Updated: January, 2013
- See Also: The Best Hotels in Bali for Families
I loved our family trip to Bali. It seemed to have everything: good beaches, culture, friendly people, great weather and great food.
Bali is without a doubt one of my favorite destinations in Southeast Asia for kids.
Here are my tips on planning a trip to Bali and the 5 best destinations for visiting the island with kids.
Kid Friendly Hotels
Finding kid-friendly hotels in Bali is a snap. Most hotels above the budget range have pools and even some of the cheapest places will have a small one too. The Balinese friendliness is legendary and it will make almost any hotel an attractive second-home to most families.
HotelsCombined.com/Bali is the best website for finding hotels in Bal but great deals can be found by just showing up at a hotel’s front desk and enquiring about rooms. (Though, definitely book in advance for the December and January high season.)
For more specific suggestions read Family-friendly Hotels In Bali.
Breakfast is included at most hotels in Bali and will usually include platefuls of fresh and delicious local fruit.
Kid Friendly Restaurants
I find Balinese food to be fairly accommodating for young kids. Generally not very spicy with lots of rice, noodles and familiar foods — albeit mixed in an unusual manner. Fruit is a regular addition to any meal — so don’t hesitate to ask for a plate of fruit whether you’re eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. Western food like pizza, hamburgers, and pasta are widely available at touristy restaurants and hotels.
When To Go to Bali
Bali has good weather year round so the climate shouldn’t be a huge factor in deciding when to go. The dry season runs from April to September and is generally the best time to visit but anytime is a good time for Bali.
During the wet season there tends to be one big downpour a day (often early afternoon) that quickly disappears leaving only large puddles on the ground and a fresh rain scent in the air.
Of greater importance for planning a trip is the peak season months when vacationers arrive from Europe, Australia and Japan. July, August, December, and January are the busiest times for the island and hotels can often be booked solid in the popular beach resorts — especially during the week of Christmas and New Years.
If you’re looking for the best months to visit Bali they would probably be May, June, and September. These months have best weather mixed with the fewest tourists.
The 5 Best Places in Bali for Kids and Families
1. Kuta
Most people start their vacation in Kuta — before setting out for the rest of island — or at least pass through Kuta on there way somewhere else. On the plus side there’s lots to do here and people rarely say they were bored in Kuta. The negatives include a lot of traffic, loads of touts and it’s packed with tourists.
No one goes to Kuta to see the “real Bali”, they go to Kuta to have some decent Italian food, buy some cheap t-shirts and maybe hit a few of the touristy attractions.
Things To Do in Kuta
The beach is the center of activity for Kuta and there’s lots to do there — especially for older kids. Flying kites, surfing or body boarding, or just playing in the sand. Waterbom park is a very attractive option for families — water slides, swimming, games and lots of fun.
Shopping is also a very popular activity for tourists and Kuta is loaded with shops selling everything from clothes to cameras, and backpacks to beach towels.
Family Friendly Hotels in Kuta
All budgets are well represented in Kuta and outside of the high tourist seasons (i.e. Christmas and other Australian school breaks) most visitors should be able to get some pretty good deals.
The Hard Rock Hotel features an array of waterslides, swimming pools, rock climbing facilities, and play areas. I think a week long stay here would be way too much — but for a 1 or 2 night treat for the kids it should be fun.
2. Jimbaran
A very relaxing place to stay if you’re looking to skip the crowds of Kuta but still would like to venture into it’s maw for some good food or shopping. It’s very close to the airport so Jimbaran makes a good introduction to Bali if you’d like to spend your first day or two relaxing by the pool.
Things To Do in Jimbaran
The highlight of staying in Jimbaran is eating a fresh seafood dinner on the beach while the kids play in the sand around your table. Flying kites, digging for clams, and visiting the early morning fish market are all fun.
If you’re expecting a lot in Jimbaran you may be disappointed. Pack some toys and some beach gear and be prepared for a few days of lazing at the beach — or beside the pool — and eating some great food.
Family Friendly Hotels in Jimbaran
Two hotels stand out in Jimbaran.
