In Reply to: Driver or car rental? posted by gianni66 on Monday, 14. March 2005 at 19:28 Bali Time:
I have just returned from Bali. We hired a car in Candi Dasa and drove ourselves around that area through Amed up to Tulamben. I was very worried because like you I had heard all the stories and having been there 10 times already I knew the way things worked. My husband was insistant and I am so glad he was. It gave us the freedom to do whatever whenever. Out that area it is quiet and traffic is much more orderley, In australia we have much the same road rules and drive on the same side so not so difficult. We did have an internatiional Driving License and was asked for this every time. We only rented from proper agencies, (100,000 per day less for more days, you could not barter this at 3 places) not just off the street. When I asked him how much is good to give if we got picked up by the Police, he said if we did nothing wrong say, "I have to ring my office" and to ring his mobile. for him to talk to the Police. It appears that these companies pay an extra fee every 6 months to stop this. We hired a car/bike in Ubud CD Lovina and Kerobokan and never got picked up once even though we rode/drove past plenty of Police. I would now say If you are a confident driver, understand the road rules and are in the quieter areas go for it.