Planning a family holiday to Bali? Here are 10 tips to make the most out of your trip

Traveling to Bali with kids brought a fresh perspective to an old favourite. So here's sharing some practical tips and reflections from our family trip to help make yours smoother and more fun!

Kuta Beach

Before I had kids, Bali was one of my go-to getaways. I couldn’t get enough of the food, massages, beach clubs, and bargain hunts at the street shops. But that was nearly 20 years ago. This June school holidays, I went back but with kids in tow.

Bali’s changed a fair bit since I last visited, and travelling with children is a totally different ballgame. I found myself researching and planning more because there is so much more to consider in terms of convenience, safety and hygiene when you have children with you. So, I read up on Bali belly and skipping ice in your drinks, and asked friends for advice. I’m no Bali expert (it’s been a while, after all), but here are ten things we learned from our trip that might help if you're planning a family holiday there.

1) How fast is customs clearance in Bali?

If you're from Singapore, I'd say super fast. As an ASEAN citizen, you can visit Bali visa-free for up to 30 days. When we landed, all we had to do was scan a QR code from customs, fill out a quick form, and head straight to the electronic gantries. That was it.

Though we did initially stroll up to the gantries without scanning the QR code, assuming we could breeze through like in most places. The gantries didn’t work, of course. An airport staff pointed us back to the QR code. Once we scanned it and submitted the form, everything worked smoothly. So ASEAN citizens, look for that QR code to scan and submit your customs form before heading to the gantries!

This fast-track, however, seems to be for ASEAN citizens only. Other travelers had longer lines and had to go through customs officers.

2) How do you get to your hotel from the airport?

You’ve got a few easy options—Gojek and Grab are both available at the airport, and from what I’ve heard, Gojek’s usually a bit cheaper. For us, we booked a transfer through Klook ahead of time, and it felt pretty worth it. The ride to Hard Rock Hotel in Kuta was under SGD$10, and the process was super smooth.

Once you land, just head outside the arrival hall to the Klook counter, let the staff know you’ve arrived, and your driver will come find you. Hassle-free. We even checked the Gojek rates when we got there, and it turned out to be pretty comparable to our pre-booked ride.

3) How long should you stay in Bali? How much can you cover in one trip?

Totally depends on your travel style. We were in full chill mode—lazing by the pool was top priority. So I picked a hotel with great facilities (more on that later) and planned just a handful of fun activities that I knew my girls would enjoy.

At first, I thought we could squeeze in Ubud, Bali Safari, and Mount Batur too but during planning, I realised: Bali’s huge! For instance, getting to Ubud and Bali Safari from Kuta takes about an hour, and we didn’t want to spend half the trip commuting. So we decided to stick to exploring Kuta this round and save Ubud for another time since it’s actually closer to Bali Safari and Mount Batur anyway.

We stayed in Kuta for seven days, and given our laid-back itinerary, it felt just right. Here's what we got up to:

i) Waterbom Bali

A fun water park right in Kuta with a variety of mellow and exciting rides and attractions great for kids and adults. More deets in this post.

ii) Nusa Penida

Gorgeous island with stunning views. It takes some time to get there, but if you're based in Kuta, it’s still more convenient than going from Ubud. Separate post on Nusa Penida here!

iii) Kuta Beach

Our hotel was right by the beach, so it was super easy to catch sunset views or take evening strolls during low tide.

iv) Beachwalk Shopping Centre

A beautiful mall opposite Kuta Beach—just a 10-minute walk from Hard Rock Hotel. We popped in quite a few times for food, shopping, and even watched How to Train Your Dragon live action there. At 40,000 rupiah per ticket, it was a steal thanks to the SGD-rupiah exchange rate!

v) Massage and spa at hotel

We made time to enjoy the spa and hotel facilities. My husband and I got massages, while the girls had mani-pedis. The spas outside the hotel were of course cheaper (some were even a quarter of the cost), but we stuck with the hotel for mani-pedis as I felt hygiene standards would be better compared to the shops outside. That said, we did venture out for foot massages one day and loved it.

