How to avoid Bali Taxi Scam - We show you how

[@ScottLembach-kl2wl]

Yes! Just arrived to Bali! I spent one hour in a Blue Bird for 268k! I had to give skew the price upward by tipping my driver for being a nice guy!

[@BecMattAdventures]

Right price and keen to throw a few dollars for a tip, always lovely and helpful drivers. Great to hear. Thanks for feedback.

[@guyb3410]

Great info Matt and Bec, We are in Seminyak from the 5th to 15th Sept. We love your videos. Some great tips...

[@BecMattAdventures]

Awesome! Thank you!, Nice and hope you can put some tips to good use, Thanks for the kind words, Be sure to let us know if it all works out for you , Good or bad. Thanks for feedback.

[@TheCuriousTravelCouple]

Excellent videos Bec & Matt 👍 lots of love from South Africa 🇿🇦 We’ll be visiting Bali on the 27th August for the first time and I must say your videos have been very helpful in preparing for our trip. Hopefully you upload a few more videos before we go.

[@BecMattAdventures]

So glad could be of use, Have a fabulous time, Be sure to reach out if you need any help over there. Sadly for next little while we will giving Bali a little break due to our Vietnam trip but will come back to Bali but just not for the short while. Be sure to let us know how the trip go and what worked if anything didn't. I believe with the videos we have done will put u in good stead to have a positive experience in Bali. Enjoy your holiday and remember you will be in Bali time, As newcomers to Bali getting around and between traffic and tourist can be challenging. Your going the best time of the year. We just picked our friend up from the airport last night , We asked her what was most helpful tip we gave her for Bali, Her response was Bluebird App, and our food reviews, She said it made her holiday. Thanks again. Thanks for feedback.

[@TheCuriousTravelCouple]

@@BecMattAdventures that’s amazing. Hope you guys enjoy Vietnam 🇻🇳 🙏 It looks amazing. Will definitely let you know how our Bali trip goes, just wanted to know the website you mentioned for obtaining tourist SIM cards? Please can you provide that again

[@fadelfadel3899]

I suggest you make a google map file of all the places you have visited This will be an important reference for anyone who wants to visit Bali

[@BecMattAdventures]

Thanks for the tip, Appreciate it, One of the many things will need to do.. Great advice and will eventually get there. Thanks again Thanks for feedback.

[@TracyCowie]

Bec & Matt, can you please do a video giving advice on crossing the busy roads, any tricks & tips please. Loving your videos, as I’m going to Bali in September, and the information you have shared is very useful, especially about using the Bluebird taxis. Thank you.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Hi Tracy, Getting close now for Bali, Sept is not far away. Hopefully between food places and some tips you will have a great experience in Bali, That's what we want. As to crossing the street , we will add crossing a street in 1 of our future videos but a great tip so you know before you go, Cross the street when ever you see a security guard outside of a hotel, They always happy to help to block the street for you to cross, Just ask can we cross the street they will jump into action and slow cars - scooters down so you can cross, Also bigger restaurants usually have a security guard and they will be happy to always assist you to cross the street. Also if none of that always walk across the street in a slow and steady manner, don't stop or start, just walk across in a slow and steady manner with 1 hand just facing the oncoming traffic , its telling traffic your crossing. Hope this helps, Also the Bluebird app is a must for easy travel, Get a sim card and you will get around easily and safely with no bad experiences. Also at times we go shopping in a bluebird and if you notice where your going you don't see any taxis, we get the taxi to wait for us if we going to a certain shop out of the way, as its cheap for him to wait 30-60 mins while we shop its like $4 or $5 dollars Aud for him to sit there and wait for you, We don't do that often but have done it before but having the app makes it sooo easy to get a taxi that's safe and easy. Hope this helps and have a safe trip and be sure to reach out if we can be of help anytime.

[@TracyCowie]

@@BecMattAdventures thank you so much for the response, great info. I’m going to Bali with my mum who will be 76 when we go & isn’t fast when crossing the road, so the info regarding the security guards is really, really helpful as we are staying on/near busy roads for shopping purposes. Love watching your videos, very real & authentic and honest opinions about where you go & what you see and you show places we may not know about. Thank you.

