Smiling In bali

smiling in
bali
Kids love the sand and slides in the Tranz-Luxury Hotel pool
by Aana Marinovich
You get a lot of luxury for your
money in Bali, so with kids in
tow, this beautiful island, bathed
in history and surrounded by
beautiful beaches, is definitely
one for the family album.
Tempting as it is, don’t just hang around the pool every day.
The culture in Bali is really quite magical, so we mixed up
fun days with cultural activities. Sometimes our wriggly
kids had to listen to stuff rather than do stuff, but in the
end, it was well worth taking them to see these things.
When I hear them relaying their adventures, more often
than not, they love to recount tales of historical Bali, the
animals, and the villages. These are what made our holiday
to Bali unique and special.
on tour
Smailing Tours
If you haven’t hooked into the idea of getting guides on
holiday yet, I can’t recommend it enough – particularly in
Bali where it is affordable, and there is so much to see and
learn. Kiwis love to do their own thing, but you get so much
more out of your holiday with a guide, and with kids, it is
a much smoother ride. We chose Smailing (pronounced
smiling) because they have an excellent reputation
internationally, and are a local and very friendly set-up.
Surfing lessons for all ages in Kut
a
where the waves are ma nageab
welcome here, and the kids loved the courtyard feel. With
a super-sized pool, including fountains in the deeper areas
and white sand at the entrance, this is incredibly convenient
with littlies, and provides plenty of fun for older kids. They
can play and build in the sand all day and have fun on the
water slide area. If that’s not enough, they have a lifeguard
watching over who loves to play games with the kids.
There is a lot of attention to detail at the Trans-Luxury, and
the food is one area where you will really notice this. They
have a wide variety of foods, including Balinese, of course.
Kids’ Club: Very cute room with an ice-cream parlour.
There is a mix of organised activities and free play, and
there is talk of adding additional kids’ play areas like
mini-putt and rock climbing – keep an eye out!
The Harris is right in the heart of Seminyak. The rooms are
really modern and clean, there are several pools and a very
active kids’ club. They have a large restaurant, gym and
a shuttle running out to the beach when you need it. This is
a great spot to base yourself if you want to explore Bali, and
at around $55 per room, it is really affordable for the family.
seminyak–bali.harrishotels.com
The Lokha Ubud Resort
Smailing can plan all or part of your holiday. Check out
www.smailingbali.com or see details of our trip in this
article for a range of activities and hotel options.
Intercontinental in Jimbaran
The rooms are beautiful and super-comfortable. The beds
and pillows are like nothing you’ve ever slept on before (not
that it helped with the kids waking very early, unfortunately!).
Our rooms opened straight onto the pool: run off the deck
and splash right in! www.transresortbali.com
The Harris, Seminyak
It is great to have someone drive you through the tricky
roads of Bali and the van is air conditioned (an oasis in the
heat), has wifi, and boasts a good supply of cold bottled
water for your journey.
our choice of resorts
le for kids
illage Interc
Lunch at Tunjuk V
ontinental H
otel Pool
This hotel, set right on Jimbaran Beach, is simply magical.
With five pools, our children were happy to run from
fountain, to pool, to bridge, to spouting whales all day.
My favourite time of the day was when hundreds of
candles were placed around the resort each night, making
our promenade at dinnertime quite delightful. There are
three restaurants on offer, all scrumptious, and a regular
cultural evening, including Balinese food and dancing.
I simply love being surrounded by tropical bush. In the
Lokha Ubud Resort, home to yoga retreats and meditation,
we were in a lush tropical gully, sitting on the edge of the
Wos River, and encased in trees. The kids enjoyed the
coolness of this setting, and we parents loved the peace.
It was just so lovely to return here each day, after our
adventures to rice fields and local village days.
The rooms are lovely and comfortable, and easy to join up
if you have more than four in the family. As an alternative,
you can stay in a villa closer to the river. If you’re up for
exercise, try out a yoga class and join in with the village
walk each morning. www.thelokhaubud.com
Puri Bagus Lovina
The rooms are a great size and luxurious, a lovely haven
in the heat of the day if you need a bit of cool-down
time. Or if your kids are early to bed, the rooms provide
a comfortable and relaxed place for them to snuggle
up and watch a movie. www.bali.intercontinental.com
A restful beachfront resort that is fully organic, sourcing
ingredients from their own gardens. Accommodation is
villa style, with island-inspired decor and a very impressive
private outdoor shower area. We slept incredibly well here,
as the peace and tranquility is noticeable in the North.
Kids’ Club: The Kids’ Club is active and full of activities.
Divided into two age groups, all under 12 years, the kids
can float in and out during the day, depending on what
takes their fancy.
We were charmed by the frangipani drifting off the trees,
floating all over the pool and scenting the loungers. The
boys spent hours playing in the kids’ pool, attached to the
side of the adult infinity pool and shaded by trees so they
didn’t burn.
Trans–Luxury Bali in Seminyak
(shopping haven of Bali)
Fairly recently opened, this is a very luxurious hotel, where
you are literally in an oasis. You are made to feel incredibly
The luminous green rice fields in Ubud
This resort has a very friendly feel, and the staff here
are lovely with the kids. While lunch was cooking, they
would come out and entertain us with magic tricks.
www.lovina.puribagus.net
activities with kids
tips for families
There are tons of things for families to do in Bali, and some of them include lunch,
which makes a great day out. Here’s what Smailing Tours organised for us.
