Need help figuring out how to spend two weeks in Bali? We are happy to share how we spent two weeks in Bali, in different areas with our toddler! Yes, family travel is absolutely possible in this slice of paradise. We’ll give you our honest thoughts and tips to get the most out of your trip. From busier city life to the rice terraces of Instagram pics, our itinerary will give you some ideas to create one of the most memorable vacations for your family.

Get your travel planner out and keep reading this post!

Why Bali?

I think the question should be more like this; why not Bali? This Indonesian island has been on our bucket list ever since we saw pictures of the Tegallalang rice terraces. #photogoals Aside of from this inspiration, Bali has so much to offer to everyone in the family. Typically a place where many start their digital nomad or beachgoer life, Bali caters to most audiences. Prior to booking our trip we did some research and came up with both sides of the coin as far as family travels go. We are here to tell you that family travel in Bali is a must-do!

We traveled with our toddler and found plenty of activities to do. Overall, we found Bali to be extremely family-friendly, making friends at each place we explored.

The only caveat is to level set your expectations as far as western convenience goes. If you’re expecting things to be just like back home (the USA for us), then consider your travel plans or goals. While there are still many conveniences that easily translate to the everyday American, it is still different. But isn’t that the point of traveling?

How to Get to Bali

Unless you’re on a neighboring island, you will likely need to fly to Bali, and into Denpasar International Airport. Upon arriving, if you’re traveling with younger ones, you’ll get routed to a family-friendly line to go through immigration and the like. Depending on where you’re coming from you are able to do the Visa on Arrival option (like we did from the USA).

Once you’re through that portion of entering the country, everything is pretty straightforward in terms of exiting the airport. Next, we highly recommend booking a driver or transportation prior to your arrival, as this could be overwhelming once you leave the building. We used Viator to book our driver and he was AMAZING. So much so that we reconnected with him privately through Whatsapp and booked a private tour and transportation with him as well. Save up to 50% off tours and activities on Viator

Pro Tip: For our fellow traveling families, there are some airlines that will allow you to choose seats for free if you are traveling with a child in economy class. We were lucky enough to experience this on Singapore Airlines during our trip to Bali. This can make your flight an even better deal if you were able to snag some cheap airfare!

You may want to read this post: How to Find and Book Cheap Flights

Getting Around Bali

Next, you’ll need to figure out how you and the fam are going to get from place to place. We found this was not a destination we wanted to bravely drive in. Chaos is the word that comes to mind. With that being said, it just wasn’t for us. There were many foreigners on rented scooters buzzing about. If our little guy was older we would give the scooter life a try, but for this trip, we opted for a hired driver or simply walking (one of our favorite ways to really experience a place).

One important thing we want to mention is that there are imposter taxi cabs. It was pretty wild to read about when we were doing our preliminary research of Bali, but to see it when we went has solidified the reason for my mention of it. So if you are deciding to take a taxi, there is a safer way to book and agree on a price; through the My Blue Bird taxi app. It’s like the Uber app, but for SE Asia.

As you prepare for this awesome trip, it’s important to know that getting around the island takes a while due to general traffic. Better to go in knowing of this, than to be rudely surprised when you get there!

And to continue on the topic of getting around, most resorts are stroller friendly, but many of the streets in Bali are uneven. This makes using a stroller tough to deal with. We suggest a hiking pack for the little ones. Here is the hiking pack that we take on our off-roading adventures.

Other highly rated hiking pack options:

Seminyak

Days 1-3

This area of Bali is one of the most popular and tourist-filled parts of the island. There are lots of options for food and beach fun. There are different beach clubs that rent out chairs and umbrellas if you decide to spend the day at the beach. It’s also a great time to walk the beaches to see the many shrines that are part of the rich Balinese culture. Here are some ideas to get you started on your time in Seminyak.

• Seminyak Beach
• Day Trip to Tanah Lot Temple
• Double Six Beach
• Try Indonesian food from one of the many warungs (cafes)
• Legian Beach
• Catch the sunset each day

Where to Stay

• Budget: Adi Dharma Hotel Legian 
• Modest: Kamaniiya Petitenget Seminyak
• Luxury: Seiryu Boutique Villas

Ubud

Days 4-9

This is the area of Bali that made us write it down on our bucket list. RICE TERRACES (insert swooning anime heart eyes here). Aside from this serious scenery must-do, Ubud is full of art, relaxation, and temples to explore. Since this is a more kid-friendly itinerary, you won’t find the more daring or time-consuming excursions on this list.

