Using $200 Amex Credit on Tours in Bali.

[Renato1]

Hi Everyone,
My wife and I are off to Bali in mid November staying at the Fairmont Sanur for 10 days, and we have never been to Bali before. I was wondering how to spend my Amex $200 credit, when I thought to check their site, and found a bewildering array of tours. The $200 can pay for a biggish one for two or two smaller ones for two (or half a luxury tour for one). Unfortunately, there are no reviews there, so that it is hard to gauge what they are like - for example, is the air conditioned "private transport" a bus with hard seats? Does the air-conditioning work well?

Both my wife and I are recovering from back surgery, so that we would have to avoid anything strenous involving say treking and water sports, and anything 10 hours long - as they would do us in, given our current conditions. Similarly, riding in something with hard seats would be tough for us, even if it was only a 6 hour tour.

So my question is, given our current limitations, are there any sight-seeing tours listed at the Amex website that you can recommend for us?

Or, from your experience, that you would recommend that we avoid?

Thanks for any assistance you can offer.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

Can we have a link?

 

[Renato1]

Can we have a link?

One has to log into one's Amex card, click on Travel at the top of the page, which brings up this page,
https://travel.americanexpress.com.au/travel/arc.cfm

then input Bali, Indonesia, and travel dates in November, then click on "Experiences" - where one gets 38 pages of results.

My wife already has complimentary Balinese cooking classes available at the hotel, so we won't be booking those at the Amex site.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

Finally found it.
OK, dont do Lembongan; tubing, white water rafting; Gili Islands, Island hopping; depending on where you are staying, maybe not anything UBUD as the drive is a bit long and tiring, anything "full day tour" will be tiring, Canggu Beach is a long drive if staying south of Kuta; dont day a day tour of Denpasar;

Some of the local Seminyak cooking classes look good; ah, just saw your comment. Maybe some of the local yoga classes? Sunset Your Tanah Lot,

There is 35 pages so havent gone past the first few but there should be some info above.

Maybe select one you are thinking of and let me know the name here.

We are going to be in Bali the first week of November. Weather should be great. Hot. Hopefully dry as its before the wet season.

 

[Renato1]

Finally found it.
OK, dont do Lembongan; tubing, white water rafting; Gili Islands, Island hopping; depending on where you are staying, maybe not anything UBUD as the drive is a bit long and tiring, anything "full day tour" will be tiring, Canggu Beach is a long drive if staying south of Kuta; dont day a day tour of Denpasar;

Some of the local Seminyak cooking classes look good; ah, just saw your comment. Maybe some of the local yoga classes? Sunset Your Tanah Lot,

There is 35 pages so havent gone past the first few but there should be some info above.

Maybe select one you are thinking of and let me know the name here.

We are going to be in Bali the first week of November. Weather should be great. Hot. Hopefully dry as its before the wet season.

Thanks very much for that, I was wondering about the suitability of Ubud, which comes up time and again.
You've helped me rule out quite a few.
I may try pick one that excludes them and uses up all the credit in one trip. Then, if we're up to it, buying some other tour at the hotel.
Cheers,
Renato

P.S. I saw my Doctor yesterday, who said that if we're going to Bali, that vaccinations against Hepatitus A and Typhoid were highly recommended (Cost around $150 each). Has that been recommended to you?

 

[Pushka]

I've never had any immunisations for Bali. We make sure we drink from reputable hotels or establishments, if outside the hotel we don't drink from glasses but bottles opened in front of us, don't use straws nor eat salads. Don't go near dogs or monkeys in case of bites - if bitten immediately get started on a course for rabies. Avoid mosquitoes. Long ago we had shots for HepB.

We've been going to Bali for years. Have taken the kids multiple times. The most likely issues will be some kind of tummy upset but not typhoid. So take Imodium (if not travelling that day just let nature take its course). and some kind of general antibiotic. If you have a fever then the Hotel Drs are always available and can sort it out.

I trust you have travel insurance? Never travel without it.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

If you need a Doctor ring your travel insurance and have them recommend a Doctor.

This has two advantages.

1. You get a Doctor who is sufficiently and adequately trained.

2. It makes any ti claim a breeze and moreso if you end up requiring hospitalisation. You have no stress worrying about the claim being accepted.

Your ti will have a 24/7 medical assistance contact. You have paid for it and so make use of it.

As to Bali Doctors recommended by hotels I can speak from first hand experience. They often get their work by paying kick backs and for example in my case could not tell the difference in symptoms between giardia and bali belly.

This advice to ring for a recommendation applies for all countries even where the doctors are first class.

