Buses are cheap, easy to book and leave roughly on time. But they're also slow, cramped and often plain terrifying: accidents can be devastating. Where there's a choice of operators on any particular route, ask local people which bus company they recommend. Tickets are sold a day or more in advance from the point of departure or bus company offices - which are not necessarily near the relevant bus station ( terminal). Where services are infrequent it's a good idea to buy tickets as early as possible. Tell the driver your exact destination, as it may be possible to get delivered right to the door of your hotel. The average long-distance bus has padded seats but little leg- or headroom; it's worth forking out for a luxury bus, if available, which costs twice as much but will have reclining seats. You'll get regular meal stops at roadhouses along the way. On shorter routes you'll use minibuses, widely known by their Balinese tag, bemo , along with kijang , a jeep lookalike. Once on their way they are faster than buses and cheaper; fares are handed over on board, and rarely advertised. You may also have to pay for any space your luggage occupies. In resort areas such as Bali, a more pleasant option are tourist shuttle buses - though far more expensive than local services, these will take you between points as quickly as possible. The longest established firm on Bali and Lombok is Perama . They have offices in most major tourist destinations and produce a useful leaflet outlining their routes.