• Camphuan Ridge Walk
• Saraswati Temple
• Ubud Palace
• Sacred Monkey Forest
• Ubud Street Market
• Tegallalang Rice Terrace
• Try a local cooking class
• Luwak coffee and local tea tasting
• Travel to a nearby waterfall

Where to Stay

• Budget: Kori Ubud Resort
• Modest: Ubud Valley Boutique Resort
• Luxury: Rice Field Retreat on Airbnb

Pro Tip: The house manager at our Airbnb cautioned us from going to the Sacred Monkey Forest with our little one. She shared that the monkeys there can be very aggressive, especially if they smell food on you or if your kiddo is a screamer (like ours lol). While this was one of the things we wanted to do, we just let you know to proceed with caution for your little travelers and maybe opt-in for your older kids.

Nusa Dua

Days 10-14

Nusa Dua is home to many high-end resort chains that you may be familiar with from the Western world. We chose to end our trip with the Hilton Bali resort, which did not disappoint! If you’re a loyalty member, or considering joining their loyalty program, we highly recommend it for the excellent breakfast perks, upgrade options, and spa experiences. While there are tours that you can book to other parts of Bali, we don’t advise this as a central place to stay due to the long travel time (especially with kids!).

Here are some ideas to consider if staying on this part of the island:

• Enjoy a resort and the beach
• If you didn’t book a resort, look into buying a day pass to a beachfront resort
• Shop at the Bali Collection outdoor mall
• Book a tour of Uluwatu Temple
• Visit the Garuda Wisnu Kencana Cultural Park
• Have dinner at Koral Aquarium Restaurant
• Ride camels on the beach
• Relax at a spa
• Let the little travelers enjoy a kids club

Where to Stay

• Budget: Amaris Hotel Pratama Nusa Dua
• Modest: Peninsula Beach Resort
• Luxury: Hilton Bali Resort

Other Areas of Interest

Nusa Lembongan

This island is situated to the northeast of the main island of Bali. Nusa Lembongan is another popular destination that many add to their Bali itinerary. You are able to reach it by booking a water taxi or ferry from the main island. From our research, it would be worth staying on the island, versus a quick day trip, if going with littles.

Nusa Ceningan

You can reach this island in the same fashion as if you were going to the neighboring island of Nusa Lembongan, but can also be reached directly from the island through the Yellow Bridge. One of the main tourist attractions here is the Blue Lagoon and Secret Point Beach.

Sanur

One of the even more family-friendly areas of Bali (accordingly to our research). We had a tough time deciding whether or not to switch out one of the areas we visited on our original itinerary for Sanur. Now that we’ve gone to Bali, we will try Sanur next time. Considerations for this area would be easier access to the eastern side of the island and attractions such as the Bali Zoo, Bali Safari and Marine Park, and Goa Lawah Temple.

Travel Tips

We could research till the sun goes down, but ultimately, it’s the experiences we have that drive the advice we can pass on to others. So for first-timers in Bali, we’ve covered some of that in this post. However, here are some other tips you may find useful if this is your first time as well.

• Download and use the Gojek App
  • This was a game changer when we wanted to relax at our accommodation while enjoying local food. We would compare this service to Ubereats.
• Many places take credit cards, but it helps to carry local currency in the event you want to tip, take a taxi or buy souvenirs from a local vendor.
• The mosquito situation is real (at least it is for this mama). Be sure to bring plenty of repellents. Looking for one that smells good and fights the good fight? Try this one.
• You will see offerings known as canang sari everywhere that you go in Bali. Please be respectful of this significant part of Balinese culture, by not stepping on, or removing them from where they are placed.
• Be prepared to wear a sarong when entering temples or places of worship. Some temples have these available for you to wear also.

You may want to read this post: Top 10 Things to Do Before Your Next International Trip

Enjoy Your Trip

At last, you’ve made it to the end of this post! We hope reading through our guide has helped you iron out some of the things that you want to experience while visiting the island of Bali. After your trip, we would love to hear from you in the comments below. Or you can reach us directly on Instagram. Either way, enjoy living the island life with your family!

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