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While
staying in a private villa is generally superior to hotel accommodation,
it does not lend itself to transportation by taxi. The system for street
names and numbering in Bali is illogical. Often villas only have names.
And visitors who have just arrived on the island will find it almost
impossible to give directions to a taxi driver(s). It is also very
difficult to call taxis to many villas, especially if they are located in
rural areas.
The
options for transportation are to self-drive or have a car with driver(s).
LuxHeaven
strongly recommends using a car with driver(s). There are a number of very
valid reasons for this, based on our long experience on the island:
ü
Road
conditions and the lack of driving rules
- The traffic in Bali is chaotic and it is difficult to see any structure
or rules for priority (largely because there aren’t any!)
ü
High
Standards
- All of our driver(s)s have been through a training course, have a good
command of English and most importantly possess mobile phones. This allows
a large degree of flexibility in organizing your transportation
.
ü
Availability
- Driver(s)s are available on a 24-hour basis however they normally
work not more than eight hours per day – unless previously arranged
otherwise directly with the driver(s).
ü
Bureaucracy
- To drive legally in Bali, you must possess either an Indonesian
license or a valid International driver(s)’ license. Not having
these one leaves you open to on the spot fines by traffic police.
ü
Local
knowledge
- Driver(s)s possess an amazing amount of local information in terms of
shopping, location of restaurants, other villas, beaches not found on
normal tourist routes, etc. Driver(s)s also serves as impromptu guides in
terms of Balinese history, customs, and conventions.
ü
Safety
- Having your own driver(s) eliminates the risk of you getting lost. Bali
has very bad signage in terms of road names. Also having a personal
driver(s) frees you from having to worry about the risks of driving after
that extra sundowner.
ü
Protection
- Late at night, taxis operate on a ‘no-meter’ policy, sometimes charging
an extortionate amount for transportation. Any accident involving a
foreigner and an Indonesian is (by local custom) the foreigner’s fault. By
having a driver(s) you sidestep this issue.
ü
Cost
– Above all else, a private car and driver(s) is remarkably inexpensive in
comparison to many holiday destinations. For the freedom to sit back,
relax and be chauffeured around, it’s a small price to pay.
Our
recommendation to use a car and driver(s) is based on five years of
experience and over a thousand groups who have stayed with us. We have
consistently seen that our clients enjoy themselves, and their vacations
more, when they have a personal driver(s).
We
ask that you book transportation at the same time as you book your villa
because driver(s) work as semi-independent agents. Our best driver(s)s are
often booked months in advance.
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