REASONS TO VISIT BALI IN INDONESIA

Bali is a beautiful country with much to offer families. They don’t call it the Island of the Gods for nothing. Bali is an Island in Indonesia. It has two seasons, Dry season and wet season. At the moment in Bali (December) it is wet season. The temperatures are a constant balmy 28-35 Degrees year round, but wet season will see a couple of hours of rain a day and then hot summer sunshine for the rest.
If you are looking for a family holiday that has something for everyone then consider Bali.
Here are some reasons why you should visit Bali with your children.

1. BALINESE ARE SOME OF THE KINDEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
   Most Balinese are Hindu. They are a ceremony loving people and are very devout in living what they believe. When visiting Bali you will see the Balinese make offerings to their god’s 3 times a day. They place these offerings outside their homes, workplaces at the beaches and Hotels. The offerings help them remember and be grateful. This is why I believe they are some of the happiest and kindest people in the world.

Balinese offerings on the beach one morning
BALINESE OFFERINGS ON THE BEACH ONE MORNING

The Balinese love children especially boys. While staying in Legian it would take us 30 mins to walk 1km as my 3 year old would be giving everyone down the road high fives. Everyday the people in the street would yell out for my son. One day the girls and I were walking without him and all we heard was “Where is the boy?” “Is he coming soon?”.

When we are dining in restaurants it is not uncommon for the staff to play and talk to our children. This definitely makes dinner times much more enjoyable as the kids are entertained and parents can relax.

1. KID FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
   There are many kid friendly activities in Bali. Your children will love swimming in pools while on holiday in balmy Bali. There are also a couple a waterparks including Waterbom in Kuta and Splash Waterpark at the Canggu Club in Canggu.
   
   There is also an abundance of family friendly beaches in Bali including Geger Beach in Nusa Dua and Sanur Beach in Sanur.

A great thing about beaches in Bali is that there are usually beach chairs with umbrellas available for rent while you relax with your children at the beach.

Some other kid friendly activities are kids clubs and teenage clubs, Bali Safari and Marine Park in Gianyar, Bounce Bali and Strike Bowling at the Canggu Club.

For the adventurous you could participate in White Water Rafting and Bike Riding down the hills in Ubud, or taking to the water for a variety of Watersport’s.

1. HIRE A NANNY FOR $5 USD AN HOUR
   When Mo was little we used a Bali Nanny every-time we visited. The Balinese are very patient and loving with children. We used her services usually in the afternoons when baby would be tired and hot and just want to eat and sleep. We hired her for around 5-6 hours a day so we could go shopping, have dinner and maybe a massage in the afternoon. We paid around $30 for this privilege. To find a great nanny for your baby or children you can ask for references to give you piece of mind.

2. SHOPPING GALORE
   There is an abundance of market stalls in Bali. Many of the stores have knock off brands but if you ok with that you can buy Nikes for $25 USD or Chucks for $15 USD. The market owners love to overcharge foreigners so make sure you know approximate prices for things you want to buy and learn how to barter. It can be fun at first, but after awhile I did’t have the energy. Lucky for people like me as there are also fixed price stores. These shops have the same offerings as the markets but the prices are all set.
   
   In Bali you can also get the latest DVD titles for only $1 USD. There are many shops all over Bali that have copy DVD’s for sale. My kids love to spend their money getting new DVD’s and Music CD’s when we are in Bali.

3. 5 STAR RESORTS AT 2-3 STAR WESTERN PRICES
   If you want a 5 star holiday for the price of a 3 star holiday in Australia then Bali is the country to visit. There is an abundance of 5 star properties all over the Island that have luxury rooms, services and inclusions (Breakfast and sometimes airport transfers etc) for extremely reasonable prices.
   
   My kids favourite hotel in Bali, The Novotel Nusa Dua is a 4 star property that is situated in the middle of all the 5 star properties and it costs around $250 a night for a two bedroom apartment with breakfast. This also includes free use of the kids club and teenage club, any activities you want to participate in at the Hotel that are part of the recreation program and use of the private beach club.

4. MASSAGES AND BEAUTY THERAPY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY
   This is arguably my girls most favourite activity when we are in Bali. They love to be pampered. When we are at home there is no way we can afford these services but in Bali we go through the whole menu.

We have had western style haircuts for $7, Body Massages for $6, Foot Massages for $3 and the girls favourite Manicures and Pedicures for around $6 including Nail Polish.
It it not uncommon for the Morgan family to make a family outing to a spa salon and all get a massage at the same time. The damage is usually only around $30. At home we couldn’t even get one person a massage at that cost.

Bali is a special place. For me the people are what make it so special, but there are also many other things that make it a very affordable and enjoyable family holiday.

Be sure to let us know what you enjoyed most when you visit the Island of the Gods.