In the luxury category nothing compares to the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay. With a private beach, kids club program and beautiful pools — all overlooking the full expanse of Jimbaran Bay — the Four Seasons makes a fantastic choice.
In the budget/moderate category is the very friendly and well-run Puri Bambu that has a great pool, good restaurant and is just a short walk from the beach.
3. Ubud
Ubud is the arts and cultural hub of the island and makes a nice getaway from the busier beach resorts. It’s also cooler than the coast and provides a good base for exploring the central and northern parts of the island.
Many different venues have nightly showings of different Balinese songs, dances and traditional performances. Most of these venues are outdoors, kid-friendly and realizing. The shows feature theatrical performances, colorful faces and emphatic dancing so don’t be surprised if your kids are more engaged than the adults.
Things To Do in Ubud
Ubud is loaded with great restaurants with kid-friendly food and great desserts. Hanging out in cafes (Casa Luna is highly recommended) was one of our favorite ways of spending an afternoon or evening. Hanging by the pool is also fun, and most Ubud hotels have pools so no need to worry about whether the kids will be able to swim.
Monkey Forest Sanctuary is a 10 minute walk from the town center. Buy bananas at the gate and feed the monkeys as you walk through the park. Many other great walks can be found all over the Ubud area — and mountain bikes are easy to rent as well.
The Elephant Safari Park is one of 2 places to ride an elephant in Bali. Trails lead out into the jungle and take about 30 minutes to wander around on an elephant. The park itself is about a 1 hour drive north of Ubud and has a decent restaurant.
Family Friendly Hotels in Ubud
I have 2 favorite places in Ubud. The first is the very central Puri Saraswati Bungalows. The great Cafe Lotus might as well be connected and sits beside the Lotus Pond at the Water Palace. The hotel has a small pool and very friendly staff.
A little removed from the town center — but still only 5 minutes walk from the town square — is the tranquil Oka Wat Hotel. A swimming pool sits just off the rice fields and most rooms overlook a small stream.
4. Sanur
Sanur has the most kid-friendly beach on Bali. The water is protected by a reef and the gently sloping shore is lapped by calm waters (most of the time). A nice string of restaurants and shops sits a few hundred yards back from the beach and makes a nice destination for an evening walk.
Things To Do in Sanur
The beach — while not being Bali’s best — is calm and a good place to play with small kids.
The Bali Safari & Marine Park gets raves from families and is less than an hour from Sanur. Ride an elephant or watch the animal feeding times. The park also has tigers, komodo dragons, monkeys and more.
Family Friendly Hotels in Sanur
The Bali Hyatt Hotel has impressive grounds, beautiful swimming pools and a faded luxury that somehow seems to suit the demands of traveling families.
5. Lovina
Lovina is a place to go to relax and unwind. It doesn’t have the attractions of the beach resorts in the south, so come prepared with your own entertainment — books, kites, games, whatever you need.
The beach here — like Sanur — is protected by a reef and makes for a good swimming spot for small kids. But don’t be expecting the huge swaths of golden sand you saw in Kuta. The sand here is volcanic (dark black) and quite thin in spots.
Things To Do in Lovina
Besides the usual beach activities like swimming and snorkeling the big thing to do in Lovina is a dolphin tour. The tours go early in the morning and take tourists out into the ocean to catch a few brief glimpses of the area’s dolphins.
Family Friendly Hotels in Lovina
Seemingly made with kids in mind, the well regarded Rambutan Hotel has 2 swimming pools, a playground and a very family-friendly feel. The staff are great at responding to emails so drop them a line if you have questions about your visit.
Further Reading:
- List of budget airlines in Asia and Australia
- Things To Do In Bali With Kids
- Top 10 Things To Do in Bali With Kids
- 10 Free Things To Do In Bali
- Learning To Surf In Bali
- Bike Riding in Bali – Where and How
We opted to go to Thailand last summer instead of Bali due to concerns over the reported rabies outbreak. Was this a concern for you when you visited? If so, did you find it manageable? I understand monkeys are the main problem.
