Where to stay in Bali with Kids

We take a look at where to stay in Bali with kids, delving into all the different popular areas of Bali, with suggested hotels in each.

Bali is the perfect destination for a family vacation. The amazing beaches, beautiful sunsets, fabulous restaurants, welcoming locals and interesting culture keep people returning for Bali family holidays every year.

However, not all areas in Bali are created equal. Each area has its own distinctive feel, and its own pros and cons.

Note that traffic can be pretty bad at times in Bali, particularly early evening. Even though distances may not look far, don’t expect to stay in Nusa Dua and travel to the Seminyak restaurants every evening, or you will spend most of your evening sitting in a taxi.

Having said that, doing a multi-destination vacation in Bali is easily doable. For example, you can drive between Sanur and Ubud in around an hour, and from Seminyak to Nusa Dua in around 30-minutes, depending on the time of day.

You may also like these articles:

• The Best Family Hotels in Bali
• The Best Family Villas in Bali
• Things to do in Bali with Kids
• Bali Visa and Immigration Tips

Which area to stay in Bali

Which area to stay in Bali will be dependent on the type of vacation you are looking for.

If you’re looking for a flop and drop holiday at a 5-star resort, then Nusa Dua might be a good option. If you prefer to get out and immerse yourslef in local culture and adventure, then Ubud will suit you more.

Here is a quick breakdown of some of the most popular areas in Bali and what attracts people to each: 

• Nusa Dua: Mostly large resorts. Great beach for kids with calm water. Most restaurants are located within the hotels and most people tend to stay within their resort rather than head out to dine. Perfect for a flop and drop holiday. 
• Seminyak: Trendy and stylish with a wide range of upscale restaurants, beach clubs, boutique shopping, and vibrant nightlife. The beach is wide and good for surfing, though the waves can be rough for young kids. Pick a hotel with a good pool. 
• Sanur: Quieter than some other areas of Bali but still has a good choice of restaurants, cafes and shops. Great beach for families with calm water and an 8km beach promenade makes it easy to explore on foot or by bike. 
• Ubud: Known as Bali’s cultural and spiritual heart, it is surrounded by lush rice terraces and jungle. Known for art galleries, temples, wellness resorts, and a more relaxed pace of life. No beach here, but plenty of nature-based activities, markets, and traditional performances.
• Uluwatu: Dramatic cliffs, world-class surf, and stunning ocean views define this laid-back area. Home to iconic beach clubs, luxe cliffside villas, and the famous Uluwatu Temple. Best for surfers and those wanting a quieter, scenic escape. Not ideal for swimming due to strong currents and rocky shores.

Nusa Dua

Nusa Dua is one of the most popular areas to stay in Bali for families. If you are looking to just hang out on a beautiful beach for your Bali vacation, then Nusa Dua is definitely a good option.

You won’t experience a lot of local Bali culture here, as the area is really just dedicated to luxury beach resorts. However, if you are just looking for some downtime and to enjoy some beautiful beaches, then Nusa Dua is definitely where to go in Bali. There is also a good golf course here.

You will find a lot of the big international chain hotels in Nusa Dua and dining out really centres around these hotel restaurants. Most people who choose to stay in Nusa Dua don’t venture too far from their resort during their Bali vacation.

Our pick of the best family hotels in Nusa Dua:

• Westin Resort: Family friendly facilities include three swimming pools, waterslide, outdoor playground. We love their two-bedrooms family suites. Click here to check prices and availability.
• The Mulia Resort: Large beachfront property with several large swimming pools, kids’ water play area, good choice of restaurants with amazing buffet options and three kids’ clubs for different ages. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Grand Hyatt: Full of family facilities, including five swimming pools, water slides, tennis courts, outdoor playground and kids club. Click here to check prices and availability.

Seminyak

Seminyak is busy and bustling, trendy and eclectic. More refined than its neighbour Kuta, Seminyak is one of the best places to go in Bali for high-end restaurants, shopping and spas.

Although one of my personal favourite places to stay, the downside of Seminyak for families is the beaches. The waves are usually too rough for kids and the black sand is less appealing than those white sandy stretches in Nusa Dua or Sanur.

If you like to eat out though and enjoy fabulous cocktails at sunset, then Seminyak is hard to beat. There is a good choice of high-end beachfront hotels here and also a good selection of Bali family villas.

Our pick of the best family hotels in Seminyak:

• Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach: Everything you want from a Seminyak hotel – it’s funky and trendy, has a beachfront setting, awesome swimming pools and fantastic restaurants. An easy walk to some of Seminyak’s sunset bars. Click here to check prices and availability.
• W Bali: While there is no kids club, kids will love their tiered swimming pool and easy access to the beach. Staff are great with kids and there is a toy box in the restaurant. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Seminyak Beach Resort: Another option if you want to be beachfront and in the heart of the action. It offers spacious interconnecting room and villas plus all the facilities you could want, including a 45m infinity pool overlooking the beach. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Courtyard by Marriott Bali Seminyak Resort: If you’re looking for a more cost-effective option, and don’t mind not being absolute beachfront, then this is a great option. It has a choice of rooms, including family rooms and 2-bedroom suites, plus an awesome swimming pool complete with sunken bar. Click here to check prices and availability.

