From the airport to the city centre Bali
Ngurah Rai International Airport. It's generically known as Denpasar airport, but it's actually well south of the city, closer to Kuta and Jimbaran than to the capital, and is located on the strait linking Bali and the Bukit peninsula. If you want to stay close to the airport, choose accommodation in Tuban/Kuta. The airport has Visa, MasterCard and Cirrus ATMs inside and outside. When you arrive, you can connect to the airport's wifi free of charge. Arrivals are on the first floor and departures on the third floor. Restaurants and fast-food out lets await you, and nearby, several open-air Indonesian restaurants serve good, inexpensive food. Currency exchange is available, but at a lower rate than in Kuta or the city. You can also post your mail here.
Practical : you can apply for your e-visa online directly from the official website www.molina.imigrasi.go.id, avoiding the queues and using the automatic gates
.From the airport in Denpasar, to Kuta, Legian and Seminyak. At the airport, the official cab counter (with a table showing fares to the island's main destinations) is located just to the right of the international terminal exit. Here you can buy your cab ticket. You can also negotiate with a private individual in the parking lot, but it's best to know the prices beforehand, as they often charge exorbitant sums. The airport is around ten kilometers from the capital, and you can travel between the two by prepaid cab using this system (around Rp 200,000 - but prices vary with the price of oil) or cab with taximeter from Denpasar.
If you already have a reservation with a hotel, negotiate a transfer, which is sometimes more cost-effective.
Arrival by boat Bali
Ferries run regularly between Lombok, Bali and Nusa Tenggara. Getting from one island to another is easy, if a little time-consuming. From Bali, you can reach Java (from Gilimanuk) in 30 minutes; and Lombok in 5 to 6 hours by public ferry, or 2h30 by speedboat.
Public transport Bali
By plane. There are no domestic flights to Bali, as the island is too small. To get to Lombok, however, you can take one of the reliable Indonesian airlines, such as Garuda.
Bémos. Public transport in Bali used to consist mainly of bémos and a few minibuses. Bémos are minibuses (Nissan Vanette style), generally quite old, which hold around 15 passengers. It is now very difficult to find them, as many lines have been abolished by the government. You may see them occasionally in local markets. If you are tempted, it's hard to know the local fare, as drivers always try to charge tourists more! Observe what other travellers pay, or ask them discreetly. In front of the driver, act as if you know the fare.
Tourist buses. In Bali, given the distances involved, large tourist buses are rare. They're relatively comfortable; you'll have air-conditioning, toilets and, if you're lucky, a TV with karaoke tunes that your neighbor can sing along to... These buses leave at a specific time, and you buy your ticket in advance from a travel agency that organizes the whole trip for you.
Bike, scooters & co Bali
Motorcycle/scooter. Motorcycles remain the best way to get around for travellers who love discovery and surprises. It lets you slip through traffic jams, stop anywhere, take paths with little traffic, and even get stuck in the mud.
Nevertheless, motorcycle riding requires dexterity, reflexes and anticipation, especially in Bali. First of all, drive on the left. The rental company will ask you for your international driving license. Most travellers are not used to motorcycles and imagine that driving one will be simple and easy. But no! On the contrary, it requires a great deal of precision. The main disadvantages of motorcycling are traffic risks. When you pass a car, the latter will take up the whole width of the road to overtake, and will only pull over at the last moment. The use of turn signals is also... hypothetical. Motorcycling is therefore a difficult and tiring exercise. Constant vigilance becomes exhausting. Wearing a helmet is compulsory, even if Indonesians don't usually wear them (or else they're a nut shell that protects nothing). So don't follow their example, and don't forget that you're not immortal. Rain, wind and intense heat will take their toll on you. Don't forget the exhaust pipe: it gets hot very quickly, and when you have to tilt the bike for an untimely reason, it's there, in the calf, that the burn hurts.... Look around you and you'll see that many inattentive foreigners are left with a beautiful scar. An international driving licence is compulsory, or you'll be fined if you're stopped by the police.
