Take your kids to Bali for a well-rounded vacation filled with adventure, water play and pampering.
By Shandley McMurray
Last April we packed our 5- and 6-year-old kids into a legroom-lacking flight to Bali. Despite the long journey to get there, our time spent in this paradise was amazing for everyone. An adventurous family, we prefer taking holidays to places where we can go for hikes, traipse through museums and explore new areas rather than lounge on a beach. With its vast topography (volcanoes, rice fields, forests and beaches, just to name a few) Bali was a perfect destination for us. From riding elephants through the fields to visiting Cliffside temples and feeding monkeys in a sacred forest, our children were amazed by the activities we were lucky enough to enjoy. And when we were ready for a rest, the affordable massages, pools and beautiful sand beaches offered a welcome respite.
Here are a few of our favorite places and activities.
Where to Stay
Ubud
Furama Villas & Spa – http://furamavillasandspa.com/ubud/
Enjoy a buffet breakfast in the outdoor restaurant overlooking the rice fields before retreating to your villa’s private pool for a swim. Enjoy a massage in the spa (we each got a complimentary half hour upon check-in) and make sure to wander the beautiful grounds, walk through the rice field (in the morning before it’s too hot) and visit the village outside the gate (it’s very poor, but the people and children are lovely). The staff are very attentive. They respond to problems quickly and love being around children. They even made my son a birthday cake as a surprise – free of charge.
Nusa Dua
Melia Bali – http://www.meliabali.com/en/index.html
We stayed in this enormous resort for a week and were quite happy with it. The children loved playing in the lagoon pools that sit outside various wings of the hotel. And the main pool had plenty of shallow areas for them to splash around in. We ate at all of the restaurants and truly enjoyed the diverse selection (everything from noodles to pancakes with chocolate sauce) of the buffet breakfast at Lotus (the Asian Garden Restaurant). We were lucky enough to visit Sakura (the Japanese restaurant) on all you can eat sushi night. Yum! We also frequented Sateria (the beachside venue) for an early dinner or late lunch but avoided its over-priced buffet nights. Sorrento, the Mediterranean Restaurant was also good, especially on their more affordable buffet evening. My daughter was most impressed by the Mariachi Band that agreed to play a cover of a Justin Bieber song.
As for accommodation, the family room was perfect for our needs. The kids had a twin-sized bed each on the ground floor of the room while we climbed a small set of stairs to a king-sized bed above. Everything was open so there was no worry about not hearing them in the night, yet we still had privacy and a separate bathroom.
Cons: It took a day and a half to get someone to fix the broken blind in our room and the resort’s large size can mean crowds at breakfast and peak times around the main pool. The kids’ club exists, but they don’t always do what they have scheduled and seemed to allow a lot of television watching. We only used it twice for two hours (once so my husband could take surf lessons and another so we could have a lunch date in Kuta). By the end, the kids were begging for us to take them out, claiming boredom as the reason.
Westin Resort Nusa Dua – http://www.westinnusaduabali.com/
While we didn’t stay at this hotel, we did make great use of its fabulous pool and 12 meter waterslide (if you look like you belong – and don’t flaunt your tell-tale towels from a different hotel – you’ll fit right in). We also ate two delicious meals at The Veranda, by the pool. The kids enjoyed wood-oven baked pizzas while we munched on seafood pasta and curry. Make sure to try their banana and pineapple juice. It’s delicious! The Westin was much less crowded than our hotel and offered a great kids’ club with both indoor and outdoor play grounds (for hotel guests only). Activities include face-painting, kite making, fishing and stargazing. Each child also receives a kids’ club bag complete with treats such as sun hats, water bottles and a night light. If we hadn’t paid for our trip in advance, we probably would have changed to this hotel since we liked it much better. Note: The Westin also has something called an SPG Kids Pass, which is an all-inclusive dining program for kids. Sign up when you get there and anything they eat is included for a flat daily rate. You have to be a member of the Starwood Preferred Guest program, but membership is free so sign up before you go.
Best Place to Watch the Sunset
Jimbaran Bay It would be a shame to miss this picturesque spot at dusk. Arrive at least half an hour before sunset to enjoy a drink (or two) at your table on the beach. Kick off your shoes and enjoy the feeling of the soft sand between your toes as the children search for shells nearby. There are a ton of restaurants to choose from, most of which are very touristy. A bonus: many offer free shuttles to and from hotels in Nusa Dua, so check with the concierge at your hotel before taking a taxi. Jimbaran
Beach Restaurant offered good food, friendly service and a Balinese dance performance. http://www.jimbaranbeachrestaurant.com
Where to Eat
Nusa Dua
Bali Collection http://bali-collection.com/dining offers a slew of restaurants serving everything from sushi to Indian dishes. There’s even a Baskin Robbins if you’re looking to treat yourself after a meal. Restaurants such as Coco Bistro http://bali-collection.com/2011/coco-bistro even offer Balinese dancing and music to entertain you.
Jimbaran Bay As mentioned in the sunset section above, there’s an abundance of yummy seafood restaurants on the beach in Jimbaran Bay. Try Jimbaran Beach Restaurant http://www.jimbaranbeachrestaurant.com for the impressive scenery, entertainment and traditional seafood. Balique Restaurant (Jalan Uluwatu 39) is another traveller favorite which boasts reasonable prices and a varied menu.
