The following content is adapted from fellow traveler Mei Liu’s travelogue:
When planning our Bali trip, I gained a lot of valuable information from the ‘Go Bali Go Bali Travel Group’, which was extremely helpful. So, I’d like to share my experience of traveling to Bali with elders and kids during the Lunar New Year. This was my third visit to Bali, and coincidentally, I realized I come here every decade. This trip felt more like a family vacation.
Visa Process
I opted for an electronic visa. Traveling with elders and kids often takes more time, so I prefer to prepare everything in advance. Not only did I handle the visa, but I also paid the tourism tax in Taiwan to minimize the procedures upon arrival.
Bali’s customs process is quite digitized now, but I overlooked that the exit declaration had also moved online. As a result, I had to urgently fill it out on my phone at the airport, which took about ten minutes. Fortunately, my family had learned to relax, and this minor hiccup didn’t affect the mood on the first day of our trip. Instead, it helped everyone appreciate the flexibility and spontaneity of traveling.
Although there were some minor setbacks during this journey, it deeply reminded me of how important flexibility and patience are when traveling with family. Next, I’ll continue to share more details and insights from this Bali trip.
Quick Reference:
【Entry Requirements】4 Essential Steps to Complete Before Your 2025 Bali Trip
Flight Arrangements
During the Lunar New Year period, regardless of the destination, the best strategy based on my decade of experience is to start closely monitoring prices a year before your intended departure date. Once you spot a good deal, don’t hesitate or wait for travel fairs or airline promotions, as ticket prices during this period tend to only increase.
For this Bali trip, the original plan was to go to Australia, but after discussing with family in March, we decided to switch to Bali. When checking ticket prices during the Lunar New Year period, I was surprised to find that EVA Air’s round-trip business class tickets to Bali were only around USD$1,130, while economy class tickets were already nearing USD$645. In comparison, the business class price seemed exceptionally reasonable, especially considering the nearly five-hour flight to Bali. The comfort upgrade didn’t come with an exorbitant price tag.
Business class meals
The Lunar New Year is peak travel season, and ticket prices are naturally sky-high. However, sometimes shifting your perspective and slightly increasing your budget for business class can lead to unexpected surprises. This experience taught me that being flexible with your budget and choices can significantly enhance your travel comfort.
Local Transportation
Public transportation in Bali isn’t well-developed, so the main ways to get around are by hiring a private car, taking a taxi, or renting a car/motorcycle.
- Private Car Hire: This is the most common and convenient option, especially for families with elderly members or children. Hiring a car allows you to flexibly adjust your itinerary, and drivers often double as guides, recommending spots and restaurants known only to locals.
- Taxis: For short trips, taking a taxi is a good choice. It’s recommended to use local ride-hailing apps like Grab or Gojek, which offer transparent pricing and convenience.
- Car/Motorcycle Rental: For travelers who prefer independent exploration, renting a car or motorcycle is a great option. However, be aware that Bali’s traffic can be chaotic, and driving habits differ from those in Taiwan, so this is best suited for experienced travelers.
We opted for a private car hire this time, which not only made the trip more relaxing but also allowed the family to rest well in the car, saving energy for the next leg of the journey. While Bali’s transportation isn’t as convenient as in big cities, with proper planning, your trip can still be smooth and enjoyable.
Quick Reference:
Private Car Experience
When traveling with elderly family members and children, I absolutely recommend hiring a private car. In Bali, the cost of private car hire usually depends on the size of the vehicle, the distance traveled, and the duration of use. In various online communities, many people have recommended drivers based on their personal experiences. If you’re traveling with friends, an English-speaking driver is perfectly fine, but since my mom was with me this time, I wanted her to feel more involved, so I preferred finding a driver who could speak Chinese. Coincidentally, I saw someone recommend a female driver who had worked in Taiwan for several years. Not only did she speak Chinese, but she was also quite familiar with Taiwan. So, I added her on Line and booked her for four days of private car service.
When we met her on the day of our arrival, she was very warm and friendly. Her personality and way of speaking immediately reminded me of the Indonesian caregiver who used to look after my grandfather, which instantly put the whole family at ease. Once we got in the car, I realized that her husband was the one driving, meaning we essentially got a private car with a bonus tour guide—what a pleasant surprise!
This couple is the type that can’t sit still. After their children grew up and started working or studying, they bought a car and began their private car hire business. Perhaps because they are parents themselves, they have a very nurturing ‘mom-like’ personality. As soon as we got in the car, they had prepared three local banana cakes, worried that we might get hungry if we encountered traffic on the way to our villa. She even proactively asked for the villa’s contact information to confirm the route and make arrangements in advance—very thoughtful. Throughout the journey, they were great conversationalists, and finding them completely won over my mom’s heart!
