What to do with children in Bali? Fabulous family holiday on the island of Bali With children in Bali, which beach to choose.
Holidays in Bali with children are somewhat different from holidays in many other countries of the world. The thing is that, contrary to the ideas of most tourists and snow-white beaches in the bounty style and a relaxing holiday, there are not so many good beaches suitable for children on the island. Many beaches in Bali have dark volcanic sand, and frequent high and low tides make it difficult to enjoy swimming due to high waves, but there are also calmer places in Bali.
Flying to Bali with a child
We recommend purchasing tickets with one short transfer or without transfers. Take your tablet with you on the flight and load it with cartoons and games. Take your favorite treats on the go. It is better to fly at night so that you can be there by morning.
The best beaches in Bali for swimming with children:
The choice of a beach for a holiday with children in Bali largely depends on the nature of the bottom and the waves that usually occur on this beach. There are not many such beaches on the island, but they do exist.
Perhaps the best of all the resorts suitable for families with children is Nusa Dua. Unlike most resorts, everything here is more civilized, there are no annoying merchants walking along the beaches, everything is clean and many European families with children relax here.
Nusa Dua Beach is considered an elite beach in Bali. White sand, pure water, beautiful sun loungers and parasols, green trimmed lawns and a large selection of good hotels and villas make it the most popular holiday destination among wealthy citizens.
Unlike most resorts, there are practically no waves on this beach, since not far from the shore there is a coral reef, which protects the shore.
Nusa Dua has all the infrastructure necessary for recreation, including golf courses, gyms, spa centers and much more. Disadvantage of the resort: a large number of Russian tourists, which somewhat spoils the atmosphere of an exotic holiday.
Another cool resort aimed at wealthy tourists. The resort has several cool hotels with large areas where children can play and children's pools.
The second most popular beach for children in Bali is Jimbaran. There is no such European gloss as in Nusa Dua, and the waves are bigger, so it is best to relax here with school-aged children. There is even a children's surf school for them, where experienced teachers will teach children the basics of this sport. The resort has a developed infrastructure with a large selection of accommodation.
Uluwatu is a very popular place among surfers, but at low tide, a natural pool is formed here, the depth of which is about one and a half meters. There is no developed beach infrastructure here, but there is clean sand and clear water.
Not far from Uluwatu there is another popular place among surfers, Dreamland. Its name is completely justified. Snow-white sand and azure water make this beach one of the most beautiful in Bali. The best time to swim with children here is between high and low tides, since the rest of the time there are quite strong waves and it’s surfing time.
This magnificent beach is located near the village of Candidasa. Its advantage is its distance from the main resorts of the island, which makes the beach very uncrowded and allows you to enjoy a relaxing holiday and the beauty of the local nature. The disadvantage of the beach is that you have to get to it by car.
Choosing accommodation for holidays with children
Many of those who plan independent trip in Bali with children, they are wondering where it is better to live, in a hotel or rent a house or villa. There cannot be a definite answer to this question, so let’s look at the pros and cons, and you will decide for yourself what is best for you.
The good thing about the hotel is that in addition to accommodation, you also get service, but its disadvantage is that there is no homely atmosphere that you could get in a villa. It is better to book any accommodation other than hotels.
As for money, a normal villa with modern furniture and appliances can be rented for about 150-200 dollars per day, and if you rent for long term, it will be even cheaper. Such a villa will have at least 2 bedrooms, and maybe 3 or 4. If you are not traveling with one family, but for example with your friends, then the difference in price between a villa and two rooms is good hotel will not be high. If you require a cook or other services, this can be arranged for an additional fee.
What to see?
Monkey Forest
If you have a desire to observe the life of monkeys in wildlife, then we recommend going to Ubud to the monkey forest. So besides these animals there are also many others. Also, in this forest you will see many stone statues from Hindu mythology.
Have you decided to go to Bali with your child? Confused in the variety of resorts and villages with exotic names and don't know where to relax? We will shed light on this question that seems confusing at first glance.
Peculiarities children's recreation on Bali
Almost every traveler and non-traveler has a strong association of Bali with the delightful island of snow-white beaches, straight from advertising brochures. travel companies. Yes, a lot of heaven can be found in Bali, but it is inseparable from sloppiness and sometimes squalor.
All the beauty of the island lies in its untouched exotic nature, which can only be found by going deep into the island. And the further you go, the better the landscapes. However, children cannot go without swimming in the sea or ocean. 
