In Reply to: Budget travellers posted by Andytoo on Thursday, 23. November 2006 at 10:35 Bali Time:
The average budget travellers don't feed the coffers of international companies - they stay at locally-owned places & know that the admittedly low prices go directly to the family owners. Be aware that no-one anywhere runs a hotel or losmen for a loss - they make money or they say no - simple as that & the Balinese are pretty canny. No way they'll let a hotel room if it's not profitable for them. They're not dills. They very much like it when someone chooses to stay with them for more than a week or 2 & get to know them as people, ask about their lives & sometimes, if you're lucky, you can share.
Also, the budget traveller tends to eat at local places rather than the big Hotel restaurants, Bubba Gumps et al foreign-owned eateries & don't fill up on Hotel Buffet brekkies. The Aussie Gov't, as you say, has recognised the value of long-term budget travellers. Ditto the average Balinese.