In Reply to: tour arrangement thanks Tracy posted by sivanasvaran on Friday, 9. February 2007 at 17:27 Bali Time:
I definitely think you can do better than 4 million rupiah.
For 7 people you should be able to fit in a van without any real problems. The cost for a full day should range between Rp350,000 - Rp400,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle, how good the driver is as far as acting as a guide (some are very helpful and informative, and some will just drive to where you tell them without passing on much info). It also depends if your full day runs for 6-7 hours or pushes on for a bit longer.
A half day should cost Rp200,000-250,000 and is generally up to about 4 hours.
A good idea might be to pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet guide and do some reading on places you'd like to see. It's fairly easy to make up your own list of "must see" places and the maps make it easy to see how to group them so that you can easily go from one to another on the same day. Lonely Planet also list the entry fees for most places.
Eg, Tanah Lot is Adult Rp3300 and Child Rp1800 Plus Rp1500 for parking (which the driver may pay or may ask you to pay). You won't need to hire a sarong here.
Uluwatu temple - Admission is Rp3000 including sarong and sash rental - they don't list a separate price for children. Parking is Rp1000.
That's just two examples and that information was pulled straight out of the lonely planet guide for Bali and Lombok. The rates may change slightly but it won't be by much so you can use it as a reliable guide.
It can definitely pay for you to plan out your "must see" locations and try and fit loads into one day if you're on a tighter budget. Lunch can be easy to do. Either pack something to take with you, or you can usually find plenty of places to stop for food. It doesn't have to be expensive to be good. I've been to places where just an entree cost Rp30,000 and others where I had a huge plate of very tasty nasi goreng for Rp11,000. Just let the driver know what you're looking for and they should be able to give you an idea. Or if you stop somewhere like Ubud for lunch, wander along the main road - you'll find a huge variety of places to eat.
As for locating transport - I don't really have any contact to help you with. Your hotel may have a driver who bases himself on or outside the grounds. Otherwise, you'll find a driver easily. You won't be able to walk 10 meters without having someone shout "Transport?" in your direction. Just haggle the price (having an idea in your head of what to pay) and make sure you have a good look at his vehicle before you agree. Other guests at your hotel can also have good tips about drivers they've used, so it pays to have a chat when you're at the pool or lining up for your eggs at breakfast.
I'm sure you'll have a great time without breaking the bank. :)