When traveling in Bali, many tourists opt for short-distance transportation using ride-hailing apps like Grab or Gojek. These apps offer the advantage of transparent pricing. However, tourists sometimes encounter unscrupulous drivers, which can turn their journey unpleasant. Here are two real stories sharing common ride-hailing tricks, hoping everyone can be more cautious during their travels and avoid similar troubles.
Story 1: Airport Price Hike Trick
Provided by Mr. Hsu, owner of Lobster King Restaurant The owner of Lobster King Restaurant often helps Taiwanese tourists who haven’t downloaded ride-hailing apps to book rides. Once, a guest in Canggu needed to go to the airport and asked him to book a ride. The owner booked the first car through Grab, and the driver responded quickly. However, upon seeing the destination was the airport, the driver contacted the owner directly instead of through Grab, demanding IDR 400,000, while the app quoted around IDR 100,000. The owner was furious and immediately canceled the order. He booked a second car, but the same thing happened—the driver asked for IDR 300,000. The owner canceled again and finally got a driver who didn’t hike the price on the third attempt, but the whole process took nearly an hour.
Additionally, another time, a guest arrived at the restaurant via Gojek, and the driver called the owner demanding a commission. The owner ignored it, and the driver, not receiving the commission, later left one-star reviews for the restaurant on Google Maps using two different accounts.
Tips and Advice: In Bali, especially when in a hurry, such as heading to the airport, always book your ride-hailing service in advance and be prepared to book multiple times if necessary. Most drivers are good, but there are a few unscrupulous ones, so stay vigilant.
Story 2: Car Rental Upsell Trick
Provided by Ms. Yeh Ting-Yu Ms. Yeh and her friends had an unpleasant experience when they first used Grab. After getting in the car, the driver was overly enthusiastic, constantly chatting with them and steering the conversation toward nearby attractions and activities, aggressively pushing car rental services to bypass Grab’s transparent pricing system.
That day, they only planned to visit the Tegallalang Rice Terrace for the swing in the afternoon, so they politely declined the driver’s offer. When it was time to pay, the driver claimed he had no change and suggested they let him drive them back, using the change to offset the return fare. They agreed, but on the return trip, the driver suddenly claimed the fare was triple the original amount. When they questioned why, the driver blamed traffic congestion, but checking the real-time fare on the Grab App showed no difference from the initial trip.
When the driver saw their skepticism, he started negotiating the price himself, eventually offering the original fare and insisting on taking them back. The tourists insisted on getting their exact change, and only then did the driver pull out the coins from his bag. This experience made them question the integrity of some drivers, but fortunately, subsequent drivers provided decent service.
Tips and Advice: When using ride-hailing apps like Grab, be cautious if drivers try to upsell services like private car rentals. If a driver requests cash payment, try to avoid falling into the trap of not having exact change. Additionally, document any unpleasant experiences during your trip and promptly report them to the platform to help improve service quality.
These firsthand experiences encountered by travelers can serve as valuable references. While ride-hailing platforms are generally very convenient and the likelihood of encountering unscrupulous drivers is relatively low, it’s always wise to stay vigilant during your travels.
Further Reading: Essential Apps for Traveling in Indonesia/Bali: A Complete Guide to Gojek
Further Reading: Bali Travel Guide: Essential Tips for Short Trips! Ride-Hailing Apps for Motorbikes, Save Time and Effort!
Further Reading: When to Rent a Private Car in Bali? When to Use Ride-Hailing? Private Car vs. Ride-Hailing: How to Choose the Best Travel Option for You?
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