In Reply to: Scams?? posted by Loo on Monday, 29. August 2005 at 18:41 Bali Time:
This starts in Australia. Don't let your agent include transfers from the airport to your hotel. You just walk out of the terminal, turn right and a few metres on is the airport taxi booking office. A very cheap fixed price for a taxi to your hotel.
Airport porters. As long as you can comfortably handle your own luggage, with the help of a free airport trolley, then you don't need them. If you do want to give a couple of guys a bit of business, then an Australian $2 coin is enough.
Money changing. Don't be misled by the unusually high rate of exchange outside some places. They'll want commission and probably try to cheat you as well. Go to a Kodak shop, work it out for yourself, on your own calculator, and be the last one to count your money. But with a Kodak shop, you should be OK anyway.
Poppies 2 stand over people. Don't let them put a "friendship" bracelet on your wrist. If they manage to, just walk away. If your partner looks like he can look after himself, so much the better.
Time share. This in itself is not a scam. I have friends who are happy with their time share deals. I've been to a couple of presentations, but have no intention of buying. I've worked in marketing and don't feel intimidated. But you've probably got better things to do with your time, so don't fill in "surveys" or bother with "lucky tickets" where you have allegedly won tempting prizes. It's just a ruse to get you to a presentation.
Bargaining. Best left alone until you reckon that you've got the feel of the prices and the concept. You can get an idea of fair prices by going to places like Matahari and Geneva. The stall holders and hawkers aren't trying to rip you off. In Bali there's no such concept as the "right price". The right price for them is as much as they can possibly get. If you think that this is strange, just consider if you are selling a house, a block of land, an antique or a work of art in Australia. You'll get as much for it as you possibly can, won't you, regardless of what you paid for it.
Taxis. For short trips, make sure that the meter is on. The driver may "not have change". I'm happy to round up anyway to the next 5000 rupiah. Peanuts for us, food on the table for the taxi driver. For long trips, about 300,000 for all day, just about anywhere, is OK including petrol. When you stop to get yourself a cool drink, get one for your driver. He'll probably prefer water. If you invite him to have lunch with you, he will not take advantage of you by ordering something expensive.
What else? I don't know, most of us just enjoy Bali. The funny little thigs which happen are just part of the fun and part of the charm.