Experiences Using Grab in Bali/Ubud
 

Note: this post is largely continuation of the following tread - https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/asia...uber-bali.html but considering that Uber is done from SEA market, I think separate thread is warranted.

Second day in Ubud, fifth visit here last 4 years.

So today twice I used Grab in/around Ubud. Yes, I know that local taxi mafia succeeded in banning them in Ubud as well as in DPS. However, you CAN find cars with grab if you bother to open your app and do the booking. And you SHOULD do it, here is why.

First trip was from the center of Ubud to Tegallalang, where shops are (visiting them was complete waste of time, but it is another story). So we went at this corner 'taxi booth' and asked price. Was given 180K ONE WAY. When I started to walking out, price dropped to 150K but that was it. So I opened app, and after waiting about 7min until the driver managed to get thru Ubud traffic I and my companions were on or way. Price for trip - 40k IDR. So, originally I was quoted 4.5 times of Grab's price and even after 'discount' it was still >3.5x Grab's price.

Once we got there and figured out that this was not the place we've been looking for, then the question came how we could get back. Keep in mind - this is not a touristy place there there are no booth with tours/taxi/etc. So we had to walk down for about 30-40 min until I managed to get another booking with Grab to take us back to Ubud. Price - 30K. And I did give to the driver 20K tip.

Now, regarding the experience. I asked both drivers and despite the language barrier I understood that nobody forced them to work with Grab. It is their choice. Then - both cars were clean and good condition. Thirdly - about prices for trip - I wrote above.

If we, travellers, submit the the 'arguments' that Grab (and Uber before) are taking livelihood from 'poor taxi drivers' than I can tell you thank we will be doom to be cheated, scammed, etc, etc, etc. I personally do not buy these arguments and suggest you do the same.

P.S. Grab's price to get from DPS to Ubud is $170K. It is 300K if you arrange with driver in advance and 500K and sky's the limit if you try to get 'taxi' at the airport.

If you have to take a cab make sure it's either bluebird or nothing. Don't ever waste your time on someone else there, it's pointless and 99.9% they're just trying to scam you. Grab works fine, most of the drivers still ask you to not "wait suspiciously", as they might get in trouble with the local taxi mafia tho.

How many taxies were available? Probably it is like with Grab - officially they are banned but you still can get car if you are lucky.

I don’t think Bluebird shows how many are available. Banned by whom?

There's even Grab booth now in airport in domestic arrivals, which I didn't use myself. Since I arrived in the middle of the night I had booked transfer via hotel, 40k for few minutes drive and we all know hotels always overcharge. When I was looking for my driver I was approached by a "official taxidriver", asked him for a quote to amuse myself, got a "very good price" of 300k :D
Took a Grab to Geger Beach in Nusa Dua the other day. No problems getting there but nobody accepted the booking for return trip, despite several cars nearby. Walked about 15 min and managed to book in front of some restaurant. Driver's English wasn't very good, but apparently "bad things" can happen if they try to pick up customers from the beach. And couple more drivers have mentioned that they would never go to Ubud.
Last year I stayed in Candidasa, was possible to book Grab/Uber there, but it sometimes took couple of hours. From Kuta to Candidasa was 200-250k with Grab vs 600+k with "honest hard-working" taxi driver.

Local taxi mafia enforced by police and authorities.

Well, Bluebird are local taxis, so not banned I guess.