Flew Sydney to Denpasar on Garuda a couple of times in the last 12 months, the business class are uncomfortable as they seem to have a lump of 4x2 across the back of them :cry: . The entertainment is also fairly limited.
The staff (particularly the ladies) are courteous and eager to pls. The choice of meal is limited to two and they often run out of one or the other.
They are heavy handed with the drinks (ask for a weak whisky and coke and they translate that as 50/50) but happy to keep them coming
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The DEWA lounge is OK, not up to QC by any means but better than sitting in the terminal. Watch out for pickpockets along the way.
You need to buy a visa on arrival (US$10) but they accept $A. Watch out for the porters at the baggage acrousel as they try to basically grab your bag and help you outside with it and are looking for a tip of course. Can be a bit of fun to feign picking up a bag you know is not yours just to watch them dive for it :wink: .
There is a scrum when you walk outside of touts offering taxis etc. The official taxi window is to the right of the exit and is clearly marked. The system works well and you pay in advance at the window and then walk with your driver to his cab over in the carpark. Airport into Kuta is about 25,000rp but really seems to depend on the vagaries of the gods on the day and can be 10,000rp either way. When you realise the difference is a bit over A$1 it really doesn't matter 8) .
Can't tell you anything about economy class as I have never been beyond the curtain into the land of the great unwashed but I expect the choices are even more limited.
The Balinese are beautiful and friendly, some of their Javanese countrymen are not so. A walk down the street in Kuta can be tiresome with the touts but there are also bargains to be had at street side stalls and shops. DVDs are about $0.93 for latest releases but the quality is usually bad but once the films are released on DVD officially the quality is the same as you would buy in K-Mart.
Have a great time.
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) for friends/ family such as noodles, bali spices, curry mixes, local chocolates etc etc.