We also spent a lot of time at the hotel's pool and teens club. The snooker table was a hit, but the arcade and video games weren’t that exciting for the girls. Even with our slow-paced schedule, I still wished we had more pool time!

If you’re aiming for a relaxed trip and don’t have a lot of time, I’d recommend focusing on one area of Bali. Trying to squeeze in too much across the island can leave you feeling rushed and you might end up missing out on both spots. We chose depth over distance this time, and I think it made the whole experience way more enjoyable.

4) What's the best way to get around in Bali?

If you’re sticking around Kuta, Gojek or Grab are solid options. That said, we didn’t end up using either as most places we visited were within walking distance. For example, Waterbom Bali was just a 10-minute walk from Hard Rock Hotel. And for Nusa Penida, we booked a day tour via Klook with transfers included, so transport was sorted.

A friend who visits Bali often did mention that some ride-hailing drivers ask for extra tips, even though the fare’s already fixed in the app. While tipping isn’t a big deal financially, it does feel a bit off when you're used to it being optional at the end of the ride.

If you're planning to head further out—like to Ubud—it’s probably best to book a reliable driver. Friends who've been to Bali usually have someone they trust and recommend. But if you don’t have a contact, booking through Klook is a safe and fuss-free alternative. It's definitely better than trying to arrange something randomly after you arrive.

5) What to eat in Bali and how to avoid Bali belly?

Ah, the infamous Bali belly. It’s probably something you've heard about—basically stomach discomfort that can include vomiting or diarrhea, usually caused by contaminated food or water. I’ve heard stories from friends who’ve had rough experiences, and while I never had any issues back when I visited Bali regularly 20 years ago (and ate anywhere with no second thought), things are a little different now that I travel with kids. Sick kids on holiday? Not fun. A sick mum taking care of sick kids? Even less fun. So we were extra cautious this time and only ate at places that looked clean and had solid Google reviews. No roadside stalls or sketchy-looking eateries. Happy to report we all came through the trip without any tummy troubles!

We’re not the sort to chase down trendy restaurants unless they happen to be nearby and well-reviewed. We rely heavily on Google reviews while at attractions or malls, so here are a few places we enjoyed:

i) Sate Khas Senayan (Beachwalk Shopping Center)

A well-known Indonesian chain that’s in several malls. We had some really delicious local dishes—especially the satay, which tastes quite different from what we get in Singapore. The menu was huge, and everything we ordered was tasty (even if I can't remember all the names!).

ii) Sushi Hiro (Beachwalk Shopping Center)

Good Japanese food at a fraction of what we’d pay back home. We skipped the raw items to play it safe, but still really enjoyed our meal. It’s super popular—when we tried to go back on a weekend at 4pm (not even peak dining time), there was already a queue!

iii) Pan & Co (Beachwalk Shopping Center)

A spot for fluffy Japanese pancakes and matcha drinks. Prices were way more wallet-friendly compared to Singapore. We ended up going twice, although the first time they didn’t have any matcha items available.

iv) Warung Damar (opposite Waterbom Bali)

Found this gem when looking for dinner after Waterbom. Beautiful place, excellent reviews, and hands down the best Indonesian food we had on the trip. Again, don’t ask me for dish names, just trust me, it was good.

v) Kimukatsu (Beachwalk Shopping Center)

A Japanese spot specialising in layered katsu. Apparently they have a branch in Singapore, but the Bali prices are probably way lower. Around 80,000 rupiah per set—not bad at all!

One thing to note: some restaurants in Bali have pretty extensive menus, but that doesn’t mean everything on the menu is actually available. Items can sell out early or be off the menu for the day. Just something to keep in mind when you’re browsing or craving something specific.

6) Do you need to avoid ice?

