From an early age my children have been fortunate to have had some wonderful travel experiences. With a mother owning her own travel agency and an aunty living all over the world, they had no choice! One of our favourite destinations is the ever popular Bali.
Our favourite hotel is the Bali Dynasty, which is a popular family hotel. This beachfront hotel is in Tuban, (South of Kuta) about 15 minutes from the airport by private transfer (the only way to go), depending on the traffic.
The trip in from the airport is always an interesting one and the looks on the kid’s faces was of amazement plus excitement, of our new adventure. The millions of motorbikes, the tiny shop fronts and restaurants, with the locals just sitting watching the day go by…
Within half an hour of arriving at the hotel, the kids were off to the pool as we sat & watched from our balcony. In no time they were excitingly chatting to other children as they headed up the stairs to the top of the popular water slide.
Thanks to the great exchange rate, dining at any of the hotel many eateries was cheap, but heading out on to the main road near the hotel made it even cheaper. It took us a few meals to comprehend that our two course meal with a bottle or two of local beer plus the kids’ smoothies, to come in around $20 for the four of us!!! The food is amazing & found many restaurants having entertainment as well. Of course the hotel had its theme nights like the pool bbq or traditional night including dancers which were handy if we couldn’t be bothered wandering far from home.
The sunsets in Bali are nothing short of spectacular and the evening pilgrimage down to the beach to sit with the locals was a must on most nights. Speaking of the locals, they are a beautiful race of people who the children quickly warmed to. A little area next to the hotel overlooked the beach & under the shade of the trees the local set up shop & offer their services to the local tourists.
While sitting back under the trees, to the sound of the waves, having my massage or pedicure, I was watching the children interact with the locals deciding on which sunglasses to buy off “Elvis” or which temporary tattoo would be drawn by “Tom Cruise”. Their laughter was enjoyed by everyone.
Bali offers so much for all ages, but I think of it as a perfect family destination with so many experiences on offer. Apart from the great interaction with the local Balinese people, we had the opportunity to go white water rafting, safe for the children and a brilliant way to see some spectacular scenery in the mountains. The visit to the Elephant Safari Park with the short jungle ride was amazing. The looks on the kids faces as they patted the elephants before climbing onboard, is something that none of us will forget.
For a full day of fun (& exercise), Waterbom Park is a must! Only a short walk from the hotel, it is a great water park full of waterslides, play areas, catering for all ages with beautiful gardens to relax in.
The shopping has improved, with the opening of a department store and lots of good quality wares and clothing shops. The kids became quite fluent with their bartering and grabbed some great bargains, (Thanks Nan)……
So for a cultural experience, a relaxing break, bonding with the kids, great food, plus a bit of shopping, I can’t beat my visits to Bali.
Selamat Jalan
Rosemary