If you’re a parent, you’ll know what I mean: a holiday with a toddler can be an absolute nightmare.
If you’re about to embark on a Bali holiday with a toddler, this informative guide is gold. You can thank us later!
At Bali Villa Escapes, we asked over 400 parents about their holiday experiences with their young children. The results were eye-opening. For instance, did you know that over 25% of parents with toddlers regret going on holiday? Or that over 40% of parents reported that they had not been warned about the challenges of holidaying with a toddler and that they should have been better prepared? These are just a few of the surprising facts and key takeaways we discovered. The results may shock some young couples, while for others, they’ll nod their heads in agreement, recalling fond or, dare I say, shocking memories of a holiday with a screaming toddler.
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Key takeaways were:
- Over 25% of parents with toddlers regret going on holiday.
- Over 40% of parents reported that they had not been warned about the challenges of holidaying with a toddler and that they should have been better prepared.
- Over 40% of parents told lies about how well-behaved their toddler was.
- Over 30% of parents said this was their last holiday with the toddler until they were a bit older.
- Over 60% of respondents reported speaking with other parents in a similar holiday situation who were also struggling in silence with their young children.
- Over 60% said they had to engage the services of a professional Balinese nanny to help them have a few hours of relief, during which they could escape.
- Bali holidays can be expensive, and you want your hard-earned dollars to bring happy memories of fun, lazy days by the villa pool. But well over 25% of parents say their yelling, demanding and screaming child ruined their experience and caused more headaches than it was worth—an alarming statistic and the ultimate waste of money and holiday from hell!
Steven Waldberg, one of our founding partners, said: “New villas, new smells and sights, new noises, hot weather, new bedroom environments, basically everything is changed, and this can create havoc for parents with toddlers who are unable to adjust easily. Daily routines are out the window when you go on holiday, and guess what? Toddlers need routine!
But if you are mentally prepared and set your holiday expectations accordingly, you’ll be in the right mindset to have the best possible time with your kids. For this reason, we’ve created this go-to guide for parents travelling to Bali on holiday with toddlers.
The Bali Villa Escape’s essential holiday with toddlers survival guide:
Holidays provide a much-needed respite for Aussie parents who need a break from the daily stresses of life, including mortgages, school runs, and work deadlines. Daily Aussie life and the cost of living can be brutal, making a holiday a welcome escape and a health tonic for the body, soul, and mind. So let’s add toddlers into he mix with their screaming, messy meal times, sulks, tears and tantrums, and this blissful escape can turn into a catastrophe unless you have these handy Bali holiday survival tips.
This holiday survival guide explains why taking a toddler away can be a serious mistake, and the best part is that it provides the tools to help combat this and turn it into a memorable, lovely, relaxed, and chill Bali getaway.
Readjust Your Expectations
Remember, you are going on holiday with a toddler, and you’re no longer a solo traveller, so don’t expect the same holiday experience. Before, you could do as you pleased. Party, shop, hang out at cafes or go for a surf. Now with a partner and toddler in tow, things are dramatically different! You’ll have to devote most of your holiday time to the toddlers’ routine, including feeding, bathing, and nursing them. Maintaining this in a rhythm routine will keep them calm, happy and allow you to enjoy some peace from the screaming. You have to remember that those family photos in the adverts with everyone smiling are just an advert, and the reality is far from this blissful, artificial reality. Remember, the baby doesn’t know you’re on a holiday, so be very mindful of this. Lower your holiday expectations a bit, accept the reality and adjust to the new holiday norm – even if it’s temporary.
