wandertures

So you’re thinking you’d like to take kids to Bali for a holiday?

There is a ton of things running through your mind….

…It is super cheap, beautiful and so close to Australia, we should definitely think about it.

…Am I going to end up with Bali belly? What about kids with Bali belly (cringes). That’s a lot of mess and sickness…

…is it a safe place to take kids and are there things to do?

…is it easy to get around with children?

…what do I take? I’ve got babies/toddlers, am I going to be able to get stuff for them in Bali?

There are probably a heap more than this but I know that these were the questions we had before our first trip when M&M were 20 months old. I’ve included some top tips:

• Anti-bacterial wipes – and lots of them:   I prefer these to hand sanitiser, they actually wipe away the dirt/germs and sanitise at the same time (as opposed to just sanitising). No need to spend a heap of money, the cheaper Kmart ones do the job just fine and are in handy carry packs.
• Formula:  if your kids have it and like that brand then take it with you. Formula is harder to find and expensive in Bali and they have limited options even in big supermarkets.
• Nappies:  these are easy to get and work reasonably well. My advice would be take a supply of your good nappies (we use Huggies) for night times. The ones you buy in Bali aren’t as good or robust as Huggies but are totally fine for day use.
• Snacks:  any snacks that your kids particularly like as the range is very different in Bali although snacks are readily available if your kids aren’t fussy.
• Sunscreen:  pack it and use it. You can easily buy over there however prices vary a lot and you might not get the brand you prefer.

All in all we spent around 4 weeks in Bali with our toddlers in 2018. We didn’t get sick at all and whilst we are vigilant with the hand wipes we still eat at local restaurants and get out and about all the time. Bali has a range of cuisines owing to its main industry being tourism and you will find anything you wish to eat, including a lot of western options.

We travelled all across the Island also via private transfer (you can arrange this anywhere and everywhere). They do not use car seats in Bali so you need to be a little careful travelling with toddlers, however the speed limits are much slower than in Australia and distances are less also.

There are a range of accommodation options ranging from global branded hotel chains to more local accommodation options. If you’re interested in more detail on our travels refer to our posts Bali – Around the Island with Toddlers and Bali – Around the Island with Toddlers + Fam.

Enjoy your trip!