Once the elderly are relaxed, the family trip is halfway to success, so I highly recommend this couple. If you’re planning a trip to Bali, consider hiring them. (Contact information is included at the end of the article.)
Taxis and Traffic Conditions
We visited during the rainy season, and as with rainy seasons everywhere, things like ordering food or calling a taxi went smoothly when the weather was good. But once it started raining, everything changed. Therefore, on days when you don’t have a private car, avoid planning trips that are too far away—30 minutes of driving is already pushing it. I recommend including popular attractions in your private car itinerary; otherwise, you might end up overpaying for a ride back, or worse, not being able to find one at all if the weather turns bad.
During this trip, we experienced an extreme situation with food delivery during the rain: I ordered food at 11 AM, but by 1 PM, no driver had accepted the order. Eventually, the Grab platform gave up and asked me to cancel the order! Thankfully, we had bought enough instant noodles, vegetables, and eggs at the supermarket the day before, so we didn’t go hungry.
The traffic situation in Bali is indeed less than ideal, mainly because the road planning is quite haphazard. Often, places that appear close on the map end up taking five times longer to reach because you have to go around in circles (sometimes you really just want to climb over a wall!).
Grab Ride Experience
Most Grab drivers we encountered were great, but we did have one driver who, upon picking us up, asked us to cancel the order so he wouldn’t have to pay the platform fee. When we arrived at our destination, he jokingly asked, ‘No tip?’ In such situations, it’s best to stay calm and handle it gracefully, as every place has its own culture and customs.
Quick Reference:
Bali App Ride-Hailing Driver Tricks: How to Avoid Grab/Gojek Traps?
Renting a Scooter
This time, since I was traveling with elderly family members and children, I didn’t get the chance to try renting a scooter. However, I’ve heard that the prices are quite affordable, ranging from around $6 to $10 USD per day. If you’re traveling with a group of young friends, renting a scooter could be a great option. Just be aware that Bali’s traffic can be chaotic, and some foreign drivers can be reckless, so ride carefully!
Quick Reference:
Bali Scooter Rental Guide: Prices, Safety, and Tips
Overall, while Bali’s transportation can be challenging, with proper planning—whether it’s arranging private car hires or choosing the right mode of transport—your trip can still go smoothly. I hope these insights will be helpful for future travelers planning a trip to Bali!
Accommodation Arrangements
This trip was all about relaxation, so I focused on booking Villas. Browsing through Airbnb felt like embarking on a luxury mansion tour, with countless extravagant Villas dazzling my eyes. It took me about three days to snap out of the dreamy options and start seriously considering practical needs.
Latest Update: December 2025
In Bali, the more luxurious Villas tend to be located in relatively remote areas, which may not be as convenient as staying in the city. Therefore, based on my family’s preferences and needs, I tried to strike a balance between “luxury” and “convenience.” The Villas I booked this time were all located in areas where Grab food delivery or taxis were easily accessible, ensuring we could conveniently handle meals and transportation when needed.
However, this accommodation experience also taught me a few lessons. Bali Villas often design communal spaces (like living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens) as outdoor or semi-outdoor areas to bring guests closer to nature. While this design adds to the vacation vibe, it also comes with the downside of more mosquitoes, especially for someone like me who attracts them. Next time, I’ll pay more attention and try to choose Villas with air-conditioned and enclosed communal spaces, allowing me to enjoy a comfortable environment while avoiding mosquito troubles.
Booking Process
The booking process went very smoothly this time. Bali’s villa booking system already has quite a few small to medium-sized operators running it, and the communication and service quality are quite good. If your English is proficient, you can directly communicate with the hosts through Airbnb or other platforms, and you’ll usually receive prompt and detailed responses.
In terms of accommodation arrangements, this villa stay left our entire family very satisfied, especially the leisurely vacation vibe we could enjoy in a private space. It’s really suitable for family trips with elders and children.
Quick Reference:
Bali Travel: Recommended Family Villas with 3+ Bedrooms
Dining Experience
Bali’s water is quite hard, which was a bit of a pain for someone like me who loves tea. Fortunately, a friend’s sister who lives in Bali reminded me that even the bottled water from supermarkets doesn’t make tea as good as it does in Taiwan. She suggested bringing crushed tea leaves or tea bags made from tea stems, as they would produce a more acceptable brew. Although I brought some decent red oolong tea leaves, after brewing the tea bags I brought from Taiwan on the first day, I gave up entirely—I didn’t even use the travel tea set I brought.
