Worried holidaymaker

Hello can anybody put our minds at rest?. We are going to Bali in a couple of months time, and have been wondering what currency to take. I was reading various posts regarding money and whilst I realise you can have dishonest people anywhere in the world, we were shocked at how many travellers were warning people about the money changers, and how you have to watch them like hawks, otherwise they%26#39;ll be tricking you, by not handing all your money over. Quite a few posts were warning as well, to make sure you take the correct money for entry visa%26#39;s as they can trick you there also, by converting at whatever rate they choose! Not only that, but people were being ripped off in restaurants!

Well, this has just put us right off Bali! We%26#39;ve travelled/lived abroard and feel more worried and uncomfortable about going to Bali, infact I wish we were staying in Singapore and not going!. Please will someone assure us that Bali is not full of dishonest people!.

We are supposed to be in Bali for 8 days, can someone advise how much we need in US$ for the visa%26#39;s please? I gather we should only take new notes (so lets hope the bank has some).

Do we also need Rupiahs in order to leave Bali, I thought I read that somewhere?

Sorry about the moan but it%26#39;s really worried us, which is a shame as we were really looking forward to our holiday!

Finally, on arrival we plan to change some pounds at the airport for local currency. We are going to Nusa Dua, can anyone advise where the best and safest place in Nusa Dua is to get the best rate? Thanks in advance for any advice, it will be appreciated.

Worried holidaymaker

You poor things :)

If you read all that then surely you would also have come across the reliable information as well.

Use the ATM%26#39;s for one and then you don%26#39;t need to go near a money changer.Use a travel cash visa card.

Take some $US (you will need them anyway to pay for the entry visa, a $20 +$5 dollar note each is necessary for the visa you need, don%26#39;t try and pay for 2 using a $50)You can often pay for large purchases (eg accommodation, driver etc) using $US.

It is just no big deal, chill out, relax, enjoy the unique experience. If you have done that much travel you will know that an open mind, a friendly smile and a genuine respect for others will really enhance any travel experience.

If you are expecting problems then like

Oedipus it will happen.

Worried holidaymaker

Hello!

You need $25US for visa on arrival per person. Have good condition notes, (no tears etc and not too old).

You need 150,000 rupiah departure tax.

Only use authorised money changers. Do not go to a money changer which advertises a high exchange rate.

The money changers at the airport are authorised.

When you settle in at your Hotel, ask some of the fellow guests where they change money.

It can be a little daunting, a new country, new money with so many zero%26#39;s!

Just be totally focussed on the exchange of money when you do it. Approach the counter tell the person how much you wish to exchange, the assistant should calculate the amount and show it to you. For peace of mind, have your own calculator and check for yourself. Watch and count as the money is placed on the counter. If you wish, count it yourself. When you are happy, give the assistant your money and take the rupiah.

In a restaurant, check the bill, pay the required amount and check your change.

Just remember, when handling money, stay focussed on that only. Then you will not become confused or flustered. If you feel uncomfortable walk away.

There are some dodgy money changers about, but the authorised ones are very honest.

Bali is a lovely place, the majority of Balinese are warm, friendly and honest.

Enjoy your holiday!

cheers

wendy

Bali is no different to most other Asian countries when it comes to trickery but most of the time you will be pleasantly surprised! Look street wise and confident and pretend you have been to Bali before.

The official currency for the visa is $USD25 for more than 7 days, if you use another currency then like many places the exchange rate for your change in rupiah is up to conjecture.

There are ATM machines in the baggage collection area, also money changers but like most airports the money changers have higher rates. If you don%26#39;t use porters to carry your bags then you shouldn%26#39;t need small change. Outside arrivals to the right there is a taxi window where you order and pay your taxi at set rates, try to get change in some 10,000 notes as you will have a little to tip the taxi driver and also the person who shows you to your room.

I do not know Nusa Dua so well for money changers but there are ATMs but always use the ones where there are guards, always cover the keypad when putting in PIN, take out as much money as it allows to decrease back charges back home. Keep credit card transactions to a minimum. When you have changed more money keep back 150,000 for your departure tax. Oh, always check the bill in restauarants for extras.