I was bitten in Vietnam once while sea kayaking and doing it this way when in a remote area made things easy. The rabies shot was $1200 US.

 

[Pushka]

I'd say most Doctors would struggle differentiating Bali Belly from Giardia because mostly the symptoms in early stages are the same and without lab testing. A doctor on Hamilton Island could not differentiate this for our young son. In the early stages the treatment is the same and administering Flagyl (for giardia) isn't an emergency requirement.

 

[Renato1]

Thanks very much for that information.
Especially about drinking straws, which I hadn't thought about. I've put a note in my Outlook Calendar to buy our own drinking straws for the trip.
Pills I have galore, and travel insurance.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

If you need a Doctor ring your travel insurance and have them recommend a Doctor.

This has two advantages.

1. You get a Doctor who is sufficiently and adequately trained.

2. It makes any ti claim a breeze and moreso if you end up requiring hospitalisation. You have no stress worrying about the claim being accepted.

Your ti will have a 24/7 medical assistance contact. You have paid for it and so make use of it.

As to Bali Doctors recommended by hotels I can speak from first hand experience. They often get their work by paying kick backs and for example in my case could not tell the difference in symptoms between giardia and bali belly.

This advice to ring for a recommendation applies for all countries even where the doctors are first class.

I was bitten in Vietnam once while sea kayaking and doing it this way when in a remote area made things easy. The rabies shot was $1200 US.

Very interesting perspective, thanks.
It makes sense to ring the Travel Insurance, though I could imagine problems if the Doctor is located a fair way away.
Regards,
Renato

 

[digpomi]

It is sensible to get vaccinated against Hep A(2 vaccines 6 months apart will give you life long immunity) if traveling anywhere out of developed world. Typhoid is rare but can be very severe illness. Vaccine gives protection for 3 years and costs about $50

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Very interesting perspective, thanks.
It makes sense to ring the Travel Insurance, though I could imagine problems if the Doctor is located a fair way away.

They will know where the closest "good" Doctor is. And any problems will always be less than you trying to work it out for yourself. And moreso if you are very ill and not thinking logically, under stress etc.

In a place like Bali you are never far from a good Doctor and the TI ones will actually come to you.

TI has a vested interest in you getting good care early as it is cheaper for them.

 

[Pushka]

They will know where the closest "good" Doctor is. And any problems will always be less than you trying to work it out for yourself. And moreso if you are very ill and not thinking logically, under stress etc.

In a place like Bali you are never far from a good Doctor and the TI ones will actually come to you.

TI has a vested interest in you getting good care early as it is cheaper for them.

Or cheaper care if they don't perceive it as life threatening which, in reality, it rarely is.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

I'd say most Doctors would struggle differentiating Bali Belly from Giardia because mostly the symptoms in early stages are the same and without lab testing. A doctor on Hamilton Island could not differentiate this for our young son. In the early stages the treatment is the same and administering Flagyl (for giardia) isn't an emergency requirement.

However on Hamilton you are in Australia and the Doctors are mainly good. I repeat many of the Doctors in Bali are not as competent. My advice was for travelling overseas and heence why to ring your TI to get recommended a Dr more experienced in the area. In addition it is not just competency, but language. You are better off with a Dr that you can communicate fluently with. Again your TI will know this and factor it in to recommendations.

From what you have suggested it seems like that your Dr acted appropriately and administered Flagyl early on. My point is that not all Drs are equal and in third world type environs you may not encounter a Dr with the competency that you like.

A more experienced Dr will from be the nappy be able to gauge if giardia is more likely. A lab test will need to confirm.

I also disagree with you on the emergency aspect and is a mistake we made two decades ago with one of our daughters. The incompetent hotel recommended Dr turned it into an emergency situation. We went with the hotel recommended Dr who treated our daughter just by rehydrating her.

She worsened and her symptons also were worsening despite the hotel Dr stating repeatedly that all would be good. We doubt what the hotel Dr was saying and our daughter was clearly deteriorating and so we rang out TI and immediately gained a competent Dr. We have never made that mistake again.

The recommended Dr arrived, inspected the nappy and agreed with us that giardia was likely. She also advised that our daughter was now dehydrated to the extent that it was life threatening and immediately hospitalised her so that he could receive inter-venous drips. She also made her thoughts very clear about the lack of competency of the Dr. The Dr the hotel recommended had made what was a very treatable situation into a life threatening one through incompetency.

