Kuta, Bali - January 2013

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It's nearing the end of summer vacation so it was off to Bali for 6 days for the family to rest up before school starts for the year. We booked in to the Hard Rock Hotel in down town Kuta as although we've been to Bali a few times since the kids were born we have stayed away from this party area. But the swimming pool was drawing us there with slides , kids play equipment and a sand entry so we wouldn't have to hold the Little Miss and she could play in the sand. And, it was excellent!

I don't want to sound like a hotel review but it was really fabulous (disclaimer, this is for a family with young kids)! perhaps because we were in a kids suite we had extra things thrown in...return transfers just made life a little easier, free kids activities, free kids meals, free pc/computer use, an al a carte breakfast option away from the normal bfast...very very friendly staff. The kids loved their kids suite - they had their own little bathroom with free kids toothpaste and brushes and even soap and a kids height shower. There was no arguing about showers lol! they had a little room with bunks and again they happily slept together (this is new for us - yay!) and there was a play station and guitar in there for older kids. Both kids brought a backpack of toys and not once did they open them, they were out swimming every moment or busy exploring 😊

The Midgit quickly made friends with some boys and we found a location in the pool where we could see him if on the slides, if playing volley ball or basketball in the pool. And the Little Miss played in the sand with the free sand toys that were in our room or floated around swimming in the floatey vest she got for christmas. We started swimming probably by 9am each day then around 11.30 would venture out for some lunch. Then time for a nap and back for swimming then pool entertainment until 5ish then off to find some dinner. The kids club had rock climbing every day by the pool at 11 so the Midgit did that each day and he really did well. He has just turned 6 and didn't get scared to climb a 4m wall with a small backwards incline to reach a bell. Each afternoon the hotel had activities in the pool and prekids I remember hating the Bali Dynasty for this exact reason, but now that my kids were entertained for pretty much 2 hours and we could sit at the swim up pool bar and have a beer, my requirements have changed 😊 The Midgit won a silver medal one day for his bombing skills and a bronze another for his sack racing skills - the smile on his face was well worth it 😊

It was about 28 each day and 80% humidity but it has been in the 40's in Perth for the last month so this wasnt actually too bad for us. and it only rained a few time for 30 min each time which wasnt really a problem if youre in the pool 😊 Probably the only negative of the hotel was the location as we really struggled to find close by restarunts or cafes. There was heaps of crap like KFC but as for indo food, it turned out to be a 20 min walk back towards Tuban. We r not really in to the shopping in Bali as we just find the quality so not worth it, but we did buy the Midgit a Lakers top and a Tigers top that he was delighted with, and the Little Miss got two summer dresses, pink of course 😊 And the big find was the full movie series of Star Wars for a whole aud$0.50 each as these cost over aud$100 and are a real struggle to find on dvd in australia.

We also met up with some friends and family while there. We had dinner with my cousin from Canberra one night who I haven't seen in 30 years, and the same day met up with a close friend from work and her family who's kids played wonderfully with mine so we were together well in to the evening and watched a band at the Hard Rock. To be completely indulgent on the last day we hired a cabana beside the pool and it was pretty cool. The person who served you was on rollerblades and it was good to have a base for the day that was in the shade and we knew we could leave our stuff.

All up it was a very relaxing break, with only two incidents of nearly being ripped off at 'circle c's (watch those dodgy shops), me reading a taximeter incorrectly and instead of paying RP10,000 I paid RP100,000 much to his delight I'm sure, a massage every day while kids had a nap and no food poisoning.... joy 😊 and the best sign of a good trip was the Little Miss having her hand on the window of the plane and genuinely crying with tears that she didn't want to leave bali....aaawwwww 😊)

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Photos

Bali Sunset
photo of the boys taking a photo

Hard Rock style
Guitar lessons on Channel 2

Happy Australia Day
....bali style with fire dancing

Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Traveling with kids
Sounds like you selected the perfect spot to stay with kids. Glad you had a wonderful time.

[D MJ Binkley]

Sleeping babes
priceless

[taracloud]

So cute!
The little bunk beds and all the kids' activities were so adorable! How great that you chose a place that would entertain the little ones while you two got to enjoy yourselves, too. A fine pampering before school and fine tales for Midgit when he has to tell the class what he did on his summer holidays.

[Home and Away]

Sounds like the ideal place for a family vacation...
Even if it is in Kuta!

[tamandfamily]

Hi Bob, yes the Kuta part was a bit of a worry but we didnt really see it as we'd be back at our hotel by 9pm each night so apart from some drunk aussies quite early on Australia Day, not too much 'bad'behaviour. Lol - the kids have been down baglor road in patong so have seen some interesting things :)