Bali with Kids: Bases, Car Seats and Pools

Bali works well with children when the trip is planned around a calm base, short drives and a pool. Sanur and Nusa Dua are the areas travel guides describe as suited to families. The matters that need thought in advance are car seats, which you should not expect to find, the water, the sun, mosquitoes and animals, and a first aid kit packed at home.

Choosing a family base

A family base in Bali should be calm, close to the airport and easy to move around. Travel guides describe Sanur as a mature resort town that appeals mostly to families and older visitors, and Nusa Dua as an enclave of high-end resorts with very little traffic. Sanur is about 11 miles from the airport and Nusa Dua about 8.

Sanur

Sanur is a town with a beach, on the east-facing coast. Its appeal for families is that it is quiet and walkable, with restaurants and shops at a small scale. It is also about 14 miles from Ubud, which makes a day trip to the rice terraces and temples realistic.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is built around large resorts. For a family that wants a kids' club, several pools and everything on site, it is the obvious choice. It is less a place to explore than a place to stay put, and meals are mostly taken in the resort.

Ubud with children

Ubud suits older children who will enjoy rice terraces, temples and the Monkey Forest. It has no beach, and the town center is congested. A pool matters more here than on the coast. Our advice is to give Ubud two or three nights in the middle of a longer stay by the sea.

Car seats and getting around

Car seats are the practical gap in a family trip to Bali. We have found no official source requiring child seats in cars there, and you should not expect a taxi, an app car or a driver's vehicle to carry one. If a seat matters to you, bring your own, or confirm one in writing with a driver before you travel.

Use a driver

A car with a driver booked for the day is the family way to get around. Ask in advance about seat belts in the back seats and about fitting a child seat. Keep drives short: plan one outing a day and count the drive back. We give no drive times, since they vary by hour.

Scooters

Families on scooters are a common sight in Bali and no model to follow. Indonesian law requires a helmet for every rider and passenger and a license matching the type of vehicle driven. Our advice is that children do not belong on a rented scooter.

Water, food and stomachs

Children are the travelers most likely to swallow tap water without thinking. The State Department says tap water in many areas of Indonesia is not safe to drink and advises sealed bottled water. The CDC's advice is to brush teeth with bottled water and to avoid ice where water safety is in doubt.

Habits to set on day one

Put a bottle of water by every sink. Teach children to keep their mouths closed in the shower and the pool. The CDC's food advice is to choose food that is cooked and served hot and to wash hands often with soap and water, especially before eating.

If a child gets sick

The CDC's advice for travelers' diarrhea is to drink plenty of fluids and to use oral rehydration solution in serious cases. Pack rehydration salts suitable for children. Dehydration develops faster in a small body, so our advice is to see a doctor early with a child and not to wait it out.

Sun, mosquitoes and animals

The three outdoor risks for children in Bali are sun, mosquitoes and animals. The CDC's advice on sun is to use sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15, wear protective clothing, and seek shade in the hottest part of the day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mosquitoes

The CDC says mosquitoes in Indonesia spread diseases, including dengue, that cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine, and that the mosquitoes concerned bite by day as well as at night. Its advice is to cover skin, use an appropriate repellent as directed on the label, and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms.

Animals

The CDC says dogs infected with rabies are commonly found in Indonesia and advises travelers to keep away from animals. Children are drawn to dogs, cats and monkeys. Set the rule before the trip: no touching any animal. Any bite or scratch needs washing and a doctor the same day.

Health preparation

A family trip to Bali starts at the pediatrician. The CDC recommends that travelers be current on routine vaccines and recommends hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid for Indonesia. Ask about each child's schedule well before departure, since some vaccines need time.

Medicine

Bring children's medicines from home. The State Department warns that counterfeit medication is common in Indonesia. Prescription medicine should travel in its original packaging with the prescription, and over-the-counter medicine has its own small allowance at customs.

Insurance and care

The State Department highly recommends travel insurance for Indonesia and says hospitals often require payment or a deposit upfront. Check that the policy covers every member of the family, and save the assistance number. Ask your hotel on arrival which clinic it would send a child to.

Pools and the sea

A pool is the center of a family stay in Bali. Ask before booking whether a villa pool is fenced, since many are not. At the beach, we have no official source on sea conditions or lifeguards at any beach and call none safe. Ask the hotel where children can swim, and stay within reach.

The flight and the first days

The journey from the United States is long, with at least one connection, and the time difference is 12 hours or more. Children adjust on their own schedule. Keep the first two days empty, expect early mornings, and use them at the pool.