Kuta, Legian, Seminyak (Bali) > Reviews > The Scam in Kuta

Author's product rating:   

Value for Money
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Family Friendly

Advantages:	I think this is rare, and no reason not to go to Bali
Disadvantages:	Don't take your best shoes .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This is more by way of a travel warning, for the recently arrived or arriving in Kuta. (And it really did happen!)

Walking towards Kuta from the Pandawa bungalows in Tuban: Hot, sweating a lot, and you just seem to have to stop off and cool down in the air-con delight of a Dunkin Donut. But whatever you do, please do not be enthralled by any pleasant balinese guys, who open the conversation with the line; 'those are nice shoes, where did you get them?'
Innocuous, i know, especially as i'm wearing nothing more exciting than a pair of trainers. But it is the opening line to a scam involving the guys niece, who is going to do a nursing course in London, and that it would be very nice if i could meet her and her mother, just so i can put her mothers mind at ease about England etc. And it's hot and i'm trying to be nice, and i do accept his kind offer of meeting a Balinese family. But that's my stupidity.
If this happens to you, firmly, but calmly, say no, thank you.

The rest off the scam involves a car journey into the suburbs of Denpasar, a guy who claims to be a musician and talks incessantly about the Beatles(this is the third world), a balinese blackjack dealer on a floating casino and a man, purportedly from Brunei, who is a skilled Mah Jong player. It also involves a card game, that begins for a few dollars, and then reaches the ridiculous proportions of a $30,000 (USD) bet, after about 45 minutes of play;and in retrospect, some danger. So please be warned.

The reason that i know that it is a scam, is because, only three days later, in almost exactly the same spot, the same line was done again; this time by a younger Balinese; and it was his sister, not his niece, that was the nurse to be.

But did that put me off Kuta. You can bet it did; for a week or so, anyway.

Did a bit of travelling and came back to the area; obviously steering clear of Dunkin Donut. And the place itself. I actually like it.
There's loads to do; as in bars to visit, restaurants to eat in, shops to(whatever it is that you do in shops). The sunsets are gorgeous, the beach is sandy and long, the people are friendly (although some of it's a bit of a hassle). All in all, well worth a visit; but not if you're looking for peace and quiet; but then there are plenty of places elsewhere in Bali for that.

If anybody is interested in the full scam, then just let me know and i'll re-edit again and get in touch.