There are few really good beaches on the island. And swimming on them does not at all coincide with our usual understanding of this process. Here, most likely, it is similar to jumping on waves, since most time the Indian Ocean experiences high tides. So it turns out that whether it is possible to enter the water at all or not depends on the tide schedule. You will have to wait for the moment of the “golden mean”, since at low tide the water completely exposes the shore and there is simply nowhere to swim. But going deeper is dangerous, coral reefs await there. 
The best beaches in Bali for swimming with children
But it is not all that bad. There are a couple of excellent places that can meet all the requirements of restless parents.
Despite the fact that the most close city to the Bali-Kuta airport, you should immediately dismiss the idea of relaxing in this place. It's loud, dirty and clean with a party profile. 
The Kuta beach is almost always dirty
They always fight near the shore huge waves, and annoying traders are pretty tiresome with their pestering. Besides, Kuta is favorite place surfers' habitat. And if it’s worth coming here, it’s only for the incredibly fabulous crimson sunsets. 
Absolutely all resorts more or less adapted for children are worth looking for on the southern Bukit Peninsula. The most impeccable conditions can offer southern resort Nusa Dua. This is a classic beach holiday with the unspoken mark of “elite”. 
Huge tourist complexes are built along the coast. Perhaps the most Russified place in all of Bali.
The resort is one of the few that can boast a quiet coastline, golden sand, clear water and a calm environment. The waves near the shore here are unprecedented. Everything is neat and exquisitely beautiful: from trimmed green lawns to goldfish in artificial ponds. Overall, an ideal place for kids.
If we are talking about vacationing with a school-age child, we can highly recommend the fishing village of Jimbaran, also in the south of Bali. Jimbaran promotes luxurious holiday with just a hint of waves combined with bodyboarding lessons for teenagers. 
"Jimbaran" is famous for its children's surf school
It’s a fascinating activity to walk along the beach during low tide, collect intricate shells and watch the sea life scurrying back and forth. Moreover, Jimbaran is very close to tourist mecca- Kute. 
Uluwatu is a picturesque paradise, of great interest with its grotto. It is “swimming” only during the short hours of low tide, turning into one continuous pool with a maximum depth - slightly less than human height. 
Mysterious grotto on Uluwata beach
A fascinating sight for children - agile crabs running along the slopes of rocks.
“Dreamland” not far from Ubud is considered one of the most beautiful beaches not only in Bali, but throughout Indonesia. It fully lives up to its name: a snow-white strip of fine sand and clear azure waters.
Incredibly fabulous lagoon surrounded by majestic rocks. It is better to swim here with children between high and low tides.
"Dreamland" looks like it came straight out of an advertising brochure - azure ocean waters and snow-white sand
If you have the opportunity to rent a car in Bali, be sure to go to Virgin Beach, which is located on east coast islands near the resort of Candidasa.
"Virgin" beach in Bali is little known among tourists, which is a pity
This is a place unknown to tourists, but especially revered by the Balinese themselves and sophisticated connoisseurs beach holiday. Unity with nature, sugar sand, clear water and delicious seafood in coastal restaurants.
Hotels or apartments?
There are very few hotels on the very edge of the ocean in Bali. There is a special transfer from some hotels to the beaches.
But the true vacation format for Bali (and quite affordable) is a cozy villa overlooking the ocean.
In addition, it is very convenient: you can cook your own food and create a familiar home atmosphere for your child.
What to see?
Bali is a paradise for a child in terms of interesting excursion programs and entertainment. Two water parks "Waterbom" in Kuta
Waterpark "Waterboom" on the island
And "New Kuta GREENPARK" not far from Dreamland beach. Must visit "Forest of the Monkeys" in Ubud, go to dolphin show in Lovina,
and if there is a desire, then go on a boat to the ocean, where they swim in freedom. The safari park is also interesting "Bali safari marine park",
"Bird Park" in Tamang Burung,
« Elephant Park» in Tarot. A popular excursion to the island. Serangan, where the turtle farm is located.
Both children and adults on the island. Bali will receive a lot of bright and unforgettable emotions
Despite the fact that the island of Bali has been in the top popular destinations holiday among Russians, it is worth thinking several times when deciding whether to go here with children. The fact is that traditionally this tropical island not far from the equator, it is chosen by surfing enthusiasts, who are attracted by the waves that are observed year-round on almost the entire coast. So is it possible to go to Bali with a child?
