Transport

Bali can be a tricky place to get around if you're not familiar with the local routines. On this page we will provide information on transport arrangements for the wedding day and also provide links / contact details of trusted drivers and transport providers.

Escaping the Airport

Denpasar airport has been upgraded a lot over the last few years and it's actually really nice and easy to navigate (compared to Melbourne it's a dream!). But there is still a few tips that will help you escape the place a little quicker.
1. Apply for a Visa on Arrival (VoA) up to 14 days before arriving. It can be done here for up to 5 people at a time. (Unfortunately our Sri Lankan guests are not eligible for VoA so you'll have to do it the old fashioned way through a consulate/embassy).
2. If you are bringing kids under 5 or you're over 60, like most of my family, there is a fast track lane to the far right of immigration to get you through quicker.
3. Do your Electronic Customs Declaration two days before your flight. It is available here and it saves you trying to scan QR codes with your hands full of stuff and fill out online forms while you're scratching through the wife's handbag to find your glasses!
4. Bali Tourist Tax! It's real. Just like the authoritarian socialist regime right here in Victoria, the Indonesian government loves a good tax. This one is manadatory but lots of people don't pay it. I'm told that if you get pulled up in customs and you haven't paid it you will get treated like Schapelle Corby's sister so it's probably better to pay the approx. A$15 and be safe. You can pay it online ahead of time here. I know the website looks dodgy AF but I promise you this is the legit site.
5. Baggage collection can be....interesting. Last time we were there they changed our carousel after we were already standing around it and there is very few monitors telling you which one has your baggage doing the rounds on it. Luckily Taz needed the loo and saw on the way back that ours had changed or I'd probably still be standing there!
6. Clearing Customs. There is a big baggage x-ray machine at the door which is where loooong lines can form. I'm told that if you stay in the left two lines you are more likely to be waived through than sent for scans and it has worked for us so far. I'm not offering promises here, just a tip.
7. Get an Indonesian SIM for your phone. I always get an E-SIM from Bikago which works great with my Android but Taryn's Apple didn't like it. I assume this is because Apple is EVIL and if they're not getting a cut they allow nothing to work on your phone. But I may just be paranoid. I like Bikago because it uses TELKOMSEL which is the best network in Bali and their plans are cheaper. If you need a physical SIM then there is a TELKOMSEL (along with many other) shops in the airport arrivals hall.
8. Change as little money as possible in Australia. Australian money changers are the biggest currency thieves in the world. It's actually embarrasing how outright thieving they are. You will get much better rates of exchange in Bali at the dodgy looking money changers outside the hotels and resorts (except in Canguu where they are all run either by the Russian Mafia or the same people who run them in Australia!).
9. Book a private car and driver. If your hotel deal doesn't include transfers then arrange a private car and driver. I use Bali Holiday Secrets but there are many options out there. Absolutely do not use the 'porters' at the airport who will grab your bags, take you to their cousin's Toyota Crown, demand a tip and send you off into the unknown with a bloke who may or may not have understood where your destination actually is! 

Communication

If there is one tip for arranging transport above all others in Bali, it is download Whatsapp.
All the private drivers use it exclusively and once you've found your man, this is the way to arrange your movements.

Trusted Drivers

So these are driver companies we have used before and trust. Nothing beats having a good driver in Bali with a good car. They can take you places off the beaten track or find you the best genuine copy hanbags in the back streets of Kuta, all in air conditioned comfort.
1. Bali Holiday Secrets is primarily a tour company run by an expat Aussie who now lives in Bali. All of his tours are based around having private cars and drivers so he offers this service as well. He vets the drivers and their vehicles so you can be sure your driver will speak english and know his way around.
2. Bali Honest Drivers is a local company started by a lad named Katut (if that isn't enough to make you love them....). They offer basic ride services and tours as well as airport transfers. They pride themselves on their service and I haven't heard a bad story about them yet.
3. Bali Hire Driver Was the first driver agency I used many years ago. They've actually won awards since then (and possibly been sold to a larger parent company) so they've gotten a bit more expensive, but expense is relative in Bali. They're still 1000% cheaper than an Uber from Berwick to the airport! They are very flexible and very responsive.

TAXIS

Taxi's are notorious in Bali for not using their meters and charging outragous (it's all relative) fees. Especially after dark.
Bulebird Taxis are solid though. They will always use the meter and the trips are so cheap that you invariably leave them an outrageous tip anyway. If you're leaving your hotel ask your front desk to book you a cab and it will always be a Bluebird. The tourist police will still lean in anyway and make sure they turn the meter on but I've never had an issue with them. 
If you're not at your hotel it's still not a problem. They have an App called 'MyBluebird - Taxi & Car Rental'. Can't go wrong.

MOPEDS

There is absolutely no doubt that jumping on the back with one of these two wheeled terrorists is the fastest way to get around Bali bar none. However...depite the fact that most of these guys have been riding on mopeds since they were babies and have more two wheel skills than the average superbike rider, Bali traffic has no rules and there's no sides on a moped! Be aware that some travel insurance WON'T cover you for accidents if you're riding on a moped. 
All warnings aside, they are cheap, they are fun and they get through the traffic better than a crackhead with a window squigy.
But there are still unscrupulous operators in the moped industry. We heard of friends getting taken to places they didn't want to go and being made to pay for things they didn't want when they grabbed moped rides off the side of the street at night. So if you're going to use them, download the 'Gojek' app and book your rides to confirm the price and be safe.