Bali

Hello Everyone

Looking at a short holiday with the Fiancee to bali in a couple of weeks using FF points and will be staying at a resort in Nusa Dua for 6 nights.

Having never been there, we are after a bit of advice from those that have on Do's and Dont's Etc
Mainly looking at a relaxing holiday, maybe a bit of site seeing and the best places for shoping and eating. Even Day trips that are worth doing.

So far I have
: Taxes on entry and exit.
: Only drink bottled water ( although i take it the resorts water will be safe)
: Don't import, buy, sell or use drugs.
: Watch for spiked drinks.
: Careful of the seafood, which we don't really eat anyway.
: Cops causing trouble to get bribes from you

Not new to traveling having been to Canada and South Africa, but seem to see and hear a few horror stories which we would like to avoid. Especially Bali Belly

Thanks.

 

Re - taxi's at the airport they will try to sting you. it should cost about $4 for a trip, and we used to pay about $30 - $40 for a whole day. That's fun - do that.

Watch money changers like a hawk and check before you walk away. They'll count it out so fast that you won't realise you're short until it's too late.

The waterbom park is great if you like waterslides

 

Thanks Jess.

I do Love a good waterslide. Will look into this

 

Over a decade since I've been, but here's what I remember

~ Ask the taxi to turn on their meter, otherwise they guesstimate their own fare at end
~ don't have ice in drinks for same reason as water
~ give a firm 'no' to street haglers not a 'maybe later', as they'll follow you forever
~ be very careful with exchanging money

 

Taxi's
Only use the "bluebird" taxi's as these are the only ones i've seen that actually have fare meters (they're fairly legit)
Don't let anyone touch your luggage at the airport, they'll want to carry it for you and then demand money.
The last hotel we stayed at still gave us bottled water for brushing our teeth etc, so don't assume the hotels water is safe to drink.
DVD's are ****

 

Notes taken

 

Don't go to Kuta Beach, which will also allow you to avoid buying Bin tang clothing of any sort, fake watches and the sorts of Australian that make none of us proud.

People will try help you with your bags at the airport, say no unless you are happy to spare the bucks.

My wife and I are very adventurous with food, but you can go further by avoiding fruit/veges, anything that will be washed that doesn't have its own skin.

Be environmentally conscious and leave the elephants alone.

Last of all, don't worry, and enjoy

 

+1 o Bluebirds
+11111 on the people that try and act like porters at the airport terminal and want money. A simple but firm no should suffice.
Bottled water for everything - hotel tap water is not safe

Nusa Dua is nice and a lot less 'Bali'. There is a Bali Collection shopping village there that has pretty good price but not the same as Kuta price - however is closer and traffic generally bad in Bali so saves time.

Look into the VIP entrance service at the airport, it's amazing awesome and bypasses every queue and takes the stress out of waiting behind a whole plane load of people paying their $25 Visa on Arrival. This is who we've used http://www.balifastforward.com/vip-service.html

 

If you're into activities, grab a good driver and they take you where ever you want. $50 all day including drinks.
We really liked the following activities..
Safari Park
White Water Rafting
Deep Sea Fishing
Quad Bike Riding
Tree Top Walks
Sight Seeing Ubud & Monkey Forest
Sight Seeing the Volcanoes
Sight Seeing Turtle Island
Jet Ski
Para Sailing
Jet boating
Shopping Trips
Waterbom Park

Then come back home for a rest.

 

Great tips, thanks peops.
Looks like alot to choose from.

@Rixter yeap looks like it will be back to work the next day to recover

 

What's the name of your accommodation?
We're in a holiday club and have stayed at lots of places . Each trip we check out the accommodation list our club has so we can the next place we want to stay for next trip.
We stay in resorts, Villas, etc Self contained is great.

 

@Rixter Nusa Dua beach hotel and spa. 5 star.

 

Very nice.....let us know what you thought of it. Always great to check out new places.

 

Will do. Was recommended by some friends so hopefully will be a great stay.

 

I was told about this on our first trip there.

The recommended thing is change money in lots of say; $200 or $500, for eg.,

Count out YOUR money in front of them, then let them do it to double check. If it's diffent; recount it again in front of them.

Then they will count out your exchanged money, but make sure YOU recount it back to them while they watch.

There is also often another person in the room, who they use to try and distract you with idle conversation.

Best to take another person with you so they can engage the "distractor".

After putting up with all that [email protected], the annoying beggars at every turn, and taxi spruikers, the airport luggage carriers...and so forth and so on - belt it up yer backside...rather pay more and go to an Aussies destination and not have any of that rubbish....keep our jobs in tourism.

Having slagged the place off; make sure you go to Jimbaran Bay for sunset dinner - exceptional.

 

Out of interest, what type room are you in and what's the tariff like?

 

A delux room and was around the $230 aus a night mark incl breakfast.

Looks good in the pictures so we will see lol

 

They have dodgy calculators also, I had done the math in my head, didn't add up, grabbed their calculator and typed 10 x 20 or something to test it, came back with 192. Cash machines are your best bet.

Actually people go somewhere else, plenty of better places. Indonesia doesn't deserve your patronage, we are not going there again.

 

Definitely would recommend only using the 'Bluebird' taxis. The driver's are great and very honest. The other alternative is getting a driver that you can trust. We found one after he did our transfers for water sports out near Nusa Dua. I can give you his details if you like but I'm sure you'll find one anyway!

I would personally just withdraw cash from ATM's - less hassle and to be honest I don't think it is much more costly than the foreign exchange places and definitely less worry.

I am more interested in exploring than going to the latest and greatest restaurants and found some great places just wandering around. The good thing is it is a very cheap taxi ride home if you can't be bothered walking back!

 

I spend a lot of time in bali,

Learn to say a little bit like thankyou, how are you and no in indonesian or bali language they will enjoy it hugely and leave you alone.

If riding a motorbike and your worried about getting pulled over only keep a small amount like 40 000 in your wallet then tell them your job in ozzie not good. If they see lots of notes in there they will be taking them. So store somewhere else secret.

Withdraw money from an atm dont worry about changing.

The best restaurant I recommend in bali is teppanyaki at legian it beats any jimbaran sunset dinner.

Go to ubud.