Bali Travel Answers

hey, i have little experience in Bali, but for the money exchange, in the airport isn't good currency.. you better change the money in the bank later.. or withdraw in ATM.. or it's also easier to use your credit card to pay, since now most places accept cards.. :) have fun!

I have a Fantastic Memories at Bali Island middle of this november... 1. Ubud is cultural place must you see and look every side...i recomend to u to cycling, so that you can reach all over the place with little effort.... 2. Snorkling best place at lovina , about 3 hours from ngurah rai airport.. 3. i never doing before.. 4. For easy way to travel at kuta area i suggest u to use motorcycle rental which i use last visiting, because traffic more busy than last year... 5. art market is in central city they said "erlangga shop"...there's more cheaper than matahari, sorry i did not have experiences at thailand... hope you get best holiday...

I agree that airport might not be the best places neither your home-countries. We did some small exchange from the airport to spend the time until we did the rest from BMC shops, reliable and spread around the island..

2)I think if you want to snorkle, you can go to Lembongan island There is public ferry that departure From Sanur in the morning or, try Padang Padang beach, but I am not sure able to snorkle in there 3)I used to rafting at Ayun River, to me it was nice as well 4)I suggested to rent motorbike, if it's closed or rent a car if the area pretty close Have a nice trip, Rini

I don't I plan to hire a car and driver to go around for the whole day, how about getting from 1 point to another. Are the taxis reliable?

short distances at kuta only I recommend to rent a bicycle..

You’re off to a good start thinking about hiring a private driver and getting out of southern Bali to see the “real” Bali. Truly, this is the only way to experience Bali. I can recommend a very good driver who I use regularly and who is based in Nusa Dua. His name is I Putu Aribawa (Putu is fine) and his hand phone is 081555621368, or you can e-mail him at aribawa_51@yahoo.com. As for white water rafting please keep in mind that you will be here during our wet season and the rivers can run pretty wild during that time. Two very professional operators I can suggest…Sobek and Bali Adventure Tours. If you decide to go for it, then raft the sacred Ayung River as it is the best and far more interesting. IMHO the best snorkeling on Bali is on the USS Liberty wreck in the village of Tulamben just northwest of Amed on the east coast of Bali. The wreck is very shallow and it’s a favorite site of most divers and snorkellers alike. The diversity of sea life to be found there is unlike that which you will ever encounter. The exchange rate at Ngurah Rai airport is fine so long as you use PT Central Kuta. Their rate is better than any other money changers. Bank are the last place on Bali you want to exchange money, and in fact, many won’t exchange currency unless you have an account with them. PT Central Kuta has offices all over Bali and they are the hands down most used, most trusted and reliable money changers on Bali. Any long time expat living here, (like myself) will tell you the same thing. ATMs are OK, but keep in mind that the exchange rate will not be very good, you’ll likely have fees attached to every transaction, and you always run the risk of the machine eating your card. In the southern part of Bali…Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Sanur there are very reliable metered cabs for getting about locally. The most trusted cab company is called Blue Bird Taxi…and I suggest you stick to them. Yes, there are many traditional markets in Bali. The two best are in Sukawati and the other is in my home of Ubud. Bargaining is expected…just like in Bangkok. So, that’s a few thoughts from me…all designed to make your second trip to Bali a most pleasurable experience for you. Cheers!

Thanks Ubudian for your advice and very useful tips. I know about the liberty dive site near Amed. In fact I stayed in Amed the last time I was in Bali and enjoyed the snorkeling off Amed. Do you have any thoughts about a cycling tour through real bali villages in Ubud or other interesting places?

You can rent both motorbikes or bicycles very easily in Ubud, and yes, they are a great way to cheaply and independently get around Ubud and its environs. I can fully understand the urge to explore on your own. That is one of the great joys of travel anywhere in the world. That said I cannot over emphasis caution when riding around, as the roads are often in bad shape and the traffic, especially in central Ubud, can be intense. It’s very easy to become intoxicated by the amazing beauty to be found here and as a result, to loose focus. When you find a spot you really like, stop and get off your bike and enjoy the view. Bring a rain poncho with a hood along with you as the chances of getting caught in strong rain shower is pretty good, but usually these rains won’t last for long. In order to rent a motorbike you’ll need an international driving license which can be easily obtained through your country’s Automobile Club…AAA in the US for example. I remember very well my first trip to Bali which was a few years before I ended up moving here. It was like a great appetizer in a wonderful restaurant. It tasted fabulous, but it didn’t satisfy my hunger. My second trip was the entrée, and the deeper I delved into Bali, the more I fell in love with her. You will likely experience the same thing on your second trip. Beware though, the more folks come back to Bali, the more difficult they find it to leave. Cheers, and have a great return visit.