Visiting Bali is one of our family’s all-time favourite things. Dewey and I visited Bali for the first time on our honeymoon in 2005. We made all the wrong decisions when we planned our trip. I thought that stretching to afford the nicer resort in Nusa Dua was the way to go. Boy, was I wrong! Our hotel was amazing but everything we wanted to do was far away. We spent many, many Bali hours in a car on the roads.
We decided to return to Bali in 2015 for our ten year anniversary with Evan in tow. It was our first big trip with him other than to the US or an all-inclusive. We were in the thick of things with him and school so I was a bit worried about how he would do with the long flights. I shouldn’t have worried, He sailed through the flights and loved visiting Bali as much, if not more than Dewey and I did. In fact, Evan began to ask when we could move to Bali and he wasn’t kidding!
When I ask Evan what he loves most about Bali, his answers usually involve his favourite hotel in Seminyak, the monkey forest in Ubud and his love for the pastries at the breakfast buffets. I think it is also so awesome in his mind because it was his first real trip enjoying another culture.
Since then, every time we plan a vacation, I ask “Where should we go this year?” and his first answer is always Bali. This year, we decided it was time to go back. This weekend we booked flights for March and we invited a few of our friends to come along (if they can swing it). We are all over the moon excited.
I’m looking forward to eating all the yummy food. Evan can’t wait to go back to see the monkeys and Dewey really wants to get some surfing in. Booking the flights is the easy part. Now I get to start figuring out where we are going to visit, for how long and where we will stay.
We’ve considered getting a villa (especially if our friends join us but I kind of prefer hotels in Bali. Food is so inexpensive and quick that it takes away all of my desire to cook at home. Breakfast is the one sticking point but most hotels include breakfast in their super inexpensive nightly rates.
Wondering if visiting Bali might be right for your family? I say yes! Bali is a great family friendly trip! I also found this list of Bali Do’s and Don’ts really informative. Here are 10 Bali must do’s to consider. We’ve done almost all of them. Oh and if family travel just scares the bejeebus out of you, you need my 7 tips for amazing family travel!
Visiting Bali this time, I want to see some new things but the reason we are going to Bali is all the things we’ve done and loved. However, we also remember that our favourite experience in Bali came from making a wrong turn.
So if you are looking for me, I’ll be over here reading Tripadvisor reviews and plotting. I’m not sure how I’m going to wait the 5 months until we leave!
What is the most important thing you look for when booking a hotel or resort? What is a definitely NO GO? Share!
krystal
Thursday 25th of October 2018
This is definitely on my bucket list. I would love to go one day!
Jen Soltys
Monday 22nd of October 2018
Oh man, this is a bucket list vacation for me! I'm not sure what I look for first... probably all-inclusive for our next trip.