Traditionally, Bali has two seasons: dry and wet. The best time for holidays with children is the dry season, which lasts from May to October, and the most favorable months are July and August. At this time of year, the temperature stays at +24 degrees during the day, there is no extreme heat, and only short-term rains occur, and only at night. The water temperature at this time is as comfortable as possible, and the waves are not as strong as during the rainy season, which lasts from November to April.
Features of traveling to Bali with children
Even though the island is in South-East Asia, it has not yet earned such popularity as, for example, Thailand. That is why the number of flights is significantly inferior in number and variety. The flight, even direct, is about 10 hours, and on flights with transfers you can spend more than a day on the way, which may not be to the liking of every child.
Another issue is acclimatization. Babies often need more time to get used to changing weather and time zones. That is why the tour should be taken for at least two weeks, and even better – for three weeks or a month. For the first 3-5 days after arrival, children may be lethargic and moody, and many even develop a cold. Therefore, it is worth taking cold medicines and immunostimulants with you.
The best resorts and beaches for families with children
Even in the dry season in Bali there are waves almost everywhere. Also, one of the features of the island’s beaches is strong ebbs and flows, which make holidays with children unsuitable. And meeting surfers on the open sea can be an unpleasant surprise for a child, even if the parents allow the child to swim.
In addition, for families with children it is not recommended to choose noisy resorts, for example, Kuta, even though the city is closest to the airport. The beaches of Kuta are always dirty and there are strong ebbs and flows. This city is more suitable for youth parties, which take place both day and night. Even if the beach is not a priority for you, noise nightlife Can fit when holidaying with a child. However, there are several resorts that are suitable for families with children, as they have good beaches without waves and comfortable family hotels. The best of them are located on the southern Bukit Peninsula.
Nusa Dua
The resort of Nusa Dua is significantly different from the typical Balinese coast. Firstly, coastline here it is long and wide, covered with fine golden sand. Waves are extremely rare here, since not far from the shore there is a large coral reef that prevents strong waves from reaching the shore.
The second feature of this resort is a touch of elitism, not typical for other parts of the island. Everything here is decorated in a European style: evenly trimmed lawns, golf and tennis fields, goldfish in artificial ponds. Hotel complexes are lined up along the coast, most of which have 4 and 5 star categories and their own territory. By the way, this is a huge plus for families with children, since such hotels always have a children’s pool, and some even have water slides. In addition, hotels in Nusa Dua most often have a children's club and also provide babysitting services.
Jimbaran
The resort of Jimbaran is also located in the south of the island, this small town, whose residents are mainly engaged in fishing. Everything here is more authentic, however, family hotels high-end ones are also present. There are already waves here, however, they are still lower than in other Bali resorts, except Nusa Dua. Basically, fans of surfing come here, and they take their children with them, because there is a children’s surf school here, so the whole family can get involved in this sport. In addition, after leaving the child with a nanny for the evening, parents can go to the party town of Kuta, which is located not far from Jimbaran.
Uluwatu and Dreamland beaches
These beaches are even less suitable for families with children than the first two, however, swimming here is quite safe between high and low tides. On Uluwatu, at low tide, a very shallow pool of sea water forms, in which children splash with pleasure. Well, Dreamland Beach bears its name for a reason, as it is one of the most beautiful on the island. The sand here is snow-white, and the water has rich blue and blue colors.
Entertainment for children in Bali
Traditionally, in Bali, children go to water parks. In general, every resort has at least one place with water slides, most often they are located on the territory of hotels, where security allows not only guests with children, but also everyone. There are also two large water parks on the island - “Woterbom” in Kuta and “New Kuta Dremark”, which is located very close to beautiful beach Dreamland. These water parks largely determine the choice of Kuta as a resort for families with children, since you can spend the whole day on their territory, even for adults there are slides that are many times more extreme than for children.
If your child shows interest in animals, you can visit several at once. interesting places. The first is the monkey forest, where you can observe the life of these funny creatures in their natural environment. Well, adults will be interested in looking at the stone Hindu mythological statues. There is a forest near Ubud, as well as a bird park, where birds are also found in the wild. In addition, you can see exotic animals in the Safari Park, elephants in Taro Park, and a visit to the Dolphinarium, where you can even swim with dolphins, will also be interesting.
