The following content is adapted from a travelogue shared by group member Mei Liu:
Key Takeaways: For a Chinese New Year trip with seniors and kids, the most practical lesson is to complete visas, tourist taxes, and customs declarations online in Taiwan beforehand—even with extra care, you might still miss an online form (the author here missed the departure declaration and had to fill it out on her phone on the spot, taking over ten minutes). Keeping a flexible mindset is key. For Chinese New Year flights, start monitoring prices a year in advance—don’t wait for travel fair deals.
When planning our Bali trip, I gained a lot of valuable information from the “Go Bali Go Bali Travel Group” and benefited greatly, so I wanted to share my experience of traveling to Bali for Chinese New Year with seniors and kids. This was my third visit to Bali, and interestingly, I realized I come here every decade. This time, the trip felt more like a family-oriented journey.
Visa Section
I chose to apply for an e-visa. Since traveling with seniors and kids can easily take more time, I preferred to handle everything I could in advance. Not just the visa, but I also paid the tourist tax in Taiwan beforehand to minimize processing time upon arrival.
Bali’s customs process is now quite digital, but I missed one thing—I didn’t realize the departure declaration had also moved online. So I had to quickly fill it out on my phone on the spot, which took over ten minutes. Luckily, my family had already learned to relax, so this little hiccup didn’t dampen the first day’s mood. Instead, it made everyone appreciate the flexibility and spontaneity of travel even more.
Although there were a few bumps along the way, this trip deeply reminded me how important it is to stay flexible and patient when traveling with family. I’ll continue sharing more details and insights from this Bali journey.
Quick Reference:
Latest: 【Entry Requirements】3 Must-Do Steps Before Traveling to Bali in 2026
Flight Arrangements
When it comes to flights during the Chinese New Year period, based on my decade-plus experience, the best strategy is to start monitoring prices closely a full year before your desired departure date. Once you spot a good deal, don’t hesitate or wait for travel fairs or airline promotions, as fares during this peak season only tend to climb higher.
For this Bali trip, the original plan was Australia, but after discussing with family in March, we switched to Bali. While searching for flights over the Chinese New Year period, I unexpectedly found EVA Air business class round-trip tickets to Bali for just over NT$35,000 (about USD$1,129), while economy class was already approaching NT$20,000 (about USD$645). In comparison, the business class price seemed especially worthwhile, especially considering the nearly five-hour flight to Bali—enhanced comfort without the sky-high price tag.
Business class meal
Chinese New Year is peak travel season, so ticket prices are notoriously steep. But sometimes, shifting your perspective and slightly increasing your budget for business class can yield pleasant surprises. This experience taught me that flexible budget adjustments and choices can make a trip far more comfortable and enjoyable.
How to Get the Cheapest Bali Flights? Trip.com Search Tips & Money-Saving Guide
Local Transportation
Public transportation in Bali is not well-developed, so getting around mainly comes down to three options: hiring a private driver, taking taxis, or renting a car or scooter.
- Private Driver: This is the most common and convenient option, especially for families traveling with elderly parents and children. With a private driver, you can tailor your itinerary flexibly, adjusting times and destinations. Drivers often double as guides, recommending local hidden gems and restaurants.
- Taxis: For short trips, taxis are a good choice. It’s best to use local ride-hailing apps like Grab or Gojek, which offer transparent pricing and convenience.
- Renting a Car or Scooter: For travelers who love independence, renting a car or scooter is a great option. However, be aware that traffic in Bali can be chaotic, and driving habits differ from those in Taiwan. This option is best for experienced drivers.
This time, we chose a private driver, which not only made the trip more relaxing but also allowed my family to rest in the car and recharge for the adventures ahead. While Bali’s transportation isn’t as convenient as in big cities, with proper planning, the journey can still be smooth and enjoyable.
Quick Reference:
Private Driver Experience
Traveling with elderly parents and children? Definitely go with a private driver. The cost of hiring a private driver in Bali usually depends on the vehicle size, distance, and duration. In travel groups, many people recommend drivers based on their own experiences. If you’re traveling with friends, an English-speaking driver is perfectly fine. But this time, since my mom was with us, I wanted her to feel more involved, so I looked for a Chinese-speaking driver. I came across a recommendation for a female driver who had worked in Taiwan for a few years—she spoke Chinese and was familiar with Taiwan. I added her on Line and booked four days of private driving.
When we met her at the airport, she was incredibly warm. Her personality and way of speaking immediately reminded me of the Indonesian caregiver who used to look after my grandfather, which put the whole family at ease. Once we got in the car, I realized her husband was driving—so we essentially got a driver and a guide for the price of one! What a pleasant surprise!
