In Reply to: Bali first timer with Family in tow! posted by genoch on Wednesday, 28. July 2010 at 21:14 Bali Time:
Re:driver you could try Daniel, his website is www.danielinbali.com
He is awesome, speaks very good English, he has a 5 yr old son so is great with kids. Has a couple of vehicles also a large van for big groups. Average vehicle price is 300-350,000 per day. Make sure you check that the driver has a car seat for your 3 yr old, better safe than sorry.
My top 4 tips. 1/ Take lots of hand sanitiser, hand wipes.
2/ Take an antihistamine a day, like Loratadine/Claratyne (not sure for young kids, helps keep one from scratching from bites, mozzies.
3/ Travelan tablets taken one before food to help ward off any stomach problems, again not sure if children can take them, best to ask your chemist. 4/ In your travel document folder have a pen and all passports, etc organised and keep it on you in your seat so when you have to fill in the papers before you arrive you don't have to keep going up and down looking for pens, documents etc.
If you don't go express and pay the fees, I have done both and prefer not to use this express service. On arrival have one of you go in the queue for VOA and pay the $25 US pp and the other person go in the queue for immigration. I know it's a pain but check that the queue whether it has one or two immigration officers, got caught last time as we wondered why our queue was so slow, it was because there was only one booth open, then the lady came after a break I guess and the queue with 2 officers started streaming thru.
Safari/Marine park also has a kids water section that kids will love, it's an excellent day out. Maybe plan one big day out then one to rest at resort. A bike ride is excellent yet may be a bit much for all the kids, it really gets you to see the countryside and villages. Lots of info in archives, they were great, if you don't wish to ride on a bike the van follows so one can view the sights still. You get to see the volcano, a coffee plantation, rice paddy fields, excellent tour commentary, tour finishes with a late lunch meal at the village compound of Wayan.
If you want a detailed cheat sheet leave your email open and I can send it thru, it's on Excel, I was giving them to tourist people last time I went to Bali a few weeks ago. No need for calculators.
Make sure you have a rough price guide available on the forum archives and/or go to a fixed price shop, there's one across the road from Dynasty called Debby's fixed price.
If you want a really cheap meal go to the top floor in Discovery centre overlooking the beach. Meals from many outlets there like say Nasi Goreng and a bottle of water for about $4Aud.
Have a great trip...