Lesson well and truly learnt. We without exception when travelling overseas now use TI recommended Drs. We also travel when appropriate (we often go well off the beaten track hiking, 4wd-ing etc) with our own well stocked and comprehensive medical kit when we visit locations like Africa, Nepal, Bali etc, plus pocket UV water treatment light, plus I am now a lot more well read on travel health than I was back then. And yes we have all reasonable innoculations. Some like cholera, I skipped as I deemed it unlikely that I would contract it (in remote regions I treat my own drinking water).

 

[Pushka]

Whatever suits you I guess. There are good and bad doctors everywhere. If really ill we would go to the international hospital anyway. We take our own travel kit too now. The Australian doctor failed us and he's not the only one.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There are good and bad doctors everywhere. .

Indeed and this is my point.

If in another country, and in particular the one where Doctors are not trained to the same standards in Australia, do you just take pot luck in who your hotel may recommend, or do you make use of the resources of an organisation that has a vested interested in your recovery, and whose daily business is to recommend which Doctors to use, clinics and/or hospitals to go to?

If in Bangkok for example there are many hospitals. Which one would you choose?

If you, your partner, your child had a sudden illness, attack or accident how would one know in a timely manner what your best option is? You can contact a trained and informed medical advice line or you can rely on the unknown capabilities of the late night manager of your hotel if it is large enough to have one, or the mum and dad operators if you are at a family run establishment (and Bali that means someone with little medical judgement), or if staying at an AirBnb booked place perhaps no one.

Anyway I have made my thoughts clear on this and so I will stop repeating myself. Everyone can make up their own mind on what path to follow as per their own considerations.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Back on the Amex Travel Credit.

In Koh Samui I used a particular airport which was excellent vale. The same tours however could be booked more cheaply through other parties.

In the UK I have been using the Travel Credit for some tours as I have found at least for some tours that they are the same price as if I book through other means. so I am used these tours in Dublin to use up one $200 Credit that was about to expire. I have also found some in London that I will use on another $200 Credit that will expire soon.

In Koh Samui I also used two $400 TC on some accommodation . I found on searching for properties that there were some bargains to be had, but other locations amex was more expensive. It helped that at the time of booking Amex had its own special of stay 4 and only pay three nights and the various hotel boking engines did not have that on those particular properties. But I did grab one bargain through Agoda for one of our three accommodation bookings The other two I booked through Amex.

 

[Renato1]

It is sensible to get vaccinated against Hep A(2 vaccines 6 months apart will give you life long immunity) if traveling anywhere out of developed world. Typhoid is rare but can be very severe illness. Vaccine gives protection for 3 years and costs about $50

Thanks for your perspective on this.
Where did you buy the vaccine - Chemist Warehouse maybe?
Regards,
Renato

They will know where the closest "good" Doctor is. And any problems will always be less than you trying to work it out for yourself. And moreso if you are very ill and not thinking logically, under stress etc.

In a place like Bali you are never far from a good Doctor and the TI ones will actually come to you.

TI has a vested interest in you getting good care early as it is cheaper for them.

Thanks for your information. It's good stuff to know.
Cheers,
Renato

Back on the Amex Travel Credit.

In Koh Samui I used a particular airport which was excellent vale. The same tours however could be booked more cheaply through other parties.

In the UK I have been using the Travel Credit for some tours as I have found at least for some tours that they are the same price as if I book through other means. so I am used these tours in Dublin to use up one $200 Credit that was about to expire. I have also found some in London that I will use on another $200 Credit that will expire soon.

In Koh Samui I also used two $400 TC on some accommodation . I found on searching for properties that there were some bargains to be had, but other locations amex was more expensive. It helped that at the time of booking Amex had its own special of stay 4 and only pay three nights and the various hotel boking engines did not have that on those particular properties. But I did grab one bargain through Agoda for one of our three accommodation bookings The other two I booked through Amex.

The Amex credit is obviously pretty handy. Thanks for that.
Cheers,
Renato

 

[JessicaTam]

Thanks for your perspective on this.
Where did you buy the vaccine - Chemist Warehouse maybe?
Regards,
Renato
<snip>

Ask your GP to recommend a doctor who specialises in travel medicine - assuming your GP doesn't.

They will arrange the shots for you. Then talk to them about any future plans you have as a combined vaccine now might be easier.

I developed a great relationship with the GP clinic where I used to live and they provided great advice when I started to travel a bit more widely.

 

[Renato1]

Ask your GP to recommend a doctor who specialises in travel medicine - assuming your GP doesn't.

They will arrange the shots for you. Then talk to them about any future plans you have as a combined vaccine now might be easier.

I developed a great relationship with the GP clinic where I used to live and they provided great advice when I started to travel a bit more widely.

Okay thanks. I was unaware that some Doctors specialize in travel medicine.

Regards,
Renato