Pick Your Bali Holiday Style with Your Toddler in Mind
While you might think that every Bali holiday is the same because you’re on an island, this couldn’t be further from the truth, as Bali is a diverse island with many different villa styles and adventures on offer. And, with a toddler, you have to carefully choose your location and the type of holiday you want to enjoy with a toddler in tow. While a surf trip may sound like your idea of heaven, or days wandering the streets of Seminyak may be appealing, you have to pick your location and villa style that suits the parents and the toddler. Think about it, will spending countless hours on a beach bore the hell out of the toddler or will staring at rice fields cause chaos and havoc with the little ones screaming. What was good for you in the past may not work for you now. You should look for villas with ample shade (with that hot Bali sun), one that offers a nanny service or a villa where the toddler can sleep in your room. And if the toddler can walk or run, you should arrange a pool fence. And for the area, you should be in a central location near restaurants and cafes, so you’re not dragging a stroller and nappies everywhere. Plus, you want to be near pharmacies, supermarkets, and even a medical centre in case they get sick.
Packing for Bali with Toddlers: Essential Tips for a Stress-Free Family Holiday
You’ve booked your ideal villa in Bali, now it’s time to prepare for the real challenge – packing for a toddler. The more you organise before leaving home, the fewer late-night dashes you’ll make to Circle K, Indomaret or the nearest Pepito Supermarket looking for toddler formula or children’s medicine in an unfamiliar store. Increase your baggage allowance and dedicate a large suitcase solely to your child. Think Bali essentials: breathable sun-protective swimsuits, rash vests, a hat they’ll wear, and non-slip water shoes for pool or beach play. If your toddler has a favourite snack or brand, bring enough for the trip—don’t rely on finding it locally. Include all regular medications, plus more sunscreen, after-sun, and soothing lotion than you think you’ll need (buying sunscreen in Bali is very expensive and double the price of Chemist Warehouse back home). For their comfort and peace of mind, pack their soft toys, blankets, pillows, and bedtime favourites—whether that’s books, small toys, or a nightlight (don’t forget to get the electric adapter for Bali; you can buy this at most airports). A little extra effort in packing now means more time to relax in Bali later.
At Australian and Bali Airports and On the Flight
Australian airports are generally standard, with immigration and customs procedures that are very toddler-friendly. However, in Bali, you’ll need to download a QR code for each family member before arrival and pay the customs declaration; more information can be found here. Ensure you complete this before leaving Australia to avoid doing it at the airport with a screaming toddler! Once this is completed, you’ll get a QR code for each passenger, which you must keep and present at immigration before exiting the airport. Additionally, a tourist tax of AUD 15 per person is applicable, payable at the airport. Watch a few YouTube shorts about this for more information and clarity. You will also need to have a VOA or visa on arrival for each passenger (allows for a 30-day holiday stay), with a cost of AUD 50, which can be completed online or at the airport. You can find the online application here.
Historically, immigration queues were a nightmare (sometimes 2 to 3 hours – especially if you’re landing at the same time as other large airlines – think Emirates, Qatar, Jetstar & Qantas), with manual passport control. However, today, electronic gates scan passports, making the immigration process seamless and reducing wait times by at least 60 to 80%. If you or the toddler are busting to go to the toilet, I suggest a toilet break on the plane before you land, as going to the toilet in the immigration hall will just lose your place in the queue as people pour off the plane. If you have previously arranged your Visa on Arrival and paid the tourist tax, you can proceed through the electronic passport control, which will quickly take you to the baggage claim area, where the wait unfortunately begins.
Pro Tip #1: I also suggest paying for a seat at the front of the plane so you can disembark more quickly and proceed through immigration faster. If you’re one of the last off the plane, there will be hundreds of people in front of you. I know that Jetstar, Virgin, and other budget carriers don’t land at a gate and you’re taken to immigration on a bus (a bit of a hassle), but you want to be on that first bus.
Pro Tip #2: Bali Fast Track Service: Bali’s Airport has designated immigration lanes for families with young children, offering a separate queue for faster processing. Ask about this extra service when making your flight or villa booking. One of the reservation team at Bali Villa Escapes can advise you more about this service.
On the plane, pack food for the child, as we all know what plane food is like: expensive, unhealthy, and not much for toddlers. As a parent, you’ll probably want a few Bintangs to calm your nerves and get you in holiday mode, which is totally understandable. Also, pack toys and games for the toddler in your hand luggage to keep them busy. The last thing you want is a screaming toddler on the plane while you’re getting nasty looks from other passengers.
