Initially, we planned to stay in Bali for just one month, but we quickly fell in love with the Balinese people and decided to extend our stay. Since the beginning of our journey, our mantra has been to "go with the flow" and do what feels right for our family at any given time. We had only two fixed objectives for the trip: meeting friends in Thailand at the end of June for two weeks in Thailand and reconnecting with my best friend and her family towards the end of July in Bali, where our families would explore the Island of the Gods together for three weeks. After those 3 weeks, Joe and I both had a mutual feeling that something was keeping us in Bali, so we decided to extend our stay.
After spending six weeks on the road - amazing but exhausting - we realized we needed to settle down and bring a little more structure to our lives. Mini kept saying she wanted to go back to school and see some friends. 🤪 So, what better place than Bali to settle for the final stretch of our Southeast Asia journey? Especially since the rainy season had started in most northern Asian countries. With no typhoons or storms in sight in Bali between June and October, it was the perfect spot to stay.
While researching the possibilities of slow traveling and relocating for two months, we had many questions and did a lot of research. Just as I did for Koh Samui, Thailand, I've put together a list of tips for families with young children who want to slow travel to Bali.
Visa Extension
Most visitors to Bali receive a 30-day visa on arrival. Now, you can also apply for a 30-day e-visa online, which I highly recommend if you want to avoid long lines at the airport. Be sure to apply in advance - we were lucky and received ours within four days, but we’ve heard stories of people waiting several weeks. Once your e-visa is granted, you have three months to use it. It’s a single-entry visa, and it's valid for exactly 30 days. Be mindful: if you overstay, you’ll be charged $100 USD per day, no exceptions.
If you have an e-visa, you can easily renew it online, but make sure to do so in advance. However, if you got your visa upon arrival at the airport, you won't be able to renew it online - you'll need to visit one of the immigration offices on the island to extend your stay.
Childcare
Just like in Thailand, we did an extensive online search for temporary childcare. Not all schools or daycares accept children for shorter periods; you often have to enroll them for a semester or a full year. We found two schools that met our criteria and decided to visit them both before making a decision. Umalas Kids Club won our hearts, and Mini didn’t want to leave after our visit—she wanted to start the next day! That was a great sign for us. So, Mini started pre-K in Bali. 🩷 She's been attending for over six weeks now and loves it. Every morning, she's excited to go to school. We're a bit worried about how she’ll feel when we leave Bali... 🥹
Housing
We chose our neighbourhood based on the location of Mini's school. As you've probably seen on social media, traffic in some areas of Bali can be intense, so we wanted to avoid that as much as possible. Once we settled on Umalas Kids Club, we started looking for a long-term villa rental. We found a beautiful villa on a quiet street in Kerobokan, a neighborhood between Seminyak and Canggu. It's close to the main road, making it easy to get around. I'll share the exact details of the villa after we move out, but I can't recommend it enough. The staff is fabulous and they are like part of our family now. 🫶🏻
We’re so glad we chose this villa because it’s close enough to everything, yet far from the touristy areas, which gives it a real local community feel. If that’s what you're looking for, I highly recommend staying in the Kerobokan and Umalas areas.
As a side note, we're not big fans of Legian, Kuta, or southern Seminyak, so if those areas are your preference, our recommendations may not align with what you're looking for.
Transportation
This one was a really tough one for this mama. I had sworn I was never going to drive a scooter and most definitely not put Mini on a scooter, but then you get to Bali. Our first month we had a private driver because we were a party of 8 and sometimes used Grab - the equivalent of Uber in SEA. But once we settled, using Grab was definitely not time efficient. So, I took a chill pill, maybe two and we rented scooters. I got a small one because it's easier to drive and Joe got the Yamaha NMax. This is the most popular scooter for families on the island. You can buy sitting adapters on which you can sit your child. We rented our scooters from GoBike Bali, they provided an amazing service, had the child adapter for the NMax and they do monthly rentals. We would highly recommend them. I know crazy, right? But we did it. For our peace of mind, however, we bought Mini a full face helmet.
Tip: Make sure that you have an international driving licence, because most places do not rent if you don't have one.
Health Care
Luckily, we haven’t had any major health issues while in Bali (knock on wood!). Mini did have a rash that resurfaced after Thailand, so our GP recommended a dermatologist. Siloam Hospital came highly recommended, and we were able to book an appointment for the next day—can you believe that? Our experience there was great, and the cost was very reasonable. The consultation and medication (cream) came to about $85 USD.
Groceries
There are two major grocery chains in Bali that cater to Western tastes, and fortunately, both are within walking distance of our villa. Personally, I prefer Pepito, but when we stayed in Canggu, I preferred Frestive. It seems to depend on the location. You can find everything you need, from fresh fruits and vegetables to a wide selection of meats.
Finding a good bakery took some time, but once we discovered 7am Bakers, we became addicted. It's not super close to our villa, but it’s definitely worth the trip. Right across the street is an organic store where we found the best peanut butter. (And if you know Joe, you know he loves his PB! 😉) Another favorite of ours is Home Deli Delicatessen. Since we have French roots, good cheese is a must for our family.
Restaurants
Bali's restaurant scene is impressive, offering options for every palate, from local Warungs to five-star Western dining. I’m currently putting together a list of our favorite restaurants in the neighbourhood, so stay tuned!
Shopping
If you forget something essential at home, you'll probably find it in Bali, though some items, like sunscreen, can be pricier than back home. As for souvenirs, you’ll have plenty of choices all around the island. We’re not big shoppers, so I don’t have specific recommendations, but finding what you need won’t be an issue.
That's a short round-up of the essential things you might need to know to kick off your slow-travel journey with young children in Bali. If we haven't covered something here, leave us a comment.
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