Bali Shopping

Bali is the place to practise your bargaining skills. Unless the product is price-tagged, bargaining is the norm. It will prove to be an exciting venture if this is your first time while the experts will find it exhilarating, especially when a good deal is struck. The best strategy for shopping in markets is to take your time and explore, find out the average price for your target purchases, and then go back and drive a bargain. Start by offering half to two-thirds of what the vendor is asking.

Many come to Bali with a 'shop till you drop' attitude, so you would probably end up buying a few things anyhow. There are numerous western-style department stores and shopping centres in Denpasar, Kuta-Legian, Sanur and Nusa Dua that offer a range of clothing, shoes, leather goods, sports gear and toys. The service is generally good, and the low value of the rupiah ensures excellent prices. Balinese arts and crafts are the most popular purchases but you can also get value-for-money goods such as clothing, music, musical instruments and watches.

High-quality crafts, low prices, and professional shipping services make Bali one of the best places in Indonesia to shop. You'll find the ultimate in open-air market browsing in southern Bali, where traditional Asian-style shopping still thrives.

Where to get what

Bedugul This is known as a farming area and is a great place to buy the choicest fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Celuk is the home of silver and gold artisans. Celuk presents huge stores that house a wide variety of all types of intricately designed pieces. The silver filigree work is quite unbelievable and bargaining is a must.

Denpasar The capital of Bali is not exactly a tourist area but there are a few main areas worth checking out. The Kumbasari market near the river gives an interesting overview of Indonesian markets with household wares and clothing on the third level, spices and goods on the second level, and a traditional market in the basement. Nearby is Jalan Hasanudin, a whole street of gold shops selling 18 to 22 carat gold jewellery. Not far is Jalan Sulawesi where all manner of fabrics are available. The entire street has fabric stores on both sides with a few household ware shops in between.

If handicrafts are your aim, then move along to Jalan Gajah Mada where items similar to those sold in Kuta are found, but without the presence of hawkers.

It is a good idea to visit the government-run handicraft centre in Tohpati, Sanggraha Kriya Asti, which offers a range of handicrafts at fixed prices. You can also shop at department stores such as Matahari, Libi, MA, Tiara Dewata, Tragia, or Ramayana or the enormous Pasar Badung central market, the Pasar Kumbasari art market, and the Pasar Burung bird market, to say nothing of the numerous night markets throughout the city.

Kuta has a few small outdoor markets, including the Pasar Pagi morning market, the beachside Pasar Seni art market, and the Pasar Malam night market, near the bus terminal.

Ubud is the place to go if you are after genuine art works in all forms, from paintings to woodcarvings and other mediums.

Sanur probably has the best markets for a tourist centre; look for the Pasar Sindhu morning market, the Pasar Pantai Sindhu beach market, the Pasar Seni art market, and the Pasar Pantai Sanur crafts market.

Along the main road of any tourist town, you'll find hundreds of shops in one open-air strip mall. Canggu, Kerobokan, and Seminyak have a variety of boutiques and furniture and jewellery showrooms that sell high quality handcrafted items. Much of the same can be found in Legian, Kuta, and Tuban, generally at lower prices.

Clothing Newer clothing boutiques in the upscale areas of Seminyak, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, and Sanur now have fixed prices marked; look for signs stating this, or ask the salesperson before you start haggling. Credit cards are usually accepted at mall stores and newer boutiques in resort areas, but small shops generally only take cash.

Wood carvings, stone carvings, and iron and bronze works make good souvenirs. If you want to buy straight from craftspeople, head north to the villages around Ubud.

Duty Free Shopping Plaza Bali and DFS have duty free shopping outlets in Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua, and the airport in Bali. A wide range of designer label boutiques can be found but bear in mind that some products in Indonesia do not have high duties, such as cigarettes.