Thanks for a great site
Janet
Hi Janet. My son was bit by a dog in Bali and had to have a series of shots over 4 or 5 hospital visits. 3 of the visits were in Bali at the BIMC hospital in Kuta. So yes, I guess we did deal with it a bit. Not sure what to suggest. Rabies is not endemic to Bali so usually it’s not a great concern for travelers. The hospitals are good there so you have some piece of mind in that. As well, even at home in the U.S., Canada, Britain or Australia, if you’re not certain whether a dog has had the shots then you typically have to have the whole series. This isn’t just a Bali thing.
As for the monkeys, they can be a little aggressive. Actually now that I think about it, on my first trip to Bali back in the ’90s a monkey walked up to me, gently grabbed by arm like he was holding a chicken wing, and opened his mouth as if to take a bite. I jumped away, and he wasn’t really attacking me or anything like that, but it was definitely a good startle.
The thing with rabies is that you need to instill in kids that should they get bit then they need to tell you. If a bite occurs, then it can be effectively treated, but with kids in the 3 to 7 range they can sometimes get bit and not inform their parents and therein lies the risk. That said, this is usually a greater concern at home when they might wander about a little more on their own, whereas on a trip they’re usually never far out of your site.
Hope that helps.
Yes, that does help. We are travelling with our three daughters ages, 5, 12 and 15. The information I had found so far was saying in case of bites we had to fly to Singapore for treatment, so knowing it is available there is really important.
Thank you so much!
You can usually get treatment, but the problem is that sometimes the hospitals run out of the post-exposure treatment serum — in that case you would have to get to Singapore, pronto. If you really wanted to play it safe, you could get the three-shot pre-exposure treatment before you left. It’s easy to say that you will stay away from dogs, but they can really accost you at the least expected moment.
We live in Bali so have had the three-shot series, but I can understand travellers being more wary of doing that as I think it’s a lot more expensive to get the shots in the West.
Either way, it does seem like the epidemic is gradually being brought under control. Dogs that have been vaccinated should have a red collar/string tied around their neck.
Great info. Thanks Samantha.
Hi David. It’s been fun to read your article. It’s remind me when i took my nephew around Bali. It’s been really fun. I even wrote an article about having fun in Bali with kids. After reading this i might want to add some info i got from here to my article. Nice one david.
Arief
The Cendana Resort was recommended to me for my family. I’m traveling with my wife and five year old son. I was wondering if you knew anything about this place and if you would recommend it.
Thanks
I haven’t stayed there but it’s a great location and looks very nice. Just glanced at my Lonely Planet and they give it glowing reviews – especially for the spa. (Which was under construction but seems to be finished now.)
Agoda.com/Cendana is good to book through as you can usually cancel your booking for free so if you’re hesitant at all that’s a nice option.
Good luck.
Thanks David,
I booked directly with the Cendana Resort in Ubud and they actually gave me an excellent rate and they didn’t ask for CC info. So I think I’m safe if I need to make changes.
I have one other question. We are booked at the Bali Hyatt in Sanur for six days and then planned on going to Ubud for two weeks. It’s been suggested to me that we should head up to Amed beach first and spend less time in Ubud. Again, we’re travelling with a five yr. old. I usually like to really take in a place but does it make more sense to see more of the island on one trip.
And thanks for your awesome blog, it’s amazingly helpful and inspiring!!!
I like staying in one place for a longer time too. And I do think Ubud is pretty kid-friendly. Lots of nice walks, kid friendly restaurants, bakeries. Amed will be quieter and not as much to do. Also the Cendana has a great pool so consider whether your hotel in Amed will have a pool as well.
Hello! I am wanting to go attend a teacher training for children’s yoga in Ubud – I have never been to Bali at all. The training is in a place in or near Monkey Forest and I would like to know if you know of any places near there that are safe and good location. Thank you,
Monica
I’ve heard fantastic things about this Ubud hotel: Komaneka at Monkey Forest.
It’s a short walk from the Monkey Forest. They serve afternoon tea which is a ritual I love to do when I travel.
