In Reply to: What to pay driver posted by Pumpkinella on Saturday, 2. February 2008 at 06:13 Bali Time:
Hi all, yes we had the same problem with the two set drivers we used during January and we just went by the amounts that I had read on the forum before leaving and paid an average amount that most forumites recommended. The drivers you use off the street generally all had a set price of course, but you wouldnt want to use them all the time unless you found a gem in the rubble so to speak !!
A lady from work said if they are smiling and happy then they are happy with what you are paying them - well that just made me laugh as I told her I have never seen many Balinese that arent happy and smiling all the time especially the drivers !!
Of course they appreciate getting the business especially if they are not on the most popular list and dont get regular work all the time so they really are going to be smiling to be getting paid!!
I tend to like to use an 'underdog' so to speak or one of the less popular as long as they are good enough of course!! The 'top dogs' get all the work and there are lots of others that deserve to be on a list as well so i like to help them out. As I said before what they drive is just as important as good english.
Its great to do an up to date list each year as then newbie's can get onto it as well.
cheers Deb