Ubud Tour: A Full-Day Private Car Excursion – Is It Worth It?
So, you’re thinking of heading to Bali and maybe checking out Ubud? Is that right? Well, Ubud is almost like the artistic and spiritual heart of Bali, you know. And there is like your typical “Ubud Full Day Tour All Inclusive with Private Car” option floating about, and, honestly, it sounds too good to be true. Is that not the case? It could be like an easy, no-stress way to see the best of what Ubud offers without the craziness of renting a scooter or trying to haggle with taxi drivers, you see. That is probably something you might consider, right?
First Impressions: What to Expect From Your Ubud Adventure
Ok, so, picture this: a comfy car, all to yourself or just for your group, so that part is great, right? Very possibly even with air conditioning. Basically. A driver who’s also somewhat of a guide. Usually, they speak enough English to give you the basics, anyway, but don’t necessarily expect like a super in-depth historical lecture. First things first though: These tours usually advertise that they will whisk you away to spots that people want to see. Locations might feature Tegallalang Rice Terraces, Tegenungan Waterfall, maybe a coffee plantation, and certainly even a stop at the Ubud Art Market, but that depends really. It tends to be your highlights reel of Ubud. As a matter of fact!
The Upsides: Convenience and Comfort Is Pretty Rad
Let’s think, what are some benefits, right? The most striking positive of the full-day private car excursion is literally convenience. Frankly, you don’t have to think. At all. You just hop in, tell the driver where you wish to go (or go with their suggested route, anyway), and chill, it seems. No getting lost, which is somewhat tempting on those small Balinese roads. So, no haggling for fares. Everything’s set, is it not? Plus, having AC in the Bali heat, maybe you want that after trekking around all day, very understandable.
The Downsides: The Tourist Trail Tendency
Ok, so here is something you need to consider, right? You aren’t going to be alone at any of these places. Like, these tours typically hit the major tourist hotspots. So, just a heads up. If you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path, you might need to do a little digging, find a private driver and map it all out, but they’re out there somewhere! Of course, and more obviously: You might experience other costs, it seems, such as entrance fees or even the sneaky “optional donations” that pop up. You see, it turns out “all inclusive” isn’t really always ALL inclusive, is it?
Breaking Down the Ubud Highlights: Rice Terraces, Waterfalls and Markets, you name it.
Ok, so what even is there to do? Is that right? You are curious what some of these spots are, and frankly, you will experience quite the variety, usually.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces: Picturesque Views… And Plenty of Tourists
Ok, I need to set the stage, alright? If there’s anything you’ll see on any tour of Ubud, chances are it’s Tegallalang. And in all honesty, it’s for a good reason! These terraced rice paddies do look gorgeous, truly. It’s postcard material. As I was saying, if you go there wanting some kind of special and solo, spiritual thing with nature? Well, maybe go early in the morning before the tour buses arrive. Or another time during the day if you wish.
Tegenungan Waterfall: A Refreshing Dip and Social Media Gold.
Right, now it’s the waterfalls turn! Of course. Tegenungan Waterfall, very striking, very photo friendly. That’s really the most important point to drive home. Prepare to go down some steps to get there and maybe swim, because who would not enjoy that? And yes, typically there are plenty of folks around snapping selfies, that being the only concern, really.
Coffee Plantations: Luwak and More
So, now we talk beverages, I suppose? And coffee. The coffee plantations that many tours bring you to, well, let’s just say they can be hit-or-miss, but still worth it, right? Sometimes they will show you the whole process of creating coffee, and give you like some tiny little samples to taste, anyway. You can even see Kopi Luwak, also known as civet coffee. Basically, coffee beans that a civet (a cat-like animal) ate and then pooped out. Yes, apparently people drink it. This could be one of those things you tell people. Very much so!
Ubud Art Market: Souvenirs Galore!
Now we explore where you can buy things! The Ubud Art Market might just test how good you are at haggling for a deal, or not, maybe? This place is jam-packed with everything. You may get a lot of stuff. Woven bags to wood carvings to batik shirts. Expect vendors to approach you. A lot. Just have a plan of what you are happy to spend, I mean you can only buy so much before your bags start overflowing.
Making the Most of Your Tour: Tips and Tricks To Know Ahead Of Time
Right then. Here are a couple suggestions that could possibly affect your tour! This should assist you, surely.
Set Expectations
Is your driver like a full-blown tour guide, right? Nah, typically they are more like drivers who know the area. Anyhow, that is pretty clear to see. If you like more insight, arguably do some homework about where you are going ahead of time. I want to repeat: Manage expectations.
Negotiate Your Route (a Little)
Here is the tea. Most of these tours usually have like a standard plan, to tell the truth. That being said, do not be scared to maybe say if there’s someplace specific you’d particularly rather see, and there’s time to squeeze it in! That can often be just the thing to ask for!
Be Ready to Haggle (Everywhere)
Seriously. From the Art Market to, potentially, entrance fees. Prices are frequently not set in stone, actually. If you do not feel great haggling, go to a store that lists things.
Factor in Extra Costs
Keep in mind, even if the tour promotes itself as “all inclusive,” do take into account things like entrance fees for attractions. So, as always, confirm exactly what’s covered before you set off.
The Verdict: So, is an Ubud Full-Day Tour with a Private Car Worth It?
Right. Should you actually invest in one of these tours? Probably. If you’re all about relaxation, getting around without issues, and are cool seeing some of the very popular tourist destinations, it could be a very fine choice. Alternatively, you might wish to look at some thing a bit less run-of-the-mill. Plan the route yourself, rent a scooter and brace yourself, do all the planning ahead, do all that! Otherwise, for a no-stress, simple intro to Ubud’s high points, these tours often hit the spot, right?
- Convenience: So, getting around is easy and comfortable, very important.
- Tourist Spots: Arguably, anticipate seeing the highlights, not off-the-beaten-path secrets.
- Cost-Effective for Groups: It’s potentially pretty cheaper if you’re splitting the price amongst a group, that being the only kicker, perhaps.
- Manage Expectations: That being said, understand that “all-inclusive” will rarely be really all-inclusive, by the way.
Basically! Should you check out the tour?