Bali New Year’s Eve: Traveller shocked by $10,650 daybed bill

Her credit card payment failed, while a friend’s attempt returned an “insufficient funds” message. Davis assumed it was a banking problem and completed the transaction over the phone.

Hayley Rose Davis realised afterwards that the unused credit she had offered as a tip was A$7000. Photo / Hayley Rose Davis

She then shared the receipt in the group chat, but nobody noticed the true amount.

At the club, the group ordered vodka, shishas, cocktails, burgers, chips and oysters.

“We are literally living like the rich,” Davis recalled.

Towards the end, Davis said she refused a request for another shisha because she feared they would exceed their tab.

“I should have let them get five more f***ing shishas,” she joked.

When the group prepared to leave, a waitress tried to explain they still had a substantial amount of credit remaining. Unable to understand the waitress fully, Davis offered to leave it as a tip.

Staff then gave the group bottles of booze to take away with credit money. Davis said the group were drunk and walking down the street handing out bottles to random people on the street.

Then a woman told her one bottle of tequila she gave away was worth A$600 ($740). But Davis said she was so drunk it still didn’t click.

An Australian traveller has revealed how a currency mix-up turned a lavish New Year’s Eve celebration in Bali into a A$10,650 shock. Photo / Hayley Rose Davis

The mistake did not become clear until three days later, when Davis’ card was declined as she tried to buy McDonald’s.

“At first, I thought I got hacked and I checked my bank. $10,650 has been taken out of my account,” she said.

The Atlas receipt confirmed the daybed she believed cost A$1650 ($2037) had actually cost A$10,650 ($13,150).

Hayley Rose Davis booked a daybed at Atlas Super Club in Kuta, where US rapper Swae Lee was performing. Photo / Hayley Rose Davis

Davis later found out the unused credit she had offered as a tip was A$7000 ($8643).

“I know it was stupid. I know it could have been easily avoided. I don’t need to hear it,” she said.

Her friends eventually paid their shares. Then, a couple of weeks later, Davis said the final kick was the A$700 ($864) interest payment on her credit card.

“Oh, I’m literally traumatised,” she said.