Bali

[Emma09]

So, we're toying with the idea of heading to Bali around September with Some extended family.
Can anyone recommend some places to stay? Or even a general area to look at?
I'm not much worried about kids club as DD will only be 3.5- and the other kids going are late teens.
We would need somewhere with a lovely swimming pool and things to do on-site.
Ie- restaurants etc.

[Emma09]

Anyone?

[Emma09]

Bumping again!
Has anyone been to Bali with children?

[Glass half full]

I haven't been to Bali myself, but have a few friends that have been multiple times with small children. A hotel I have heard many people rave about is the dynasty, so maybe worth looking into what area that is in?
Sorry I can't be more help, I just thought if throw it out there since there have been no other replies yet I can ask friends for more info on different locations if no one else here has any other advice.

[Emma09]

Thanks!

[crumpet]

we are going in september with DD who is 2.5, will be 12weeks off being 3 when we are there.

we are looking at staying at club med nusa dua for a week and then the hard rock in kuta for 5 days.

ive herd good things about bali dynasty and hotel padma but havent stayed there.

you could look into a place like Villa Kubu, which has 3 bedroom villas with private pools?

we like being in kuta for shopping and because we know where everything is, but Seminyak is very popular as well.

[sangie]

We stayed at the Novotel Nusa Dua last year with our two kids. We had a 2 bed apartment. The pool and bar area was lovely and there are restaurants nearby (a free shuttle bus takes you there and back every 30mins or so?).

It's a bit of a drive to Kuta but we weren't really interested in going there anyway, only went once! Depends what you want really! I preferred Nusa Dua at the time as I'd never been to Bali and it felt safer (gated security at entrance plus each hotel has its own security). But I'm a worry wart lol! Seminyak is supposed to be really beautiful and I'd like to visit there if we ever go back!

[crumpet]

sangie, did they have baby sitters for hire at the novotel??

im interested in some extra infor when you get a sec, might suit us better than club med

[sangie]

Yes they did have baby sitter for hire crumpet, we never used it though. My kids went to kids club twice and they loved it (they were 4.5 and 2.5yrs at the time).
There are literally heaps of resorts/hotel in the nusa dua area. There was one being built next door to novotel when we were there which was looking amazing, can't remember what it was called though? Overall we loved the novotel, its not as new as some of the others in the area but it was clean and comfortable and well priced! The massage/spa treatments were fantastic too, can highly recommend you book yourself in for some pampering!

[nickle730]

Hey Emma, I have been to Bali several times with kids, it's a great holiday. Nusa Dua is beautiful, although it is somewhat isolated from the rest of tourist Bali! Taxis are cheap though. Lots of nice resorts, plenty of shops and restaurants within walking distance.

Seminyak is very nice, again a lot of nice resorts. There are plenty of shops, although the shops in Seminyak tend to be the more expensive, set price shops. Easy taxi ride or longish walk to Legian for better shopping. Seminyak has plenty of restaurants as well.

Legian is next to Kuta, IMO it has become very busy over the past few years - Kuta has spread! Great shopping, plenty of restaurants - a few too many yobbo tourists on cheap holidays for me! If you want to be in the middle of the action, Legian is a good choice.

Kuta is the tourist centre of Bali. It is full of people and is pretty bustling. Has a lot of restaurants, bars and hotels. And an awful lot of rude - often drunk and shirtless - Aussie tourists. There are plenty of shops in Kuta, the vendors are often pretty pushy and repeat the filth they have heard coming out of the mouths of those drunken Aussie tourists. You will most likely be offered drugs in Kuta which could be very confronting (or tempting??!!) for the teenagers you will be traveling with. I am not a fan of Kuta, but just my opinion! (I'm also not a fan of drunken, shirtless, yobbo Aussies!!)

Ubud is up in the hills. Plenty of hotels and restaurants. Decent shopping (probably on par with Nusa Dua) and more handcrafted items such as carvings and art works. Ubud has a slower pace than much of tourist Bali. Being in the hills, there are no beaches and it is about an hour and a half to two hour drive if you want to visit any of the other areas I've mentioned.

I've never stayed in Jimbaran Bay, but if you like seafood it is well worth catching a taxi over for an incredibly fresh seafood dinner on the beach.

Depends on what you're looking for. Personally, I would stay in Seminyak, visit Legian for shopping, take a day trip to Ubud (you can hire a car and driver for the whole day at a very reasonable rate) - and avoid Kuta!

[Emma09]

Thanks everyone!

Nickle- could you recommend a resort in seminyak?
I would prefer to not go to Kuta.

[Emma09]

And are Seminyak and Nusa Dua close to an airport? Which airport?

[crumpet]

Yes they did have baby sitter for hire crumpet, we never used it though. My kids went to kids club twice and they loved it (they were 4.5 and 2.5yrs at the time).
There are literally heaps of resorts/hotel in the nusa dua area. There was one being built next door to novotel when we were there which was looking amazing, can't remember what it was called though? Overall we loved the novotel, its not as new as some of the others in the area but it was clean and comfortable and well priced! The massage/spa treatments were fantastic too, can highly recommend you book yourself in for some pampering!

awesome thanks!

adding it to my lost of places to research!

[MLR1901]

In laws just got back from Bali. Kids that travelled were 9,6 and 4. One with peanut allergies.
They stayed at Legian Beach Hotel.
Mind you they wanted to stay near where they knew from last trip (10yrs ago!)
They were trying to get accommodation at the Dynasty but it was booked.
Overall they said Legian Beach Hotel was great. They did stay away from Kuta most of the time (only went to go to waterbom park and a market)

[nickle730]

The Oberoi is beautiful, but pricey! Are you on a cheap, moderate or luxury budget? And would you prefer a hotel style room or a villa?

[Emma09]

Probably a moderate budget.
I did love the idea of a villa- but the villa's I have looked at have no fence around the pool!
So, possibly a resort might be better?
I'd love a resort that offers activities within its grounds.

[crumpet]

a lot of the villas will put up tempory fencing if you request it.

we liked the club med as it has a play ground, kids club, on the beach and that will keep DD fairly entertained

[crumpet]

villa kubu in seminyak does the tempory fencing, its one of the options we looked at, a friend stayed and said it was amazing