Taxis in Bali: Overview
Taxis in Bali are a comfortable and fairly affordable (at least when compared to other destinations) way to travel around Bali. A wide number of taxis circulate in Bali (especially in its Southern area). Hence, you won’t face difficulty in finding one. In general terms, Bali taxis are blue. Still, the exact shade of blue varies. For instance, the vehicles of the Blue Bird taxi fleets are light blue and have a small bird above the “Taxi” sign on their roofs, which indicates their availability. Moreover, the company’s logo is displayed on their windscreens. Blue Bird Taxis is considered one -if not the most- trustworthy taxi company in Bali. There are various other taxi companies operating in Bali. Still, they are regarded as less reliable than Blue Bird taxis. On the other hand, ride-sharing is another transit option in Bali. As a matter of fact, the most popular ride-sharing company is Grab.
Blue Bird taxis are widely preferred by locals and visitors for their rides around Bali. That’s the reason why many individual drivers try to make their cabs resemble Blue Bird taxis. Thus, you should make sure that your Blue Bird vehicle is an official one.
The Most Common Bali Taxi Scams
Scamming incidents are reported when it comes to rides with Bali taxis. Still, they don’t exceed the levels in other tourist destinations. Much like every popular holiday region, some drivers try to scam or overcharge clueless or unfamiliar-with-the local-practices tourists. However, the majority of Bali taxi drivers offer safe and reliable services.
That being said, you should be careful to avoid being one of the few travelers who get scammed during their taxi rides in Bali. To do so, you should follow some useful hints and tips.
- As already mentioned, if you opt for the fairly reliable Blue Bird taxis, you should make sure that the vehicle is indeed part of the company’s fleet.
- Taxis in Bali are metered, but they also offer set prices. During a metered journey, you should check if the taximeter is zeroed, on, and operates properly.
- If possible, you should use your mobile’s GPS to check the following route as some drivers often choose longer routes to raise the final rate.
- In general terms, for up-to-one-hour rides, it is recommended to settle on metered taxi journeys, as the negotiated set fares are usually higher. Nevertheless, for long taxi journeys, a set price is almost a one-way street.
- It is highly recommended to pay with the exact amount of money. Verily, a few drivers give back the wrong change or claim to not have enough change to keep the difference.
- If your ride comes with a fixed fare, you should repeat the settled amount of money and stick to it, as the driver may ask you for a higher fare at the end of the journey.
Bali Taxi Fares and Prices
Overall, Bali taxis offer metered services. Thus, the final cost of every ride is formed by the taximeter, depending on the traversed distance and the traveling time. Unfortunately, traffic jams are an everyday reality in Bali. Consequently, they affect the taxi fares and prices. Hence, during peak hours (approximately from 03:30 pm to 07:00 pm), the duration of the Bali taxi journeys and their rate rise abruptly. Even short rides may be two or three times longer, hence costlier. Moreover, in the most popular tourist areas of the island (housing several restaurants and bars), roads are congested during and after dinner time as well.
On the other hand, taxis in Bali also offer set-priced journeys. Overall, metered rides should be preferred for short trips. However, long taxi journeys are almost always fixed-priced, while journeys during rush hours or late at night also come with a set price. What’s more, some taxi drivers propose a pre-determined price for destinations where there is no easy way to come back (so as to secure a round trip). Therefore, you should be prepared for tough negotiations! In any case, you should bear in mind that night journeys with Bali taxis are overall much pricier than trips during the day.
How to Hire a Taxi in Bali
Bali doesn’t have taxi ranks. However, you can easily catch a cab from the street. As a matter of fact, Bali taxi drivers often follow tourists looking like searching for a taxi, driving really slowly behind them and tooting.
Alternatively, you can call for your cab. Even more so, you should ask your hotel’s front desk personnel to call a cab for you. Verily, hotels often collaborate with taxi companies. Thus, if you are pleased with the quality level of your hotel’s services, you should expect an equally trustworthy Bali taxi ride. Taxi drivers don’t risk bad comments from the major island’s hotels and resorts. Moreover, you can also ask for a taxi at the information kiosks lying at the most popular sites and attractions in Bali. Many of the Bali taxi companies (and ride-sharing providers) have apps as well. Hence, you can download them and use them to catch a cab whenever you need it. As taxis in Bali are numerous, you won’t wait more than 5-10 minutes.
Please keep in mind that only local taxis operate at the major attractions of Bali. Verily, online taxi bookings and ride-sharing services aren’t allowed in the major Bali attractions and some of its hotel facilities.
Bali Taxi to Bali Airport
A taxi to Bali Airport is an efficient way to reach DPS Airport for your upcoming flight. Although hailing a taxi from the street is easily doable, it is recommended to book your taxi online or ask your hotel for one to be on the safe side. Moreover, you should take the high traffic levels into account while planning your journey to Bali International Airport to be there on time for the check-in procedures. On the other hand, the traveling time and the cost of the Bali airport taxi ride depend on your origin’s location. If, for example, you want to travel from Ubud to Bali Airport, you should expect a 90-minute journey and a 300.000 Rp (17.30€/19$) final cost.
Useful Tips and Hints about Bali Taxis
- Unfortunately, most of the Bali taxi drivers don’t speak English, at least fluently.
- It is strongly advisable to have the address of your hotel written down.
- Tipping the driver isn’t obligatory. Still, a small tip is customary for efficient and trustworthy services.
- During peak hours, when traffic is heavy, Bali taxi drivers tend to deny very short rides as they are time-consuming but not profitable.
- Motorcycles in Bali are everywhere. There are countless of them circulating in every part of the island. Thus, before opening the door to disembark from your taxi, you should check if any moped passes by.
- Some popular Bali attractions are located in rather remote areas. Hence, you should consider keeping the taxi waiting to return you to your accommodation as you may find it hard to catch another taxi from your location. In this case, you should negotiate with the driver: you can either agree to keep the taximeter operating or pay per hour of waiting.
- If you grab your Bali taxi from a popular island destination, you may pay more than catching it from another location. Thus, a good tip is to walk for a few minutes (if it is safe and possible of course), and then, hail your taxi from the street.
FAQs
How much is a taxi in Bali?
Taxis in Bali aren’t overall too expensive. Still, local drivers may try to overcharge ignorant tourists. In any case, short rides should be metered, whereas long journeys usually come with a fixed, negotiated fee.
Are taxis easily available in Bali?
There are no taxi ranks in Bali. Still, you can easily catch a Bali taxi from the street or call for one. On the other hand, you can also use a taxi app. Finally, ride-sharing services are also available.
Do you tip taxis in Bali?
You aren’t obligated to tip your Bali taxi driver. Still, passengers who are satisfied with the provided services usually leave a small tip. Thus, if your ride is pleasant and the transit services are safe and fast, tipping the driver would be an advisable form of appreciation.