Shopping In Bali
You can go shopping for fine art and handicrafts such as antique and semi-antique furniture, all kinds of paintings, delicately crafted gold and silver jewelry, wood and stone carvings, masks, woven and dyed fabrics, etc. in many shops in the Kuta/Legian area, in Sanur, in various handicraft villages and the Sukawati market on the way to Ubud, and in the town of Ubud.
In most of the shops you can and should bargain for the best price. Be especially careful with the vendors near popular tourist attractions such as Tanah Lot or, for instance, the rip-off artists in the Bali Aga village Tenganan who are well-known for selling fake "antique" fabrics (even spray-painted instead of woven cloth) for very high prices.
The attractive tableware you see in many restaurants, hotels, and the better homes in Bali is made locally by JENGGALA KERAMIK BALI. Started by the New Zealand-born designer-potter Brent Hesselyn who disappeared while diving near Nusa Penida in late 2002, Jenggala has been producing for over 20 years hand-made high-quality ceramics which can be seen and ordered at SARI BUMI (inside KAFE BATU JIMBAR), Jalan Danau Tamblingan No. 152, Sanur, and at their new factory in Jimbaran, Jalan Uluwatu II. This new complex includes in addition to a show room an exhibition area for antique and new Indonesian art, a demonstration area where Jenggala's potters display their skills, and a branch of the popular "Kafe Batu Jimbar" serving light meals and a choice of coffee, tea and other beverages.
Beach wear, T-shirts, pants, and other clothing, shoes and leather goods, sea shells, trinkets, etc. are offered at low prices in numerous shops in Kuta and Legian as well as ・much more expensive ・in many hotels. Popular shopping centers are Kuta Square with many shops and a branch of the Matahari Department Store and Supermarket, and the Galeria Nusa Dua with over 80 specialty shops offering everything a tourist could be interested in.
Avoid the DUTY FREE SHOPPERS outlets by all means! Local products are ridiculously expensive here. As an example, one bottle of the Hatten Rose wine which is made in Sanur costs at DFS US$11 which is more than in most local restaurants! Even worse - if you look for a beautiful French made blouse, a designer handbag, some jewellry or a dress watch for your partner to wear at a special occasion in Bali, you'll totally waste your time: all imported items, even clothing and accessories, bought at DFS will be delivered to you at the airport and not before you leave Bali.
There is a good choice of restaurants and night life, too. You can explore Indonesian and other Asian cuisines, enjoy Western food, and dance or talk under the stars until the early hours.
Costs and Prices
Like many other Asian currencies, the value of the Indonesian Rupiah has moved violently since summer 1997 ・from 2,400 Rupiah in July 1997 to 17,000 Rupiah for one US Dollar, back to around 7,000 Rupiah, then to 11,500 Rupiah and back to around 8,000 Rupiah ・and nobody can predict tomorrow's exchange rate! Therefore, as long as the rate keeps changing, please check the current exchange rate when converting Rupiah prices to your own currency.
Accommodation in Bali is very reasonably priced compared to other top tourist destinations around the world. Rooms in basic 2-star hotels (perhaps US$20 or so in Bali) can easily compare with Travelodge accommodation which can cost you e.g. in North California US$150 per night, and there they don't provide ANY service at all.
Hotel rates in Bali range from about US$20 for a basic but clean, air-conditioned room with private bathroom and a small terrace to US$600 or US$800 per day for beautiful Balinese cottages with private plunge pool set in a walled tropical garden and offering stunning views and polished 5-star service around the clock.
Private villa rental is becoming very popular in all parts of the world. Prices for fully staffed villas in the Caribbean are about two to three times higher than in Bali. In Europe, on the other hand, you pay about the same as in Bali, but then this is kind of a self-service vacation as in most countries NO STAFF is included. You can view the range of villa accommodation offered in Bali with trained, full-time staff to take care of everything by visiting the Balivillas.com web site.
Transportation in Bali was always cheap by any standard. The metered radio taxis start with a flag fall of 4,000 Rupiah (plus 2,000 Rupiah per kilometer), and most trips cost Rupiah 7,000 to 30,000. Most reliable and polite are the drivers of the blue taxis, and you should avoid most other taxis as they often refuse to use their meter and over-charge foreigners.
If you brought an International Driver's License, you can rent motor bikes from Rupiah 15,000 to Rupiah 35,000 per day, and five to ten year old self-drive cars (Jimmy or Toyota "Kijang") cost from 80,000 Rupiah to 250,000 Rupiah per day. Newer models are more expensive, and luxury cars such as a Volvo limousine or a new Toyota "Land Cruiser" will cost US$150 to US$200 and more per day. Gasoline prices have been raised several times in the past, and Premium leaded gasoline is now allowed to fluctuate around 1,800 Rupiah per liter.
Everywhere in tourist areas you'll be offered "transport, transport", and the rates are negotiable. However, the cars of many of these guys are quite old. Radio, tape and even the air-conditioning are often out of order. Although most drivers initially seem to be very friendly some are real con artists and waste hours of your precious vacation by bringing you to shops you never wished to visit because they want to earn a commission on your purchases.
We think, however, it's much more relaxing to have someone who knows his way around behind the wheel than to drive yourself through Bali's traffic. You can fully enjoy the sights, don't have to worry about getting lost, and there's always somebody to watch the car and your belongings when you go for a meal or sightseeing.
Food and drink at Bali's better hotels cost about the same as in the same category of hotel anywhere else in the world. Breakfast is US$8 to US$30, lunch and dinner US$20 to US$70 or more per person ・and that does not include any wine which can be very expensive. On the other hand, restaurants outside the large hotels are often 60% to 80% cheaper, and at the open food stalls you can still get a tasty meal for a few thousand Rupiah.