Thinking of going to Bali but don’t know where to start? This blog covers off the following to ensure you are as best prepared as possible when travelling with your family:

1. Flights

2. Travel Insurance

3. Current entry requirements

4. Vaccinations requirements

5. Passport requirements

6. Customs declaration

7. SIM card

8. Accommodation

9. What we packed

10. Transportation

11. Activities

12. Eating out

13. Groceries/ nappies

14, Toys/ entertainment

15. Total cost

21 days in total from 10th December- 31st December (2023)

1. FLIGHTS:

$1484

Perth>Denpasar

Airline – Air Asia

This was the “premium flex package” price incase we needed to change dates last minute. It included 20kg of carry on pp, in flight meals and seat selection.

TIP WHEN FLYING!

Ask the air hostess when checking in your luggage if there are any spare seats for your toddler (since flights are free for children aged under 2 and they have to sit on your lap). It’s a game changer having the extra room and not annoying anyone in your row.

2. TRAVEL INSURANCE:

$90.57 for us three.

Provider -Tick travel insurance (basic coverage)

3. CURRENT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

Visa – $50 pp ($150)

We paid this at Denpasar airport before we went through immigration. There was no line and could pay cash or on card.

You can do this before you arrive to make the process quicker as it takes hours to get through the Denpasar airport once you land.

4. VACCINATIONS:

As of December 2022 proof of 2x covid vaccinations was required upon entry as well as at Kuta shopping plaza on the esplanade.

5. PASSPORT:

6 months validity from your RETURN date.

6. CUSTOMS DECLARATION:

DO THIS BEFORE YOU GET THERE! It will save you soooooo much time. Once you pick up your luggage you can go straight through customs and avoid the lengthy lines filling out the electronic form when you get there. This is the link- https://ecd.beacukai.go.id/

It took us 3 hours and my parents 4 once getting off the plane to reaching their hotel so anything to cut that time down is worth it!!

7. SIM CARD:

I got a SIM card at the airport where we collected our luggage from the carousel. It was something like $60 for 38gb of data that lasted me the entire three weeks.

The ladies install it all for you there and then and it takes about 5 minutes.

For anyone who doesn’t know, the sim will allow you to use your phone as you normally would in Aus without having to connect to WIFI. An actual life saver!

This will allow you to register with WhatsApp, Go Jek (further explained below) and use Apple Maps, messenger ect.

8. ACCOMODATION:

1. Garden View Resort Legian

7 nights (breakfast included)

$900

Deluxe suite. My advice if you are looking to stay here would be to pay the extra to get more than just your basic room. We booked the standard room when we arrived and at 2am the last thing we wanted to do was complain and change rooms but the next day we had no choice. The room was mouldy, towel rack was falling off the wall, the toilet was leaking, the mirrors were old and patchy and the aircon didn’t work…

The deluxe rooms are great. Exactly what you would expect from a hotel. Cleanliness and location is amazing and the breakfast is delicious.

2. Air bnb – VILLA ROSE Canggu (4 nights)

$900

A word of warning; make sure you double check the price is in AUD before you confirm the booking on Air bnb. Everything looked like it was in AUD then they took an extra $300 from our account because it was converted into USD

There was a no refund cancellation policy so lucky the villa was stunning so we didn’t mind paying a bit extra.

3. Air bnb -Kecamatan Kuta Utara Canggu ((guest house) 3 nights)

$246

This was a tidy little guest house with a bed, private bathroom and communal pool, kitchen and dining area. the location was central to Love Anchor shopping and good cafes/ restaurants.

4. Air bnb – 2 bedroom PRIVATE VILLA ((DM for details(8 nights)

$1350 (my Dad and Step mum paid for this as they met up with us for Christmas)

This was the nicest/ best place we stayed over the three weeks we spent in Bali. The location was quiet but also a minute walk to the Main Street where all of the shops and restaurants were. A great spot to share with family or friends.

9. WHAT WE PACKED:

Two checked in baggage’s-

BAG ONE:

4baby travel portable cot, nappies, baby carrier (ergo carrier- we didn’t end up using it but didn’t want to risk needing it if we went on a hike somewhere) a small Christmas tree and Santa hats (lol)

BAG TWO:

All our clothes, medication (see below full breakdown), 4x swim nappies (we recycle, dry them out then reuse them), arm floaties, spare pair of thongs, snacks; rice cakes, breakfast biscuits, muesli bars, sultanas, dry cereal (aka overkill) haha

MEDICATION:

Baby panadol & Nurofen, panadol, stingos (for itchy bites), moo goo insect repellent, insect repellant stickers (I don’t think either of these forms of insect repellent worked as Max was covered in mozzie bites the poor thing), ear drops (to prevent ear infections after swimming in the pool. The pharmacist said to use them everyday for Max), hydrolytes, gastrostop, bandaids, antibacterial spray.

