I will be going to Bali for my Aunty's wedding and I don't need to pay for accommodation just flights I have never been overseas before and have heard that shopping in Bali is really good.
So is there anyone that could tell me how much spending money I would need to take? I'm going for a week.
Also is there any tips about traveling overseas anyone could give me? or must see places in Bali.
Travelling to Bali in July. Anyone can give me some advice?
1271190 on 12/11/2013 - 18:30
Comments
Thanks so much for the link.
Go to the Bali forums on Tridadvisor - there is lots of information and people who will answer your questions.
Awesome will do, thanks for your reply.
Make sure your measles shots & other immunisations are up to date.
Keep the boggie board at home.
Don't drink the methanol…
Photo copy all of your cards eg. credit cards, medicare card, drivers licence etc plus passport. Make 2 copies, 1 in checked luggage, 1 in carry on. Carry a photocopy of passport all of the time when o/s and lock original in room safe. Make sure that you have the contact details for reporting lost cards. Separate money into a couple of separate pockets, and only carry what you will need for the day……..the rest locked up. Give family details of travel and accommodation.
Bali taxi drivers have many ways of trying to milk you. EG If you get a fixed quote for a trip/tour with them, well then when they come to collect you they will say……..no we agreed on "(higher price)" a real hassle that u don't need when on holidays. Treat them with courtesy, but be firm.
Only buy (genuine) bottled water. Don't even brush your teeth with their water. I am the only member of a party that went there years ago that didn't get "Bali belly." I didn't buy any drinks at hotels. I didn't have any ice in whatever else I drank. Also, I didn't eat any red meat; if you check out the market in Denpasar that will put you off for life. Fish (catch yourself), eggs and chicken generally okay if you are close to the source.
Know the song "Don't pay the ferryman … until you get to the other side"? True dinks that applies to Bali and Indonesia. You are expected to haggle a price before you get a ride anywhere and certainly don't pay anyone before you get there. We had a bemo driver stop half way to Tanahlot (middle of nowhere)and demand more money or refuse to take us any further! We told him we would rather walk … he gave in.
I asked a shopkeeper why my friend attracted excessive amounts of attention from shopkeepers and she said it was because my friend was "fat." The assumption is that overweight people have more expendable income. I, being underweight at the time, must have looked the poorer cousin!
Watch the moneychangers.
Plenty of signs offering really good rates but goodluck if you can get it. And after trying 3 times while it was a game to play, if you call their game they just dont play.
So if its too good to be true - higher than the internet rate on the day, you WILL get ripped off.
How it works, in a number of ways.
Rate 10990 (Internet being 10450)
$50 note tendered. (54950) So they say give me 5000 Rup and they give you 50000 - so your net is only 50000 rup
Its like a shell game. But you call it and they switch the amounts and you go back and forward
The third one I tried actually gave me 55000 rup, then asked for 1200 rup back. Ah ah I thought thats close enough (10760) so I reached down into my pocket, got the 1200 rup out and then went to pick up the money he had put on the table, counted it again and it was only 45000 rup. He had palmed off the 10000 while I was looking for my 1200 rup. (I only glanced away for a sec - he was fast)
When I gave him the money back, he was surprised and counted it again, and yep he counted out 55000 rup. He was so slick.
I tried having both my money and his money on the table with my hand on both, then he didnt want to play any more.
It was the same with each. If you "beat" them they wont play. So why try?
I just went to one of the exchanges where locals were going, got a receipt and close to the internet rate.
It was fun, but it was a game. The missus was shopping at the time for dresses so it kept me busy, but if you want a fair rate go to a fair exchanger. Or stick to the Citibank plus card. Although there are only a few Citibank ATM's in Bali (Check the internet)
So true. Go to a reputable looking store to change money. Kodak or banks are reliable options and their rates are not too bad.
so true
except I dropped a 0 in the my figures in my example $50 should have been 549500 rup not 54950 which emphasises how it makes it easier for them to confuse you when you are dealing with a different currency
Yes, it's a game indeed.. What i don't get is why we need to squable over (in your example) 50 cents? Balinese are comparably earn less than us aussie.. 50 cents means nothing for us, but means a lot for balinese ( you can buy plenty of food in bali for 50 cents). And i dont think they've done anything wrong in your example. Rp. 10,760 x 50 is Rp. 538,000. If you have extra Rp. 12,000, ofcourse Rp. 538,000 + 12,000 is Rp. 550,000. Which is 11 notes of 50,000. You are supposed to (even at banks here in australia) count exactly that you receive correct amount). Understand that not all people are good with counting.. Balinese in general are kind people.. I'm just saying..
BTW I wasnt squabling. If you read the first post the OP wanted some advice, and if they use it that's totally up to them.
It's my choice of how I distribute the wealth I have. Just like it's yours. Again I wasnt judging them or being critical, As I said it was fun.
I am an ozbargainer and I dont condone cons, as you said they did ask for the correct change, I didn't at the time work that out exactly, I knew the change sounded about right, so my comment was reflecting my thoughts not the exact math.
However it wasnt just a mistake as you think it might have been, money disappearing and the reappearing and then when it looked like it was accurate. I put my $50 on the table with the 12000 rup and had my hand on it, in the open and his 550000 Rup with my other hand on it and then said this is the deal. He lifted my hand off (quite gently) the 550000 and took it away, he took back his money and didn't want to do his "advertised" deal. Also money exchangers (with "authorised" sign) wont stay in business if they cant count. :)
And he wasn't Balinese, he was Javanese.
As for helping, we spent time in a temple with my brother who lives there, and gave a day of our time helping Balinese learn English, and donated funds to have this continue, to me a better learning environment that helping a conman sharpen his skills, and when someone gets conned they could have some degree of disappointment on their trip. Also at times I would elect to tip someone after getting the deal, eg keep the change, that shows respect and kindness at the same time
However I do understand your point and totally agree that the Balinese are a kind and a good humoured people who can teach us to lighten up a lot. :)
Take a print out of this so you don't get ripped off too badly. Bali price list. Spending money depends on what you want to buy, most of it is cheap junk but you could get a nice looking suit made for about $60.