Bali is beautiful, green and full of places you’ll want to see — but getting around works a little differently from what you might be used to. 🛵🚕
The most important thing to know before you land: Uber doesn’t work in Bali. Instead, everybody uses local apps — and a few smart tricks. Here’s everything you need to know to get from the airport to the resort, out and about during the retreat, and around the island afterwards.
🚫 No Uber · 📱 Taxi apps · ✈️ Airport → resort · 🌴 Leaving the resort · 🚌 Trip days · 🛵 Renting a scooter · 🚕 Bluebird & street taxis · 💡 Quick tips
🚫 UBER DOESN'T WORK IN BALI
Uber left Southeast Asia in 2018 and sold its business here to Grab — so the Uber app won’t find you a ride in Bali. Don’t count on it, and don’t wait until you land to find out. 😉
📱 INSTALL THE LOCAL TAXI APPS — BEFORE YOU FLY
The two apps everyone uses in Bali are Grab and Gojek. They work just like Uber: you see the price up front, track your driver and pay by card or in cash.
- 🚗 Car — for the airport, luggage and longer rides
- 🛵 Motorbike taxi (GrabBike / GoRide) — cheaper and faster through traffic for short trips on your own. The driver brings a helmet for you.
💡 Install both apps at home and register with your phone number. You need to receive a text message to activate your account, which is much easier before you swap SIM cards. If one app has no driver nearby, try the other.
✈️ FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE RESORT
Good news: you don’t need to figure this one out. 🙌 We can arrange a taxi to pick you up at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) and bring you to the resort — around €17 / $20 one way.
🤝 Ride sharing: we match you with other flowmies arriving around the same time, so you can share the taxi. Cheaper, and you arrive with new friends!
👉 More information: How to get to the Bali Fire Dance Retreat
🌴 LEAVING THE RESORT — ASK RECEPTION
The resort is in a quiet, green area around 15 km outside of Ubud — that’s exactly why it’s so peaceful. 🌾 But it also means getting away from the resort can be a bit tricky: there aren’t many app drivers waiting nearby, so Grab and Gojek might not give you any results.
✅ The easy solution: order your taxi at the reception. They will always find you a driver, and it’s a short and cheap ride to Ubud. Please reserve in advance!
💡 Tips:
- Order your taxi a few hours in advance, especially in the evening.
- Agree on the price before you leave if the car has no meter.
🛵 Getting back is always easy with Gojek — just open the app wherever you are and book a ride back to the resort.
🚌 TRIP DAYS — WE GO BY BUS
On the trip days after the retreat (May 4–6), we explore Bali together with one or two big buses: beaches, waterfalls and temples. 🌊 No planning needed — just hop on. The bus is paid on the bus: around €6–11 / $7–13 per person per day, depending on how many of us join.
🛵 RENTING A SCOOTER AFTER THE RETREAT
Want to explore on your own after the retreat? Renting a scooter is the classic way to discover Bali — and it’s cheap: a standard scooter costs around €8–10 / $9–12 per day, and less if you rent for a week.
⚠️ But please be smart about it:
- 🪪 Bring your license: you need a driving license that covers motorbikes, plus an International Driving Permit for the same category. Police checks are common, especially around tourist areas.
- ⛑️ Always wear a helmet — it’s the law for both rider and passenger, and you can be fined around IDR 250,000 (≈ €12 / $14) without one.
- 🏥 Check your travel insurance: many policies don’t pay if you crash without a valid license or helmet.
- 🛂 Never leave your passport as a deposit — a copy or a cash deposit is enough at a good rental shop.
- 🚦 Bali traffic is heavy and chaotic. If you’ve never ridden a scooter before, Bali isn’t the best place to learn. Take a motorbike taxi or a driver instead!
🚕 BLUEBIRD & STREET TAXIS
Bluebird is Bali’s most reliable metered taxi company — a little more expensive than the apps, but honest. You can book them in the MyBlueBird app or in Gojek. Real Bluebird cars have the bird logo and “Blue Bird Group” on the door — watch out for lookalike blue cars.
For any other taxi or driver on the street: always agree on the price before you get in. 🤝
💡 QUICK TIPS
- 💵 Carry some cash in rupiah — small shops, temples and many drivers don’t take cards.
- 📶 Get a local SIM or an eSIM so the apps work everywhere.
- 🗺️ Download an offline map of Bali before you go.
- ⏱️ Distances look short on the map, but traffic is slow — plan extra time, especially in the south.
🎉 THAT'S IT — SEE YOU IN BALI!
In short: install Grab and Gojek, let us arrange your taxi from the airport, ask reception when you want to leave the resort, and rent a scooter after the retreat if you feel confident. Easy! 🌴🔥
Any questions? Send a WhatsApp to Nana at +33 6 34 56 02 33, or check the FAQ.