I hope that helps.
Your blog is proving to be tremendously helpful while planning our upcoming trip to Bali with our 4 year old and 18 month old. I was curious on your suggestions in regards to transportation around the island. I would like to go to Ubud and Sanur. How did you get around? Did you have a driver for the whole trip? How did you deal with car seats? Suggestions?
We hired a driver. Finding taxis that had working seat belts was difficult. Most only had them in the front seats which is not a recommended place to put a car seat. It’s probably the biggest hassle you’ll have there. One thing you can do is make clear you’d like him to drive slow. Not that driving slowly is full proof, of course, but an accident at higher speeds is always much more dangerous.
Good luck.
Hi David,
What’s your feeling about renting a car. The prices seem very inexpensive and most places offer car seats and GPS. How is the price of petrol? How are the roads?
Just thought it might give us more flexibility.
Thanks,
David Brown
That’s a fine idea. I rented a car with a friend when I was there as a single traveler and it worked out fine. Not sure the price of gas, probably cheaper than in western countries. The roads are fine. I’m sure the smaller roads through central Bali will be a challenge to navigate (even with GPS) but other than that no big problems. Of course, hiring a driver is also very cheap so don’t do it to save money.
Hello David,
I am coming to Bali this summer. We are hoping to rent a villa with a pool for a month and travel around the island for day trips. Would this work or should we move around? Out kids are 10&8.
Best,
Katherine
It would work but it would require a lot of time in the car. I’d recommend spending a week in four different spots around the island: maybe Jimbaran, Amed, Ubud, and Lovina.
We are thinking about going to the Gili Islands. Have you been there and have you got any suggestions on what to do & where to stay. We were mainly thinking about Gili Air as we don’t want to go anywhere too touristy. We will be travelling with our 2 kids, 7 & 10 year old.
I haven’t been but heard great things. For hotels Agoda is probably the best. And here’s a good page for some basic info on Gili Air. Good luck.
Hi, Do you think living close to the Green School Bali and driving everyday to Kuta is no good? As Im interested to put my daughter at that school , but my work it will be in kuta. Or living and finding a school in kuta it would be better? I know is a 45 min driving but I heard you can get drivers to do that.
What do you think? Thank you
It might not be quite 45 minutes – maybe a bit less so I think it’s doable. I’m sure there are lots of options though in between so you could be half way between Kuta and the Green School.
Sounds like an amazing school though. Info here: http://www.greenschool.org
We have decided for sure that our holiday in late September will be to Bali. We are planning around 11 days. I want some time at the beach (our kids will be 4 and 18 months) but not too much. We would rather be in less tourist areas and our kids are seasoned travelers and we are all adventurous. We want to leave our trip having time to relax but also feeling like we experienced the Bali culture and truly saw the country. I was thinking about 5 nights in Ubud, 3 nights in Amed and then the final two nights in Jimbaran. Am I completely missing better locations or should we do things in reverse or cut out a location? Any help would be appreciated!
That sounds great. I’d just say that Jimbaran being so close to the airport, it’s nice to arrive after a long flight, go through immigration, and then have that very short drive to the hotel (and the swimming pool). Ubud being farther away will require a longish drive (not that long but with traffic it could be 90 minutes). Of course, it’s nice being close to the airport when you depart too – but of the 2 I’d take the short drive on arrival. Ubud is a great town and I think you’ve done well to spend the largest chunk of your time there. Good luck.
Hi David,
I am traveling with my wife and five year old son. I have three questions.
First, I will be in Bali for about three weeks. We are planning on staying in Sanur for five nights at the Bali Hyatt. I was thinking of changing to the La Taverna. With a five year old would I be better off at the Hyatt.
Second, we are planning on staying near Lake Batur for two nights, in between Ahmed and Ubud. Is that too long there. Would it make more sense to just make a day trip. My son is really looking forward to exploring the volcano.
Third, our flight is leaving at 6 in the evening. Would it make sense to leave from Ubud? Is it a very long from Ubud to the airport. Would it make more sense to spend our last night and day closer to the airport.
