Padangbai travel guide

Bemo

Padangbai is 2.5 km off the main coastal road; connections with Denpasar’s Batubulan terminal, Candi Dasa and Amlapura. Blue bemos run to Semarapura, 18,000Rp, and orange bemos run to Amlapura, 18,000Rp.

Boat

Ferries for Lembar on Lombok leave around the clock daily, every 1½ hrs, and take 4-5 hrs depending on the seas, 35,000Rp adult, 22,000Rp child, adult plus motorbike 92,000Rp (includes 1 or 2 passengers). The busiest departure is 0800, which is fine if 1 of the 2 large fairly modern ferries is doing that sailing; otherwise try to get on as early as possible to secure a decent seat. To the Gili Islands, the fastest way is using Gili Cat (Padangbai agent: Jl Silayukti, T0363 41441, http://www.gilicat.com). Their boats leave Padangbai daily at 0830 and sail to Gili Tranwangan in 1½ hrs, US$69 1-way, US$120 for a return. Equally direct, but taking longer is the Perama boat, which leaves Padangbai at 1330 and arrives on Gili Trawangan 4 hrs later, US$30. Aggressive porters at the ferry terminal can be a real pain. They try and grab your luggage, carry it on board and then charge an outrageous amount. If you need help to carry your belongings, negotiate a fair price beforehand. 5000Rp per piece should cover it.

Bus

From the bus station you can catch long-distance buses, west to Java and east to Sumbawa and Lombok.

Shuttles

Perama office: Jl Pelabuhan Padangbai, T0363 41419. Daily connections to Kuta and Ngurah Rai Airport, 3 daily, US$6, Ubud, 3 daily, US$5, Candi Dasa, 3 daily, US$2.50 (sometimes the Perama shuttle to Candi Dasa does not run due to lack of customers and it will be necessary to jump on the orange bemo to Amlapura, 18,000Rp or hire a bemo, US$4). To Lovina, 1 daily, US$15, Senggigi, 2 daily, US$10 and Mataram, 2 daily, US$10.

Banks

Money changers along Jl Segara and Jl Silayukti.

Immigration

Jl Penataran Agung.

Internet

The connection isn’t particularly good, and sometimes there is no access. Try the Gili Cat office .

Police

Jl Pelabuhan Padangbai, T0363 41388.