Brand-new in Bali
There’s even more incentive to visit the Island of the Gods with these brilliant new offerings for families.
With its extraordinary culture, stunning beaches, breathtaking mountains and a surplus of awesome family-oriented activities (all just a six-hour flight from Australia’s East Coast and less than four hours from Perth), it’s no wonder that Bali is one of Australia’s most popular holiday destinations.
Now with sublime new resorts, innovative new activities and attractions, improved travel options and some hot new foodie finds, there’s never been a better time to visit.
Flight frenzy
Qantas is launching daily non-stop flights between Melbourne and the Island of the Gods from 23 June 2018. The one-flight process will allow parents to stress less when travelling with children and simultaneously eases the risk of any stop-over mishaps along the way. With the number of Australians travelling to Bali soaring, Qantas’ low-costcarrier unit, Jetstar, has also increased its flights to twice-daily between Melbourne and Bali in order to meet demand.
Hotel happenings
Located in the Badung area, Marriott’s Bali Nusa Dua Gardens is a new tropical retreat designed to reflect the spirit and natural beauty of the Indonesian paradise. Elegantly appointed one- and two-bedroom apartments with separate living and dining space, and a kitchenette for those wanting to self-cater, are ideal for families. There’s no shortage of things to do, either, with a kids’ pool, refreshing lagoon pool with lazy river and – for the days when the little ones are living it up in the kids’ club – a pool bar and beach club for parents to kick back and celebrate their holidays in adults-only style.
In addition to existing in-room Baby Welcome amenities including cots, baby baths and bottle warmers, guests of Club Med Bali now have access to Bugaboo’s chic prams, making the resort a perfect fit for fashionistas in the making.
With a stunning view of the soft volcanic sand and rocking waves, the luxurious COMO Uma Canggu is the newest addition to the COMO Hotels & Resorts stable. With enviable views, the resort is designed with a focus on active living and good times with family and friends. Activities are focused around the beach and sea, and culture around Canggu’s village life with its Hindu shrines, shops and local warungs. The resort’s luxury surfing experiences, in partnership with Tropicsurf, will appeal to novices and experts alike. Off the water, enjoy guided temple visits by the sea, jungle trekking, canoeing expeditions and traditional village walks. While there’s no kids’ club, babysitting services are available so parents can take full advantage of the hotel’s more adult-friendly facilities.
The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Jimbaran Bali has created a new program called Island
of the Gods, designed to take the pressure off parents. Offering a range of complimentary services and extras, parents will feel at ease with the knowledge that this is a holiday for themselves as well as their children. With private check-in areas for young travellers, welcome toys, animal-shaped towels and a ‘chocolate happy hour’, plus activities including cooking and family yoga, there’s something to encourage everyone to get in the holiday spirit.
Another Marriott property, Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa, is one of the newest additions to the Bukit area. R Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar, is the best place to take full advantage of the ocean panoramas and main hotel pool, with local musicians to get you in the holiday mood. Each of the 207 rooms and suites is a haven with a large bathroom (complete with freestanding tubs and rain showers) and an espresso machine. Create pottery art with a side of breakfast at Clay Craft or share an Indonesian feast at Double Ikat restaurant. Family-friendly features include three pools (an infinity pool, a saltwater pool and a separate kids’ pool), a kids’ play area, Deluxe Family Rooms with two bedrooms and early-arrival and late-departure lounges (making travel times one less thing to worry about).
We’re also excited about the arrival of Indonesia’s own Aryaduta Hotel Group in South Kuta. Aryuaduta Bali made a splash at its opening on 29 March 2018, opting for a ‘bigger is better’ mentality with 178 spacious rooms; ranging from 40 to 70 square metres, they’re among the largest in Kuta. Water babies will be right at home in the kids’ area of Reef Top swimming pool, overlooking Segara Beach, or check out nearby Waterbom Bali for more aquatic thrills.
Pampered in paradise
The days of spa-dreaming are over with Canggu’s latest pamper place, Spring Spa. The latest island branch (the third in Bali) is making waves with its chic interiors and vast selection of treatments on offer. Along with services such as hair, nails, facials, massages and makeup, Spring Spa also caters for little ones with services that include a kids’ foot bath, hair braiding and shoulder massage.
Or why not stay in and have the pampering come to you with Bali’s awesome new Gojek app? It’s a home-delivery service for anything from food to hairdressers and highly skilled massage therapists.
Food for thought
Foodie families will love Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan’s new custom-designed riverside cooking school-cum-dinner venue, Sokasi. Daily lessons in local cuisine have been designed to connect guests with Bali’s cultural and spiritual heart. A Chef’s Table experience offers a family-style dinner
featuring Ubud’s famous babi guling suckling pig and bebek betutu slow-roasted duck. Sokasi also offers complimentary daily classes for children as part of the resort’s incredible kids’ club program.
The Westin Nusa Dua, Bali has launched its latest culinary experience, Brunch Adventura by Prego. The Italian-style brunch is designed for family-friendly fun and runs from 11.30am to 3pm every Sunday. With colourful entertainment and a widespread buffet, it is a great spot for the whole family to spend quality time together. To make it even more appealing, kids eat free with paying adults and there are games and activities on the lawn for little diners.
A live band, all-white dress code and al fresco dining are just some of the highlight’s of Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach Resort’s Sunday Brunch experience. There’s cuisine to cater to all tastes, from French and Italian to fresh seafood.
Bali’s newest culinary hotspot, AYA Street, has just opened in Seminyak. Chef Marco Cueva’s haven of Peruvian gastronomy (with a Japanese twist) will have even the fussiest tastebuds tingling. With wall art by Banksy and Space Invader, dishes that are uniquely styled and presented, and quirky bathroom mirrors, artistic flair is built into every nook and cranny of this buzzing venue.
Bali Report Card
Info bali.com Getting there There are regular flights from all Australian capital cities to Denspasar, Indonesia. qantas.com jetstar.com Stay marriott.com.au clubmed.com.au comohotels.com movenpick.com fourseasons.com westinnusaduabali.com sofitel.com Do springspa.com go-jek.com ayastreet.com