Bali airport luggage carousels are a nightmare, and wait times are excessive. Getting your luggage within 30 minutes is considered fast. I’ve heard stories about forgotten luggage or wait times up to 60 to 90 minutes. Even worse if you have oversized luggage, such as surfboards, golf clubs, baby strollers, or bikes. These come out in a separate area, so keep an eye out for this. If you haven’t completed your customs declaration online, now’s the time to grab the form at the far end of the luggage carousels and complete it as you wait for your luggage.
Once you’ve exited immigration, there’s one more hurdle: an X-ray of your luggage, which is completely random.
Pro Tip #3: Smile, be courteous, and in most cases, you’ll avoid this last airport obstacle. I know you’re tired and eager to get out of the airport, but a negative attitude will be met with questioning and a definite examination of your luggage.
Bali Airport arrivals is one of those airports where the process is a tad complicated. The trick here is to be patient and know what to do beforehand to avoid freaking out with a toddler in tow.
Once you exit the airport, it’s chaos on steroids, with hundreds of people waving signs with names and tour information, looking for their passengers. There are also taxi and GoJek drivers looking for customers, and money changers and mobile phone promo girls looking for customers. It’s all a shambles and a bit disorganised, and you have to be on the lookout for your driver. Once you’ve found him, they’ll handle the rest and take you to the villa or hotel in an air-conditioned van.
Jet-Lag and Other Sleep Problems
Toddlers can be hard to settle down for a nap or bedtime, and add a new environment and jet lag thrown in on top of this, and you’ve got some issues brewing. Try to bring familiar items with you, such as the stroller, so that they can take a nap. The best part is that you can take this with you for dinner or to explore the local area at your leisure. With jet lag, travelling to Bali from Australia, it’s not overly bad, as the time difference is generally only two to three hours at most. Try to stick to the local time as much as possible so the little ones can adjust to the time difference quickly. Eat dinner and breakfast at regular times (local Bali time – not Sydney, Melbourne or Perth times), go to bed when you usually would, and you’ll soon get past the dreaded red-eye jet lag. Many villas have dark block-out curtains, so keep these drawn until morning, and then open them up to welcome the new sunny day!
Eating Abroad
You can buy most food items in Bali at supermarkets like Pepito, Frestive, Nirmala or Bintang Supermarket, which you would get at Coles or Woollies. But niche items like baby formulas may not be stocked. So, ensure you bring all your baby supplies and food that they need with you from back home. Daily staples for toddlers and babies, such as milk, baby formulas, bread, vegetables, and fruit, are all Okay to buy in Bali. You can have your villa manager arrange for these to be delivered to your villa, or they can have one of the staff members do the shopping for you.
You Need Some Me & Down Time
Reality check!! Me time and toddlers are not the ideal mix. The reality of a family holiday is that you are devoting your time and energy to your little one, so there’s little time for shopping, catching a few waves, a massage or even a quick coffee at the local cafe. Yes, you can go to Bali, and yes, there are many things to do, but your personal time must now be shared with your child.
Pro Tip: Try to find a creche or play school in the area where you can drop them off for a few hours. There are a few in Seminyak and Canggu. Or have the villa manager or hotel concierge arrange a nanny or babysitter for a few hours. Be prepared for tantrums and screams when you drop them off or leave, but that’s all part of the separation anxiety that they go through. If the thought of leaving the child is too much, perhaps try the tag team approach where one parent stays and the other can go on their merry way for a few hours of me time.
Final Thoughts
Holidaying in Bali with a toddler is all about balance, patience, and a sense of humour. Yes, there will be meltdowns, mess, and moments you’ll wonder why you left home at all, paid all that money for your private pool villa in Bali—but there will also be magical sunsets, splashes in the pool, and cheeky toddler giggles you’ll remember forever.
If you enter with realistic expectations, plan, and utilise the incredible services Bali offers for families, you can transform potential chaos into happy memories.
So pack smart, embrace the unpredictability, and get ready to enjoy your Bali adventure—toddler and all.