Bicycles. The little queen is not really used in Indonesia, although tourists use it a lot in Bali. The bicycle is a pleasant way to visit a city and its surroundings. Its moderate pace lets you take your time and enjoy the sights and situations of everyday Indonesian life. Of course, the slopes of the roads, the hills and the narrow lanes will require effort and caution. Avoid cycling in Denpasar and other busy areas, as it can be particularly dangerous. You can rent bicycles in Bali's main tourist centers for Rp 50,000 a day.
With a driver Bali
Many agencies offer chauffeur-driven car rentals. It's the safest and most comfortable way to visit Bali without a hitch. For as little as Rp 600,000 a day, you can be driven to the four corners of the island. However, it's important to agree on the price and itinerary at the start of the day to avoid any misunderstandings or untimely surcharges.
Cabs are generally equipped with meters. When they don't, you must agree the fare with the driver in advance. If you don't, you could be in for a surprise when you arrive at your destination. Bali's best cabs are the Blue Birds, recognizable from afar by their sky-blue, metered color.
A veritable revolution in Indonesian transport, applications such as Gojek or Grab enable you to book your motorcycle cab or chauffeur-driven car in just a few clicks. At an unbeatable price, you can easily use this app in major cities.
The advantage: it's reliable and fairly priced. The fare is calculated by the app, and is generally half the price of a cab. To use it, you need to download the application and have an Internet connection.
How do you get started? Download one (or both) applications - Indicate your destination and where to pick you up - Check the fare and confirm your order. You pay directly online or in cash, and the application asks you to rate the driver at the end of the journey. Off you go!
By car Bali
In Bali, it's extremely easy to get from one place to another: the road infrastructure is good (if you don't mind the driving style of some drivers...), and you can easily find a chauffeur-driven car on every street corner. Alternatively, you can contact any travel agency and they'll take care of everything. Just walk into the first one, state your destination and off you go. But always negotiate prices. There's always one factor to bear in mind, however: traffic jams, of which there are many on this densely populated island, especially in the Kuta area, where you can get stuck for long periods during rush hour. So, on the day of your departure, remember to leave early...
Road network. The road network is the least expensive means of communication, but by far the most tiring. Bali's roads, though paved, are simply exhausting. The only exceptions are the By Pass or Sunset Road in the south of the island around Denpasar, and the brand-new 12 km "highway on the water", which links Benoa to Nusa Dua.
Driving. In Bali, road accidents are the leading cause of death among tourists. In Indonesia, people drive on the left, but trucks and buses drive in the middle. If you're on a scooter, your only recourse is to run into the ditch. Pedestrians, cyclists, horse-drawn carriages and the haphazard driving of hundreds of scooters and motorcycles throw you off balance at every turn, and your heart races when someone overtakes in third place, eating the kerb, or when your driver, with no visibility whatsoever, follows in the wake of his colleagues who are already overtaking in single file. Accidents are frequent and are always blamed on strangers. So be careful. You'll have to reckon with unlit vehicles at night, and with dogs or chickens swerving across your path. Other dangers include young children playing or walking on the side of the road, motorcycles themselves suddenly swerving or starting up, and the hypothetical and often misleading use of indicators. Beware of roadworks and signage, which can differ from or even be absent in Europe. A poorly-lit hole, a pile of gravel or a dog crossing surreptitiously can quickly turn deadly. Mountain roads sometimes have vertiginous slopes and the surface is badly damaged by run-off water. In the event of a puncture, bengkel (garages) will be able to carry out repairs, but beware of billing. If you rent a car, ask whether there's a deductible, or read the contract between the lines. In the event of an accident, go immediately to the nearest police station. Drive slowly so you don't run anyone over (we can't stress this enough)!
It's best to have an international driver's license. Ideally, apply early, at least three months in advance. You can apply online.
Tourist traps Bali
Hitchhiking. Not recommended, as you never know who you'll run into. In any case, it's not part of the national culture; hitchhiking generally means stopping the first cab that comes your way... and paying for the ride like everyone else.
