FLEW
We flew with Garuda Indonesia and have been since our second trip to Bali – we’ve never looked back! The cabin crew are consistently amazing with their assistance and the meals are to die for. My family also opted for business class on the night flight home which was spacious and comfortable to enjoy a large selection of movies, games, music and TV shows. Economy seating on board Garuda is just as spacious with many goodies provided for a cozy flight.
STAY
On this trip, we stayed in three separate locations throughout our two and a half week holiday. We first stayed at a mansion – The Lembongan Beach House, just a short boat trip away from Bali at Nusa Lembongan which was a luxurious stay with its beachside views and facilities such as a large pool, swing, pool table, bar and many relaxation areas.
We then stayed in Jade Villa for the third time which is quiet and relaxing for a laid-back trip. It’s located just a short walk from the beach with many restaurants and shops surrounding.The Onion directly across the road is a common hub for the kids due to the pool tables and night entertainment! We celebrated Christmas in Sanur.
Finally, we stayed at Bali Garden in South Kuta for New Years and everyone loved this! The hotel looked over Kuta Beach which made for amazing fireworks on New Years with the annual hotel party with entertainment & DJ. A restaurant is located within the hotel allowing for a great lunch everyday whilst sitting by the 3m deep pool. The rooms were traditional Balinese style, large and airconditioned with a great balcony view of the natural style of the hotel. We decided to take two rooms for the 4 of us and had an interconnecting door. The other two families we were with also had interconnecting rooms. Bali Garden is opposite Waterbom Park, Bubba Gumps, a short walk to the markets, next to Discovery Mall and plenty of quality restaurants within minutes.
ACTIVITIES
The kids always love visiting Tree Top Adventure Park located near the botanical gardens where they can zipline and rope swing, always having a blast! We visited the Monkey Forest in Ubud which created endless laughter from the monkeys’ actions as well as admiring the natural fauna of Bali.
After this, we all went on a two-hour bike ride (all downhill) where we visited a village and learnt about Balinese religion and lifestyles. The bike ride finishes with a refreshing swim at a waterfall and a three-course meal provided by the company.
We always visit the third best waterpark in the world, Waterbom – the kids always have a blast on the rides. Snorkelling whilst at Nusa Lembongan exceeded all our expectations! The hundreds of fish surrounding us was definitely a highlight. We also went ziplining and cliff jumping in Nusa Lembongan which was a great action packed adventure for the kids. We usually always fit in a visit to Tanah Lot and Echo Beach for some snake holding, blessing, shopping and sunset. We definitely had a great time at all our activities!
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend a full day at Waterbom for families because of the action packed fun for all the family! Staying at Nusa Lembongan and experiencing ‘old Bali’ is a definite recommendation for all age groups – the options for activities or even just relaxing is endless! Furthermore, families would love the stay at Bali Garden, especially for New Years! The bike ride would also be perfect for families and the monkey forest for all ages!
Words by my daughter, Alex Collins.
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