driver has a great aircon veh that just needs your butt on the back seat and an open wallet throwing hundreds of thousands of rupiah at the driver.

Taxi at the airport, go to the taxi window once you leave arrivals, set price for all destinations. No taxi rank as such, the allocated driver will take you to his taxi, avoid the porter he wants some rupiah too. (note the quoted set price is just under twice what the hotel to airport will cost on the meter)

Uber - I would not bother - give the money to the local drivers who need it to keep a roof over their head, and their kids in enough rice to fill the stomach.

For a full day tour be prepared to pay between 600 000 rupiah and 1 million - thats about $100 USD - pretty cheap for what you get.

i've used uber many times in bali, they are mostly in the kuta / seminyak area. They will go anywhere you want and you can always tell them to wait for you and pay them off uber. Perfect for when you can't find a bluebird or are somewhere that cabs don't frequent.

the rates were super reasonable and since the route is tracked you know that they didn't try and rip you off.

If you feel the need to tip, go ahead but the uber way is tip is included and not required.

Bluebird also has an app where you can use to e-hail a car to you. (minimum fare is in effect if you use the app or call a bluebird)

How does the pick-up at DPS airport work? Are there designated waiting areas?

If there is wifi in the arrivals area, I'll give it a try this weekend.

There is also Uber X a cheaper alternative service makes tension among the Uber Black drivers, hopefully in Bali they arrange everything without tension.

It works well but there is no designated waiting area at the airport, free wifi is available in the arrivals area. Usually after I booked a ride the driver will call me to inform where he will pick me up, most of the time near Circle K in the pick up area.

There is no Uber X yet in Bali right now.

Anyone with more recent experiences of Uber here? Planning on using it from the airport in a week when I arrive in DPS, so as not to get ripped off or haggled much as a foreigner.

If you do not stay at well known and large hotel/resort, I'd recommend to print the google map of the area/map and the route. You can't expect that driver will know all the hotel or way to get there.

I had a very positive experience last month. Ordered an Uber Black right after immigration with the free wifi. Was a bit back and forth via text message where to meet outside international arrivals. Car was nothing like a Uber Black - a cheap Japanese car. But clean and the driver spoke basic English. I had entered the destination in the app, so no directions where needed.

I paid IDR50'000 to Seminyak. My friend who took a regular taxi a few hours earlier had negotiated down to IDR150'000 fixed price.

Would recommend without hesitation.

Last weekend I again ordered an Uber through the free WiFi in the arrivals hall. By the time I got to the pick-up zone (I texted him next to "Coco Express") he was there. IDR49'000 for the half hour ride to Seminyak. Return in a regular cab by meter we paid IDR85'000.

What happened with the Jakarta Uber? I checked at the airport, and wasn't one available for 30 minutes, then read in the Post that there were only 3 Uber Cars in Jakarta as the other 7 had been confiscated - the remaining 3 had simply ignored orders to come in and hand over their cars

Has there been updates on whether uber will sneak through the common complaints found SE Asia in Jakarta?

Just sayin, that's about $3.50

Yes and while the price for a regular taxi is still affordable, Uber takes away all the hassle with finding your destination - especially if you are staying at a villa rather than a major hotel as well as the "sorry, no change" issue (though to be fair, with Bluebird taxi I haven't had bad experiences either).

Can I use the same uber app as in the US? Can I use English to type destination?

Sure.

Bad news though, I just read on the Bali Discovery blog that they have outlawed Uber in Bali.

Hopefully this will be backtracked soon. They tried this in Jakarta recently, but I think the President intervened.