Thanks,
David
La Taverna is definitely more hit and miss – some love it, some are disappointed. The restaurant and pool are great and very family friendly. I have heard that they open their pool to non-guests and it can get very crowded, not sure if this is true. The Bali Hyatt will be more of a sure-thing but might not have that small-hotel charm that La Taverna will.
If cost is a deciding factor then check these links for the best rates:
If you’re son is really into it then go for it. You always end up seeing a lot more and getting a feel for a place by staying there, seeing it at night and in the morning, taking it all in. I’d do it. Tirta Gangga is not far from there and is a fantastic place. Set in the rice fields with great views. You can swim in the pools too. Info here: Tripadvisor link.
Getting from Ubud to the airport is easy and takes about an hour to 90 minutes. If you want to stay close to the airport then Jimbaran is a good choice. Puri Bambu Hotel is a great hotel with a nice pool (and very inexpensive).
Good luck.
Hi. We will be visiting Bali Sept 27- Oct 6th, 2013. We have two six year olds and a three year old. Appreciate your insights!
1. Have you been up to the West Bali National Park? Any suggestions on where to stay or what to do?
2. How do we go about hiring a driver with a car that will seat the 5 of us? How much should we expect to pay?
3. We plan to stay our first two days in Jimbaran and last two days in Sanur to be close to the airport. We’d like to do the West Bali National Park for three days and Ubud for two days. Our kids travel alot and are great at it, but is this too much in 9 nights? If not, what path would you suggest taking to get from the west to Ubud? Is there a fun halfway point along the northern road?
Thanks for all you help, Elizabeth
For a driver you just have to ask around. Your hotel should be able to help. If you want working seatbelts be prepared to look for a while.
I haven’t been to WBNP but looks great.
I would drive up the coast from Denpasar (the quickest route) and return with a stop in Lovina (just a little out of the way) as you come back to Ubud.
Your kids will love Rambutan Cottages in Lovina. It has a play area, tree house, games, and is geared to families. Pics here.
(But look here for the best rates.)
I think what you’ve planned is great. I say better to do too much than not enough. If it was me I wouldn’t book the Sanur hotels in advance and keep those days flexible lest you run out of time or want to stay in Ubud longer.
Good luck.
Fab tips/blog thank you.. we are traveling to Bali in Sep. We have a 3 year old and a baby who will be 7 mths come Sep… we will plan to stay in Bali for approx 20 days, so would like to move around a little bit but without overdoing it too, especially with a 7 mth old baby.. Would really appreciate any advice/tips you could give us with regard to a vacation plan????? Cheers.
The beaches are great of course. Sanur probably has the most kid friendly beach. Ubud is cooler and makes for a nice break from the beach and is usually a little bit cooler. Most hotels in Ubud have pools so that’s nice too. Be prepared for the Balinese people to love your kids to death. They’re very hands-on with their affection for children. Have fun.
David – can you please recommend child friendly hotels in Eastern Bali please?
We play to stay in East Bali from 19th Sep thru 23rd Sep..
Check out the Bali Shangrila Beach Club in Candidasa and Blue Moon Villas Bali in Amed.
In Padangbai there’s the Bloo Lagoon Village Hotel.
Hope that helps.
David
Trip Report for our visit to Bali with a toddler in May of 2012.
We stayed in the Four Seasons in Jimbaran for 4 nights and then the Pandawas Villas in Ubud for 5 nights. Both were wonderful.
We took taxis to the sites of Nusa Dua, Uluwantu, the Bali Zoo and Marine Park, and a shopping mall in Kuta. For our day trips from Ubud we hired more of a driver/tour guide through our hotel and we preferred this. It did cost more but worth it.
From Ubud we visited the Temple of Besakih, Mount Agung, Tanah Lot, some local markets in Denpasar, and more rice paddies, temples, and small artists’ shops than I can remember. It was very interesting. The nice thing about our guide was all the great food we ate that we never would have tried without his guidance.
