Getting to Bali, Indonesia

This surfer's paradise is easily accessible from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in the south of Denpasar. Arriving to your destination by boat can be achieved with rides starting at $10. Prebooked private transfers (ranging from $6 to $45 depending on the distance) is the way to go if you're looking not to spend a lot on rideshare apps (which range from $10 to $60 and are usually 50% more expensive). When in Bali, do as the Balinese do and rent a scooter to visit the main places starting at $5.

Bali Key Information

Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It’s breathtaking nature, incredible surfing spots, delicious food, friendly people and plenty of facilities make it a hard to resist island.

The tricky part

On-demand app drivers are not allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. You can still request your ride but once they arrive nearby the airport they will text you and and let you know the place where they can pick you up, eg next to the Mosque. It will be 10-20 min away from the airport so unless you know the airport neighborhood well, it’s not a recommended airport transfer option.

There is a harsh competition between on demand providers and local taxi drivers. Some of the GoJek/Grab/Blue Bird drivers won’t accept the ride if your hotel is in a place that they don’t see as “safe”, meaning they could risk facing local drivers. If they accept the ride they may ask you to get off earlier (where it’s not risky for them to stop) and then you’ll need walk to your destination hotel. A lot of drivers don’t wear any app branded clothes to avoid attention.

GoJek/Grab/Blue Bird don’t have equal coverage in Bali. It can be easy to take a ride to Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta but there may not be many cars available for a ride to other parts of Bali.

Taxi drivers don’t have fixed rates, they can give you whatever number they wish and it’s up to you to haggle the price down. You may be asked to pay $70 or $40 for the same distance.

Getting to Bali

There are two ways of arriving in Bali, either travel to Denpasar airport by plane, or if you’re already in Indonesia, you can take a ferry.

Taking a flight is definitely more convenient so you if can choose between the two, go for the former. Quality of boats varies; the sea can be rough and it simply takes more time. It’s better to pay $10 more and have a pleasant trip.

Once you’re at the airport there are 3 ways how you can get to your hotel. You can either arrange a pre-book transfer (eg Mozio), take Grab/Go Jek or take a taxi.

What is the average cost of prebooking a ride through Mozio?

• From Denpasar > To Canggu – Starting at $11 with our local partner AMS Bali Tour
• From Denpasar > To Kuta – Starting at $6 with our local partner Midas Group Bali
• From Denpasar > To Uluwatu – Starting at $11 with our local partner Midas Group Bali
• From Denpasar > To Nusa Dua – Starting at $6 with our local partner Midas Group Bali
• From Denpasar > To Munduk – Starting at $39 with our local partner BaliCab
• From Denpasar > To Amed - Starting at $45 with our local partner Midas Group Bali
• From Denpasar > To Jimburan - Starting at $6 with our local partner Midas Group Bali

If you decide to take a Grab or Go/Jek you’ll pay the price as shown on the app. Remember that drivers from these applications are not allowed to pick you up at the airport. You can still request your ride but once they arrive nearby the airport they will text you and and let you know the place where they can pick you up, eg next to the Mosque. It will be 10 to 20 minutes away from the airport so unless you know the airport neighborhood well, it’s not a recommended airport transfer option.

Lastly, you can take a taxi. There are a lot of taxi drivers waiting just outside the entrance to the airport ready to give you a lift.

Tthere is no fixed rate, they can give you whatever number they wish and it’s up to you to haggle the price down. You may be asked to pay $70 or $40 for the same distance.

The Frugal Option

If you travel light and your hotel is within 30 km from the airport, the cheapest way to arrive to your hotel is by GoJek – scooter. If the hotel is further, you won’t be able to book a ride directly from the airport. The way around it, is to request a ride to the place that is closer to your hotel and once you arrive there, you need to request another ride to your hotel. It’s a bit of a hassle but it’s absolutely worth it. Once you request a ride, the driver will tell you the place where he can pick you up. It will be outside the airport, 10 to 20 min walk. GoJek drivers are not allowed to pick passengers right at the airport.