Children's infrastructure of the island
When it comes to products for children, there is no shortage of them in Bali. In all pharmacies you can buy the most common children's medicines, as well as diapers and baby food of various brands. You can also buy baby food in supermarkets, although the choice here will be smaller. Both on the coast and in Kuta there are many shops where you can buy children's clothing, toys and beach accessories. However, there is nothing exclusive or branded here.
As for food, Bali is full of fruits and vegetables; children also enjoy eating rice, chicken and vegetable dishes, which are served in every restaurant and cafe, the main thing is to warn when ordering to add less spices. European food is also common in Bali, especially in Nusa Dua; porridge and traditional fried eggs or French fries are served here.
Still, to go or not to go?
You can go to Bali with a child only if you want to take him with you, but if we are talking about choosing a resort for a child, then it is better to look for some other options. If you still choose Bali as a holiday destination, then children will feel best here during the dry season and on quiet resort, for example, such as Nusa Dua.
The island has few sandy beaches and many steep coastlines. An ordinary tourist with a child is not eager to go there, but we found suitable resorts for families with children in Bali. We talk about best beaches and hotels in 2020. Important nuances and tips for vacationers.
Not so long ago, the little-known island of Bali was a place of relaxation for hippies, but now it is a global exotic resort. The unique location between two seas, ancient culture and picturesque nature annually attracts millions of tourists to the island, including those with children.
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The nuances of holidaying in Bali with a child
Housing. Bali has a good hotel base and a wide range of private accommodation, all of which can be booked online. If you are planning a vacation with children for longer than 3 weeks, it is better to rent a house or villa. The houses are offered in different levels of comfort and cost, but they are all equipped with a kitchen, and if desired, you can hire a housekeeper and even a nanny.
Food. There are inexpensive pizzerias and Chinese restaurants on the island. Among the local cuisine, you can order rice with vegetables or chicken noodle soup - as a rule, children eat these dishes with pleasure. There are any food products in supermarkets, always fresh fruits and seafood, there are also the familiar French cheeses and crispy baguettes.
(Photo © Thomas Depenbusch (Depi) / flickr.com / License CC BY 2.0)
Transport rental. What is it like to relax on an island and not see the surroundings? After all, all the most interesting things are located outside the resort. Transport in Bali is easy to rent. However, driving on the island is not easy, given the heavy traffic and traffic jams. But there are so many beautiful places that I want to show the children! In addition, it is quite affordable.
Some parents vacationing in Bali with children rent a bike - and simply sit the child in front or between them, like locals. It is not safe. It's better to rent a car. Find a car rental on Skyscanner Car Hire - it compares prices from popular car rental services. Select a brand, then indicate where you want to pick up the car and where you will return it.
Beaches. There are few good “children's beaches” - clean, shallow and safe - in Bali. The ocean is often agitated, there are strong ebbs and flows, because of which you have to choose the moment between them for swimming. At low tide it is simply impossible to swim, but you can wander around and watch the fish and crawling crabs scurrying in the water.
Entertainment. When you get bored with the joys of the beach, you can look around a little: go to the Waterboom water park in Kuta, visit the elephant park in Taro, the turtle farm and the famous Monkey Forest. If your child is already 6 years old, you can send him to study at a children's surfing school.
When to go?
The island is warm all year round, but the rainy season lasts from December to March, and dry, comfortable weather sets in from mid-April to November. During the day the air temperature is +28...+30°С, at night +22...+24°С, average temperature water +28°C. Most precipitation falls in the winter months from December to the end of February.
Haven't planned your vacation yet? Read about the celebration too.
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The best beaches for children in Bali
The largest number of resorts suitable for family holidays are concentrated in the south of Bali. Nusa Dua considered a tourist reservation with decent sandy beaches and luxury hotels - this is the most popular resort for holidays with children.
(Photo © Ryo / flickr.com / Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
The best hotels in Bali for families with children - 2020
For independent travelers We recommend searching for hotels on the Rumguru service. He will help you find the most low price. Don't know how to use it? Read the tips.
Last minute tours search on services and - they compare prices from 120 popular tour operators. Want to save money? Explore our.
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Holidays in Bali with children: reviews from tourists
If you are afraid of acclimatization and changing food and water, then it is better to rent a house with a kitchen. Some even bring food with them, although such actions make sense if your child is a very big fan of buckwheat.