The advice of only taking a $20 + a $5 for each person is, in my opinion not neccessary. Just take a $50 for the 2 of you. I have never had a problem any time we have gone doing this and last time I bought 8 visas at once and just handed over 2 x $100 notes. No confusion, no hassle. It really isn%26#39;t as hard as it can sometimes be made out to be. Yes we hear of the odd bad experience, but in all my times going to Bali I have never expereinced anything or even seen anyone else experience anything bad. In fact, I have even seen immigration officials let young unprepared people go through to the baggage claim area to use the ATM%26#39;s because they had no cash on them to pay for the Visa on Arrival, then allow them back to get on the end of the Visa line. Try doing that in Australia or the UK.....

As for the money changers just use ATM,s if it really is concerning you that much. Otherwise, just keep your wits about you.

If other staff in the moneychangers shop are trying to distract you by talking to you or showing you merchandise, just walk away and use another. Make sure you are the last person to handle the rupiah once you have counted it. Count it, make sure it is right then do not under any circumstances let them touch it again, keep it in your hand.

If they want to only give you small notes (instead of 50,000 or 100,000IDR notes), say no and walk away as they are probably going to try to scam you.

The scammers work on the fact that their currency has so many zeros and is worth so little against ours. Therefore we get overwhelmed with all the zeros and the sheer amount of notes we are given. They use that to their advantage to try to sneak a few and hope that we won%26#39;t notice. But if you follow the rule of being focused on what you are doing they will either not try (because they know you are onto them) or you won%26#39;t need to worry.

There are as many (if not more)honest moneychangers in Bali as there are dishonest ones. When you find a good one, keep using them.

Don%26#39;t worry about it. For the most part you don%26#39;t need that much cash. Hotels, upper end shops and restaurants take cards.

Bali is so cheap, that you%26#39;ll find the need for cash is minimal. Its always feels like a lot of cash, particularly when $100=IDR 1,000,000 and its so many bills.

To give you an idea, dinner for two with house wine at Pepernero, a wonderful authentic Italian trattoria costs about IDR 400,000. Thats about US$40.

I always just use my ATM card and withdraw cash as needed. There are many ATMs on Bali.

Here%26#39;s something new that happened to me last time I was there. I had to go to the bank for something else, thought I would change a travellers cheque while I was there, went to the counter, showed her the usd travellers cheque, she said ok sign, which I did, turned to her boss, said something in Balinese (shame it wasn%26#39;t Indonesian as I would%26#39;ve understood), turned back to me and said, sorry we are closed. Left me standing there with a signed travellers cheque - absolutely useless!! Not happy. I usually use ATM%26#39;s but a machine ate my card when in Jakarta so had to resort to the limited amount of tc I had. Now I was down $100 US! I eventually managed to change it (sneakily) the next day at the hotel, thank goodness.

Moral of the story, my husband is leaving this afternoon taking 2 atm cards and a back up visa!

Don%26#39;t worry too much, use atms and as a previous post said, ask fellow travellers at the hotel where they changed their money. I always take Rp300,000 with me to cover taxi and tips when I arrive to keep me going till the next time. Don%26#39;t be put off, have a great holiday.

get a nationwide debit card, you won%26#39;t be charged for using the ATM.s. there are a few other cards that don%26#39;t charge either. check moneysavingexpert.com. they have a list of the best cards to use abroad.

If you are worried about card skimming (where they duplicate your card deails). Use ATM%26#39;s outside banks. Use cash when paying at small stores, restaurants. Hotels and large department stores are fine for card use.

Take enough $US for a couple of days, it gives you time to sus things out. You will soon relax once you get there.

Hi, thanks for all the replies, it has made us feel better. Like I said previously there are dishonest people in all countries, and we%26#39;ll just have to be careful. It is a nuisance isn%26#39;t it, all those zero%26#39;s, we%26#39;ll have to take a calculator!

Thanks again.

Hi BonnyandToby,

We had exactly the same worries as yourselves last month on our first visit to Bali, we took the decision to change 250 pounds here in the UK into Rupiah, ok we lost out on the exchange rate but for the sake of a few quid it put our minds at ease, we only had the large notes, but changed a 100000 at the taxi counter at the airport, then we had lesser value notes for the porters etc at the hotel.

Hope this helps,relax and enjoy your time in Bali,

We certainly did

Graham B