Private Transfer Options

When looking for a private ride it makes sense to book in advance if you have the option to plan you trip as you'll be able to save around 50% on a prearranged ride with Mozio. A private Van from example to Canggu will run you $11 while a rideshare is between $20 to $25. To Kuta it's $6 vs. a Rideshare for $10/$15. To Uluwatu $11 against $20. If you're staying at Nusa Dua it'll be $6 or rideshare for $15. To Munduk $39 vs. a rideshare for $50. If you're going to Amed prices start at $45 or a rideshare for $50. To Jimburan starting at $6 vs. $15 for a rideshare. And to Ubud from $13 while a rideshare starts at $30.

Bear in mind, the prices for rideshare are only estimates, customers are required to pay the price that is shown on the app, there may not be coverage in the destination chosen by you at the moment requesting the ride

The Mozio Recommendation

Arranging a pre-booked ride is the best way to get from the airport to your hotel. The prices are low, you save time and energy on haggling and you know you'll arrive to your destination safely without your diver risking facing local drivers.

Moving AROUND Bali

The best way to get around Bali is by a riding a scooter. Bali is a small island but the traffic is heavy so even though the distance can be short, you may need hours to arrive to your travel destination.

The Frugal Option

With a scooter it's easier to get through congested roads. To hire a scooter for a day will typically cost you $5.

If you don't want to ride a scooter, go for GoJek. It's a very affordable way to get around the island, although remember that GoJek may not be able to take you to all the touristic spots, like beaches, temples, waterfalls and so on.

You can also use on demand ride apps like GoJek - GoCar, BlueBird, Grab or hire a driver for a day that can take you to anywhere you want.

Since traffic in Bali is heavy, it's best to avoid travelling back and forth. So it's best if you decide which regions of Bali you'd like to visit and spend there at least 2 to 3 days. Once you in that region, hire a driver for a day so that he can take you to all the touristic spots you want. To travel between the regions use Grab/GoCar or GoJek/Bluebird and if there's no availability check Mozio.

Ask the driver who takes you a particular part of Bali if he would be available for a day to drive you around certain part of Bali. Usually you'll be able to get a better price than if you ask at your hotel. To hire a driver with a car for a day should be around $50 to $70. A driver on a scooter is between $25 to $35.

Are Rideshare & TaxiApps Readily Available In Bali?

Car Rental Options

There is a lot car rental options to choose from, mainly in Denpasar area.

Some of the companies : Bali Car Hire, DRIVEINBALI.com Bali Car Rental - Easy Car Hire, Auto Bali Car Rental, Bali Island Car Rental. The cost is typically $10 to $20 for a day. Remember to have an international driving licence. However, renting a car without a driver is not something a lot of tourists decide to go for. First of all, there is left-hand traffic. If you're not used to that, it may be challenging at first. The roads in Bali are not the easiest to ride (holes, poor maintenance, narrow), the traffic is heavy, GPS is not always reliable, little to no parking space. It's definitely better to pay a little bit more and hire a car with a driver.

Day Trips Around Bali

Kawah Ijen Volcano

Kawah Ijen volcano is one of the best places to visit in Indonesia and a great idea for a day trip from Bali. It's famous for its electric blue flames visible during the night. Tourists start their trekking at midnight so that they can reach the top and see the sunrise. You can either book an organized trip from Bali or you can take a ferry to Java and from there book your trip to the Vulcano. (The latter will be much cheaper).

If you want to take a ferry to Java:

• Arrive to Denpasar bus station (take GoJek or Grab), get your ticket to Gilimanuk for around $3. There are a lot of buses leaving frequently, but there is no fixed schedule.
• Once you arrive in Gilimnuk, take a ferry to Java - Banyuwangi for around $2.
• Once you arrive in Banyuwangi, take a yellow minivan to arrive to your hotel. The price for a ride should be around $1.

There are a lot of hotels in Banyuwangi, however if you only intend to do the trekking, it may not be worth splurging as in fact you'll only use that place to store your things.

You can do the trekking yourself or go with a guide. It's not the easiest trekking (it's steep, at night, visibility is limited) so getting a guide is recommended. Some of the hotels organize trips if there are enough interested people. If yours doesn't, go to the Official tourism board office (Jl. Jenderal Ahmad Yani No.78, Taman Baru, Kec. Banyuwangi, Kabupaten Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur 68416, Indonesia) and book your trip with them. It's around $35 for a car with the driver, gas masks and water bottles.