Bali Family Accommodation – 3 of the best are put to the test

Our experience at 3 of the best family resorts in Bali!

We recently returned to our favourite family holiday destination, Bali, for 9 nights in November 2016. This was my 8th trip to Bali, and my 4 year old daughter’s 4th. I wanted to try some of the best-rated Bali family accommodation and every Google/Trip Advisor search I did, the same 3 hotels came up every time. So I wrote to them to see if we could stay during our holiday and put them to the Kids in Adelaide test…….safe to say they all passed with flying colours!

Before I go further, if you’re reading this because you’re planning a Bali trip soon, please do yourself, your family and your holiday a BIG favour and book your transport with Gede. I know since my last Bali post, quite a few Kids in Adelaide people have already used Gede for airport transfers and day tours and I’m so happy to hear that everyone has found him as fantastic as we always do.

www.gedebalidriver.com | Call or Text: +62 813 3757 0130

HOLIDAY INN RESORT BARUNA – BALI

Location: Jalan Wana Segara No. 33  Tuban, Kuta, Bali 80361
We stayed in: Deluxe Garden View Room
Stay here if:  You’re kids like to run around in lots of space. You want to be close to Bali’s action spots but not in the middle of them. You’re on a budget, but don’t want to feel like you’re staying at a budget hotel.

Our first stop on this trip was the Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali which is in the South Kuta area of Bali, not too far from the airport, but far enough away to not feel like you’re staying at the airport. Getting here from the airport is a quick drive which is nice for those flights that get in at nightmare-o’clock.

I was instantly impressed with the reception at the Holiday Inn Resort Baruna. The staff were very welcoming and the check-in process was quick and painless. We were taken to our Deluxe Garden view room set up with one King bed and one single bed.

If there’s one word I’d use to describe the Holiday Inn it would be spacious. There is a nice size pool with an adjoining kids wading pool that we spent a lot of time in, and in front of the pool there is a great big open grassy space which is great for running around and burning off energy. The grounds are kept really tidy thanks to the maintenance staff who seem to be continuously working and always stop with a friendly smile when you walk past.

Kids aged 4-12 can also spend a few hours or the whole day at Rascals Kids Club for FREE. Open between 9am and 9pm (peaceful dinner anyone?) kids can play in the air conditioned play room full of toys, games and computers. They also offer daily kids club activities which change each day and include activities like fish feeding, outdoor games, arts and crafts and movie nights. The kids club staff were super friendly and engaging and will organise lunch and/or dinner from the healthy kids menu for around $5.

The Holiday Inn Resort Baruna has 3 options for eating and kids eat FREE at all of them. Breakfast is served at Palms Restaurant with a full buffet available and special “kids corner” that Winnie loved to sit at each morning. There was a great range of food and drink available, something for everyone.

Envy restaurant overlooks the beach and grassed area and is a great spot to sit for dinner. You can enjoy a snack and a drink while watching the kids play on the grass. A great spot for a sunset cocktail and end of day energy burn off for the kids. We loved the kids healthy menu options.

We also really loved the Mum and Me Spa Treatment at Tea Tree Spa. I wasn’t sure how Winnie (aged 4) would go sitting still for a whole hour, but I did not hear ONE single peep out of her as she enjoyed 60 minutes of having her feet, shoulders and head massaged. We both put on our robes, chose our favourite smelling massage oil and enjoyed a great hour of pampering.  Winnie asked if we could do that EVERY morning…….I agreed that was a great idea. They also have a Like Father, Like Son package, Kids Facials and “Twinkle Toes” kids pedicures.

What we loved:

• The Space and location.
• Kids Eat Free and the Kids Corner breakfast. Makes meal time super easy.
• The price – for the facilities, room quality and location the room prices are great value for money.
• Kids club activities are varied and fun
• Beachfront location, also walking distance to plenty of shops, markets and restaurants

Hot Tip:

• Treat the kids to a spa experience at Tea Tree Spa

Check this fab Bali family accommodation out for yourself at: barunabali.holidayinnresorts.com

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PARADISE PLAZA SUITES – SANUR

Location: Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai 83, Sanur 80228 Bali, Indonesia
We stayed in: a Two Bedroom Balcony Suite
Stay here if: You’ve been to Bali before and want to try somewhere new. You like a suite/apartment style of accommodation rather than a hotel room. Your kids are swimmers!

For our next stop Gede took us across the other side of Bali to the Paradise Plaza Suites at Sanur. I’ve been to Sanur but never stayed there before, and now I’m wondering why!

If you’ve been to Bali before and want to stay somewhere different to the hustle of Kuta or the price of Seminyak please check out Sanur. Around a half an hour drive from the airport, Sanur has white sand beaches, a great selection of restaurants, shopping and plenty of spots for a massage.

And if you’ve got kids who like to swim you can’t go past Paradise Plaza Suites. One word…WATERSLIDE! Camp Splash is the FREE onsite kids club which as well as a waterslide has a range of indoor activities, organised games, arts and crafts, giant chess, computers, movie nights and their own special kids only spa treatment area for a mini manicure, hair braiding or a massage. Very cute.

Because of the waterslide and pool, kids under 6 need to be with an adult OR the hotel can organise a hotel babysitter to supervise your child if you want to escape for a few hours. It was only $5 an hour, and the babysitters are actually kids club staff so are happy to get in the pool and swim, play games and keep the kids entertained while you’re away.

Camp Splash! and the Kids Club is open from 9am until 6pm and the Games Zone is open from 9am until 8pm.