Particular discomfort is caused by high air humidity, at which scratches and abrasions do not heal well. Even ordinary mosquito bites, when scratched by a baby, turn into something terrifying. Therefore, take repellents and a minimum supply with you.
When vacationing with children in Bali, use creams with the maximum level of ultraviolet protection and carry a bottle of water with you, because this amount of sun leads to burns and rapid loss of water. The big problem is that children do not tolerate long journeys around the island during excursions. Either refuse such trips around the island, or choose cloudy days.
Bali is, of course, the island of the gods. Crowds of tourists flock to it every year. Including domestic ones, including those with children. And yet Bali is not the case when you can rely on chance. There is something to think about in advance. For those who are ready to travel with the whole family to the southern hemisphere, here are some tips from Ksenia Chesnokova, an experienced traveler and mother of Alisa and Grisha, four and two years old.
I spent about two months in Bali, rented a house, cooked food, went to cafes, entertained the children, and enjoyed the beauty of the island. First and foremost for parents with children: they don’t come here to swim. Maybe just lie on the beach, but also look for shady beaches. If you buy a tour and go "all ready", you should choose the Nusa Dua area. Here is the kingdom of multi-star hotels, clean sand, trees with spreading crowns and a sea relatively suitable for swimming (although a certain amount of algae and waves seem to whisper “why aren’t you lying on Thai sand?”). And it's expensive.
In general, Bali is huge waves cut by surfers, these are volcanoes, these are bright boats on black sand, poisonous green rice terraces, “multi-story” pagodas of temples, these are incredible trays and handmade furniture, these are scooters flying in all directions, like flies. These are bright holidays and people who know how and are ready to find a common language with any child they come across.
What you shouldn’t be surprised by: the presence of decent traffic jams, the density of development in the southern part of the island and the number of Russian people (as if in Sochi, honestly).
Why then go to Bali with a child? I wouldn't go there for the sake of the child. But I easily took my children with me when I wanted to go to Bali myself. It's warm, sandy, fresh fruit and seafood. There are many tourists and expats on the island, so international schools and enrichment activities are plentiful. As well as Parmesan, bacon, French loaves and other products that are not typical for Asia, but sometimes so passionately desired. A large selection of private housing for reasonable money - here Bali will give odds to any other Asian country.
Seasonality, however, is not very convenient for us: in winter you can’t escape for warmth - it’s rainy season here until March. And it really rains - not all the time, but often and a lot. In addition, they provoke the appearance of mold on the walls, which can be combated with the help of chemicals and a housekeeper, but which still does not make life more fun and, penetrating into drawers, spoils things (upon arrival it is better to immediately remove the doors from the cabinets so that everything was ventilated). But in the spring it’s beautiful in Bali - it’s time to eat Russian vitamin deficiency with durian. It's not bad here in summer either.
Best places
If you arrive for a couple of weeks, you can stay in a hotel room. But for a period of more than three weeks, it makes sense to rent a house - the price will be almost the same. The good thing about your own home is its impressive size, the presence of a kitchen, and the ability to find inexpensive housekeepers.
If the main thing is swimming in the sea, then you can stop:
- in the north in Lovina (far from “life”, but there are shops and some necessary infrastructure, hotels right on the beach);
- in the east in Amed or Tulamben (pebble beach, the infrastructure is tight, but you can snorkel with fish),
- in Padang Bai or Sanur. These areas are located in the port area, here you can rent a house or stay in a hotel. It’s a bit far from the noisy nightlife of Kuta and the surfing beaches of Bukit, but many tourists with children stay here.
- north of Kuta are the more expensive and quiet areas of Legian and Seminyak. True, it is quite crowded here. If you dream of a desert paradise island, the density of buildings will be unpleasantly surprising.
- South of Kuta is the small Bukit Peninsula. There is a slightly rustic atmosphere here: it’s quiet, there are almost no traffic jams, the amount of greenery and other nature after Kuta is very pleasing. The beaches here are different - five-star Nusa Dua, Padang Padang with its monkeys, Jimbaran with fish restaurants, wide Balangan, which at low tide forms “baths” convenient for children to play with, and is located almost in the Uluwatu cave.
- Ubud is cool, there is a monkey forest, houses with huge terraces and views of the rice fields, villages with artisans. Everything is fine, but Ubud is located in the center of the island - far from the sea.
