Yes, as per my example, DO NOT buy the Express service on arrival. Your just asking for trouble!

(My TR mentions a French girl who had her passport go AWOL thanks to one of those Express On Arrival people - she was horrified, poor thing)

Thanks Hayden. I would certainly have taken your advice about VOA VIP service - whether paying prior to or at the airport, having my passport taken out of my possession by non-government airport officials for an additional $25 or $30 'VIP' fee in IMHO is plain and simple, nutty. I have no desire to start of my vacation with that type of disaster.

PS - Looking forward to visiting Sydney after our 11 days in Bali. J Class on A380 SQ on the way there, and F Class on Thai on the way back to BKK.

David

Do us a favor and check with the hotel on what they say about this expedited VIP service. Ask that 5 star luxury resort if they endorse it. Again, I've only used this service booked and paid through the hotel (as part of my hotel charges at checkout). Please share with us what they say.

"...Lesson: Bali Airport is a corrupt hole..."

Wrong. Bali Airport is not a corrupt hole: a few individuals are greedy, some people are gullible, and most travellers don't understand how it works. Here's how....

There are five types of operators that offer Fast Track meet & assist services at DPS [and at CGK too]

1. Opportunists - mainly in Bali: who look for and prey on tired and fed-up travellers in the line and offer to help. They are unlicensed airport staff (cleaners, reps, security guys, even it is said a few rogue IOs) etc. Here, just as you should with taxi touts in Indonesia, AVOID THEM!

2. Bonafide Brokers - who actually handle the orders coming from from hotels / agencies - they won't offer to help people in a line (they are not allowed to), they only handle pre-booked jobs. Whilst usually OK, their service may be suspended during spot inspections and VVIP conferences. CHEAPER. DIFFICULT TO FIND. MUST PRE-BOOK. NOT A VIABLE OPTION FOR MOST PAX.

3. Indonesian Organizers - like the on line websites like dot coms BaliConcierge, AirportJakarta, Bali-FastTrack, AsiaFastTrack + others. They manage prebooked jobs for Banks (eg HSBC, Citi, SCB), for top Hotels, and for hi end Credit Card Clients (eg Amex Centurion, VISA Infinite). They typically use one or more legitimate operators - RELIABLE; MID PRICE, usually BOOKABLE ON LINE

4. GroundHandlers like PT JAS or PT Gapura - they typically manage VIP services for airlines, not ad hoc bookings (exception is PT JAS who have recent launched a retail facing service "ASA" with lots of bells and whistles and priced accordingly). They are generally difficult for private travellers to book, may be expensive, but have professional standards and importantly (especially in Bali) they are unaffected by most inspections: they can also penetrate closer to the aircraft door than the local brokers

5. Foreign Networks: like dot com yQnow and dot co dot uk Diamond-Air - they are very expensive and actually provide the same services as local organizers. If money is no object, then their english speaking interface and click based booking makes them useful.

In this author's opinion, the best bet is to find and use an option 3. an Indonesian Organizer. Typing a few key words into Google like "bali fast
track meet greet" will yield some choices.

Bali is not a corrupt hole. These sorts of services are available an hundreds of airports round the world, if you know how to book and want to spend the dosh.

daberlin, did you check with your luxury resort on the expedited immigration service?

Yes, I did check - the Viceroy - our first stop in Bali before we move to Villa Joss and Villa Vajra for the remainder of our two week trip to Bali, does offer this service as you and others have previously posted. I've asked them to simple handle the transportation as I've completed the Visa process in LA for both my wife and myself. We travel over on the 9th of March. I'll report out on our experiences. For info, I've suggested to our friends who come over two days later to do the opposite of what we did, use the hotel service as you've suggested, so we'll have two data points within two days of each other. We'll see how it all goes.

You must have misread my post?

I was shortchanged by a dodgy operator. What does this say about the airport that allowed that dodgy operator to operate? Dodgy.

