Surely someone can recommend another driver than Putu who is all booked up for the time we are in Bali. Has anyone else any recommendations based on personal experience? Please don't say go on the balitravel forum because I did a search and most of the postings you can tell are self-serving and don't come from real visitors, they are posted by friends or the drivers themselves. We would like an off the beaten track tour, absolutely no commissions or stops for purchases (we are not going to buy anything this way), really knowledgeable about local cultures and remote/interior Bali. Thanks.

putu's father is also a guide...have you asked him for another guide??

I have never booked a guide or driver in advance in all of my wanderings. I always just ask at the hotel. Everyone has a brother, son or cousin who is a driver or guide. And I've never had a bad experience with a hotel recommended guide or driver.

There are some legitimate posts on balitravelforum but it would be hard for a non-regular to sort through. I suggest you take either Bob's or Kathie's advice. Good drivers are plentiful in Bali.

I used a good guy, ketut, [email protected] - 300000 rupiah a day, unlimited hours, included picking up from Ubud - he even came to see the Uluwatu temple with me and warded off the monkeys as my partner had left by then - we also enjoyed a meal together at his cousins (?!) seafood shack - best seafood I ate on my trip - give him my ref, Sameera.