Hiring Bali private drivers to show you around some of the island’s most incredible sights or simply to drive you around for the day. While you visit markets, beach clubs, and restaurants for dinner is a fantastic option. This post will explain how to hire a private driver in Bali, as well as how much you should pay and how to make a reservation.
The Benefits of Hiring a Private Driver
You only require a private car and driver on an ad-hoc basis for day tours if you are within walking distance of the beach, shops, and restaurants from your hotel and will only be venturing further for the occasional sightseeing day.
Most people recommend hiring a private car and driver for the duration of your visit if you will be going more than walking distance on most days. Having a driver on call for the majority, if not the entire day and evening, will make your Bali vacation less stressful because you will avoid the difficulty of finding taxis in Bali, which can be a real pain. Whether you and your group choose to spend the day at a beach club or see distinctive sights like temples, rice terraces, the Bali swings, or some of the spectacular waterfalls, hiring a car and driver can make all the difference.
How much should you pay for a day’s use of Bali car rental with driver?
Let’s begin with the fundamentals. A general rule of thumb is that a private car and driver for the day will cost you IDR 550,000. That’s the absolute bottom. If you are offered anything cheaper, turn it down. You’re merely being set up to pay more later as a result of the usual con tricks — having you wait, asking for additional money throughout the trip, running out of gas, or simply being scared. You’ve been given a fair warning. In reality, the basic minimum you should expect to pay for a modest car is IDR 550,000. You run the danger of being taken for a ride if you do anything less.
In a high-quality, air-conditioned 6-seater SUV, an experienced driver who knows their way around, can adjust to your unique demands and has a solid command of English costs IDR800K for travel around South Bali and IDR1.000K for travel to North or East Bali. I strongly advise you to make this your budget. The best private drivers (and there are many) have a large contact list and rely on repeat business and referrals for more than half of their revenue.
Choose a Bali Driver with Bali Geography Knowledge.
Remember that visiting attractions in Bali’s north and east areas will cost a little more. Alternatively, if you are only touring inside the South Bali region, it is less expensive to hire a private car and driver. This is because trips to the other side of Bali take longer, use more gasoline, and are more difficult on vehicles than local tours. Here are examples of destinations in Bali to visit.
• South Bali: Ubud, Uluwatu, Gianyar, Kuta, Legian, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Seminyak, and Sanur.
• North Bali: Lovina Beach, Plaga, Kintamani, Singharaja, and Bedugul.
• East Bali: Mount Agung, Amed, Amlapura, Sideman, Besakih, and Karangasem.
Make sure you know where you’re going and what you’re looking for.
Most Bali private drivers are reactive, not proactive, so if you ask to travel somewhere far away or where there may be severe traffic, they will usually just do as you say. Being proactive includes talking about where you want to go, figuring out how long it will take you to get there, and determining whether you’ll have enough time for your other destinations and the return trip.
There is a significant difference between hiring a low-cost driver and one who is familiar with the destinations and attractions you wish to visit. Engage with your driver before getting in the car; don’t feel obligated to get in and start the journey just because he’s holding the door open. Engage in straightforward discussions using straightforward words. Engaging with your driver early on will reveal how much English he genuinely comprehends. A good driver will begin to build a connection with you and will inquire about your preferences, making modifications as necessary.
Are you planning on visiting a beach club or a tourist attraction?
The majority of individuals are unaware that traveling to a location is often relatively simple. However, returning home from there might be a nightmare. The reason for this is that local transportation providers will always charge you more than it’s worth to bring you back. Occasionally, the prices are exorbitant.
Because they have a monopoly on transportation, you are at their mercy if you don’t already have a private car and driver. Depending on availability and demand, as well as the direction the wind is blowing, you may have to pay up to 2-5 times the cost of a standard taxi trip.
With a car and a personal driver, shopping trips can be fantastic.
Many individuals visit Bali to go on shopping sprees. Even if you ignore the souvenirs, the opportunity to purchase unique Bali homewares, fabrics, and artwork is irresistible. If you know where to look, it’s simply addictive. In addition to shopping malls and supermarkets, there are numerous local markets and specialty streets for items like homewares and larger artworks.
If you prefer the concept of treating shopping as a full-contact blood sport with discounts as the scoreboard and showing off to your friends and family back home, then renting a private car and driver is a no-brainer.
It’s a pleasure to load up the rear of an SUV while the driver patiently waits for you to make the next “it’s like saving money” purchase. It’s not easy to hail a cab while standing beside the road with a lot of shopping bags or some very enormous artwork wrapped in bubble wrap. The most beneficial investment you can make to reduce the friction of getting around and going on shopping expeditions in Bali is to hire a Bali private car and driver.
Every hotel, especially for day tours, offers a booking service for a car and private driver. Because it’s one of the many revenue streams that a hotel relies on, don’t be surprised if they charge a high markup. After you read all the information above, it will be easy to choose the right Bali private drivers that you need.
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