In Reply to: 6 nights to go and I'm starting to worry posted by Wayne on Sunday, 18. April 1999 at 00:32 Bali Time:
Hi Wayne! we just got back last Tues. from Bali. We live in USA. We had lived in Indonesia many years ago and my husband and I do speak a little Indonesian (my husband much better than I). I really didn't have much experience with mossie's at all. Although our hotel (ritzy) sprayed all the time, they sent notices around every few days. But even when we went on tours we didn't notice very many and it was pretty rainy the first few days. It should start to dry up now as the rainy season is ending. We ate at the hotel, out at Nusa Dua and up in Ubud plus several times at places on tour routes, didn't have even a slight stomach problem. You really can go on day trips from your hotel and we brought $300 US of rupes at the airport, charged the stuff at the hotel and the one place I bought soveneres(sp?) and didn't need anymore. Check the few money changers at the airport the one toward the exit door gave the best rate(at least when we were there). And we didn't spend anymore. I think you could negotiate for a driver in Kuta pretty easy and they would come get you everyday. We didn't, because of lots of bikes and traffic rent a car, but people we knew did for $700,000rp for 11 days with ins. Divide that by $1 US to 8500rp. Pretty cheap, a new Suzuki. Or a driver and car, plus you feed him for 100,000 to 200,000rp a day (that was the rate we heard). You can take the buses or taxi's, but figure out the money and ask at your hotel if your afraid of being ripped off what the rate or amount is. It is always more at nite. The advise Sue gave to travel in early morning or at nite is really good. It gets hot in day, the evening everyone is out till 10pm. The Balinese are the most gracious and kind people you will meet (Kuta is an exception-the touts are bad there)but everywhere else we were treated very well and polite,not pushy at all. You really don't have to worry. You should bargin, I always said 60% less and came up to 50%. My goal was to pay a fair price not beat these people in to submission. They only make $40 or so a month + rice. Yes, they might charge you $2.00 more sometimes, but figure out what it is before you have a meltdown, usually it is very minor. We ate at our hotel, the Bali Cliff and had a wonderful meal. Drinks, crab cakes, I had lobster and my husband (he's allergic) had fish. This at the Ocean Restaurant, the grand total with 20% service charge was $36. So you see not too expensive. We had our best meal (our favorite) at a small restaurant across the street from the back of the market at Ubud. I had an avocado shake, my husband a mango shake, Indonesian chicken curry/w rice, and banana pancakes. This came to $3 total. So you can spend any thing you like on food and still get good food. Also no Bali belly at all. Have a great time, but it is hot and humid, don't try to do to much during mid day, drink water(bottled I guess, but I drank the tap water at the hotel?). Have a great time and enjoy an exotic, lovely place.