Dudes, Bali shouldn't be expensive - food is cheap, transport is cheap, and clothes are cheeeeeeeeeap. The issue is not knowing how much stuff is worth & getting ripped off. I was lucky to have a friend who had been to Bali before. So, perhaps I could be that friend to you...
Here's a rough coupla tips:
TRANSPORT: Most of my taxi fares were around the $2 mark. You need to either get in a Blue Bird taxi (light blue ones - be careful, the others will try to trick you by looking the same), or you need to negotiate your fare/demand that your driver put their meter on. My friends (a few of them big burly boys) got locked in their cab by a driver wanting 50,000 IDR for the ride. Scary stuff. They're fine, but it's something to gulp about, eh.
If you're game to try a 'scootscoot', 20,000 was the average rate for a 5 minute scoot. (Note - I did scoot a few times. Thrilling. Terrifying. Noone tell Mum).
SHOPPING: Bartering is an art-form here.
Don't look too interested in what you want to buy.
Ask off-handedly how much they want for it. When they give you the price, shake your head, and laugh.
Because their quote will be outrageous.
If you have no idea what the item should be worth, I say that your counter offer should be a little more than half of their offer. This rule doesn't always work though. I got a few people asking for 150,000 Rupiah for a pair of sunglasses. That's about $15 Australian. That's bull. And if you buy sunnies in Bali for any more than 20,000, laughter will be had. At your expense. Literally.
Here's a rough guide:
Sunglasses - 20,000
Singlets - 25,000 (Bintangs) to 35,000 (nicer)
Thongs - 50,000
Dresses - 40,000 to 60,000
Shoes (sneakers) - 80,000 to 100,000
Watches - 45,000
Peace out buuuuuudddies.
Here's a rough coupla tips:
TRANSPORT: Most of my taxi fares were around the $2 mark. You need to either get in a Blue Bird taxi (light blue ones - be careful, the others will try to trick you by looking the same), or you need to negotiate your fare/demand that your driver put their meter on. My friends (a few of them big burly boys) got locked in their cab by a driver wanting 50,000 IDR for the ride. Scary stuff. They're fine, but it's something to gulp about, eh.
If you're game to try a 'scootscoot', 20,000 was the average rate for a 5 minute scoot. (Note - I did scoot a few times. Thrilling. Terrifying. Noone tell Mum).
SHOPPING: Bartering is an art-form here.
Don't look too interested in what you want to buy.
Ask off-handedly how much they want for it. When they give you the price, shake your head, and laugh.
Because their quote will be outrageous.
If you have no idea what the item should be worth, I say that your counter offer should be a little more than half of their offer. This rule doesn't always work though. I got a few people asking for 150,000 Rupiah for a pair of sunglasses. That's about $15 Australian. That's bull. And if you buy sunnies in Bali for any more than 20,000, laughter will be had. At your expense. Literally.
Here's a rough guide:
Sunglasses - 20,000
Singlets - 25,000 (Bintangs) to 35,000 (nicer)
Thongs - 50,000
Dresses - 40,000 to 60,000
Shoes (sneakers) - 80,000 to 100,000
Watches - 45,000
Peace out buuuuuudddies.
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