• At the temples, arm the kids with an ice block or a very
cold drink as it gets hot. Avoid bored and aimless
wandering by talking to your kids about the history
before you go, and maybe even give them a list of things
to find (and tick off) in the temple area, then arm them
with a camera to record their findings. Create an adventure!
cultural experience
Temple visit
I highly recommend you take the kids to at least one temple, as the Hindu culture is so important in Bali.
There are many standouts to choose from, but our favourites were Ulun Danu (situated on a small island)
and Tanah Lot (on volcanic rock in the ocean). See our Tips section for visits with kids.
• Try and do activities in the morning, particularly if they
are not in the water, so the kids can chill in the hotel pool
all afternoon. Alternatively, make sure you have rest days
in between.
Village Day, Ubud (lunch included)
In Tunjuk Village we visited a school, a family complex, and spent time working in the rice field. The kids
loved all of the hands-on craft, coconut-tree climbing, planting and ploughing rice, and watching cocks
crowing. It all ends with a beautiful traditional lunch in their courtyard. A fantastic local experience.
• Food tends to be three meals a day in Bali, so head
to a market and buy some fruit, or organise snacks
for in-betweens.
Traditional architecture, Penglipuran
See how countryside communities live in this traditional family complex called Penglipuran, known for
its traditional architecture.
• Not sure how much to tip? Hotel staff NZ$1-2,
drivers NZ$5 and guides NZ$10 per day; other services
like massage NZ$3-$5 and restaurants NZ$1-$2.
Ubud rice paddy fields and hot springs
• Travelling with littlies? Check out www.littlebalilove.com
for even more ideas.
Head to the Jatiluwih, where you can have lunch overlooking the terraced rice fields and then have a wander
through. The vibrant green is incredibly picturesque. On the way, head to Belulang Hot Springs. These sulphur
springs come from the Beji Temple in the middle of Ubud, and are used by the locals for pools and showers.
Mount and Lake Batur
We enjoyed a delicious organic lunch overlooking Lake Batur and the remains of the volcano eruption.
Take something warm to wear here; the temperature drop is unexpected and you want to be comfortable
while you enjoy the food!
animal encounters
Bali Safari and Marine Park, Ubud
See the impressive elephant show, take an elephant ride, and enjoy all the lovely animal encounters on
offer. Our favourite was the orangutan, who was seriously cute while draping himself all over the kids.
The safari ride through the park will give you a very close-up view of the African animals and when it
gets too hot, you can head to the waterplay area, so take your togs. Make sure you make time for the
Bali Theatre Performance, which is quite an extravaganza. www.balisafarimarinepark.com
Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud
I sort of freaked out at first, but soon settled into the cheeky monkey business of holding up bananas
so the monkeys could run up our shoulders and snatch the banana, even looking in our bags and up our
shirts for more. What child doesn’t love a swinging monkey? www.monkeyforestubud.com
Meet the ora
nguta ns
Butterfly Park, Tabanan
Elepha nt show, Bali
and Marine Pa rk Safa ri
The butterflies were stunning and the kids can have them placed all over their face and body
for photographs (at no additional cost). We spent ages in the quaint gardens, looking through the
extensive beetle collection and interacting with the tropical insects. A lovely outing for kids of all ages.
in the water
Surfing, Kuta
Surfing is a must-do in Bali, and Dekom are masters of encouraging kids to get up and going. Kids from
6 years old can give it a go (as long as they can swim), and rest assured they head to a fairly sedate
break for newbies, so you can get some great photos and watch their smiling little faces (before your turn!).
Based right next to Kuta Beach. www.dekomsurf.com
Waterbom Park , Kuta
This is a busy place, but has plenty for all ages. The bigger kids can spend all day on thrill slides like
the Funtastic and Green Viper, while you grab a few loungers around the kiddy park area to watch the
littlies splash and giggle. www.waterbom-bali.com
Sacred Monk
e
Butterfly Pa rk,
Ta ba na n
y forest
Seawalker, Seminyak (lunch included)
Head under the sea in your special helmet designed for a soft-diving system, so you can be in amongst
the tropical fish, turtles and coral. Walking around together, bouncing around the bottom of the ocean is
really quite a unique experience. www.seawalker.co.id
White-water rafting, Ubud (lunch included)
Up the energy levels and enjoy a day on the rapids. These are not too scary, but the kids will squeal with delight
when you float under waterfalls and race the other boats down the Ayung river with the cheeky guides. Great
changing facilities and traditional lunch included back at the Sobek base. www.balisobek.com
Swimming with the dolphins, Lovina
This dolphin encounter was a real favourite, so relaxed and exhilarating at the same time. The dolphins splash,
tease and snuggle up close, and everyone gets to have a ride before sitting to watch them show off their tricks.
A highlight! Check out their packages for special needs children. www.bali-dolphin-swimming.com
Bali highlights
Food
Healthy, delicious and ver
y affordable.
Try out the local seafoo
d restaurants in Jimbar
an
and the mangosteen fru
it, if it’s in season.
We loved the Balinese peo
ple who were
always smiling and have
a gentle, friendly nature
.
From $4 for a half hou
r, you can
afford a massage for the
whole family every day.
People
Massage
Luxury
Swimming with e
dolphins in Lovinth
a
We found the hotels and
spas were
super-luxurious, yet aff
ordable.
Putu, our guide, taught us the traditional Hindu greeting
em
Seawalker in S
inya k