Anyone that says that Bali is NOT corrupt (in a general sense e.g. Police and other authorities) is clearly misguided.

Whilst I admire Charles Pollard standing up for the handlers, anyone going through Indonesian airports on a regular basis can see the scams being played out in front of your eyes, but they happen all over Asia, and as regular flyers we should involve ourselves, but we don't. I suppose I should say, I don't.

It is just not Denpasar, in Bangkok the well dressed gentleman on the street approaches an awkward tourist with a unfolded map, you know what happens next, in Shenzhen a uniform man at immigration takes your bag and says taxi to the hotel, once more you realise once you pass the taxi stands that all is not right. It happens in KL, Singapore, the Cambodian docks and all along Vietnam's coastline, but the beggars in Europe have been throwing baby dolls to tourist for years as they fleece their prey.

As each new generation learns about the travel scams, another generation comes up, the scammers don't even have to change.

Even after years of travel, you still get caught, I smile to myself when it happens and comment, that was smart, I always like to work out how a good con works and quickly move on. It is part of travel and you cannot afford to waste too much time on them as in most cases it is only small change to you anyway

Flew into DPS yesterday and went the regular visa on arrival route. It was unbelievable fast. We were on a cx 777 but about 5 rows back in Y. Walked up to buy VOA ..... 30 seconds at the most. Walked 30 seconds to Immigration and that process took about a minute!! Then had to wait about 10-15 for luggage.

Only issue so far has been the money changers in Kuta. I got money from an ATM with no problem but my friend went to some money changers. She wanted to change 5 $20USD = $100USD. They advertize a rate of 9345 when the current Yahoo rate is about 8940..... first sign of trouble. They will handle your money and check it very carefully. Then they count out RP and hand you the money, the money was significantly short after you count it( lots of bills). Then the money changer will say you only gave them only 4 $20. Similar issues happen at 2 different places. My friend is very streetwise and got all of her money back...... watch out. My suggestion is if the rate is too good to be true.... it likely is.

+1...scams happen all over the world. I'm sure it exist all over asia but also in Europe, Mexico, even in the US for unlicensed cabs that wander some airports I have been to. Its the street smarts of travelers that determine if these scammers are successful in what they do but I don't think labeling an airport corrupt is correct unless EVERYONE there is in on the scam. Have been to Bali before (actually asked a question on the SQ forum abt fast track for C class pax in Bali) and went through without any issue whatsoever in 2010.

You can get fast tracked on arrival. there will be guys standing there offering the service. While i agree that there are those with a willingness to scam if given the chance, generally speaking you won't have any problems so loang as you are an aware traveler.

Pay no more than IDR150'000 for the fast track service on top of the US25 entry fee. Expect that they will try and get more money out of you by requesting an exuberant fee, however combat this with an offer of IDR150'00.. if they say 'no' walk away and ask one of the countless other guys offering this service.

There are sites now (search bali fast track google) in which you can book this service before arrival should you not want to risk it's availability on arrival.

Hi madison8, around what time did your flight get into Bali? I don't mind waiting for 10-15 minutes, but if it's much longer, maybe it makes sense to pay for a fast track service.

Arrived about 2:45pm on a Tuesday

Www.voabali.com. Is the company I use. Have nil issue handing over our passports for the processing, it is the same at FRA at the LH FCL or in SIN at Jetquay.

Have used this service on multiple trips since 2009, sometimes it is quicker sometimes it's the same time, you can never pick it even forward planning with arrivals.

Taken from 10 mins aircraft door to taxi to 35 mins, one trip the couple behind us in row 3 J class arrived at the same resort 2 hours after we did.

I travelled through DPS frequently for the last 3 years, the best solution is a personal contact / aide who you should email before you travel and he will chaperone you through the process in 15 minutes flat. I used to lose a lot of time here before I worked that out.

I am always curious why it is that the countries who insert the largest Visa stickers in our passport tend to be those where there is an element of chaos.