'I just returned from Bali with three kids. Here's my... honest review.'

I'm NOT a Bali person. 

That’s how I branded myself. I'm not entirely sure how I came to that conclusion but it became a core part of my holiday booking identity. I'd also heard, many times, that Bali was full of Aussies. So why not skip the long haul flight and travel inside Australia?

Money. That's why. 

A dollar goes sooooo much further in Bali. The level of luxury I could suddenly afford was incredible. All those extras that I'd only seen on episodes of The Kardashians became a reality in Bali.

Nannies. Daily massages. Beachfront accommodation. In-house chefs. Room service. Cocktails. Butlers. A private plunge pool. 

All for the cost of four days in a self catered apartment, 30 minutes from the beach in Cairns. 

Watch: When My Work Wife Leaves Me To Go On Holiday. Post continues after video.

As a working parent raising three little kids through a global pandemic and now a cost-of-living crisis, the last few years have been light on luxury to say the least, but returning from seven nights in Bali this week I feel completely refreshed. It's the first proper holiday I've had since becoming a parent because I didn't have to do much "parenting". Sure we spent a lot of time together as a family but I didn't spend that time cleaning, cooking and supervising. Instead, I played with the kids, we created wonderful memories and yes, I took a lot of photos. 

Of course, being able to clock off on holiday requires a bit of planning ahead (tell me you carry the mental load without telling me you carry the mental load). So before I share my top Bali recommendations here are a few tips to help you plan your next family getaway.

Think about the flight time (no, actually do it).

My editor wrote a similar article about her trip to Fiji last year and she had the exact same tip after booking a 6am flight which required a 2am wake up call. 

Did I learn from her mistake? Not even slightly.

Our outbound flight was at 6.15am, and it was miserable. We tried to dull the impact by staying at the airport hotel the night before. We thought we’d save precious minutes in the morning and avoid last-minute traffic dramas. In reality, we all had a terrible night's sleep and I had a bag of beef Jerky from the mini bar for dinner because I was trapped in the hotel room with three (not-sleeping) children while my husband drove the car all the way back home in search of cheap parking. 

Image: Supplied.

The holiday was off to a glamorous start.

On the bright side, we checked in at 3am with plenty of time for the kids to burn energy running laps of the still-empty gates at Sydney airport. Did this mean they finished their night's sleep on the six-hour flight to Bali? It did not. 

My 18-month old eventually crashed in the taxi, on the way from the airport to our Bali villa, but the short drive meant she only got 30 minutes. Ultimately the kids were overtired and grumpy for the rest of the day, making the extra afternoon a bit of a waste.

On the way home we flew out from Denpasar at midday which worked much better. The kids had a full morning to play and we landed back in Sydney just before 8pm. They were tired, even with the two-hour time difference working in our favour, but we put them straight to bed and they were fine the next day. 

Jetstar, Qantas, Virgin, Garuda International and Batik Air all fly regularly between Sydney and Denpasar, Bali. 

Next time I’ll absolutely do this part differently and aim for 10am-2pm takeoff. 

Image: Supplied.

We saved money by booking my 18-month-old as an "infant on lap" as she’s under two. I strongly suggest second-guessing yourself if you think about doing the same. She was a wriggly nightmare and my husband and I spent the flight chasing her up the aisle when the flight attendants weren't watching and being trampled in our seats when they were. She'll be two next time we fly, and the extra charge will be worth it. 

Browse your accommodation on Instagram.

We went on holiday with 15 people. Including eight kids. With a big group we had some specific requirements: giant villa, private pool, separate rooms and bathrooms, shared dining. With all the kids under six years old, we wanted to be able to put them to bed and enjoy adults' dinner together, not be stuck in separate hotel rooms.

In the past I've found holiday home listings to be deceiving, it's hard to get a good read of a place from 10 or so stock images. 

Instagram was amazing, we looked up a few places and then let Meta's creepy targeted algorithm do the rest. Within days I had so many suggestions for Bali villas on my feed. So many Reels with complete walk-throughs of properties. 

We ultimately landed on The Ungasan — which is basically influencer heaven so we had a good idea of the layout before we even landed. The Ungasan is an incredible clifftop resort featuring a selection of luxurious villas and one-bedroom suites. 

The facilities include a full gym, tennis courts, a mini golf course course, onsite restaurants and private chefs who cook for you in your villa. The resort is regularly booked for weddings (just google "Jennifer Hawkins wedding" to see) but the celebrations don’t disrupt the other villas — you just get to see the stunning fireworks displays every night for free.

