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5 Things I learnt travelling to Bali with kids

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The wonderful staff at Hidden Garden Villas

 

I’m now into the full swing of being back home and Melbourne is putting on a show of its full force of the winter chill!

I wouldn’t call myself a seasoned traveller as having kids young buried that travel bug, but I have visited my favourite place to go to, Bali, now many times.

We usually travel just the two of us – beg the grandparents or my sister to watch the kids and get some r&r together, because, please, for the love of God you need it sometimes.

And in my head, this trip was all organised. I’d booked everything months in advance. I had saved and saved every week for this trip, the Virgo in me had it all worked out, what things to bring with us, what we were going to get up to and see – I was prepared!

I also anticipated daily massages, twice a day {its my thing}, like we always get when we go there. {I had 4 massages in total – 16 less then what I would have done kid free!} {they are between $4-$6 for an hours massage!}

I brought 2 books for me to read – Didn’t. Even. Open. A. Page.

Kids change that.

A 3 year old does.

So let me share with you some of my truths about travelling with kids:

 

Be prepared for the unexpected!

Arriving at Melbourne airport ready to depart to Bali and your 17-year-old stepdaughter arrives without her suitcase. Yes, your read it right, without her suitcase! Thank god she had her passport in her backpack!

 

A 3-year-old toddler is heavy.

Thank goodness a good friend of ours loaned us their ergo carrier. This was a godsend! In the heat of Bali with the change of routines, Jack would tire easier than back home and the Ergo just made it so easy and comfortably to carry him around- without breaking your back!

 

Expect to buy half a pharmacy

I brought with us the essentials; sunscreen, aloe vera gel, Panadol, charcoal tablets, hand sanitiser. That’s all I usually only bring when Steve and I come to Bali.

I didn’t anticipate; travellers diarrhoea – Ethan, throat infection – Jack and eye infection – Molly to happen. I ended up spending about $150 AUS on pharmacy and over the counter medication. Throw in a doctors visit for Jack, total spend for medical essentials was close to $300 AUS.

 

Quiet time is ….. what?

There is no quiet time when a 3 year old is with you. The change in climate, routine, foods and new surroundings, meeting new people can throw a little one. Afternoon naps didn’t happen, staying up past bedtime occurred more than once which equaled a clingy, attached toddler. The only alone time we got was when we went to bed and literally slept!

 

Wi-Fi is super important for pre teens and teens

Well that’s what I found with our older ones. And Wi-Fi is EVERYWHERE in Bali. Nearly every Warung, coffee shop even the spas have Wi-Fi that you can tap into. You should have seen though their faces of delight when the password was given to them for the Wi-Fi wherever they were. It was like Christmas!

This trip was not what I had expected it to be. Don’t get me wrong – it was totally AMAZING just different to the type of trips that we had done before.

Would I recommend travelling to Bali with children? ABSOLUTELY! Just be prepared with meds, carriers and Wi-Fi! 

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