1. Ubud is not the best source for crafts. Overrun with tourists, Ubud has multiple craft shops on every street. The inexpensive shops have mediocre products, and the expensive shops are, well, quite pricey.
2. Expect the hard sell. Vendors will approach you and offer you whatever priceless trinket they happen to be holding. It's easy to say "no," but they won't take no for an answer. Keep saying "no," and the price will keep coming down. But don't buy here anyway... Why not?
3. Beware cheap imitations. You can get wood carvings, for example, made from real ebony ... but what you'll find in the shops by the side of the road are made from cheap wood that is stained to (somewhat) resemble ebony.
4. Consult a reputable guide. If you're staying at the best luxury resorts (I recommend Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay, Four Seasons Sayan, Amankila, Amanusa, and Amandari), engage one of their driver-guides to take you to the master craftspeople. These true artists are not found in downtown Ubud or by the side of major roads. However, they do truly exquisite work, and you'll notice the difference in quality of their art.
5. Visit Tenganan Village, if you're visiting Amankila in East Bali. Not the least expensive place to buy crafts, but a good place to see a variety of some of the best crafts on the island. (And bring cash).
shopping for crafts in Bali (search here on Google)
copyright (c) 2011 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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