[@timstimes9607]

What a great video! Thanks guys. Very helpful 😊

[@BecMattAdventures]

Glad it was helpful Tim, we use it every time we go, it's 1 app that you should have, makes travel easy to get around. Thanks for feedback

[@gruntfactory1745]

Use cash as we used card last time and got skimmed, so be careful as card had to be cancelled.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Having both options is great , You can choose what you prefer. We are careful with cards, Touch wood Use RFID cases for cards and have cards saved for grab and other apps, Had no issues to date. Thanks for feedback.

[@elvisbartoli6687]

Great video,once I wanted to take the first taxi due to the heat from bemo corner to Kuta beach just down the road less than 1 km....and journeys end I said whats a fair price for that,he said 200,000,I said mate its your lucky day here's 50,000,.....I always get bluebirds,the day before it only cost me 125,000 from Sanur to Kuta,magic.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Haha love it Mate it's your lucky day part. We know Bemo cnr to kuta beach and your correct it's a short distance but with the heat we know what you mean. Your 100% correct on sanur to kuta for 125k , done it ourselves and very reasonable price. Thanks for your kind words, Thanks for the feedback.

[@margaretsmollen405]

Very good video, helpful. Thank you.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Glad it was helpful!, it's one app to make your life getting around Bali so easy and efficient and won't get caught using any unrepeatable taxis. Thanks for feedback.

[@cherylguthrie9226]

VERY helpful thank you!

[@BecMattAdventures]

Your very welcome, its one app we always use in Bali, you will never get caught and fall for the dodgy taxi drivers trap. It's a must. Thanks for feedback.

[@asnail6550]

Another way to tell at a distance is the sign on top, the bluebird’s bird is bigger than the other taxi

[@BecMattAdventures]

Great advice, with my eyesight might not help me but that's good to know. Thanks for feedback.

[@EweTubio]

Hey Matt. Price Bintang Supermarket 30,000 do you give extra on a ride like that? I make it up to 50,000 Because we were told years back the only get 30% of the fare and out of that is fuel and maintenance too. Your advice please

[@BecMattAdventures]

Yes we do, Matt is good with locals. As general rule always 50,000 if lower and goes over 50, say 68000, he will give 100,000. Few dollars to them means alot not for us. Love looking after the locals, always get good service. Ill tell Matt. Thanks for feedback.

[@lisaformoso9992]

Hi Matt I have down loaded the Bluebird App and its asking me to pick a subscription. Is this compulsory or can I just ignore it. Also, did you link a card to pay for these rides (guessing its like Uber). Love the videos they have made planning my trip to Bali easy. Thank you both. Lisa

[@BecMattAdventures]

Hi Lisa, I would just skip that. As im not sure myself and its up to you if u store a card or just pay cash. Very much like uber. Really upto you how you want to pay, I pay cash but I know a family member store a card and pay in app. Both same same what is convenient to you. I have meet 2 viewers in last few months and we asked them what was best advice they received from us, both was bluebird app, said made there trip so easy and had no negative experience catching taxes. Reach out if we can be of help anytime. Hope this helps Thanks for feedback.

[@lisaformoso9992]

Thank you. So kind of you to reply😊​@@BecMattAdventures

[@jeanmansfield9230]

Good information

[@BecMattAdventures]

Thanks Jean, Always works a treat and it's very easy. Thanks for feedback.

[@TheAazah]

How does it work though because if i set it now linked to my phone numebr and i buy a sim card i would make my sim card my new number? I dont understand

[@BecMattAdventures]

Your phone is only used to create the account, and is used to send a one time pin to set up your account. Once your account is set-up your phone number is irrelevant. As its uses your email to send you receipts and emails. We set ours up like above and once in Bali, we use a Bali sim and no issues as once account is set up your phone number is not used for anything. So putting another sim in , there's no issues. Hope this helps.

[@TheAazah]

@@BecMattAdventures Thank you so much!

[@Leyon80]

Great vid Matty. Is there a way you can share your Bali Google Maps map?? Would love to get my hands on that lol😂

[@BecMattAdventures]

Haha it's all in his head that's running at a million miles a hour. Thanks for your feedback , we appreciate it.

