Flew in yesterday arvo. Perth Airport was a shambles. We had done online checkin with AA & only had hand luggage so were to go straight to immigration. They had it shut till 10am with a line back to the escalator. There was a 10.30 Jetstar flight to Lombok so some of them were stressing but when they opened the doors they had plenty of staff on so line moved quick. Only Dome open downstairs and the little cafe upstairs.
Flight good with AA , arr'd 10mins late & bussed to terminal as usual.
Arrived 3.15pm - maybe not a great time to arrive? Big China jumbo in and a few A330's. VOA $35 - no wait for that but then massive lines with minimal organisation. As you stepped past the VOA booth crowds were back to there & wound to the left & then all the way back around the other side in big circle before coming back, nobody could work out where the line started.
Ended up being 1hr 20mins -longest I've ever waited in 20+ trips, lucky no kids this short weekender trip but plenty of young kids in the line & so well behaved I must say, didn't see one child acting up as you imagine they would be.
There was certainly some deals being done to get thru VIP - I had a laugh when I saw the young 20ish guy and his wife and family group went this option. He'd told me on the plane he would NEVER do this when I mentioned we'd done it once a few years ago - changed his tune when they saw the massive crowds! We nearly did it but ended up just waiting.
Out the door to our hotel arranged transport which was free pick up to Kuta Paradiso - so glad he was there waiting, said he'd been waiting 1 1/2 hrs & his friend was still waiting after 2hrs. Gave him what I hope was a reasonable amount for his time.
Very quick to hotel (5mins). Hotel is very nice what we've seen so far - my husband did mention however he went out for a smoke this AM to see a man 2 balconies down taking a leak off the balcony, 1st floor - maybe his toilet was broken?
Dinner at UN's last night - very good as usual. Changed $500 at Matahari moneychanger, no issues - rate there 10,750. Was 10,850 - 10,900 on street.
Going to check out breckie now - hope its good!