Has anyone ever tried driving around in Bali themselves? Are road signs clearly posted (if at all)and is car rental cheap?I'm thinking of driving ourselves as opposed to hiring a driver and exploring the region ourselves as we speak the language quite fluently.Is this advisable?

i saw few if any road signs when there last june...i was not looking for them specifically but only remember seeing a few near nusa dua....in the courtryside i don't remember any...and they would not be in english anyways...

drivers are so cheap, can't believe that you would risk the potential for accidents in a strange place and the problems of driving yourself...

we had putu and he was fabulous...he would do just as you wanted...open ended touring or a set routine..

I think it is not advisable to drive yourselves. As a foreigner, I understand you are automatically at fault for any accident. The roads are not particularly well-marked and are narrow and winding.

Get yourself a car and driver and you'll really be able to watch the scenery.

Many foreigners do drive in Bali (and elsewhere in Indonesia). It's cheap and fun if you have a sense of adventure. Having lived here for 10 years I wouldn't recommend it, but those who like to take charge do seem to do okay.

The reasons I never drive are:
1. It's extremely stressful. When on holiday especially you want to be able to relax and enjoy the view.
2. The laws are arbitrary. If, heaven forbid, you are involved in an accident in which a local is hurt, no one wants to get the police involved so a vigilante system kicks in. In that event the foreigner can be in a very uncomfortable situation.
3. There is a driving etiquette that only the locals can fathom. Passing uphill and around a curve, turning right from the far left lane, blinking your lights and turn signals -- they have a kind of code, squeezing three lanes into two: it all works out well, but I could never emulate it.
4. At night (and remember night falls early) forget it! No lights. Cows and goats sleeping in the road. People wandering across the highway. Unmarked construction sites. Village processions.
5. Road maps are non-existent and the system of asking for directions is highly unreliable. Oh, you'll get advice all right, but not any that remotely relates to what you need. The local drivers know the back roads. Foreigners will be driving through the rice paddies for eternity.

Get a driver. Save yourself the aggravation.

thank you for all your replies. I think I'll take all your advice and not drive.
But what about driving to and in ubud?Would a driver take us there from the south and make the stops we want especially to see the arts and crafts.Would they be annoyed if they were to stop too many times?
I'll be travelling with 4 kids in tow and I can't imagine the 2 year old walking too much through the rice fields to get to her dinner or town from the hotel & I'll end up carrying her and getting all exhausted before we even begin to do the exploring.what do u all think?

the driver would take you anyplace you wish to go and would take you to places that they think you would like, if you tell them your interests...they are wonderful people really

putu is young, maybe about 30 and very pleasant and fun...one other american family with kids, that i know of loved him...they called his car the putu-mobile and he was wonderful with the kids..

Believe me, any driver you hire will be more than happy to stop anyplace you want, as many times as you want.