I’d never heard of needing to avoid ice in Bali until I caught it mentioned by some radio DJs before our trip. Turns out, there are people who steer clear of ice altogether because of concerns about Bali belly. I did a bit of reading online and it seems like this warning might be leftover from years ago when ice was supposedly made from tap water. These days, most eateries don’t make their own ice—they buy it from ice suppliers who use filtered water.

Of course, there are folks who still prefer to play it safe by skipping ice in their drinks, or only ordering bottled drinks that come pre-chilled. But I figured if the ice were really that dodgy, the reputable restaurants wouldn’t be able to get away with serving it, especially in a place that relies so heavily on tourism.

At first, we ordered everything without ice to be cautious but the drinks just didn't taste great. Eventually we gave in, ordered with ice and all of us were fine. No stomach issues, just nicely chilled drinks.

7) Should you stick to bottled water in Bali?

Yes—definitely don’t drink tap water in Bali. Even our hotel had signs saying not to. We boiled water and bought bottled water throughout our stay, and I don’t think reputable restaurants would serve tap either.

I was more worried when it came to brushing our teeth. Some friends suggested using bottled water for that too, just in case we accidentally swallowed some while gargling. So we stuck to boiled or bottled water for brushing and rinsing which was rather troublesome. There were a few times we forgot and used tap out of habit—but thankfully, no one got sick!

8) Where to stay?

Since our goal was to just chill and enjoy family time, we wanted a hotel with a great pool and activities for everyone. We stayed at Hard Rock Hotel Bali and loved it—it has a massive pool, a kids and teens club, a spa, and it’s super close to Waterbom Bali and Kuta Beach. Plus, it's within walking distance to Beachwalk Shopping Centre, which was a big bonus for food, shopping, and even catching a movie.

I enjoyed the sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi at the fitness centre too (though it’s only for guests aged 16 and up). The hotel also offers live shows, yoga, and tai chi sessions.

We did consider villas too and there are so many beautiful ones that look perfect for families in Bali. But we decided to stick with a hotel after reading about break-in incidents in villas. If you're eyeing a villa, definitely go for one that’s reputable and has proper security in place.

9) Is it safe in Bali?

Overall, we felt safe during our trip—there were plenty of tourists around, so we didn't feel out of place or stuck out like sore thumbs. That said, we didn’t stay out too late, with our latest walk back to the hotel around 9pm. Even then, the streets still had a steady flow of tourists, so it didn’t feel isolated or sketchy.

Hubs did mention seeing news about drunken tourists causing a bit of chaos, but we didn’t run into anything like that ourselves. Like anywhere else, it’s just about staying alert and not getting too comfortable. Coming from Singapore, where everything feels super safe all the time, it’s easy to forget that not everywhere operates the same way. A little extra awareness goes a long way.

10) Do you use cash or credit card?

Most places in Bali accept both cash and card, so you won’t have trouble either way. That said, if you’re using cash, be prepared to not get small change back. For example, if something costs 95,500 rupiah and you pay with 100,000, you might only get 4,000 rupiah back because they don’t have small change—or they just round it off. It’s a tiny amount, I know, but I couldn’t help wondering (and I've read in comments too) if it’s also a quiet way to short-change tourists who aren't used to counting all those zeros. Anyway, if that sounds like too much hassle, it’s simpler to just pay by card where the exact amount would be charged.

If you're from Singapore, I've been recommending Trust Bank’s credit card for overseas trips in my travel posts. It’s a collaboration between Standard Chartered and FairPrice Group, and it’s great because it has zero foreign transaction fees—not even Visa charges. There are other options like YouTrip, Revolut, Wirex, and Wise, but most of those are prepaid or debit cards, so you’ll need to top them up before use. More deets about using this card in my Osaka post here.

Okay, I think this is probably my last post on Bali! For more pics and vids, do see the IG Stories on my Instagram page!

Disclaimer: We paid for our trip. As always, all opinions are ours.

©Vivian Teo. All content and photos are copyrighted to Vivian Teo unless otherwise specified.