Local Food
When it comes to food, I tried local street vendors a couple of times, like crispy pork rice and satay, but quickly gave up. The locals’ standards for ingredient quality differ from our family’s, so I mostly ended up choosing restaurants frequented by foreigners. These restaurants usually cater to foreign tastes, and even local dishes are modified to be safer and more palatable, especially for those who aren’t fond of spicy food.
Vegetables and Fruits
Left: Our driver took us to a fruit stall to buy mangosteens / Right: Salak—a fruit that tastes like sweet water chestnut
In recent years, Bali’s mountainous regions have started cultivating various imported vegetables and fruits, such as cabbage and zucchini, which are of excellent quality. Our family has bought zucchini three times to stir-fry at home, and the cabbage has been delightfully crisp and sweet. Additionally, January is the peak season for local mangosteens, which are of superb quality. We’ve purchased them twice to enjoy.
Quick Reference:
When is the peak season for mangosteens in Indonesia/Bali?
Dairy Products and Desserts
A friend traveling with us is a big fan of dairy products and was eager to find fresh local milk. It’s important to emphasize that Bali has no dairy industry, so there are no locally produced dairy products. If you’re looking for milk that meets Taiwanese standards, you’ll only end up wasting money. Compared to twenty years ago when Bali only offered powdered milk and long-life milk, there are now some products that come close to fresh milk, labeled “Fresh milk” in English. However, drinking it straight is far from ideal—it’s better used in coffee or tea.
Similarly, Bali doesn’t produce flour, and locals don’t have a strong preference for Western-style sweets, nor do they pay much attention to quality. Therefore, I don’t recommend spending time or money searching for good Western-style desserts or bread here. This is Bali, not Korea or Japan, so expectations for such foods should be adjusted accordingly.
Seafood
Mr. Lobster’s seafood feast as our New Year’s Eve dinner
The quality of seafood in Bali is better than that of meat, primarily because Bali is surrounded by the sea. However, due to the less developed cold chain transportation system compared to Taiwan, I didn’t dare plan a sunset seafood meal in Jimbaran this time. Instead, based on recommendations from the Go Bali Go Facebook group, I chose “Mr. Lobster,” a restaurant run by Taiwanese, and ordered seafood delivery to our villa for our New Year’s Eve dinner. The seafood was freshly caught and of excellent quality—fresh and delicious! Moreover, the prices were 30-40% cheaper than in Jimbaran. If you’re not particularly chasing the view, this restaurant’s seafood is definitely a great choice.
Quick Reference:
Contact details and latest promotions for Mr. Lobster can be found here
Transportation and Itinerary Planning
As mentioned earlier, Bali’s road design lacks comprehensive planning, resulting in traffic congestion for more than two-thirds of the day. Therefore, if you have plans for the day, especially for attractions more than an hour away from your accommodation, it is highly recommended to depart by 7 or 8 AM. Otherwise, traffic alone can drain half of your energy, making the entire day’s itinerary exhausting.
When planning your itinerary, try to group attractions in the same area together, avoiding the unrealistic idea of covering more than 40 kilometers in a single day! Because Bali’s roads are narrow and it happens to be the Lunar New Year, which is Bali’s third busiest season of the year, it’s common for a journey of less than 40 kilometers to take two hours. Don’t think that just because the distance looks short on the map, you can pack your schedule tightly—this will only leave you stuck in traffic, crying tears of frustration, and completely losing the joy of travel.
For attractions suitable for seniors, click here
For attractions suitable for seniors, click here
Family Travel Recommendations
For family trips, especially those involving seniors and children, I highly recommend adopting a “one day of private car hire, one day of rest” pattern. This not only allows everyone to have enough time to rest and relax between activities but also avoids the fatigue that comes with long hours of travel.
For example, on the day of private car hire, you can arrange visits to more distant attractions or popular activities, such as Ubud Market, rice terraces, or Tanah Lot Temple; on the rest day, you can enjoy the private pool at your villa, indulge in a spa treatment, or leisurely dine at nearby restaurants. This pace not only ensures comfort for the seniors but also gives children ample time to expend energy and rest.
Quick Reference:
Guide to Traveling in Bali with Seniors
- Part 1: Bali Travel Guide for Seniors - Safety, Comfort, and Precautions
- Part 2: Complete Guide to Bali Destinations Suitable for Seniors
- Part 3: How Quirky Can Elderly Behavior Be? Be Careful When Traveling Abroad with Seniors
Massage Experience
Originally, I didn’t have high expectations for massages in Bali. In my impression, whether it’s a budget or luxury massage, the pressure tends to be too light for Taiwanese people, feeling more like a gentle touch on the muscles. For Taiwanese people accustomed to deep tissue work, this level of pressure often feels insufficient. Even when selecting the strongest massage pressure and repeatedly urging the masseuse to increase the intensity, the effect remains limited.