Kuta
While there are a bunch of good local restaurants on the main shopping streets, Zanzibar http://www.zanzibarbali.com/home.html offers amazing views as well as good food. Kids can enjoy a yummy pizza or pasta while you tuck into a Mie Goreng.
Best Day Trip
Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple About a 45-minute drive from Nusa Dua, this Balinese Hindu temple is set in the south of the island. Perched high atop a 70-foot cliff, the views of the surrounding area and Indian Ocean are spectacular, especially during sunset. It is one of the Sad Khayangan (the six largest temples in Bali). You’ll need to borrow sarongs and sashes at the entrance as you won’t be allowed in without them. And beware of the monkeys. They’ve been trained to steal sunglasses, earrings, cameras, even flip flops (we had to take our daughter’s off and carry her after a monkey tried to pull it off her foot). Keep everything valuable at the hotel or well out of reach. TIP: Organize a tour to Uluwatu, ending with a sunset dinner at Jimbaran bay or hire a driver and pay him to wait for you while you visit the site. That way you won’t be stuck trying to find a way to get back.
Best Animal Experience
Elephant Safari Park (Taro Village) http://www.elephantsafariparklodge.com/
My son still refers to this experience as his “best birthday ever.” Who wouldn’t if they, too, were able to watch a show where elephants paint, answer math questions and play soccer before feeding them bamboo and having a 40-minute ride on their backs through the park? Book your entrance tickets through a travel agent or your hotel as they often include a car transfer to and from the resort (about 45 minutes from Ubud) and buffet lunch.
Most Monkey-ridden Forest
The Sacred Padangtegal Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Ubud is set in a lush forest peppered with massive banyan trees whose roots hang like a canopy. Also present in the forest is a large population of long-tailed macaques monkeys. While cute to look at, they can actually be quite scary. Two climbed up my son (one on his front and the other on his back) and tried to fight each other while atop his head. So take pictures and enjoy watching them, but try to keep your distance. Women sell bunches of bananas outside the gates to the sanctuary. Feel free to buy them, but it’s best to give them the fruit one at a time. And do it quickly. My husband had three monkeys hanging off him at one point. Once he finally gave in and dropped the bananas, they jumped off to steal the snack.
While in the forest, make sure to visit the main temple, which is stunning. Covered in bright green moss with traditional orange stone structures, the temple is a truly magical place. For a small fee, you can borrow sarongs to wear for admittance.
Tips for the Sacred Monkey Forest:
1) Do not bring any food or drink into the forest. Even if it’s just a water bottle, tightly secured in a backpack, they will smell it, find it and possibly attack you for it.
2) Always be aware of your surroundings. Monkeys jumped on us almost every time we had the children stop to pose for a picture and when we sat down to relax on a bench.
3) Do not look a monkey in its eyes. It will consider this as an affront and could possibly attack you. Pretend you don’t see them and quietly walk around to get by.
4) Do not wear sunglasses or leave them on your head and keep your hand on your camera so monkeys don’t try to steal it.
5) Beware of “guides” who offer to take you safely around the monkeys or show you secret parts of the forest. They will usually try to sell you something (like artwork) or will ask for money at the end.
Best Water Park
Waterbom (in Kuta) http://www.waterbom-bali.com/
Waterbom was by far one of our children’s favorite experiences in Bali. With 17 water slides and a lazy river, not to mention numerous pools to play in, we had one of our most exciting afternoons at this park. Don’t forget the sunblock and hats as there’s not much shade to be found. And bring your own towels. They provide lockers to store your things in, so pack a change of clothes as well.
Best Shopping
Kuta A bit like an Indonesian Miami Beach, Kuta is busy, loud and not nearly as beautiful as other parts of Bali. With good restaurants and plenty of stores and markets (including a sizeable shopping mall), this is a great place for picking up souvenirs, but not the most romantic or relaxing place to stay. Make sure to bargain for everything and I mean everything , even in the stores. You’ll be surprised how much you can save.
Ubud If you’re a fan of art, make sure to visit the galleries in Ubud. The paintings are bright and colorful – a wonderful reminder of a fantastic vacation.
Nusa Dua Bali Collection (http://bali-collection.com/) was a mere 10-minute walk from our hotel in Nusa Dua. We had our daughter’s hair braided outside one of the tourist shops which was filled with carved wooden sculptures and coconut bowls. With brand stores such as Hurley, D&G and Polo, as well as Balinese art shops and spas, there’s definitely something for everyone in this shopping area.
Sidebars:
Vaccinate
At least two months before you go, visit your doctor to find out which vaccines you need to stay safe and healthy during your trip. I needed an update of Hepatitis A as mine had run out and we all needed a quick Typhoid booster. While we didn’t get a Rabies shot, I was wishing we had one as a monkey bared its teeth at my son in the Monkey Forest.
Visa
When we travelled to Bali, we were able to purchase our visa at the airport in Denpasar, Bali. Make sure to check that you don’t have to purchase one before you leave. And be sure that all of your passports are valid for at least six months from your date of travel to avoid being turned away at the airport.
Before you book
Finding a hotel that would accept all four of us in one room was tricky. We used a travel agent to help wade through the millions of places to find one that fit our needs.
