What should you look for when you are trying to find a good Bali Driver or Tour Guide?
There are many good drivers in Bali. But there are also some duds. When you are planning your trip to Bali, you obviously want to get the best value for your money, and will want someone who can help you make the most of your visit.
Using a good driver during you visit to Bali can make an amazing impression on your holiday. A bad driver could be the opposite, and leave you wondering what you might have missed.
Some drivers will have bomb cars, while others have late model cars. The difference between sitting in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle for 8 hours versus one without A/C and a broken seat is obvious. Pick someone with a good car.
It is important that your driver / tour guide knows his way around the Island. That is fairly obvious. It is fair to assume that someone who is driving for a living would know Bali, but don't take it for granted. Many drivers will go to the same places, along the same roads every time, without ever wondering what other options might be available. It is the hidden treasures of Bali that are usually the best. Only experience will find those special places.
Your driver should have a good grasp on your spoken language. Communication is the key to a successful day trip, or a complete holiday. Some drivers will say they speak English, when if fact they only know a handful of words. A few will be fluent, while most will have a reasonable handle on English and be able to engage in simple conversation. They don't have to be fluent, but you need to easily understand each other. Trying to tell your driver that you need a toilet stop by sign language could be embarrassing.
You definitely don't want someone who is receiving "kick backs" from manufacturers or retailers. Most Balinese are honest hard working people, but there are some who are unethical. You do not want to be going to the most expensive silver manufacturer in Teluk, and being told they are the cheapest. Meanwhile your guide is pocketing 20% of the sale. Or similarly being taken to a "great restaurant" where the food was very ordinary, but the driver received a commission.
The final quality of a good Bali Driver is his character. The last thing you will need on a long day trip is a driver who wants to talk all day, and thinks he is a comedian. Almost as bad is someone with no personality that only mumbles seven words for the whole day. The ideal driver is one who can talk with you when you want, and then stay quiet while you take in the amazing sights of Bali.
Do some research and then sit back and enjoy the ride.