During my time in Ubud, I decided to try the Deep Tissue Massage at Nata Spa. The pressure was definitely stronger compared to the typical Balinese massage, and overall, it felt quite comfortable. I ended up dozing off for most of the session. While it was a significant improvement from the usual ‘light touch’ massages I’ve experienced, it still felt a bit like scratching an itch through a shoe. However, my private tour guide had mentioned that massages in Kuta and Seminyak tend to be more impressive, and Ubud’s offerings are relatively average, so I wasn’t disappointed.
A Pleasant Discovery: Hot Bamboo SPA
After arriving in Canggu, I started searching for nearby massage spots and stumbled upon ‘Hot Bamboo SPA.’ Reading the reviews, I was immediately drawn to its unique feature: a massage using heated bamboo, which inspired its name. The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, especially praising its intensity, claiming it to be the strongest massage in Bali.
So, I decided to give it a try! However, this SPA turned out to be unexpectedly popular. It’s one of the few places that requires a deposit upon booking, and payments can only be made in cash or via bank transfer to an Indonesian account. Fortunately, with the help of my private driver, I managed to transfer the deposit and secure my reservation.
Simple Yet Professional Choices
Compared to other massage places with extensive menus, Hot Bamboo SPA keeps it simple with just three options:
- Relaxing Bali Aga (Gentle Relaxation)
- Hot Bamboo (Heated Bamboo Massage)
- Strong Barefoot (Intense Foot Massage)
The intensity ranges from light to strong, and you can choose between 60, 90, or 120 minutes. The interior design is clean and minimalist, featuring bamboo and natural linen tones, creating a soothing and natural ambiance.
The Strong Barefoot Massage Experience
Without hesitation, we opted for the strongest option, the ‘Strong Barefoot’ massage, and booked a 2-hour session. The pressure was indeed spot-on—firm yet gentle. While I initially considered asking the therapist to ease up during the back massage, within a minute, I felt completely relaxed and even started drifting off to sleep. I couldn’t bear to ask them to lighten the pressure!
This massage experience completely changed my perspective on Bali’s spa treatments. The expertise and unique techniques at Hot Bamboo SPA truly provided a holistic relaxation for body, mind, and soul. If you prefer stronger pressure during massages, this spa is definitely worth trying!
Quick Reference:
Included in our ‘Recommended Bali Spa Collection’ (/blog/2023-01-22-64db6b7efd897800013a97ed/), don’t miss our curated list if you’re looking for a great spa to relax!
Conclusion
This family trip to Bali, though challenging with elders and children, brought us many unforgettable memories and valuable experiences. From flights, accommodations, transportation to dining and massages, every aspect deepened my understanding that traveling is not just about exploring the world, but also about creating beautiful moments with family.
Bali’s charm lies in its diversity and inclusiveness. Whether it’s luxurious villas, unique massage experiences, or natural landscapes, everyone can find their own way to relax. While adapting to traffic conditions and dietary habits requires some effort, with proper planning and flexibility, these small challenges can enrich the journey.
This trip taught me that traveling with family isn’t about how packed the itinerary is, but whether everyone feels comfortable and happy during the journey. Bali’s slow pace and warm hospitality provided us with the perfect space to relax. I hope this travelogue offers practical insights for future travelers to Bali and look forward to creating more beautiful memories with my family on our next adventure!
Bali, see you next time! 🌴✨
Note: Recommended Private Car Driver
Traveling with elders and children in Bali, definitely recommend hiring a private car! The standard rate for private car hire in Bali is usually calculated for a ten-hour day, with prices depending on the number of passengers and luggage. For our group of seven, after sending our itinerary to the driver, she quoted us a price based on distance, showing great professionalism.
I particularly recommend this couple, Ani and her husband. Ani, who worked in Taiwan for many years, speaks Chinese and is familiar with Taiwanese culture, which made my mother feel more involved during the trip. Ani is cheerful and attentive, often proactively confirming our itinerary before departure and thoughtfully preparing local banana cakes for us on arrival day in case we got hungry in traffic. Her husband handles the driving, effectively providing both transportation and tour guide services, making the whole family feel at ease.
Ani not only has an in-depth knowledge of Bali but also recommends suitable restaurants and attractions from a Taiwanese perspective, with no pushy sales tactics—her advice is always objective and practical. When sending us off at the airport, they thoughtfully prepared local sweets as farewell gifts, leaving us with a sense of warmth and sincerity.
If you’re planning a Bali trip with elderly family members and children, this couple is definitely the top choice!
Ani’s Contact Information:
Line: agussolihin72
WhatsApp: +62 081246683494
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