[@Leyon80]

@@BecMattAdventures we’re heading to Bali (Legian) for the first time on Friday for two weeks. We’ve been binge watching your Bali vids for months, lost count how many times we’ve watched them all 😂 Thankfully I’ve been making a custom google maps file of all the places you guys ate and recommended… especially the ones with ‘1970 Prices’ 😂 Thank you so much for your vids, you truly have been a massive help for these first timers.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Have a great time, That's why we do them as we were first timers once and made some bad mistakes. We want people to have a good experience going to Bali as there is nothing worse than a negative experience. Be sure to give us your feedback on what worked and what didn't. Matt loves the 1970's prices haha. Stay tuned hopefully some new adventures coming soon. Have a great trip and feel free to reach out if you need any assistance. Have a great time. Thanks for feedback.

[@fadelfadel3899]

Hi I suggest you make a google map file of all the places you have visited This will be an important reference for anyone who wants to visit Bali Thnx à lot

[@CheerfulWhales-cv5uz]

Can we request a taxi receipt in English from them? Or receiprlt nonetheless

[@BecMattAdventures]

Just replied in other video, Receipt will be email to you if you use the app for every trip. Read other comment for full detail. Hope this helps Thanks for feedback. Everything is in English

[@CheerfulWhales-cv5uz]

@BecMattAdventures thanks yes indeed...will be in Bali this Saturday, and your video just helps a lot...cheers, mate for the swift response

[@CheerfulWhales-cv5uz]

@BecMattAdventures hi am in Bali and got my first ride on the Bluebird taxi with the app as suggested... really good experience with my first time now ... thank you for the information ...much appreciated

[@BecMattAdventures]

@CheerfulWhales-cv5uz awesome to hear. Be sure to let us know at end of holiday on how you got on. Thank you for feedback.

[@CheerfulWhales-cv5uz]

@BecMattAdventures sure will do ... I asked driver for manual receipt which he gave but then my email also received the same receipt...wonderful indeed ... will be using bluebird from now on ... cheers for the help

[@ClareW1959]

Do you have to have a local sim card as I've heard it's difficult with a uk number.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Yes we recommend balisim2u.com/products/bali-lite-plan , balisim2u 20 gig indosat sim card for 190K , $19 Aud , or 10 pound uk, all on website, can contact them via website or facebook messenger , They come to your hotel and setup its super easy. How we usually do it, book 2 sims 1 for Bec and 1 x for matt, we tell them we arrive at 11am they turn up at our hotel at 2pm and setup, can pay prepay or pay when they install ( local currency if you pay them when install) , alot of plans to suit your needs. We cover this in our Bali airport taxi video too. Hope this helps, Thanks for feedback.

[@tintincaptain]

How do you pay for the bluebird taxi ? Do they accept credit card ? or cash only ?

[@BecMattAdventures]

If you use the app, you can choose either card or cash. You can store a card in the app and pay by card or if you prefer you can choose payment method cash, its really upto you and choose what suits you best. Hope this helps.

[@Tan-BJs.Journeys]

Really helpful thanks

[@BecMattAdventures]

Your very welcome, Hope it helps. Thanks for feedback.

[@TheIdleButcher]

Hey Matt - is there much of a difference between the Gojek and Bluebird Pricing etc?

[@BecMattAdventures]

Similar , biggest issue we had with gojek is cancelled trips and had few unreliable drivers. Overall we found bluebird better. If your a gojek user you be fine as well. We recommend bluebird as reliable and every vehicle is the same. So we know new people to Bali will have a positive experience using a taxi. Hope this helps.

[@TheIdleButcher]

@@BecMattAdventures Cheers. We are and have been regualr visitors and always hailed the BlueBirds off the street and last year used Gojeck with not too many problems but sometimes the vehicle was a bit small. So we will be arriving in 3 weeks for a few weeks and this time I'll use both if required - and if hailing a cab, will do it with BlueBird. and when ordering will do the same - and alternatice use Gojek, I agree and endorse that BlueBird Group is the only reliable Metered taxi in Bali. And if not aware you will get ripperd by any other "blue" taxi. Thanks and cheers

[@TheIdleButcher]

@@BecMattAdventures Cheers. Enjoy Vietnam - we lived there in Saigon for 2 years, just loved it. Are you getting up to Hanoi and SAPA (take the overnight train). Then Central is great Da Nang and Hoi An - you have to spend a couple of nights in Hoi An.....

