Getting There
By Air
The Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) (+62 361 751 011 http://www.angkasapura1.co.id) lies 13 kilometers (eight miles) south of Denpasar between Kuta and Sanur (do not look for Bali on airline information flight boards for it is listed as Denpasar). Its two terminals accept the following major airlines:
Air Asia (+603 8660 4343/http://www.airasia.com)
Air France (+1 800 237 2747/http://www.airfrance.com)
Cathay Pacific (+1 800 231 0856/http://www.cathaypacific.com)
China Air (+1 800 227 5118/http://www.china-airlines.com)
Continental (+1 800 221 1212/http://www.continental.com)
Garuda International Airways (+1 800 342 7832/http://www.garuda-indonesia.com)
Singapore Air (+1 800 742 3333/http://www.singaporeair.com)
Public transportation options f rom the airport are limited. Your best bet is to arrange to be picked up by your hotel in advance. You can also reserve a taxi through the official taxi window (+62 361 751 011, extension 1155) near customs. They charge set rates to most of the island's main tourist centers. Use every ounce of common sense to avoid taxi drivers that directly solicit you at the gate. They are cheap, smiling swindlers who navigate a living from scamming tourists with overpriced cab fares. Rides to Kuta and Sanur last 15 minutes while a trip to Ubud could be 55.
Rental Cars
Blue Bird (+62 361 701 111/http://www.bluebirdgroup.com)
Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/http://www.hertz.com)
Toyota Rental Car (+62 361 753 744)
Be aware that in order to rent a car an international driver's license is required.
If all else fails and your baggage is light, Kuta is but a 1.6-mile walk along the beach.
By Sea
Boats from Ketapang in Java to Gilimanuk in northwestern Bali connect daily. Rides take 35 minutes. And from Bali's eastern side, out of Padang Bai, ferries usher passengers every few hours around the clock to Lembar on Lombok's west coast.
Getting Around
Renting a car is not suggested because the roads are poorly marked and local driving culture can be overly assertive. Plus, regardless of fault, you will probably be held responsible for all damages in the event of an accident.
Blue and brown vans known as "bemos" serve as the island's bus system. They hold up to 10 passengers and provide a true feel for the island. Sharing a seat with a local's farm animal is not uncommon. Fares can be sketchy and subject to the driver's mood. The stops are unmarked and seemingl y only locals who swore with vows of blood to keep their exact locations secret are privy to this knowledge.
Getting There
By Air
The Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) (+62 361 751 011 http://www.angkasapura1.co.id) lies 13 kilometers (eight miles) south of Denpasar between Kuta and Sanur (do not look for Bali on airline information flight boards for it is listed as Denpasar). Its two terminals accept the following major airlines:
Air Asia (+603 8660 4343/http://www.airasia.com)
Air France (+1 800 237 2747/http://www.airfrance.com)
Cathay Pacific (+1 800 231 0856/http://www.cathaypacific.com)
China Air (+1 800 227 5118/http://www.china-airlines.com)
Continental (+1 800 221 1212/http://www.continental.com)
Garuda International Airways (+1 800 342 7832/http://www.garuda-indonesia.com)
Singapore Air (+1 800 742 3333/http://www.singaporeair.com)
Public transportation options f rom the airport are limited. Your best bet is to arrange to be picked up by your hotel in advance. You can also reserve a taxi through the official taxi window (+62 361 751 011, extension 1155) near customs. They charge set rates to most of the island's main tourist centers. Use every ounce of common sense to avoid taxi drivers that directly solicit you at the gate. They are cheap, smiling swindlers who navigate a living from scamming tourists with overpriced cab fares. Rides to Kuta and Sanur last 15 minutes while a trip to Ubud could be 55.
Rental Cars
Blue Bird (+62 361 701 111/http://www.bluebirdgroup.com)
Hertz (+1 800 654 3131/http://www.hertz.com)
Toyota Rental Car (+62 361 753 744)
Be aware that in order to rent a car an international driver's license is required.
If all else fails and your baggage is light, Kuta is but a 1.6-mile walk along the beach.
By Sea
Boats from Ketapang in Java to Gilimanuk in northwestern Bali connect daily. Rides take 35 minutes. And from Bali's eastern side, out of Padang Bai, ferries usher passengers every few hours around the clock to Lembar on Lombok's west coast.
Getting Around
Renting a car is not suggested because the roads are poorly marked and local driving culture can be overly assertive. Plus, regardless of fault, you will probably be held responsible for all damages in the event of an accident.
Blue and brown vans known as "bemos" serve as the island's bus system. They hold up to 10 passengers and provide a true feel for the island. Sharing a seat with a local's farm animal is not uncommon. Fares can be sketchy and subject to the driver's mood. The stops are unmarked and seemingl y only locals who swore with vows of blood to keep their exact locations secret are privy to this knowledge.