This couple is always on the go. With their children now grown up and working or studying, they bought a car and started a private driving business. Perhaps because they’re parents themselves, they have a strong “mom vibe.” As soon as we got in the car, they had three local banana cakes ready, worried we might get hungry if traffic was bad on the way to the villa. She also proactively asked for the villa’s contact number to confirm the route and arrangements in advance—very thoughtful. Throughout the ride, they were great conversationalists. Finding them was like winning my mom’s heart instantly!
Once the elders are relaxed, a family trip is half successful, so I highly recommend this couple. If you’re planning a trip to Bali, consider hiring them. (Contact info at the end of the post.)
Taxis & Traffic Conditions
We visited during the rainy season, which is pretty similar everywhere—ordering food or hailing a taxi is smooth on sunny days, but once it rains, everything changes. So, on days without a private driver, avoid planning trips that are too far; a 30-minute drive is the absolute limit. I suggest including popular attractions on days when you have a driver booked, otherwise, getting a ride back can be pricey, and in bad weather, you might not even find one.
We experienced an extreme case of ordering food on a rainy day: we placed an order at 11 AM, and by 1 PM, no driver had accepted it. Eventually, Grab gave up and let me cancel the order! Luckily, we had stocked up on instant noodles, vegetables, and eggs at the supermarket the day before, so we didn’t go hungry.
Traffic in Bali is indeed far from ideal, mainly because the road planning is quite haphazard. Often, places that look close on the map require five times the travel time to reach by a long detour (sometimes I really feel like climbing over the wall!).
Grab Ride-Hailing Experience
Most Grab drivers are decent, but we did encounter one who asked us to cancel the ride after picking us up, so he wouldn’t have to pay the platform fee. When we arrived, he jokingly asked, ‘No tip?’ In such situations, just stay calm—every place has its own culture and habits.
Quick Reference:
Bali App Ride-Hailing Driver Tricks: How to Avoid Grab/Gojek Scams?
Renting a Scooter
Since I was traveling with elderly family and kids this time, I didn’t get a chance to rent a scooter, but from what I understand, the prices are quite reasonable—around USD$6 to USD$10 per day. For a group of young travelers on an independent trip, renting a scooter can be a great option, but keep in mind that Bali’s traffic can be chaotic, and reckless driving by foreigners is common, so be sure to ride carefully!
Quick Reference:
Bali Scooter Rental Guide: Prices, Safety, and Tips at a Glance
All in all, while Bali’s traffic can be a bit challenging, planning ahead with a private driver or choosing the right transportation can still make your trip go smoothly. I hope these tips help future travelers planning a trip to Bali!
Accommodation
This trip was all about kicking back and relaxing, so I focused on booking villas. Browsing through Airbnb felt like a tour of luxury homes, with all kinds of extravagant villas dazzling me. It took about three days to snap out of those dreamy options and start seriously considering practical needs.
Latest Update: December 2025
In Bali, the more luxurious the villa, the more remote its location tends to be, which can mean less convenience compared to city-center stays. So, based on my family’s personalities and needs, I tried to strike a balance between “luxury” and “convenience.” The villas I booked were all in areas where Grab food delivery or taxis were easy to arrange, ensuring we could handle meals and transportation when needed.
That said, this accommodation experience taught me a few lessons. Bali villas often design common spaces—like living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens—as outdoor or semi-outdoor areas to bring guests closer to nature. While this adds to the vacation vibe, it also means more mosquitoes, which was tough for someone like me who’s a mosquito magnet. Next time, I’ll pay more attention and try to choose villas with air-conditioned, enclosed common spaces, so I can enjoy a comfortable environment without the bug problem.
Booking Process
The booking process went very smoothly. Bali’s villa reservation system already has many small and medium-sized management teams operating, and the completeness of communication and service is quite good. If your English is up to par, you can communicate directly with the host through Airbnb or other platforms, and you’ll usually get prompt and detailed replies.
When it comes to accommodation, this villa stay made our whole family very satisfied. Especially being able to enjoy a leisurely vacation in a private space is truly ideal for a family trip with elderly parents and children.
Quick Reference:
Dining Experience
Bali’s water is quite hard, which was a bit painful for someone like me who loves tea. Fortunately, a friend’s sister who lives in Bali reminded me that even bottled water from the supermarket produces tea far inferior to what I’d brew back in Taiwan. She suggested bringing tea bags made from broken leaves or stems, as they yield a more acceptable brew. Although I still brought some nice red oolong tea leaves, after the first day of using tea bags I brought from Taiwan, I gave up completely—I didn’t even use the travel gaiwan tea set I brought.