[@BecMattAdventures]

@@TheIdleButcher Before youtube days we have done vietnam , Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang and a few others so this trip we stayed away off the tourist track. This trip no Sapa but did Hanoi (food video on that) sadly we only did 2 weeks in Vietnam , now back at work Lucky bugger , would love to live in Saigon, Great country and wonderful people and price is right.

[@TheIdleButcher]

@@BecMattAdventures Brilliant. It was the best 2 years of our lives, would go back in a heartbeat. Cheers....

[@Twoaussieguys]

Have you found using the APP that the taxi can take a while because of the traffic? Or is it possible quicker to hail one down? I am assuming if they accept the job from the APP, that they are close by? Love this video great information

[@BecMattAdventures]

Great question, Yes sometimes 10 mins or so before they arrive in busy or bit out of the way spots. Hail one down i would say not quicker generally unless 1 is driving right past. The big win in the app is when it's busy, Impossible to hail one down due to busy or traffic jams, Is when you book on app, and hes pulling up , had so many people try and jump in thinking hes free, Then a small discussion telling them it's been booked via the app and even had a few times driver had to say have a booking for Mr Matt (Haha) . When busy or traffic there is a longer wait due to them trying to reach you. Also trying to hail one down makes the not so honest taxis swarm to you and trying to get you to go with them, Then that's when you can test them on price if your game and see how much harder work getting taxis that way compared to the bluebird app. Also tip, if your getting picked up from side of street (not hotel or somewhere obvious) choose a business you can see and choose that as makes it easy for pickup compared to a basic street no along the street. Hope that helps Thanks for feedback.

[@Twoaussieguys]

@@BecMattAdventures Thanks for the quick reply. We love watching your travels and learn a lot from you. Our October trip is 5 nights Kuta, 5 nights Lembongan, and 8 nights Sanur. Have bee to Bali many times, but this will be our first to Sanur.

[@sharonbrown1033]

Most of the guys wear a blue shirt that you see in the videos as well 💙

[@BecMattAdventures]

Great advice, always well presented too. Thanks for feedback.

[@pmc8119]

We are heading to Lombok on 20th, I understand there's a Bluebird group there - in Senggigi. Can you confirm please?

[@BecMattAdventures]

Never been there myself, Love to go and see Lombok. Sadly can not confirm with our own eyes but google tells us , Lombok no issues and recommend using the app. Sorry we can not help beyond that. Jealous as we love to visit one day. Have a great trip Thanks for feedback.

[@pmc8119]

​@@BecMattAdventuresBrilliant, thanks heaps. Will let you know how we get on. We're there for two weeks. Looking forward to some peace and quiet 😊

[@BecMattAdventures]

@@pmc8119 Please let us know your thoughts on Lombok and give us your review when your finished there. Thanks for feedback.

[@pmc8119]

Will do, cheers - Pam😊

[@pmc8119]

​@@BecMattAdventuresArrived back a couple of days ago. We stayed at Mangsit Beach, just up from Senggigi. Honestly the place was Heaven on Earth! We got a good deal (half price or more) stayed at Qunci Villas - our first holiday overseas in 10 years. Senggigi relatively busy, particularly Sunday at 6pm!! There are Bluebird taxis everywhere! If you guys want a special escape, this is definitely it. One suggestion is to take the plane from Denpasar to Lombok, unless you have a cast iron stomach!!

[@Glenn-d5z]

Hi guys. At the start of your video you say to download the app and confirm before you leave for Bali. Do you use international roaming? If you get a sim in country do you then need to confirm your app with the new number?

[@BecMattAdventures]

Great Question, Best way to answer is if you have international roaming you can download in your country or overseas, As to generate a account the app will send you a 1 time pin to the phone number you put in for your account. Going forward to use the app , it doesn't matter what phone number you use the app will work, The phone number is only needed to verify the account when you setup the app via the one time pin. So we set up in before we went once , then once in bali we just use a local sim but it doesn't use your phone number (as you only need data to use the app.) Works every time we go using a different sim (local Bali sim) and works great. Hope you understand what we mean. Thanks for feedback.