Image: Supplied. 

Bring all your essentials with you.

Yes Bali is cheaper than Australia, but the Australian products that you "need" cost just as much, if not more. There are lots of surf shops, but you won't score a bargain if you need a new pair of thongs, so bring a backup pair from home and plenty of sunscreen — we paid $30 for Banana Boat Kids Sunscreen because everything else gives my daughter dermatitis.

Same goes for medicine, I recommend taking Childrens Panadol. I also packed Panadol Chewable Tablets because they take up minimal space and don’t require water. 

Other things in my medical kit: Hydrolite, Bug Repellent (Dengi fever is a thing) and BandAids — not because we needed them but because my kids are obsessed with BandAids right now. 

Don't freakout about 'Bali Belly'.

Before we left everyone and their nan went out of their way to warn me about Bali Belly. Which was kind. But also can we please stop talking about my bowels? 

True, you’re not meant to drink the tap water in Bali. But it's relatively easy to avoid it and stick to sealed bottled water. Our hotel provided bottles of filtered water every day and in every room. You should also skip ice in drinks or food washed in tap water and brush your teeth with bottled water. 

I know that sounds like a lot of mental effort but after a day we were all in the habit and trust me when I say ZERO out of our party of 15 people got Bali Belly. So take it seriously but don't let it stop you having fun.

Best things to do in Bali. 

Speaking of fun, here are a few recommendations of things to do to really enjoy your stay:

Get a massage.

Balinese massage is a holistic practice that merges gentle stretches, acupressure, reflexology, and aromatherapy. This unique combination aims to stimulate blood flow, oxygen, and energy, fostering wellbeing, calm, and deep relaxation. AKA it’s heaven. I had a fancy couples massage at our resort ($50/hr) and also went into town for a cheap massage at Tula Massage House ($14/hr). They were both excellent. 

Have a family photoshoot.

You're on holiday, with the people you love most in the world and you finally have some free time. We used this time to finally get our extended family photos done. We found a few photographers through Instagram and stalked their work. Our photographer came to our villa and took photos, then followed us to the beach. Two hours later we were done and back to enjoying the holiday. Top tip: Time your shoot around naptime so you don't end up with a bunch of cranky kids. 

Image: Supplied.

Go to Sundays Beach Club.

Known as Bali's most beautiful beachfront location, Sundays is a great day out for adults and kids in Uluwatu. You access it by a cable car that descends the dramatic cliff — the kids were entertained by this alone. 

All guests get unlimited access to watersports — kayaks, snorkelling, and stand-up Paddleboards. There are sunset bonfires and entertainment with live music and DJs daily. Kids are welcome and we never felt awkward bringing our gang of eight to play. 

The restaurant is delicious and very child-friendly with a great kid's menu and free ice cream. We took our nannies along too so we could relax while the kids explored and built sandy cities.

Image: Supplied.

Book a nanny... all the nannies.

Bali is famous for its kids' clubs and nannies. 

And after six years of solid parenting, I wasn't going to sleep on that. 

However, this was my first time booking any sort of childcare overseas and, honestly, I was concerned.

My brain went to worst-case scenario. I didn't feel comfortable leaving my little kids with strangers plus I felt guilty about not spending quality time with them. 

But that's the beautiful thing about the nannies in Bali ‚ you don’t have to leave anyone if you don't want to. 

Image: Supplied.

Our nannies came with us everywhere and were just the most helpful and fun people to have around. They kept the kids happy/entertained/fed/in the shade while we swam, read books and ate our meals in peace for the first time in forever. 

Rather than being separated from the kids, I think I spent more quality time with each of them than I have in years. I got to play and chat rather than constantly cooking for or cleaning up after one/all of them.

 Image: Supplied

There are lots of websites that will help you book your nanny in Bali. However, I recommend booking through your hotel if possible. In most cases, you’ll be covered by their insurance and they'll help you find a replacement if your nanny is suddenly unavailable.

The typical nanny to kid ratio is one nanny to two children but our 18-month-old had a nanny to herself who followed her around and stopped her falling in the ornamental fish pond. Bali is not child-safe like Australia (read: minimal pool fences, lots of monkeys) so a nanny is a must if you have little kids and want to relax. 

This writer's travelling party paid for the trip in full.

Feature Image: Supplied.

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