Firstly Thanks to all forumites for your information it helped us a great deal on our trip.
Our trip from 15/7 to 1/8. 2 Adults and 2 kids aged 9 and 11. Reason for going our 21st anniversary of meeting my wife in bali and our 2 girls first trip. Also other family travelled at the same time for our cousins 21st birthday.
Flights on garuda left Perth 7.15Am arrived in Bali at 10.30Am, 30 mins in taxi and at hotel.Flight Ok inflight entertainment cactus for entire flight. Flight home uneventful, security out in Denpasar is strict so get there early if many flights are departing at the same time.
We stayed at the febris hotel on Jl kartika Plaza, cant recommend this hotel enough for families. We had a Family deluxe room booked direct with them for $103USD per night including breakfast. Large spacious room 50SQM King size bed with 2 king singles. Large bathroom and sitting area, flatscreen lcd tv 46 channels, full size fridge with 4 complimentary waters per day. Room spotlessly cleaned every day. Staff friendly and attentive, Pool is cool by bali standards but refreshing.
One thing we noticed at this hotel was it was very airy and wasnt hot. Food was excellent and cheap (sml binnies 18000Rp) ate mostly there as we have 2 fussy kids and nothing was too much trouble when we altered dishes.
TOURS
Bali Safari and marine park....... Must DO!!!
We booked 2 rooms via agoda for $120AUD each for and overnight stay because family rooms booked. Got a driver to drop us off and pick us up next day for 400000Rp, trip took 1.5 hours road is being dug up, bridges rebuilt and is generally rubbish! Goth there and was upgraded to Kifaru suite top floor with adjoining rooms as we had kids BONUS!!
Arrived early as rooms not ready took the safari tour included in the accomodation cost, sit at the back of the bus as you get a better opportunity for photos.
Shown to rooms, decorated in african style round with thatched roof. We had kingsize bed with 2 singles in adjoining room. Both with mozzie nets (which would prove VERY USEFUL). balcony overlooking animals (Zebra, Rhino, Wildebeest, caribou...) and elephant safari past room every half hour. Bucket of carrots to chuck to the animals.
Did the night safari hand fed Zebra and Lions, kids fed elephants and patted tiger and held baby orangutan. Brought Elephant into hotel lobby that night to feed and take photos with. Too much to take in just one day, walked around next morning before all tourists arrived all the animals were more active and got to see everything without the crowds.
Lions though the restaurant windows were a treat, one lioness sat behind the bar window staring at the balinese barstaff all night!!!!
Bali Butterfly park
Hint dont go when it rains in Kuta, in Tabanan it floods!!!
150000rp entry, walked around and got to touch butterflies and other crawlies but a long way to go to get there.
Bali Bird and Reptile Park
750000rp for family entry (converted from USD) interesting exhibits girls got to hold a variety of birds including Macaws and Hornbills and saw babies being fed. Many walkthrough exhibits. At reptile park girls held an Iguana about 4 foot long!!!
Celuk for Silver.
Our driver took us to expensive shops first as he took no commision only Makan Pagi we could barter to 60% of asking price. Next into the villages where you can get 20% off. Bought only a few items as it was a recce for next trip.
WATERBOM PARK
Went twice.... OMG a great day. Hired a cabana for 200000rp and ordered drinks and food directly there. Suprised at how good value food and drinks were. Although they searched our bags we still took in our own waters. Did all the rides, got there at 9.00am and had plenty of turns on the boomerang and superbowl before the crowds. Left at 5.00pm nackered.
Shopping
Mammas (ketuts) garlic lane for the usual clothes.
mataharis kuta and denpasar
Ramayana denpasar
Surf factory outlets on Sunset Rd well worth the trip. Plenty of kids clothes at bargain prices.
Bali mall galleria - JL donuts and iced coffee YUM (10mins by taxi!!)
Silver shops up seminyak end Silverberry for pandora
Mobile phones from The handphone Shop in denpasar, brought mobiles for the kids $40AUD Nokia good GSM handsets and sims 10000Rp plus credit. Simpati 6000rp for 5 minute call AUS and cheap sms. They will give you codes.
MONEY CHANGERS
stuck to Kodak shop outside Dynasty no probs. Did notice rates up towards Seminyak end to be better but stick to the larger changers to avoid ripoffs. AUD 8000 USD 9000 average took both currencies.
Medical
Took our own medical kit and were reigious with hand sanitizers. We also took probiotics tablet daily from naturopath (non-refridgerated)
Glen 20 to nuke aircon unit in room to stop flu spread.
Despite best precautions I contracted a stomach viral infection almost passed out in bathroom one morning, found by the wife almost concious temps peaked at 39.5c. Called doctor who arrived in 10 mins literally!! with ambulance and 2 medics. gave me tablets immediately to bring down temps and to stop cramps. We got a sample to them for testing and had pathology result within 2 hours and on antiobotics. 24hrs later felt like new man. Cost 750000rp callout and 400000rp for pathology and medicines worth every cent. My immune system was depressed as I had a touch of the flu before the trip.
medical centre was 50 metres down rd from hotel
Didnt stop us enjoying the trip though cant pinpoint cause. You can buy yakult in supermarkets for 7000rp for 5 pack.
Took bushmans from home for mozzies had no trouble. Got a plugin zapper from supermarket for the room at night.
Chemists
Guardian chemists are everywhere, just watch out as they will bend you towards their natural remedies, if you know what you want ASK they will have it. Stop Cold is good for flu symtoms. Get calendula cream for bites, stings scapes etc, works a treat in healing.
FOOD
Ate at a few resaurants recommended on the forum and must say did not have a bad meal at any of them, all fantasic. Our top picks:
Mozzerellas
Febris
Oceans 27
Il Cielo
GETTING AROUND
Look, I am a great believer of share the wealth. We used any taxi blue or not always tipped way more than the fare and never had any probs.
Used the drivers out front of our hotel for most trips and an old mate of mine Wayan who I have known for 20 years for longer trips.
Paid on average 50000rp per hr short trips, day 300000 to 400000RP.
ADVICE FOR TRAVELLING WITH KIDS
Take a good medical kit with oral panadol/nurofen for small kids.
We also packed an eargun thermometer which was invaluable.
Buy hand sanitizer at supermarkets and take mozzie precautions be pedantic. we saw an elderly get at our hotel get airlifted with suspected dengue.
Dont overpack clothes, buy them there.
Overall dont be scared to try the restaurants as all we tried were fantastic, relax and enjoy yourselves as long as you take basic precautions you will be fine. Security was good, everywhere we felt safe. Treat the Balinese as your own family, If you show them respect and kindness they will reciprocate.
My wife and I are no bali virgins we have done at least 15 trips but each time has been a learning experience, especially this was our girls first overseas trip. Bought miss 9 an indonesian language translator in denpasar as she loves the place so much wants to learn the language for next year.
Bali now holds an even more special place in our families heart and we will return to our special island again
have booked july next year for 3 weeks flying Air A... $250 each return and staying at febris again $130AUD night cant wait....
Hope we have provided someones family with useful information, I will try to answer all questions ASAP.
Regards to all