Bali Trip 2018: Travel Tips & Hiring a Local Driver (Pak Yanto)

This time, my trip to Bali was longer than usual—7 days and 6 nights. Initially, I planned to start my holiday in Lombok, then fly to Bali, and after spending a few days there, continue by fast boat to Nusa Penida.

However, due to the earthquake in Lombok at that time, I decided to cancel my Lombok flight and rearranged my plans by flying straight to Bali earlier than planned. Honestly, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise because I finally had the chance to explore many places in Bali that I missed during my first trip in 2017.

Bali already feels like my 3rd home (my second home is Greece 🥰). I’m very familiar with the routes and places around the island. That sense of familiarity makes Bali feel like my own place. I’ve heard people say, “Bali is boring,” “Bali isn’t beautiful,” or “Bali isn’t that great.” Trust me, if you feel that way, it just means you haven’t fully explored Bali yet 🙂

So, here are some useful tips for those planning a trip to Bali.

Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport

All international flights to Bali land at Ngurah Rai International Airport.

If you are Malaysian, good news—no visa is required, and you can stay in Bali for up to 30 days. During the flight, the cabin crew will distribute a Customs Declaration Form, so don’t forget to bring a pen with you.

You’ll need to fill in details such as your hotel address, so make sure you either:

Print your itinerary (hotel and flight confirmations), or
Save them on your phone for easy access

This is also useful in case immigration officers ask a few questions. It’s always better to be prepared.

✈️ Airport Transfer

For airport transfers, you have a few options:

Arrange it with your driver (supir)
Ask your hotel to arrange a transfer
Take a taxi at the airport (not recommended)

For convenience—especially if you arrive at night—I strongly suggest arranging a transfer with your driver or hotel in advance.

Where I chose to stay

For this trip, I stayed in Kuta, Legian, and Uluwatu. Among all areas, Legian remains my absolute favorite.

Rhadana Hotel (Kuta)

I booked a Business Room, and what I love most about this hotel is that each room has a different theme. I got the Scout theme, which was unique and fun—I absolutely loved it.

For Muslim travelers, this hotel is a great choice because they serve delicious halal food. Other halal-friendly hotels you can consider:

Tanaya Bed & Breakfast (Legian)

I stayed here during my previous Bali trip, and I returned because I love the location. Everything is within walking distance—convenience stores, pharmacies, cafés, restaurants, souvenir shops, and more. Super practical and comfortable.

Dreamsea Surf Camp Bali (Uluwatu)

Hands down, this is the most beautiful oceanfront stay I’ve ever experienced. Waking up to the sound of waves and stunning sea views was unforgettable.
(I’ve written a full post about it here: Dreamsea Surf Camp Bali)

Recommended Restaurants

Ayam Bakar Wong Solo, Kuta

Ayam Penyet is one of my all-time favorite foods, so whenever I’m in Bali, this place is a must-visit. The food is incredibly delicious and—most importantly—very spicy 🔥

It tastes completely different from Wong Solo in Malaysia, so don’t miss this spot when you’re in Bali.

Warung Dedari, Baturiti
We came here specifically to try duck (bebek) dishes, and the experience was fantastic. When we arrived, there were no other customers, so we had the freedom to choose any seat we liked by the lakeside garden.

The food was great, the atmosphere was peaceful, but I do find the prices a little on the expensive side. Still, worth the experience.

Tour Guide / Driver (Supir)

Tourism is the main source of income in Bali, so finding a driver is very easy. However, what sets drivers apart is their pricing, attitude, and service quality.

If you’ve been to Bali before, you might be comfortable renting a motorbike and exploring on your own. But if this is your first time in Bali, I highly recommend hiring a driver to make your trip smoother and stress-free.

My Recommendation: Pak Yanto

Pak Yanto runs a family-based driving service—all the drivers are related to each other. I’ve personally met and know every one of them. Their service is excellent:

Punctual
Friendly
Will guide you at attractions
Happy to help take photos
Most importantly, they are all Muslim

I’ve noticed that some drivers in Bali only focus on driving and don’t bother guiding or assisting their guests. So please be careful with drivers offering extremely cheap prices— low prices often come with poor service 🙂

Pricing & Booking

Full-day tour: IDR 400,000
If your hotel is in Ubud: IDR 450,000 (though I personally don’t recommend staying in Ubud)

📌 Important tip:
If you book with Pak Yanto and mention that you were recommended by Wanderhoney / Hani, you’ll get a special price 😉

Since I shared their service on my blog last year, they’ve been getting many bookings and are sometimes fully booked—so book early.

Yanto’s family truly feels like my own now. They take great care of their guests, especially female solo travelers.

One of my favorite drivers is Fatah—he was my driver and unofficial photographer during my solo trip last year and again on this trip. You can request him specifically when booking with Pak Yanto.

Fatah speaks Indonesian and basic English, is very friendly, and extremely helpful when it comes to taking photos. Highly recommended for solo travelers—even though he sometimes pretends not to know me when people ask about me 😂

Contact Details

Pak Yanto (WhatsApp):
+62 812-3654-0997
+62 817 556 488

If you have trouble contacting him, feel free to reach out to me via the contact form on my blog.

More About Bali

Read my next post: Bali Trip 2018: Itinerari Percutian Ke Bali, Indonesia.

You can also read my Bali blog post from last year for even more tips and information.