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Bali ticks so many boxes. The weather is good, the food is amazing, the people are friendly, the flight times are fairly short, it’s relatively cheap, the shopping is decent, and the beaches are stunning.

ActivitiesMealsAccommodationsTravelResources

Activities

There’s a range of fun parks for the kids and plenty of bars and restaurants to explore for the adults. Adventure activities include surfing, hiking, mountain biking, white water rafting, canyoning and quad biking. You can also hire a babysitter or a nanny to look after kids at your accommodation for a fraction of the price compared to home. Our nanny “Isha” formed an instant connection with our kids and was absolutely amazing with them and this gave us the confidence to regularly head out for kid-free lunches and dinners.

Every morning after the buffet breakfast we would swim and play games with the kids at the resort pool. After that we would either take a massage, go for walk or head out for lunch.

One afternoon was spent at Finns Beach Club which has a smaller and less busy waterpark than the famous Waterbom Park. We also visited the Bali Bird and Reptile Park. At night we frequently ventured out to some amazing restaurants and also explored the many bars along the nearby ‘Eat Street’.

Meals

The resort breakfast buffet featured a variety of international cuisines and different food stations. We also ate at number of world class restaurants including Mama San, Sarong, Ginger Moon, Potato Head, Ku de Ta and Corner House.

Motel Mexicola (Mexican) is fun food experience for the whole family. It has a vibrant and colourful vibe at night when it’s all lit up.

There are plenty of supermarkets scattered around the tourist areas where you can stock up on the basics.

Occasionally for lunch or dinner we would get takeaway nasi goreng (fried rice) or mie goreng (fried noodles) for $3 from a little local restaurant across from our resort. If you decide to try some local food remember the golden rule – follow the locals and observe what they order. The best and safest restaurants will be filled with locals. Sometimes the best food is the cheapest!

Accommodations

Located in the heart of Seminyak, The Trans Resort Bali feels like an oasis amidst the hustle and bustle of the surrounding vibrant streets. The central feature of this 5-star resort is the spectacular pool area that extends from the lobby down to a beautiful 18-meter waterfall and hanging garden. Surrounded by palm trees the man-made sandy beach swimming pool with water slide was a resounding ‘winner’ with kids. The resort also offers an on-site spa and wellness centre, free Wi-Fi access and all-day dining in the world-class restaurant. A complimentary shuttle service provides transport to Potato Head and Seminyak Plaza.

Even if you don’t stay here it’s worth visiting on a day pass on Sundays for Yum Cha when you can all access the pool facilities.

After spending seven nights in a premier resort room we were then extremely lucky to experience an additional two nights in a luxurious private villa. Located amongst beautiful lush Balinese gardens the villa with private pool, spacious living, grand bathroom, hot tub and dining area is the pinnacle of comfort and luxury. We didn’t want to leave!

Travel

The flight from Melbourne to Denpasar is 6 hours. The return leg is a bit over 5 hours. Taxis and private cars were arranged by the concierge at the resort. We also hailed a number of taxis out on the street. You can either agree on a fixed price before jumping in or request the driver to use the meter. The best way to explore the streets is on foot.

Resources

The Trans Resort Bali
Finns Beach Club
Waterbom Park
the bali bible
bali guide

Packing tips

We packed all the necessities for the kids such as nappies, swimming floaties, sunscreen, hats, medications etc. For the kids we also made up some ‘party bags’ with small toys, games, snacks, books etc to keep them entertained on the flight.

I kept it very simple – shorts, t-shirts, swimmers, thongs and hat. My advice is to pack lightly as you can pretty much buy everything you need over there. The two most important things are your passport and credit card.

Craig Sheather is a travel writer from Australia and father of two.