Winnie and I also booked in for a cooking class which was great fun. We learned all about the ingredients used in Indonesian dishes like Nasi Goreng and Sate and then got to sit down and eat it all for lunch.

The staff are again fantastic and nothing is too much trouble. In particular the kids club staff were fantastic remembering all of the kids names, and greeting Winnie with a huge smile and hello each morning.

Aside from the great kids club facilities and staff, can we talk about the rooms. HUUUUUGE! We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite with it’s own kitchenette complete with oven, microwave and fridge, two bathrooms and a balcony over looking the pool. These rooms are fantastic for families and if you need even more room check out the 3 bedroom loft suites that can sleep up to 7 people. The rooms here really are made with families in mind. And they put a water bubbler in each room which I’ve never seen and thought was a great idea.

Buffet breakfast is served at the Terrace Restaurant. It’s not the biggest buffet selection, but you won’t go hungry. There’s a range of cereals, toast, hot options, cakes and fruit. Oh and if you’re after a “good” coffee, ask about the unlimited refill coffee which is just a few dollars and totally worth it if you’re craving a cup of the good stuff!

Light snacks, juices and Mummy and Daddy special drinks (cocktails, wine and beer) can be bought from the pool bar. Keep your eyes out for happy hour 2 for 1!

What we loved:

• The waterslide – a massive hit!
• Sitting around the main pool enjoying a snack while Winnie swam
• The location – Sanur is great! Really great.
• The kids club staff are all so friendly and really interact with the kids to make sure they’re having a good time.
• The rooms – huge, clean and comfortable. Great for large families.

Hot Tip:

• Try the cooking class for an authentic Indonesian experience. Plus the kids might learn a meal to cook back home!
• If you have a big family or two small families sharing check out the 3 bedroom loft suites they are awesome.

Check this fun family-friendly accommodation out for yourself at: spps.pphotels.com

INTERCONTINENTAL JIMBARAN BAY

Location: Jalan Uluwatu 45, Jimbaran 80361, Indonesia
We stayed in: Club Intercontinental Room
Stay here if: You’re after a “Family Friendly” hotel that doesn’t feel or sound like a “Family Friendly” hotel

Our third and final stop for this holiday was Jimbaran Bay. Famous for its beachfront restaurants and beautiful sunsets. We arrived at the Bali Intercontinental and were immediately wow-ed by the HUGE and beautiful gardens. We stayed in the Club Intercontinental room in the Club wing of the hotel and very much enjoyed the extra privileges that come with that including free access to afternoon high tea in the Club InterContinental Lounge, FREE cocktails (errr hello!) 24 hour butler and if you’re coming with kids old enough to entertain themselves, or the kids are in kids club for the day there is also the Club Pool which is reserved for adults only and a fantastic spot to sit and relax in QUIET! Yes, it is possible to stay at a family friendly hotel and still find a quiet area!

 

The kids club is called Planet Trekkers and is suitable for kids ages 4-12. An indoor/outdoor facility with it’s own swimming pool, trampoline, playground with swings and slide, sandpit, mini basketball court (that’s just outside) and then inside kids can work on some arts and crafts, play computer games, chill out in the reading corner or watch a DVD. Lunch and/or dinner can also be organised. It’s pretty impressive!

Planet Trekkers offers a range of activities that include outdoor games, aerobics, dancing lessons, languages, story telling, feeding the ducks and face painting to name just a few. The sessions are divided into two age groups (4-7 and 8-12 years)

Bali InterContinental gives you two places to enjoy breakfast, both options had lots of options but we loved the poolside Jimbaran Gardens area – especially because I could breakfast bribe Winnie with the promise of a swim straight after she’d eaten enough. They also have a designated kids area in the restaurant with their own breakfast choices. Winnie loved feeling like a “big girl” by choosing her very own breakfast and eating it with the other kids, and Mum enjoyed eating her breakfast in peace!

What we loved:

• The hotel and grounds are immaculate, huge and full of places to explore. Winnie absolutely loved exploring the duck pond, chilling out in the beachfront cabanas, running and cartwheeling on the grass and playing with some new friends at the beachfront playground (while Mum snuck in a cheeky mojito at the sunset bar next door)
  

  Great little beachside playground (I may be sipping a cocktail while I took this photo)

• This hotel has SIX pools. That’s right SIX. As if the huge main pool wasn’t enough, they also have smaller pools dotted around the grounds that are great for smaller kids to have a splash. We spent A LOT of time in the main pool. If you’re kids love to swim, stay here!
• KO Japanese Restaurant is well worth a visit for their Teppanyaki dinner. When I asked Winnie what her holiday highlight was…..this was it! The chefs were so fantastic with kids and put on a great show. Try and fit this one into the budget and the program if you can, it was really worth it.
• The location. Absolute beachfront and once you step inside the grounds you’ll feel a million miles away from Bali’s hustle and bustle. It’s also only 15 minutes from the airport so you won’t spend too long getting here when you arrive. Winnie also loved watching the planes take off and land while we were swimming, but you’re not that close that you hear them.
• The kids club was really clean with really friendly staff and LOTS to do. We loved their outdoor area and swimming pool and also like that they cater for all ages with organised activities especially for older kids to enjoy as well as a seperate program for the younger ones.

Hot Tip:

• Splurge and treat the family to a really fun entertaining Teppanyaki dinner at KO Japanese Restaurant. The chefs are fantastic with kids.
• Upgrade to Club InterContinental if your budget allows, book the kids into kids club and enjoy a quiet few hours by the Club InterContinental Pool.

Check out this amazing family-friendly hotel for yourself at: bali.intercontinental.com

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FYI, we stayed for free at the hotels mentioned above. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.