In Reply to: spending money for a family of 5... posted by sassa on Thursday, 17. December 2009 at 21:24 Bali Time:
around $350.00 a day, that's $100 for each adult and $50 a day for each child. This will be enough for the 5 of you I think. I would take a c/c for emergency only. On top of this spending just bring a small reserve just in case and put it in the safe and don't use it unless you're really running short. It's better to have a bit more than not enough.
We went in November and I can clearly say we used $200 a day for 2 Adults, we did lots of activties and shopping in Bali this trip.
Price of food has gone up just a little nothing over the top. If shopping in Matahari or at centro prices are comparable to Australia or just a little less, but they are bargains to be had at these places too, just look around. If you buy the children some clothes from the markets, you will get heaps for them at a fraction of the price than in Australia.
I would not take any less than the $350 a day, you can always bring it home if you don't spend it.
Don't forget you need to pay $25usd for entry into Bali times 5 people and need 150,000 rupiah each person to leave Bali, this will be on top of your spending money.
In saying all of the above you can do Bali on a budget for far less, but you'll work that out when you are there.
My husband and I also went in August this year for 9 days, didn't do much shopping only messages, hair done, quad biking, only spent $900 for the two of us for 9 days, so you can do it a lot cheaper depending on your circumstances. None of us know your circumstances so we can only roughly suggest amounts based on our previous experiences.
Have a great holiday with your children and husband, they will just love Bali.
Cheers