CAR AND DRIVER

FAQ'S CAR AND DRIVER

Where can I find a driver?

Drivers are available at all airports: Larantuka, Maumere, Ende, Bajawa (Soa airport) and Labuan Bajo. However, not all of them speak decent English and not all of them are working in the tourist scene.

If you have difficulties to find a driver just send me an email.

To help you adequate - it helps if you already have a rough plan - please let me know as much as possible like:

- booked flights

- the date you want to start and end

- route, from where to where

- how many days you want to travel

- how many persons (adults/children and the amount of luggage; this is
important to choose the right vehicle)

What does a car with driver cost on Flores?

Drivers have different cars, different systems and different skills.
Below what you can expect for a normal car like Toyota Avanza, Toyota Innova or similar.

- within town an average of Rp 600.000 for one day

- in the area an average of Rp 700.000 - Rp 800.000 for one day

- for an overland tour (like Maumere or Ende to Labuan Bajo or vv) an average
   of Rp 900.000 per day with usually a mininum of 5 days in a row. Depending
   on how many days you book an empty run is charged. If you book more than 10
   days you might be able to negotiate the empty run.
   The 900k rate per day includes car, driver, fuel and needs for the driver (food, place
   to sleep etc) is for the usual routes, like Labuan Bajo to Ruteng or Ruteng to
   Bajawa for example. If you wish to travel fast like Labuan Bajo to Bajawa
   within one day, this is a double stretch and depending on the rest of your trip
   the price might be higher.
   The lowest price is around Rp 800.000 but they are rare. High end should be no
   more than 1 million per day.
   Also some drivers add an extra fee for guiding and/or empty run and/or for
   some routes like to Wae Rebo via Todo and Denge because of the condition
   of the road.

- trips from A to B and from 1 to 3 days are almost always extra charged and/
or with a (double) empty run.
- a 2-day trip Labuan Bajo-Wae Rebo should be possible for 2 million but can be up
to 2,5 to 3 million (for car with driver only!)
All drivers in our team have the same price of 900k per day based on a 5 day overlandtrip.

What is included in the price?

Unless offered otherwise the following is included:

car (or bus), driver, fuel, and costs for the driver like accommodation and meals in case of an overland trip. For a guide are additional charges.

When and how long in advance do I need to book a car with driver?

Flores is getting more popular but cars and drivers are more available as well. For the months June-September it is wise to book ahead as soon as your plans a concrete. For other months you don't need to book ahead that long before, usually 1 to 2 months in advance is ok and sometimes even shorter before.

Why is there usually a minimum of 5 days in case of an overlandtrip?

Stretches on Flores like Labuan Bajo to Ruteng or Ruteng to Bajawa are an average of 4 hours drive non stop. The trip Maumere to Labuan Bajo is 16 hours non stop (but is usually done in 2 days). In case of a one way trip the driver needs to start or end with an empty run without passengers.

It is seldom that drivers have guests the following day after they have end their trips in either Labuan Bajo, Ende or Maumere. Also, maybe they have bookings a few days later starting in the same place where they just came from, eg at the other end of the island.

Also driving on Flores requires a lot of energy even for experienced drivers as the road is winding all of the time. At the moment the Trans Flores, the mainroad which runs from east to west is in reasonable shape but there are roadworks.

What does a bus with driver cost on Flores?

Not easy to answer. Usually buses are used for at least 5 people (adults) and more. Prices start around 1,2 million up to 3 million per day depending on the capacity of the bus, brand and type Toyota Hiace or Isuzu Elf and place. Labuan Bajo has the most buses on the island, followed by Maumere.
Since most groups are usually more than 6 people I advise to book an additional guide so the driver can to take care of the safety of passengers only.

Under what conditions do I book a driver?

If you contact me and your itinerary is clear I find a driver for you and you get his name-telephone number from me. Once you get in touch with your driver you can discuss the program and the mode of payment which is usually in cash and in Rupiah. Transfers by bank means extra costs and are less common on Flores for private drivers. Some drivers prefer to receive a part of the payment once you start the trip, others you can pay at the end of the trip and sometimes you can pay every day.

Usually you don't need to pay a deposit in advance. In case you are asked for a deposit (if you arrange a driver yourself) be aware that in case of a conflict you are not protected by law. The drivers I work together are working on base of a gentlemens agreement.

What is a definition of a day?

There is no real restriction of the amount of hours so a day can mean anything between 00:00 and 24:00. This also means that it can happen you start your trip at 12:00 or even later. However for your safety it is not wise to drive before/after dark. The only exceptions are the drives for sunrise and sunset like the 13 km trip from Moni to Kelimutu (for sunrise) for which you need to start at 4 am, or Wolobobo near Bajawa for example. The mainroad on Flores is more or less ok but still with stretches with holes or not yet finished projects. Also, you don't see anything after dark. In general 10 to 12 hours should be the maximum (preferably between 6 am and 6 pm). Therefore sometimes additional charges are asked in case of a double stretch, for example Labuan Bajo-Bajawa since this is 8 hours non stop and 9 to 10 hours including rest stops and for lunch.

How many hours can I use the driver?

Drivers on Flores do not have a fixed time of business hours. Usually when traveling from A to B guests want to leave early morning between 8 and 9 am. The exception is for Kelimutu when many guest want to go there for sunrise. This means you need to depart between 4:00 and 4:30 am to be on time for the sunrise.