By Private Car -- Given how cheap and easy it is to hire someone to drive, many folks just avoid the headache of driving themselves. Private taxis are the most common choice of transport and can get you to any destination for a reasonable price. A driver and car should be around US$30 (£17), plus gas charges, for an 8-hour day. A reputable agency is Amertha Dana (tel. 361/735406), which can arrange transport in most of southern Bali. Otherwise, guys offering "transport" and pantomime-steering a car will be at your heels wherever you go and, depending on your luck, can be pretty helpful. Be specific about destination and price (and check for seat belts) before setting out.
Note that, if you do drive yourself, you will need an international driver's license or a locally issued tourist driving license; 1-month licenses are issued on the spot for Rp150,000 (US$17/£9.15) at the Foreign License Service (Jalan Agung Tresna 14, Renon, Denpassar; tel. 361/243939). Traffic is on the left side, and "third-world rules" apply: The more aggressively honking, larger vehicle goes first. Traffic police are just bribe collectors.
By Public Transportation -- Blue and brown vans called bemos operate as buses in Bali. They have regular routes, but these aren't really written down. Most tourists save the headaches and go for private transport. Bemos are better for short hops (around town, for example) than long distances. Metered taxis, if you can find them, are your best bet. Be sure that the driver turns on his meter (you might have to insist more than once). One other option is to ask at your hotel or a travel agent about the tourist shuttles that connect the main destinations on the island.
By Motorbike -- Riding a motorbike on Bali is a dangerous proposition; on even the briefest visit to the island, you will see your share of crashes. Renting a scooter or motorbike, however, is a cheap (from US$3/£1.65 per day) and fun way to see the island. Keep in mind that riding is safer and more beautiful in remote areas. The same driver's license requirements for cars apply to motorbikes and scooters.
By Boat -- Several companies offer diving and snorkeling day trips, sunset or dinner cruises, and connection to the nearby islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Both Bounty Cruises (tel. 361/726666; www.balibountycruises.com) and Bali Hai Cruises (tel. 361/720331; www.balihaicruises.com) run regular high-end tours from Bali's Benoa Harbor. Sail Sensations (tel. 361/725864; www.bali-sailsensations.com) offers day and overnight sails. The Wakalouka (tel. 361/484085), a luxury catamaran, transports you in style to its exclusive property on Nusa Lembongan.
A Note on Addresses -- Street addresses in Bali can be as vague as "on the main street." In some areas, that's all that passes for an address. Don't worry -- most are easy to find.
By Private Car -- Given how cheap and easy it is to hire someone to drive, many folks just avoid the headache of driving themselves. Private taxis are the most common choice of transport and can get you to any destination for a reasonable price. A driver and car should be around US$30 (£17), plus gas charges, for an 8-hour day. A reputable agency is Amertha Dana (tel. 361/735406), which can arrange transport in most of southern Bali. Otherwise, guys offering "transport" and pantomime-steering a car will be at your heels wherever you go and, depending on your luck, can be pretty helpful. Be specific about destination and price (and check for seat belts) before setting out.
Note that, if you do drive yourself, you will need an international driver's license or a locally issued tourist driving license; 1-month licenses are issued on the spot for Rp150,000 (US$17/£9.15) at the Foreign License Service (Jalan Agung Tresna 14, Renon, Denpassar; tel. 361/243939). Traffic is on the left side, and "third-world rules" apply: The more aggressively honking, larger vehicle goes first. Traffic police are just bribe collectors.
By Public Transportation -- Blue and brown vans called bemos operate as buses in Bali. They have regular routes, but these aren't really written down. Most tourists save the headaches and go for private transport. Bemos are better for short hops (around town, for example) than long distances. Metered taxis, if you can find them, are your best bet. Be sure that the driver turns on his meter (you might have to insist more than once). One other option is to ask at your hotel or a travel agent about the tourist shuttles that connect the main destinations on the island.
By Motorbike -- Riding a motorbike on Bali is a dangerous proposition; on even the briefest visit to the island, you will see your share of crashes. Renting a scooter or motorbike, however, is a cheap (from US$3/£1.65 per day) and fun way to see the island. Keep in mind that riding is safer and more beautiful in remote areas. The same driver's license requirements for cars apply to motorbikes and scooters.
By Boat -- Several companies offer diving and snorkeling day trips, sunset or dinner cruises, and connection to the nearby islands of Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Both Bounty Cruises (tel. 361/726666; www.balibountycruises.com) and Bali Hai Cruises (tel. 361/720331; www.balihaicruises.com) run regular high-end tours from Bali's Benoa Harbor. Sail Sensations (tel. 361/725864; www.bali-sailsensations.com) offers day and overnight sails. The Wakalouka (tel. 361/484085), a luxury catamaran, transports you in style to its exclusive property on Nusa Lembongan.
A Note on Addresses -- Street addresses in Bali can be as vague as "on the main street." In some areas, that's all that passes for an address. Don't worry -- most are easy to find.
