Part of it is because of the one way street system, and the "stations" where drivers stand by. They can't just stand by at any spot so have to go all the way around back to their area. (I don't necessarily think it's a good system, but its where they have been "accepted" )

For you it might be just a few hundred meters but for the return trip they may have to go a lot further. Also, I normally pay between rp 30,000 and 50,000 for a kilometer to 2 or 3 kilometers...you can negotiate.

Also there are several short cuts depending on where you start and want to go..sometimes when you take the smaller alleys its much faster walking.

Not sure that any of us would want transport for a few hundred metres. All "taxis" around the world have a "taxi rank" and passengers don't get the whinging about having to go back to the "rank". I personally think it's a very unfair system. Last August you were hard pressed to get a fare of Rp.50,000 for a shortish trip. By December they were requesting Rp.70,000 - Rp.100,000. So, from M.F.R I want a return trip to Murnis for lunch, then later to Neka Gallery, then return trip for our evening meal at Siam Sally's. So I'm up for, roughly, Rp.500,000 for transport for the day on top of my required daily expenses. Leaves everyone frustrated and resentful.

Yes...very frustrating. We moved out to Sayan for the peace and views. But spending so much on taxi we may have decided otherwise. But again...love Bali.

Order an Uber OR a Grab from somewhere discreet. These local thugs will learn sooner or later.

I'm reading lots of posts regarding Uber etc in Bali which is indicating there are severe problems using them ("be discreet" etc). I don't understand how anyone would know whether the vehicle with a driver was Uber etc. What designates the vehicle as being Uber etc., all vehicles with a driver are members of the Balinese community earning a living.

Thank you for the reply. We are going to give it a try today, walk away from our villa and the taxi line.

Uber is still illegal and in general does not operate in Ubud, many of the local communities (banjar) have banned them as well. It's a convoluted government system, but some roads are national, or provincial or local roads depending on certain factors. Eg in some villages, they actually do not want even regular Balinese drivers from outside the villages to pick up. Some villages impose an entry fee with an eye to this. For example, I've had to pay to enter Nyuh Kuning if I drive in with a driver not from that area.

Also Uber drivers are often not from the area they are picking up from, because the app, which is based outside of the country, doesn't differentiate between drivers who are Balinese from that particular area or drivers from other islands who have just migrated to Bali and are using the app to help them get work. In some cases, the local Balinese have had their suspicions because the driver appears to not know the area, is not Balinese, and seems to be waiting for their fare at streetside rather than picking them up at a hotel or restaurant. These are often when the conflicts have started. Of course this is just a slice of what is happening and there are plenty of different scenarios but just the ones I know about.

Hi debbie and mike; would appreciate knowing if your plan worked, cheers.