Travel Tips

Travel tips

Hire an English-speaking personal driver. This will save you time and money as most of the tourist attractions in Bali can be hours away from each other. Taking multiple cab rides might also hurt your pocket. But hiring a driver can also be tricky as (from what I read on the Internet), there are different types of scams being pulled off on tourists by some drivers. My husband and I were lucky to find Gede Suyasa who proved to be a safe driver and took us to all these awesome places. He also gave us tips on where to shop and where not to go.

Shop for souvenirs and pasalubong in the Tanah Lot area. Don't buy your souvenirs in bazaars as chances are, you'll be paying for them 3-4 times the normal price. Shops that offer fixed prices can be found outside the Tanah Lot complex. No need to haggle, and the prices are amazingly cheap.

SHOPPING. Look for places with fixed prices.SHOPPING. Look for places with fixed prices.

Avoid traffic jams. Do this by leaving your hotel early and going against the tide of tourists that go to spots at a certain time.

Do not buy a sarong. Most temples have vendors outside who will tell you that you need them to enter the temple and will convince you to buy from them. It's true that most temple administrators will not allow you to enter without a sarong. However, most of the temples' entrance fees already include sarong rental so there is no need to buy your own. Unless you want to bring one home as Balinese sarongs do have beautiful designs.

If you're in Bali for some relaxation, stay in Seminyak. For partying and wild drinking nights, Kuta is the place for you. High-end hotels can be found in Nusa Dua. If you're looking for a more artistic type of retreat, it will be best to stay in Ubud.

For every type of tourist, Bali certainly has something to offer. For us, our almost-3-day affair with the island was short and sweet, but we did get to soak up enough culture, history, and sun to make us want to return. - Rappler.com