we would be visiting Yogyakarta and Bali in October and thought it would be a good idea to hire a car and be driven around by a local who can perhaps double up as a tour guide.
Would appreciate any recoms on hired car+driver/guide for Yogyakarta and Bali to max the time since we can't spend too many days in each place. We are a party of 3 with diverse interests......so a hired car is best option for us. From airport pick up straight on to tours .......ending with hotel check in.
Reply to this Hi Lili,
As you already know, we did it this summer. Get the hotel to pick you up from the airport. Than what you do is getting a taxi for the day just out of the hotel. It's technically half price than the hotel price. They have pretty new cars. Doing a tour of the city, plus Borbodur and Prababam will take you most of the day. Be careful, the Sultan Palace is not open all day long.
The all thing is very easy to organise while you get there. And take a guide in Borobodur, not expensive and it was really nice.
When are you going?
Peter
Reply to this Got a bargain air ticket arriving October 20 in Jakarta. Will visit a friend and stay 3 nights there, maybe even try Bandung. Then we plan to fly from Jakarta to Yogyakarta on Oct 23 morning, then to Bali Oct 25. I know it is tight, but I honestly just wanted to get away for a while. I feel like I am being resurrected from retirement with the "projects" I am handling now. Hey, thanks for advice.
Reply to this We stay only 2 nights in Yog and for me it was enough as we were there with Leslie. Try to book either the Mercure or the Sheraton. They are both ok and pretty cheap. If you want to over do it, there is the Aman next to Borobodur, but the price is simply too crazy for me to make it...
Reply to this Will check out Mercure or Sheraton. Any tips on Bali?
Reply to this Oh Bali...I love it....for places to stay, it's all about budget...or excess should I say!?! I love Ubud...and my wallet hate so many places that I love!
Reply to this I haven't been to Jogyakarta, but I been to Bali for twice, and I would like to recommend to you our driver in Bali for many years now. His name is Agung, he doesn’t have Email but you can send email to his wife at
,speak English. He will help you choose trips and outings based on what you want to do, and he is great with children.,he is happy to answer questions about the culture and Balinese way of life Reply to this In case things don't work out with the other Balinese driver. We stayed at a place called Ellie's when we were there. It is a really cute affordable place that is managed by a British couple. The staff there is great and you can hire them to take you out driving around the island. Everyone we hired through Ellie's was amazing so I would recommend it. I know Ellie's has a website so you can probably just google the place and find out more info.
Reply to this Thanks, Krista. Btw, as i mentioned, i got bargain tickets for our round trip Manila-Jakarta-Manila. I am now working on our bookings for domestic flights (Jakarta to Yogyakarta , then on to Bali) and was amazed by the airfares! Garuda's fare is priced twice ( about US $400) the round trip Mla-Jakrta-Mla we got (only US $219).
Reply to this Hi Lili,
You should have asked before...I spent hour trying to figure out how to go from one point to another one.
Jakarta to Bali should be easy....but Yog to Lombok...that was A challenge!
I've developped a new trick to find out how to fly from one place to another...
You hit the airport code and airport on google, and you open the wikipedia page of the airport of departure, same thing for airport of arrival. This will give you destinations covered and airlines...direct point...but most importantly....JOG to Lombok...well, was way cheaper by Surabaya than by JAK.
Have a look at Lion Air...well, they have also their own low cost call WINGS. They are cheap...very cheap...but...hey...there is always a but...you fly in a MD80.....and I'm pretty sure these are former American Airlines flights...same seats....but the put MANY more in it. I checked, they didn't crash too many planes lately.
Hope this help,
Peter
Reply to this Yay..........definitely No to Lion Air. But I will google as you instructed. Hopefully, I work out something. Thanks, Peter!
Reply to this I know...but trust me, that have most of their planes safe...lately...statistics are still good on there side...that say...I was not feeling that secure before we took the plane...but sad story is to say...Garuda doesn't have a better record! Shall I send you my private flying carpet?
Reply to this Ha ha ha. I got a booking for Jakarta-Yogyakarta-Denpasar, Bali--back to Jakarta for US$390. Still much, but it will do. Guess domestic flights in Indonesia are way pricier than back home. I checked out the other sites, and they are not cheaper by much. Perhaps off by just $20 or so.
I will take a raincheck on your private flying carpet, Peter!
Reply to this very few people who also speak English in jogja who worked as a driver,but I am willing to help you if you want.you can email me in
Reply to this Hi borobudur! Thanks for your offer of help, but i hope this is not in any way self-promotion as adverts are definitely not allowed in the forum. Neither would url's be allowed in the forum. (btw, that url is nowhere to be found....)
Reply to this I do not just try your campaign once again check,
press in "The Color of Indonesia" you'll find.when you are going to jogjakarta may I help you?
Reply to this I am in Bali right now. I am in safe hands of a local operator Jimmy Akhili of Smailing (read Smiling!) Bali. I am meeting him tomorrow and will pass on your e-mail to him. You can then be in touch directly. Sounds OK?
Reply to this Thanks, prakash. Have a wonderful time there and blog about Bali as soon as you get back ! 😊
Reply to this Just wanted to thank Peter for that wonderful advice about booking at Mercure (Phoenix Hotel) in Yogyakarta. Best place , and very affordable too. Thanks, Peter. We had a wonderful time there. And should anyone need advice on tour guide+driver, I had a very satisfactory experience with mine. Just PM me for driver's contact details.
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