Ubud

If you’re looking for beautiful rice paddies, interesting temples and the chance to immerse yourself in local culture, then Ubud is for you.

Ubud has a lovely laid back feel to it, but still boasts a good selection of restaurants and bars, and some beautiful family friendly resorts. Many of the resorts are dotted in amongst the countryside for rural seclusion, while others are within walking distance of the town.

There is the monkey forest to explore, boutique shopping and markets to browse. Don’t miss the chance to take a wander through the Tegallalang Rice Terraces and to visit the famous Tirta Empul water temple.

Our pick of the best family hotels in Ubud:

• Westin Resort & Spa Ubud Bali: Located just outside Ubud, the Westin has an amazing infinity pool with jungle views, a good variety of rooms, choice of restaurants and even a kids club. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Padma Resort Ubud: Located north of Ubud in lush jungle surroundings, it has a beautiful infinity pool with swim-up bar and kids club with small kids pool and waterfall. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Four Seasons Sayan: If money is no object, it’s hard to beat the Four Seasons Sayan. Family suites have separate kids bedrooms, there’s a two-tiered swimming pool and one of the best kids clubs in Bali. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Plataran Ubud Hotel & Spa: Offers a tranquil retreat right in the heart of Ubud (good for avoiding those traffic jams). The hotel has two infinity pools and a small Kids Club, plus fish to feed and sheep and rabbits to visit. The cookery class is another fun activity for families. Click here to check prices and availability.

Sanur

Located on the East coast of Bali, Sanur is a great choice for families looking for a quieter Bali family vacation.

More laid back and less built up than the beaches on the West coast, Sanur still boasts several family-friendly hotels, a good choice of local restaurants, cafes and warns, and even a shopping mall.

Sanur Beach stretches for 8km and is protected by the reef, meaning the water is calm for kids to splash about in and makes water sports such as kayaking and paddle boarding easy. 

The beachfront sidewalk is popular with both joggers and cyclists, and hiring bikes is a great way to get out and explore as a family. It’s also easy to walk between hotels if you want to eat at another hotel’s restaurants.

Our pick of the best family hotels in Sanur:

• Hyatt Regency Sanur: A large hotel in beautifully landscaped tropical gardens. It has spacious rooms, two restaurants, a choice of swimming pools, a beautiful spa and a large kids club. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Meru Sanur: Stylish luxury suite-only resort right on Sanur beach with two enormous swimming pools, great restaurants, friendly staff and a small kids’ club. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Intercontinental Bali Sanur: Another beautiful option on the Sanur scene, The Intercontinental offers luxurious suites and villas in the heart of Sanur. As well as the main pool, there are two kids’ pools and a large air-conditioned kids’ club. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Maya Sanur: All the rooms at the Maya are spacious and adaptable for families, with the choice of 2 doubled beds and interconnecting rooms. When it comes to entertaining the kids, Maya has it all. It has four pools, including a family pool and a kids pool, a kids playground and an indoor kids’ club. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Andaz Bali: Located right next door to the Hyatt Regency, the Andaz offers a more cost-effective option to its bigger brother next door. It offers spacious rooms, suites and villas, a kids club, on-site restaurants and a lovely beachfront swimming pool. Click here to check prices and availability.

Other areas in Bali to consider

Jimbaran Bay

The Jimbaran Bay beaches don’t really rival those in Nusa Dua, but there is a bit more to Jimbaran Bay than resort-laden Nusa Dua. There are the famous seafood restaurants on the beach to enjoy here, from where you can enjoy some fabulous sunsets.

Our pick of the best family hotels in Jimbaran bay include:

• Intercontinental Bali: Full of family facilities, with five swimming pools, beach volleyball and one of the best kid clubs in Bali. Click here to check prices and availability.
• AYANA Resort: Together with sister hotel RIMBA, guests have access to 17 bars & restaurants, 11 swimming pools, water slides and an 18-hole putting course. Also has a great kids club. Click here to check prices and availability.
• Four Seasons Resort: Villas are filled with child-friendly touches like kids bathrobes, there is a kids play area in the main restaurant, kids cooking classes on offer and a kids club. Click here to check prices and availability.

Kuta

It’s all happening in Kuta, one of the most popular places to stay in Bali, although it does have a reputation for being full of ‘bogans’.

There’s always a crowd in Kuta, whether you are here for the wild nightlife, busy beaches, or everybody’s favourite water park, Waterbom Bali.

This is the best place to stay in Bali if you like to be in on the action. There is plenty going on here to keep the whole family entertained, and plenty of restaurants, good shopping and supermarkets with everything easily on hand.

Kuta also has a good selection of budget and mid-range accommodation for families.

However, Kuta is known as the party capital of the island, so may not be the best place in Bali for families with young children.

Our pick of the best family hotel in Kuta:

• Hard Rock Hotel Bali: Loads of great facilities for families including a gorgeous swimming pool, playroom for toddlers, kids club, teen club and even a rock climbing wall. Click here to check prices and availability.