Searching for a home
Housing can be found in advance via the Internet, which means an overpayment of $200-300 per month to the agent. Or already on site - take a taxi driver or a scooter and go look for signs for rent, interview locals, find out in shops. It’s quite possible to find it in 2-3 days good house with two bedrooms, air conditioning and hot water for $400-600 per month.
When concluding a lease agreement, you need to clarify and note several points:
- are “utilities” included in the total price (water and electricity separately will cost about $30 per month),
- what's wrong with the Internet (most likely nothing, but suddenly),
- availability of the necessary furniture, plumbing fixtures and utensils - and what of these you can ask from the owner (they brought me knives, bought a water cooler),
- Do all bedrooms have air conditioning, do all bathrooms have hot water,
- is there a spare set of bed linen,
- the size of the living room and surrounding area (children need somewhere to play),
- if you have a pool, the frequency of cleaning and maintenance (if you do nothing, they bloom terribly),
- the presence of cabinets and shelves around the house (things need to be laid out).
Having acquired a house, you can immediately ask the landlord or one of the neighbors to find you a housekeeper. In conditions of humidity and an abundance of ants, its presence will endlessly make life easier. Cleaning once a day will cost about $60 per month, constant presence and child care with one day off per week - approximately $110-150 per month.
Transport
Of course, you can survive in Bali without personal transport: stay close to the beach and hire a taxi for long trips. But if you know how to drive at least something, your own wheels will improve your life significantly.
Firstly, this means that you can find housing not by the sea - that is, much more comfortable, spacious and cheaper, without overpaying for the “first line”.
Secondly, you will be completely free to move around without having to pay extra for them every time - whether it’s to go to a water park or look for a new cafe for dinner.
Thirdly, renting transport in Bali is very cheap. A scooter for a month will cost from $55, a car - from $200. With a child, it is more logical to take a car: it is comfortable to sleep in, you can hide from the rain, and it is safer.
However, traffic on the island is heavy and quite chaotic. If you have already had driving experience in Vietnam, you can imagine what it's like. If you often drive a car in Moscow, in general, too. In other cases, mastering the features of driving in Bali is quite possible, but do it gradually and carefully.
If you want to drive around the island (and there is a lot to see in Bali), you can hire a driver with a car or rent a car for a couple of days. It will, of course, be calmer with a driver. But there are many advantages to being independent. When you hire a driver, you won't be able to avoid visiting his friend's shop or eating with a crowd of tourists where your "guide" will receive a commission. And how can you refuse if they tell you that it’s not tasty here, it’s not interesting, and to the right begins a godforsaken village. But just wandering through the village streets, you can see the funniest scenes and the most sincere smiles.
Internet
A hotel may have Wi-Fi, but a house will most likely have nothing. But no matter what Internet you get, it will be very, very slow - just like in your “modem” youth. If you suddenly plan to work in Bali, remember this.
The two most popular options: activate an unlimited package of −11$ per month on your own SIM card, or buy a modem from the Indonesian operator Smartfren ($22 with SIM card) and activate an unlimited package for $10 per month.
Wash
There are laundries all over the island, just look for the Laundry signs. Some are ready to pick up things from your home and bring them washed. Good price- half a dollar (5000 rupees) per kilogram. It’s better to try a specific laundry service on clothes that you don’t mind: unfortunately, things can get damaged and lost here.
Food
The cuisine in Indonesia is not very varied and not very tasty, after Vietnam it can be quite dreary. But there are plenty of pizzerias, steak houses and McDonald's for the nostalgic. Among the local cuisine, children usually like soto ayam - chicken noodle soup. In a simple cafe you can always get nasi goreng (fried rice with vegetables and sometimes meat) for one and a half to two dollars. From these 15,000 rupees the countdown begins - then there will be crabs at $5.5 per Chinese cafe, and lobsters for $50 where Russians are expected. Without my husband, my two children and I spent $5-10 per trip to a cafe. With my husband, the figure increased sharply and approached $20 (yes, men sometimes love grandeur and are not ready to save on themselves).