The best beach for our toddler was at Sanur. Very calm and protected. Jimbaran’s beach was a bit rough on the one day we actually went down there to swim. Most of our time was at the pool. Restaurants happily served us kid friendly food whenever we asked.
A great trip!
Thanks Orie – great info.
Here are links to those hotels:
Pandawas Villas – Ubud
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay
I love the Four Seasons and have heard nothing but raves about the Pandawas Villas.
Thanks again.
Really helpful info.. we will put this to good use when we holiday in Bali in Sep.. thanks a lot for sharing.. Fiona
hi david,
we are headed to bali to the green school next year
can i ask you some questions???
bobbie wyso
I don’t know much about the Green School other than it looks really cool and I’d love to send my kids there. But yeah, shoot.
Hi David,
You seem to be the saviour to families visiting bali!!!!!
So I’m hoping you can help me out!
I came into bali yesterday with my partner,son (3) and daughter (1).
We are looking to stay somewhere that is not too busy but if we want to shop or socialise we have the option.
Are intentions for the month is to just relax but fit in 5/6 day trips.
We want to find a villa where the back garden leads onto the beach,but we can find that once we know the area we want to stay in!
Many thanks
Leoni
I love Puri Bambu Hotel in Jimbaran. Super-friendly staff, fun but quiet atmosphere. Beautiful pool. No tour groups or loutish drunks. And the awesome seafood shacks on the beach are a very short walk down a quiet road.
Hi David, we are heading to Bali mid feb for ten nights. We planned on 4 nights in ubud, then 6 somewhere else. We have been told nusa dua and tanjung benoa are good for families. I had a quick look and seemed like they were gated off and away from experiencing much balinese culture. We have 2 boys, 2 and 4 years. Where else would you recommend with a good beach, some culture, and maybe not too hectic?
Yes, I’d agree with that (good and bad). There are some very family-friendly resorts around Nusa Dua but it’s also a long way from much of what makes Bali so wonderful. Sanur is a good mix. It’s still very kid-friendly, the beach is nice, shallow, calm. And there are several family-friendly resorts. At the same time you’re closer to central Bali and all it’s attractions.
Hi David. My name is Roger and I’m from Spain. I read your web page, it is really very interesting. This summer I’m planning to go with my wife and son who have two years to Bali or Thailand (or anywhere in Southeast Asia). To go to any of these countries with a two year old child which one would you recommend to go with the child and to enjoy month we? . What do you recommend and why? . Thanks and congratulations for your site and for your help.
regards
Roger
Bali has much better weather over July and August than Thailand – and much more predictable. On the other hand it will likely require a longer flight and probably another leg from Spain, so there’s a trade-off. Both are great first-trip introductions to SE Asia. Good luck.
hi David,
I love your great info about bali!! we are a family with two young kids (aged 2 and 4) planning a trip to bali first ten days of june 2013. We already booked our hotels and would like ur opinion:
1- 2 nights at a hotel with beach front at seminyak then three nights in a private villa with pool also at seminyak where during this stay we will go to safari park and waterbom park. Then 3 nights in ubud in a private villa too and we will be having day trips to munduk,kentamini,bedugul,and go to birds walk !
2- should I be worried about the rabbies I usually dont let my kids play with street dogs and will be very careful. are the dogs their attacky and would bite you even without dealing with them?
3-Regarding the mosquitoes,Is it so bad in bali? we will apply mosquitoe repellants ofcourse but from the net reading im expecting that bali is very full of mosquitoes!!!! and im terrified of that is it true ?
Thank you David
Sounds like a great trip. My son was bit my a dog in Bali and had to have a series of rabies shots. He had stumbled upon the dog and scared it so it wasn’t an agressive attack, but still we probably could have pointed out more strongly to avoid approaching dogs. If you go to Monkey Forest in Ubud watch out for the monkeys too (Story here.) I’ve never had too much trouble with mosquitoes in Bali – so think there are far worse places. If you have any trouble the BIMC hospital in Kuta is a good quality hospital (and has rabies shots if needed).
This was really helpful, thank you!