Hi, I’m Tonia, together with my Husband Jayden and our daughter Hailey, we’ve made Bali our home away from home. Hailey had been to Bali five times before she turned five, so when people ask us where to go for their first family trip overseas, our answer is always the same – Bali!
Bali has changed a lot over the years and it has become incredibly family friendly. Many villas now let you order a pool fence before you arrive, which I highly recommend if you’re staying in a villa with little ones. Restaurants have updated their menus too, and plenty now cater for coeliac and gluten-free diets.
But the best part? The Balinese people. They are so warm and welcoming, and they absolutely love kids. You’ll feel it from the moment you land.
Our first family trip to Bali was pretty chaotic. We travelled with four kids under four, and the most stressful part wasn’t Bali at all or the kids – is was getting there..
Our luggage didn’t arrive with us. Everything we needed was in those suitcases, and we only had enough formula and nappies in our carry-on for the flight. We were without our bags for two whole days, so you can imagine how stressed we were.
The lesson? Always pack Moree essentials in your carry-on than you think you’ll need. Trust me on this one!
A typical Bali trip costs our family around $3,000 to $7,000. That’s without a bundle deal or using our Qantas points.
Your total will depend on where you’re staying, how much you eat and drink, if you got all inclusive and how many activities you book. Booking activities through Klook and GetYourGuide can really help keep cost down too.
Stay tuned on our website, as we will have more guides soon on how you can start travelling more often ✨
Seminyak and Legian are the best places to start for first timers. You’ve got beaches, shopping, lots of restaurants and great family resorts all close by, and it’s easy to get around.
If you want a resort holiday and don’t plan on leaving much or doing lots of shopping, Nusa Dua is for you. It’s very resort-focused, with plenty of all-inclusive options where you can stay put and relax. Lots of resorts have kids club, activities and waterparks with waterslides, so the kids are entertained all day.
Ubus is amazing for sightseeing. If you’re after something completely different, book a rice field stay or a bamboo hut. It’s totally different side of Bali, but so worth it for a 2-3 night stay!
Canggu is very influencer-heavy and the traffic is horrendous. We’d skip it for your first trip.
Kuta used to be the place to party, but it has become quit sketchy, with lots of theft. We wouldn’t recommend it for first timers.
Nusa Dua
– Gran Mirage Resort and Thalasso Bali
Seminyak and Legian
– The New Garden View Resort (a great budget-friendly option)
– The Pullman Bali Legian
– Double-Six Luxury Hotel
– The Stones Hotel – Legian Bali, Autograph Collection
Click Booking.com below to find these hotels with 15% off or click right here
Out top pick for booking Bali is TravelOnline. You can book flights and hotels together and the bundle deals are hard to beat!
TravelOnline has the best Bali flight and hotel bundles we’ve found – and they often run deals where kids fly to Bali for free! Keep an eye on our instagram as we share them as soon as they drop!
we’ve been to Bali in every single month of the year and there has never been a bad time to go.
If you want hot, sunny weather, go during Australia’s winter months. If you don’t mind a bit of rain, any time is a good time. The rain usually only lasts anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, then the sun is back out.
The cheapest time to go is Bali’s wet season.
We use Grab a lot – it’s defiantly the cheapest way to get around. Just be aware there are quite a few scams, so stay alert.
For day tours, we use our friends who are local drivers and will stay with you the whole day, even keeping your bags and personalised items safe with him in the car while you adventure. They are the most amazing people and can cater for anything from a small car to a van. Send me a message on instagram and I’m always happy to share their WhatsApp with you.
We’d also recommend avoiding Bluebird taxis.
Connect your bank card to the grab app before you go. That way you pay through the app and drivers can’t ask you for extra money or claim you never paid.
Staying connected is a big priory for us when we travel. Not just for the social media, but to keep safe! There have been times where, if we weren’t connected, things could have gone really wrong – and I’d hate to think what could have happened.
We use Airalo eSIM’s, so you’re connected the moment you land.
We use our Wise card when we travel. Transaction fees are next to nothing, and if you sign up through our link you can get fee-free transactions on up to $1,000.
Wise card link: Get fee-free transactions here
Use your card to take out cash, then head straight back to the hotel and lock your card and cash in the safe. Only take what you need each day. That way there’s no chance of losing your card or having it stolen.
Our number one family activity is Waterbom Bali – the kids absolutely love it!
A word on the beach clubs: We personally avoid them. Almost everyone we know who has been has ended up really sick.
Great for day tours, temples and Ubud trips.
Free cancellations on most bookings, which is handy with little ones.
Use ‘Bali Activity Guides’ to be taken straight to our activities we recommend
Our go-to for Waterbom Bali tickets and attractions, also for transportation and hotels for the best deals at the time. Always check both sites as prices can differ
You can find all our favourite family-friendly restaurants and cafes here: COMING SOON ✨
Never travel oversea s without travel insurance. It would be the worst mistake you could make!
We use Cover-More. Booking through our link supports us to keep creating free guides like this one, and if you choose to support us- we cant thank you enough for your support.
We’ve been on 10 overseas trips with Hiley before the age of five and she has never gotten sick. Here’s what we do:
If your bathing little ones, we use Milton tablets in the bath water – but still avoid getting any water in their mouths. (please note that Milton tablets are for sterilising baby bottles).
Everyone’s different, so chat with your GP or pharmacist before you go.
If you found this guide helpful, you’ll love our Family Travel Bundle. It has absolutely everything – every scam to watch out for, all our tips and tricks and exactly what we do from the moment we start planning, to booking, airport arrival and arriving at your destination! Created to keep families safe while living life fully
🌴The Pre-Trip Planner
Everything to sort before you leave the house, so you can actually enjoy the trip!
✈️ Airport & Arrival
A day-of guide for getting through the airport and settling in once you land.
🎒Tips, Tricks & Gear
The scams to watch for, the gear we actually use and the little things that make travelling with kids so much easier!
We hope this guide makes your first family trip a little less overwhelming and a lot more exciting! Bali has given our family so many special memories and we can’t wait for you to make yours.
If this guide helped you, please share it with your friends and family on Facebook so more families can travel feeling confident ❤️
Got a question? Send us a message on Instagram @moretolife_co – we’re always happy to help.
See you on the other side of the departure gate!
Love Tonia, Jayden and Hailey
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