Also when you want to go out for dinner at night and you are not close to restaurants, the driver will pick you up at your hotel, takes you to the restaurant and takes you back to the hotel again, but these are short rides.

Reasonable is a standby/driving time of max 10 to 12 hours, with the exception on the day you want to visit Kelimutu when some guests continue to Riung or Bajawa. Also driving at night is not desirable because of the condition of the road but you also don't see anything of the environment.

Can I book a driver for half a day?

Everything is possible of course but often you will pay the same price as for a full day. This is because the driver isn't able to accept other bookings so it is uncommon to book for half a day, but sometimes possible like in the low season.

What if I do not need the car the whole day?

When you have a route for example via Riung which involves a boattrip you won't need the car the entire day except you might go out for sunset. However this day is also part of the overland trip and will be charged as the driver has to be standby as he is not able to accept other guests.

What about a car and driver hire for 1 day?

For one day within town or the area no problem. Price will be Rp 600.000 to Rp 700.000. However in one day from A to B, for example Labuan Bajo to Ruteng will be more expensive. You will be charged definetely more than the usual 900k in case of an overlandtrip as the driver needs to go back again. For a normal car count on around 1 to 1,2 million. For the stretch Riung to Moni or Bajawa to Moni (longer strech, 5,5 hours) you should count on between 1,2 and 1,5 million.
These trips can't be booked long before, only the day or a couple of days before. So you need to do this on the spot or you ask me a couple of days before.
When drivers accept a daytrip weeks or months before they can't accept other more lucrative bookings.

What about to hire a car and driver for 2 days?

For 2 days in case of an overland trop so from A to B to C for example Labuan Bajo to Ruteng and Ruteng to Bajawa will be expensive also. Count on 2,5 to 3 million. Also here, the driver has to go back again (empty run).

What about a car and driver hire for 3 days?

For 3 days in case of overland so from A to B to C for example Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, Ruteng to Bajawa and Bajawa to Moni you should count on 4 to 5 million. The empty run will be 14 to 16 hours non stop.

My plane is arriving around noon. Do I have to pay for a full day?

Yes, you will have to pay for a full day as the driver is not able to accept another booking for that day.

What does a (mini)bus with driver cost on Flores?

On Flores there are not no many (mini)buses so competition is low. Available are usually Toyota Hiace or some series from Isuzu ELF. Prices for buses for 8 to 18 persons vary from 1,2 to 4 million Rupiah per day. Most of them are only available in Labuan Bajo or Maumere.

Can I drive myself on Flores?

Yes you can but I don't support this. Flores is mountainous with thousands of bends and a few straight stretches only. The mainroad is small and in reasonable condition, the B-roads even smaller and often potholes. It requires a lot of energy, although you might be an experienced driver and roads are relatively empty you still are not alone on the road.
There are a few car rentals in Labuan Bajo who rent cars to foreigners however none of them offer a car including insurance and the latter is the problem. In case of an accident you will be fully responsible for the car but also the third party.
In case you are offered a car to drive yourself it is also possible this is directly from a driver but for sure with higher prices than usual. Also here, bear in mind that your are not insured incase of any problem or accident since most travel insurance don't included claims due to accidents or damage caused with a rental car. Check your insurance on forehand.

Why are car prices on Flores higher than on Bali?

Actually prices on Flores aren't always higher than on Bali. However on Flores cars and drivers usually are booked for overlandtrips, which means longer distances and extra costs for the driver.

Please also check this part of the website, about halfway the page in yellow

Transport by road

How to... where can I find... how much...(please read this if you want to hire a car with driver)

What kind of cars are available?

Most of the cars are Toyota Innova or Avanza, and now and then a Fortuner or Veloz. Sometimes other brands like Suzuki APV but some models are for the Asian market only and less known in other countries. Minibuses and some larger, but still small, buses are avalaible as well.

Can I find a driver on the airport?

Yes you can. Drivers are available at all airports: Larantuka, Maumere, Ende, Bajawa and Labuan Bajo. However, not all of them speak English and not all of them are working in the tourist scene.
See also Q&A 1.

Do drivers speak English?

Some drivers speak English quite good, some just a little bit and anything in between. But, this is also a part of the adventure and the charm of Flores. Most drivers learnt their English themselves without any education. Basic English doesn't have to be a problem, more important is that they drive safely and take care of their guests.

Do I need to pay a deposit in advance?

Some drivers ask a deposit, but not the ones in our team of around 20 drivers. In my opinion if you hire a car directly from the driver there is no need to pay a deposit in advance. Travelers are not protected by law in case there is any problem like most travelers in their western homecountries. It should be like a gentlemen's agreement which is the case with drivers in our team. So if you book a driver via me you won't need to pay a deposit.

How do I pay the driver?

You can discuss this with your driver. Usually you can pay in cash and in Rupiah. Maybe for example via Western Union (sometimes there are questions from Western Union which can feel uncomfortable). You also can pay by internetbanking but usually with some steep costs are involved and it can take a few days. Also pay with a Wise or Revolut card is not common on Flores. I recommend cash and on the spot and in Indonesian Rupiah. No credit cards are accepted! You could pay a part of the amount on the day of departure, or halfway or the whole amount at the end of your trip. Just as you agree with the driver.

Any information missing? Please contact me.