Local Food
When it came to food, I tried local street stalls two or three times—things like crispy roast pork rice and satay—but quickly gave up. The locals’ standards for ingredient quality didn’t quite match our family’s expectations, so afterward I mostly chose restaurants frequented by foreigners. These places tend to cater to foreign palates, even adapting local dishes to be safer in flavor, which is especially friendly for those who don’t like spicy food.
More Food Guides
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Vegetables and Fruits
Left photo: Our driver took us to a fruit stall to buy mangosteens / Right photo: Snake fruit—tastes like sweet water chestnuts
In recent years, Bali’s highlands have started growing a variety of imported vegetables, such as cabbage and zucchini, and the quality is quite good. Our family bought zucchini three times to stir-fry at home, and the cabbage was also crisp and sweet. Additionally, January is the peak season for local mangosteens, which are of excellent quality—we bought them twice to enjoy.
When is the season for mangosteens, the tropical fruit queen, in Indonesia/Bali?
How to eat snake fruit in Bali? Nutrition, benefits, and the best sweet snake fruit
Dairy Products and Desserts
My travel companion loves dairy products and kept looking for local fresh milk. It’s important to emphasize that Bali has no livestock industry, so there’s no dairy production. If you apply Taiwan’s standards to find good milk, you’ll only waste money. Compared to twenty years ago when my first trip to Bali offered only powdered milk and UHT milk, now there are some products labeled ‘Fresh milk’ in English that come close, but they’re far from ideal for drinking straight—only good for adding to coffee or tea.
Similarly, Bali doesn’t produce flour, and locals’ taste for sweets isn’t very Westernized, with little emphasis on quality. So I wouldn’t recommend spending time or money here looking for good Western-style pastries or bread. This is Bali, not Korea or Japan—adjust your expectations accordingly for such foods.
Seafood
Mr. Lobster’s Seafood Feast as New Year’s Eve Dinner
Seafood quality in Bali is generally better than meat, mainly because the island is surrounded by the ocean. However, since the cold chain logistics aren’t as developed as in Taiwan, I didn’t dare plan a sunset seafood dinner in Jimbaran this time. Instead, following a recommendation from the Go Bali Go Facebook group, I chose Mr. Lobster, run by Taiwanese owners, and ordered seafood delivery to our villa for New Year’s Eve dinner. The seafood is caught live and fresh, with excellent quality—delicious and flavorful! Plus, the price is 30–40% cheaper than in Jimbaran. If you’re not particularly after the view, this restaurant’s seafood is a fantastic choice.
Quick Reference:
Mr. Lobster’s contact info & latest deals here
Transportation & Itinerary Planning
As mentioned earlier, Bali’s road design lacks comprehensive planning, resulting in traffic jams for more than two-thirds of the day, almost around the clock. So, if you have plans for the day—especially for attractions more than an hour’s drive from your accommodation—it’s absolutely recommended to set off by 7 or 8 AM. Otherwise, the traffic alone can drain half your energy, leaving you exhausted for the rest of the day.
When planning your itinerary, try to group attractions in the same area together. Don’t fantasize about covering more than 40 kilometers in a single day! Because Bali’s roads are narrow and the Lunar New Year falls during the island’s third peak season of the year, a trip of less than 40 kilometers can easily take two hours. Don’t pack your schedule too tightly just because the distance looks short on the map—you’ll only end up stuck in traffic, frustrated, and lose all the joy of travel.
Click here for senior-friendly attraction recommendations
Click here for senior-friendly attraction recommendations
Family Travel Tips
For family trips, especially with elderly and children, I highly recommend adopting a “one day with a driver, one day off” approach. This not only gives everyone enough time to rest and relax between activities but also helps avoid fatigue from long commutes.
For example, on the day you hire a driver, you can plan visits to farther attractions or popular activities like Ubud Market, the rice terraces, or Tanah Lot Temple. On the rest day, you can enjoy the private pool at your villa, get a spa treatment, or have a leisurely meal at a nearby restaurant. This pace keeps the elderly comfortable and gives kids enough time to burn off energy and rest.