With the ability to cook at home, you'll probably take advantage of it at some point. In Bali there are large supermarkets (Carrefour in Kuta, for example), there are smaller ones - the Nirmala or Pepito chains (the latter has a particularly large selection of European goods), there are very “mini” markets (which are still similar to a supermarket, such as Circle K, Minimarket , Indomaret, but they are a little expensive). And there are local stores - and to find them, you need to look carefully. But the products there are the same, and cheaper. And there is more choice. Eggs - $1.5, milk - the same, a bag of coffee - $1, bacon - about three. Already a good breakfast for a couple of days. Add fruit, fresh rolls for 30 cents, and the morning will seem joyful even in the rain. Fruits and vegetables are often sold in separate stalls. A bag with watermelon, large papaya, bananas and pineapple will cost about $5.
If you buy food in local stores more convenient, then with clothes everything is more complicated. You can still find baby clothes - they will be cute and very cheap. But for adults it’s worth going to Kuta. In general, in Bali you can easily buy almost anything. There are a lot of children's toys here: both cheap, ugly ones, and expensive, high-quality ones. And at the same time, they are cheap and not bad. There are cars, bicycles, swings and slides in the yard. There are any accessories for swimming, there is everything for drawing and various puzzles, but there are no watercolors - paints are only in tubes.
Medicine
There are large clinics in Bali, including in Kuta (BIMC, International SOS) and Jimbaran (Kasih Ibu). Be sure to take out insurance before your trip; it won’t cost much, but in the future you won’t have to wonder whether it’s worth paying for a doctor’s visit or whether it will “go away on its own.”
In general, children in Bali get sick, this must be admitted. During our stay on the island, both the children of the people living there permanently and mine were sick. The temperature was rising, there was diarrhea, and my friend’s child was vomiting. But these ailments did not last longer than two days and went away on their own. In general, at home my children get sick a little less often, but for a longer period of time.
What creates discomfort is high humidity, at which wounds heal poorly and all sorts of nasty things multiply well. A scratched mosquito bite can turn into something scary looking. At some point, I learned to spray everything with antiseptic solutions.
Entertainment
Having provided yourself with a decent life, you will probably find that sitting at home is boring, children are eager to be with people, and your soul asks for a holiday.
For swimming purposes, of course, it is worth exploring all the surrounding beaches and beaches. Moreover, they need to be inspected both at high tide and at low tide - the situation can vary critically.
In Bali there are small water parks for $5 (near the Nirmala supermarket in the Ungasan area of Bukit, for example). There are more - for $10 (New Kuta Green Park in Dreamland, in the same Bukit). There is also a huge water park at Waterbom in Kuta - just go in the morning, otherwise you won’t have enough time to do everything. It happens that expensive hotels allow you to use their pools for a fee (for example, Discovery Hotel in Kuta).
If you come for a couple of months, it will be interesting to take your child to developmental classes. They, of course, will be in English, but this is often not so important for children, and at the same time they will be immersed in the language environment. You can also send your child to school - every day for half a day - for about $200 a month.
When the entire island has been explored, you can quickly fly somewhere else. There are generally many airlines in Indonesia, but the cheapest tickets are usually from Airasia and Lionair, and the most comfortable ones are on Garuda planes. If you look through the promotions and think about everything in advance, you can fly to Kuala Lumpur for $20, to Java for $15-20, and fly to Lombok for $40 in business class, for example.
What did we do in Bali?
They just lived. We had breakfast, went to dig sand at the beach, and sometimes went swimming. We visited friends, had dinner in a cafe, and watched sunsets. We went to the pool - children very quickly learn not to be afraid of water, to swim, to dive. They bought fish at the market, asked them to cook it in a cafe and ate it at home. We went out to travel around the island by car several times. We took a boat to the neighboring Gili Islands - there the sea is quieter and you can see fish.
Two-year-old Grishka loved the waves and learned the words “crab”, “mosquito” and “ant” well. Four-year-old Alice demanded a pool every day, easily swimming 25 meters without any floating devices. The kids went crazy for the local roasted corn (half a dollar), drank endless amounts of fresh watermelon juice, and learned to play together and with Indonesian children (lack of language was no obstacle). My husband, who arrived for three weeks, tried to go surfing. At the same time, children also rode the same surf - closer to the shore, sitting on horseback.
Total: if you want paradise beaches and swimming, you don’t need to go to Bali. But if you want to live comfortably in a warm climate, the island is very suitable: there are large inexpensive houses, cheap housekeepers and nannies. Bali is small, and this compact area has everything you need for quality and have an interesting holiday- infrastructure, nature, and exotica.
