Just wanted to write a few quick notes for first timers from my first time which has just been completed. These are warnings so sound negative, but I want to add that other than these I had the best time in Bali and just love it. I'll be back there really soon.
Jimbaryan Bay Sea Food.
Taxi Driver took us to the Ulawatu restaurant. Looked really good with lots of people. Looked at the prices then went up to order. The amount of prawns for 1kg looked pitifully small so I pulled out my water and weighted it. A 600ml water bottle (which should weigh around 600gms), weighed 1.7kg on their scales. The lobster was 275000 rph a kg so with 1kg on their scales being equivalent to 2.8 "real" kg, the actual price per kg was $118 Aussie a kg. Not the "cheap" seafood its cracked up to be. So we went walking and put the old water on each and every scale we could find in search of an honest trader only to find they were all out to some degree.
In the end we just picked on with cheap prices (100000rph for lobster), fresh seafood and scales that weren't to bad (i.e. 1.2kg for a 600g wter bottle). The food was fantastic, the setting lovely and the price just fine at the end of the day. The moral, don't get to caught up on the scales being out 'cause they all seem to be, just choose one with good seafood and negotiate a good price.
Time Share.
Not really a scam, but a definite annoyance. There are two styles of getting you in. The first is a guy or two on a motor bike who pulls up, offers you a card about the size of a post card. He tells you its "free" and that he's "not selling". I said no the first few times and walked off. After a while I grabbed one to look, but he wouldn't let me go as he wanted to "explain it to me". I gave it back and walked off.
The second style of sucking you in is a survey. There are heaps of them around, particularly Kuta Square and the entrance to the Jayakarta hotel from the beach, but probably elsewhere as well. I filled it in, thinking I was doing my bit to improve Bali tourism. Three days later I received a call in my hotel telling me I had won first prize in a daily draw giving me 5 days accommodation in a luxury resort, plus $300 US in spending money. My suspicion grew when firstly this was said to be a daily draw. Thats a lot of prizes and secondly I had to come down to pick it up in person where the prize would be explained to me over breakfast. A taxi was offered to pick me up right away. I just told him I had a motorcycle (not a lie) and then didn't show up.
Talking around after this, I found that both are time share selling arrangements. They may be legit (i guess), if your keen on time share, but if your not, a 90 minute selling presentation by a British or American sales person, then the hard sell and some aggression needed to get out the door does not sound like a fun holiday activity to me. I also understand the "Prize" is only if you sign up for timeshare.
Talking around after this, I found that both are time share selling arrangements. They may be legit (i guess), if your keen on time share, but if your not, a 90 minute selling presentation by a brittish or american sales person, then the hard sell and some agression needed to get out the door does not sound like a fun holiday activity to me. I also understand the "Prize" is only if you sign up for timeshare.