- Episode 1: [Bali Travel Guide for Seniors - Safety, Comfort, and Precautions
- Episode 2: [Complete Guide to Bali Travel Destinations for Seniors
- Episode 3: [How Quirky Can Elderly Behavior Be? Beware of 'Ungrateful Efforts' When Traveling Abroad
Massage Experience
I didn’t have high expectations for massages in Bali. In my experience, whether budget or luxury, the pressure tends to be too light for Taiwanese people—like a gentle touch on the muscles. For those used to deep tissue work, it never feels quite enough. Even when I chose the strongest pressure and repeatedly asked the therapist to go harder, the effect was still limited.
This time in Ubud, I tried the Deep Tissue Massage at Nata Spa. The pressure was indeed heavier than typical Balinese massages, and it felt quite pleasant—I even dozed off for most of it. While it was much better than the “gentle touch” feeling I’d had before, it still left me wanting a bit more. However, our driver mentioned that massages in Kuta and Seminyak are more impressive, while Ubud’s are relatively average, so I wasn’t disappointed.
Surprise Discovery: Hot Bamboo SPA
After arriving in Canggu, I started searching for nearby massage places and stumbled upon “Hot Bamboo SPA.” After reading the reviews, I was immediately drawn to its uniqueness. They offer a massage using warm bamboo, hence the name “Hot Bamboo.” The reviews were overwhelmingly positive, especially about the pressure—claiming it’s the most intense massage in Bali.
So, I decided to go for it! However, this spa was unexpectedly popular and one of the few that require a deposit when booking, payable only in cash or via bank transfer to an Indonesian account. The massage fee also can’t be paid by card—only cash. Luckily, with the help of our driver, I asked him to transfer the deposit, and we successfully secured the appointment.
Simple Yet Professional Choices
Unlike the overwhelming menus at other massage places, Hot Bamboo SPA keeps it refreshingly simple with just three massage options:
- Relaxing Bali Aga (gentle relaxation)
- Hot Bamboo (warm bamboo massage)
- Strong Barefoot (intense foot massage)
The pressure ranges from light to firm, and you can choose between 60, 90, or 120 minutes—straightforward and clear. The interior decor is clean and artsy, dominated by natural bamboo and linen tones, creating a cozy and natural ambiance.
Strong Barefoot Massage Experience
Without hesitation, we went for the firmest option, the ‘Strong Barefoot’ massage, booking a 2-hour session. The pressure was truly on point—firm yet gentle. When the therapist worked on my back, I initially thought about asking for a lighter touch, but within a minute, I felt completely relaxed and even started to doze off. I couldn’t bring myself to ask them to ease up.
This massage experience completely changed my view of Balinese massages. Hot Bamboo SPA’s professionalism and unique techniques truly deliver a full-body and mind relaxation. If you enjoy firmer massages, this SPA is definitely worth a try!
This is included in our ‘Best SPA Recommendations in Bali’ collection. If you’re looking for a great SPA to unwind, don’t miss our curated picks!
Final Thoughts
This family trip to Bali, though challenging with elderly parents and young children, brought us countless unforgettable memories and valuable experiences. From flights, accommodation, and transportation to food and massages, every detail deepened my understanding that travel 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 nature-close landscapes, everyone can find their own way to unwind. While the traffic and food habits may require some adjustment, with advance planning and flexibility, these small challenges can actually make the journey richer and more enjoyable.
This trip taught me that the most important thing about traveling with family isn’t how packed the itinerary is, but whether everyone feels comfortable and happy along the way. Bali’s slow pace and warm hospitality provided the perfect space for us to relax. I hope this travelogue offers practical insights for future travelers to Bali, and I look forward to our next journey, creating more wonderful memories with my family!
Bali, see you next time! 🌴✨
Note: Driver Recommendation
Traveling to Bali with elderly parents and kids? I highly recommend hiring a private driver! The typical rate for a private driver in Bali is based on a ten-hour day, with prices varying by group size and luggage. For our group of seven, we sent our itinerary to the driver, and she quoted a price based on distances—very professional.
I especially recommend this husband-and-wife driver team. The wife, Ani, 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—she often proactively contacted us before departure to confirm the itinerary, and on arrival day, she thoughtfully brought local banana cakes in case we got hungry in traffic. Her husband does the driving, so hiring them is like getting a driver plus a tour guide. They worked seamlessly together, putting the whole family at ease.
Ani knows Bali inside out and can recommend restaurants and attractions from a Taiwanese perspective, with zero hard selling—her suggestions were always objective and practical. When they dropped us off at the airport, they even prepared local sweets as gifts, showing genuine warmth and sincerity.
If you’re planning a trip to Bali with elderly parents and kids, this couple is definitely your top choice!
Ani’s Contact Info:
Line: agussolihin72
WhatsApp: +62 081246683494
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