BACKPACK ONE:

A couple of little toys, 5 nappies, wipes, long jumpsuit (to change into on the plane to sleep), Max’s bedtime toys

BACKPACK TWO:

SNACKS!! -sultanas, go pro, cannon camera, passports, jumpers x3 (the plane gets cold!), hand sanitizer, 2 x water bottles

PRAM:

In my eyes, a MUST when travelling! We used our YO-YO pram every single day. Can you imagine walking the streets carrying your 12kg toddler they get heavy haha

The yo-yo is a travel pram that folds down to fit in the overhead compartment on the plane or behind the passenger seat in the car.

We brought ours second hand off Facebook marketplace for $400 which was a bargain compared to new.

10. TRANSPORTATION:

A) TAXI:

We used bluebird taxis and just paid based off the taxi meter instead of bartering a set price. We found this the easiest to get from A to B with our luggage.

B) GO JEK (App):

What a life saver this app was!!! I can not talk about it highly enough. Think Uber/ Uber eats meets your own personal assistant.

It was so easy to order a taxi using the Go Jek app. You can track the car to see how far away they are and it gives you a set price.

We ordered food delivered nearly once a day off the app from restaurants and cafes all over the island.

The app was especially handy when both Shaun and I got Bali belly and ordered food in for Max as well as delivered medication to us from the pharmacy so we didn’t have to leave the villa

C) SCOOTERS:

Scooter hire from Legian was $10AUD per day. We couldn’t be bothered bartering so we probably could have got it a little cheaper.

Scooter hire from Canggu (Local Customs) $9.50AUD per day plus we opted for the extra $2.50AUD per day for insurance to cover us if anyone stole the bike. Who knows if the guy was telling the truth but when Shaun asked he said that 12 bikes had been stolen since their shop has been open and we would have to fork out the cost of the entire bike if it were to be stolen. This bike rental looked legit compared to the other ones around.

It was hard to find a helmet that fit Max’s little head so we shopped around until we found a rental company that had helmets small enough. I know you can also get custom helmets when you’re there too!

11. ACTIVITIES:

– Water bom park Kuta

– Parklife Canggu

– Splash park Canggu

– Sanur day trip- it’s quieter over this side of the island with lots of resorts lining the beach. We had lunch at one of the many resorts although picked the wrong time of year to go as we couldn’t get a day pass to enter any of the resorts pools due to school holidays and capacity limits. You can still swim at the beach and do water sports.

– Massages (preferably every day haha)

– I’ve heard there are indoor kids activities at the shopping centre in Kuta if you’re looking for something to do when the weather isn’t the best.

SHOPPING:

– Love Anchor (little group of markets in Canggu)

Tbh we didn’t do much shopping and only brought a couple of cheap little things from the market as we needed them.

12. EATING OUT:

These are the places we LOVED!

LEGIAN:

-Fresco cafe & restaurant

-Mozzarella (Italian)

-Sinaloa (Mexican)

SEMINYAK:

-D’Joglo Beach and Bar Restaurant

-Motel mexicola

-Monsieur Spoon (croissants )

-The Italian Job (avo toast)

-Corner Hotel

CANGGU:

-Crate cafe

-Rabbit Hole bakery

-Parklife

-Penny lane

-Old man’s

-The lawn

We got recommended Milk and Madu because it has a playground at the restaurant but it was not toddler friendly with steep steps and slides. It was actually more stressful than anything because one of us needed to be constantly with Max.

13. GROCERIES/ NAPPIES ECT:

Bintang supermarket in Seminyak is literally a one stop shop. Just like the supermarkets at home!

We brought items like; rice, veggies, squeeze yoghurts, sliced cheese, oats, honey, milk, mandarins, grapes, rice cakes, peanut butter ect at a normal price. We just stored the cold items in our bar fridge in the room when we weren’t staying in a villa.

I bought half a large pack of nappies and two packets of wipes which was overkill because I could get it all here but it’s up to you if you feel more comfortable taking brands you know from home. They do leak sometimes but it wasn’t a big deal. The nappies we brought took up a big space in our suitcase so weigh up your options there.

It’s around $10 AUD for 30 nappies.

14. TOYS/ ENTERTAINMENT:

I brought Max the cutest elephant backpack at the airport when going through duty free- it has a zip on the back he loves to open and close and take his little toys out with him.

I also packed a pop toy (not sure exactly what they are called IYKYK), toy car and a magnetic etch sketch board.

There are really good book stores around (can’t remember the name but it’s across from Bintang supermarket Legian) and we brought him a couple new books. There are little toys at the different markets and in the grocery stores for a couple of dollars that we picked up as well.

15. TOTAL COST:

Drumroll please…

$7,794.00

We definitely lived like kings on this trip taking advantage of the $7.50-$17 massages x10, $2.50-6.50 Bintangs and eating out nearly every meal.

You could do it cheaper of course but this is how we like to holiday!

Just a reminder that these guys did it really tough for the last 3 years with covid so be generous and try not get to caught up with saving $1 dollar when bartering.

And please respect the local people. Unfortunately we’ve seen a lot of travellers being disrespectful because they think they have more money and are above them.

If you have any questions, reach out but I hope this helps with planning your next trip to Bali with a toddler or little one!!

❤ Britt

For more photos and to follow our adventures, check out our instagram Roam_n_round