Top 10 expert tips for travelling to Bali with children
Top 10 tips for travelling to Bali with children
Bali is a mecca for families every year, who travel to this tropical island for relaxing, making unforgettable family memories together, and enjoying a high-quality holiday at a fraction of the cost of other comparable destinations.
Travelling to Bali with children is common, and is typically a very safe and enjoyable experience. However as all parents know, forward planning is essential to ensure no unforeseen surprises dampen the holiday vibes!
So here are Ultimate Bali Escape’s top 10 tips for travelling to Bali with children. We hope (know!) they will help!
Accommodation is everything:
Making sure your family has a comfortable and safe base for their holiday is the top priority when planning a family holiday anywhere; and Bali is no different! Opting for family-friendly areas (we love Seminyak, Canggu and Sanur due to their family friendly restaurants and cafes, easy access to children’s activities and good quality pavements) is a smart choice for when travelling to Bali with children. Plus the calmer beaches in Sanur are always popular with the little ones too!
The bricks and mortar accommodation you will all stay at is also an important choice. Villas offer the largest square footage and privacy, and cater well for children with bunk rooms and children’s toys, games and oftentimes a play area! Making informed decisions about your accommodation selection from the planning stage really sets your holiday up for success.
Bring those health essentials from home you cannot do without:
Bali has many pharmacies and large supermarkets that stock a wide range of international health brands, so there is no need to panic if you forget to pack something! But bringing enough of your favourite SPF is a great shout, as it is super pricey when purchased on the island. Children’s medicine is another great choice to bring with you, to make sure your children have access to the medicine you know they respond well to, along with any nappies and swim nappies your little ones may need too.
Book transport in advance:
Car seats are not standard in most local taxis and app-based transport options like Grab and Gojek. If lugging around a carseat from home isn’t quite what you’re after on your family vacation, pre-booking recommended private drivers with Ultimate Bali Escapes that provide car seats is the more convenient option. Ultimate Bali Escapes are proud to be able to book all of your family-friendly transport for you, ensuring you and your crew are always well looked after! Just let us know when booking if you need a child-friendly airport pick-up service (some villa bookings already come with complimentary transfers too!)
Bottled water only!
Only drink sealed bottled water when in Bali, and use it for brushing yours and your family’s teeth too to help avoid any upset tummies!
When eating and drinking outside you will find that most established and recommended restaurants, bars and cafes will use bottled water for their ice cubes, so you don’t need to worry about sipping your favourite G&T without ice. But if ever in any doubt you can always ask your server to hold the ice, no worries!
Don’t forget sunscreen and mosquito repellant!
The sun in Bali is strong, due to its location just eight degrees south of the equator. Even on cloudy days the sun can cause sunburn and heat stroke, so make sure your whole crew is always topped up on high-quality SPF to prevent any unwanted burns or fatigue. It is also worth considering UV-protective swimwear and wide-brimmed hats for the kiddos, especially when they are splashing around in the pool all day.
And let’s talk about mosquitos: they are here in Bali, and we all know a mosquito bite can be incredibly annoying, especially for children. So pack your family’s favourite mozzie spray and use it liberally throughout the day, especially around gardens, wet areas and rice fields.
There is also a wide selection of local mosquito spray brands available in Mini Marts, Circle K’s and larger supermarkets while you are in Bali, so don’t worry if you run out!.
Prepare your travel insurance in advance:
Make sure you and your family have full health cover on your chosen insurance policy before you land in Bali. We hope you will not have to use it, but having comprehensive coverage provides a very real safety and peace of mind when travelling anywhere, especially with children.
Monkeys and dogs are for waving at only!
There are stray dogs in Bali; and there are also a lot of great charities and organisations that do their best to look after, neuter, and care for them! To err on the side of caution, it is always best not to touch or feed them like you would dogs back home.
The same applies to the cheeky monkeys of Bali!
Found in places like the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud and also in the wild all over the island, these monkeys sure look cute, but you should always keep your distance and avoid feeding them or patting them, just to be extra careful.
We advise teaching your children before arriving that the wild animals of Bali are special and beautiful, and that we can wave hello as we travel past them but we don’t feed or touch them..
Baby carriers are a lifeline!
Bali’s pavements in some areas are narrow and uneven. Packing your favourite baby carrier to strap your precious one into is usually a much more practical choice than trying to navigate a pram around the streets of Bali, and a safer choice too.
However if you plan on visiting the international malls during your holiday then a small lightweight pram can be a smart choice too. Plus as so many areas of Bali have recently been upgraded with wide footpaths, a pram may be the right choice for you and your family after all! We can inform you all about the area you choose at the time of booking, to help you decide what equipment you want to bring with you.
Carry hand sanitizer, wipes and tissues everywhere:
To prevent any unwanted upset tummies and colds while on holiday, a good alcohol-based hand sanitiser should be a staple in every Mum and Dads’ bag while in Bali. Use it before and after every drink, snack and meal, and prepare ahead with wet wipes for when soap and water aren’t readily available. Tissues in your pocket is a smart idea too, just in case a public toilet has run out of them when your child needs to use the bathroom!
Consider hiring an extra set of hands to help your children and you have the best family holiday ever!
Excellent quality (and affordable) nannies are readily available for hire in Bali, from hourly hires through to for the entire duration of your stay. An extra set of eyes and hands on the kids means Mum and Dad can enjoy some precious me-time (hello, massage!), some wonderful downtime (an afternoon nap is sometimes just what the doctor ordered!) and some extra special us-time (did someone say date night?!).
Ultimate Bali Escapes can help you book the perfect childcare option your family is looking for. Just let us know you are interested when you book and we will do the rest!
Conclusion
Bali truly is a destination straight off of a movie screen; from the epic surf to the magical sunsets, the unique activities to the luxury accommodations, every moment of a family holiday spent in Bali is set-up to be truly unforgettable.
Is Bali calling your name? Reach out to our team and let us know what you and your family want from your dream holiday in Bali. We are ready to make your family dreams come true!
