**Collaborative post**
While searching for summer holidays for next year, one of the places I fell in love with is Bali, it’s not surprising really with its warm weather and golden beaches and of course the picture-perfect views, what isn’t to love.
Of course, we have the children to consider wherever we decide to go to one of the first things I like to do is fully research things to do with the children while there – yes there are always pools and beaches but we aren’t really a family to sit still and sun-bathe, and we do like to explore while on our holidays – learn about where we are staying and add a little history and adventure into the mix.
Here are the 5 places we would most like to visit when holidaying in Bali
Bali Safari & Marine Park
Home to over a thousand amazing animals – Bali Safari Park is your destination for an adventurous, fun, educational experience.
The park is home to animals representing more than 100 species all of which roam free in large enclosures that mimic their natural habitats, including rare & endangered species – the Komodo Dragon, Orangutan and the Bali Mynah bird. The Bali Safari & Marine Park was established by Taman Safari Indonesia; covering 40 hectares of land in the Gianyar regency.
Bali Safari & Marine Park’s signature Safari Journey takes visitors through the manmade habitats of Indonesia, India and Africa on modified safari trams, providing visitors with the opportunity to see the wildlife collection living naturally all together in the open range regions and to take as many photos as they like, all from the comfort and safety of the air-conditioned safari tram with their very own personal guide.
Ayung River Whitewater Rafting
This is perhaps one for when the children are a little older but looks so much fun but I would want to ensure the children were strong enough swimmers before embarking of this adventure. Children have to be over the age of 7 years old to join in and be able to swim on their own.
The Ayung River rafting valley location lies northwest of the Ubud main hub, and the river runs down an approximate 75km, where different whitewater rafting operators take their various starting and finish points. Some take off at the Petang village, roughly an hour’s drive from Denpasar and others further up north in Campuhan, passing by unique bat caves in the valley.
Ayung River rafting offers an exciting day out at the location where the island’s whitewater rafting adventure scene was first introduced. As Bali’s longest and largest river, Ayung River and its rafting offer a thrilling pastime that also offers sightseeing opportunities of Central Bali’s upland, where you get to cool off under a waterfall, wade through or jump into crystal-clear freshwater pools, and catch the occasional sight of exotic birds and wildlife.
Pirate Dinner or Lunch Cruise
The kids would love this one – Sailing with a unique PHINISI vessel and Pirate costumed crews on a relaxing evening covered with the atmosphere of PIRATE as the sun goes down. Enjoy the fresh air on the top deck while entertained with Live Music Show, Exotic Belly Dance, Awesome Fire Dance and play various games with prizes. It will make your Dinner Cruise memorable.
A chance for all the family to dress up and join in or sit back and enjoy the entertainment.
Upside Down House Indonesia
Another one which is full of amazing photo opportunities – trick your friend into thinking you can walk on ceilings and have magical powers.
You will look like you’ve superpowers as you lift up a whole bed with one finger, play football upside down or eat your breakfast the wrong way up.
You’ll want someone on hand to take your pictures so don’t go alone.
Big Tree Farms Bamboo Chocolate Factory
Calling all chocoholics, not too loudly though as this is the one I’d most like to try.
Here you can take the one-hour tour to watch your favourite ‘substance’ being transformed from beans to bars, maybe take some tissues for when you are drooling far too much though.
Starting the tour with the factory’s favourite drink COCO MOJO, guests will be introduced to products as well as provided a sample of a cold-processed cacao. The tour consists of viewing the machinery used to make several of the products including Coconut Nectar and Chocolate.
Where to stay?
Of course, Bali has lots of luxury hotels both big and small depending on your budget but sometimes with smaller children, it can be much easier to rent a villa. There are lots of family-friendly Seminyak villas on the Villa Finder website.
Choosing a villa gives a lot more freedom as a family and a bonus is not having to share the pool with others – of course, that also means no getting up early to grab a pool lounger which is never appealing on holiday no matter how early the kids wake up.
Other plus points for staying in a villa include not having to get dressed to go for breakfast – that is the one thing I dislike about hotel stays, it’s my only time for a relax and to be a little lazy but I have to rush around getting everyone dressed and out of the room before 9.30/10am if we want breakfast – which means my day usually starts rushed and that is far from relaxing.
There is also the option to dine out or to self cater which can save money too – if in a hotel I would opt for the all-inclusive packages but it has been proven this actually isn’t always economical and travellers often spend more this way – plus we could jump out of the pool and eat poolside without getting changed – can you see a theme to my laziness when I holiday? A villa would also gives couples some alone time in the evenings when the kids were asleep – how annoying is it to tip-toe around one room when the kids are finally sleeping?
Browsing the web villa-finder jumped out for a number of reasons: they have a guest relation team to arrange the stay and help to add those personal touches, for example, if I wanted to book a meal for our birthday celebrations they could sort that booking for me, or they can help to arrange day-trips or even someone to come in to provide a massage in the comfort of our accommodation meaning we wouldn’t need to make other arrangements for child-care etc but if we needed to that could help with that too, and lastly a nice added touch is that for every booking made they are planting a tree in Sumatra, Indonesia.
Have you ever been to Bali? What are your must-do or must-see things?
Looks a wonderful place to go with the family and plenty to explore. The Bali Safari and Marine Park looks really cool close up