[@leandarock3599]

What is thr best bali sim to get

[@BecMattAdventures]

we get balisim2u.com/products/bali-lite-plan 20Gb for 190K Rp $19 AUD, They come to your hotel and set it al up, Really easy, Can pay online or pay cash to the person who comes and sets it up. Works great. They offer more data on plans if u need more data, All on website. Hope that helps, We use them all the time. Also Made (Marday) whatsapp No is [phone] (hes a lovely man will look after you. Or hes on Facebook (Made in Bali tour and transport)

[@Glenn-d5z]

@@BecMattAdventures Yep, understood. Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

[@theinternationalist1357]

I'll be in Bali within 1 week from today. I did download Bluebird app and added my credit card. So, everything will be charge into my credit card, right? No tips? How much does it cost from DPS airport to Kuta, my hotel Sheraton? Thanks.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Yes , it will just bill your CC, no tips needed but I like to throw the driver 1 or 2 dolla cash. About $50k Rp$5 Aud to kuta,. Only problem is you won't be able to use the app at the airport pick up from arrivals, due to bluebird not allowed to there . So if you watch our Bali airport taxi trick video do that, pay cash for initial trip to hotel, from then on use the app, you be set, long as your bank is aware your travelling overseas. Hope that helps. Be sure to let us know how it all goes good or bad. As we never had a problem. Thanks for feedback.

[@theinternationalist1357]

Ok. Just watch your trick video on arrival so we will just waved/jump into the bleubird lol. It's our first time in Bali. That's really cheap from the airport to Sheraton hotel. From our house here in California, Orange County to LAX it's over $100 on Uber or Lyft 😢 such a ripoff! Ok when we arrive in our hotel, we'll update you. Also, we will use your private driver to tour us around. Does he take credit cards?

[@BecMattAdventures]

@@theinternationalist1357 Yes use airport trick up at departures, Made (Marday) is a lovely man and will look after you. (No he only takes cash) Coming from the USA you will notice a big price difference , Made is only like 50 USD for a whole day of a private car and driver (SO CHEAP). He will take you around Bali on those bigger trips. You will find Bali is a half / half for credit card / cash, Bigger places takes cards, smaller places take cash. Hope this helps. Keep in touch and feel free to reach out anytime if we can be of help. Have a great trip and hope you have a great experience Thanks for feedback. Be sure to watch some of our videos for help on where to eat as well.

[@theinternationalist1357]

@@BecMattAdventures Thank you Sir. Indeed, it is definitely very affordable in Bali. We were going to stay at Ritz-Carlton Reserve but due to our son, Sheraton is more fun for him. Of course, I'll be in touch with Made to tour us around. We also book 3 excursions already. I was hoping just to use my credit cards all the time because I really don't know how to count their currency, there's too many digits, lol. Do they take USD$ "cash" beside their currency? I'll tip them in USD$ :)

[@BecMattAdventures]

Good ratio for usd, I remember I use 15000 rupiah to 1 usd. Have a great trip.

[@colinswan2819]

Very helpful Did you set up your card or pay cash ?

[@BecMattAdventures]

We went cash , But card is easy too. I like cash for Bali as it was easy to give a small tip in cash. I know grab has a good setup that you can pay card and give a separate tip to the driver. For the record i just pay cash in Bali on the app for Bluebird. Thanks for feedback.

[@vboiE39]

Some bluebirds are also called "Pusaka" with a bit darker color but same identifiers as Bluebird, the only difference is the logo. But Pusaka is not really common anymore, you can still find them roaming on rare occasions.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Wow did not know this, we will be sure to be on the lookout for them. Thanks for feedback

[@EweTubio]

Matt ya dork 😂

[@BecMattAdventures]

I always tell Matt he's such a dork. Matt is Matt, he doesn't care. I tell him your on camera gotta present. Haha Thanks for feedback. Ill make sure to tell him a viewer told me.

[@markwynne7935]

Try a blue bird at 3am .... different story then in my experience 🤷‍♂️

[@BecMattAdventures]

I'm sure your correct, One benefit being a old fuddy duddy, In bed by 10pm haha. Thanks for the suggestion. Thanks for feedback.

[@pauldeligiannis-g7z]

Only one problem! Blue bird taxi money goes to Malaysia instead of Bali.

[@BecMattAdventures]

Not to sure where your getting your info, Everything on wiki and google points to being a Indonesian company based in Jakarta and founded in Indonesia. Thanks for feedback.