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 visa, tourist tax, and customs declarations online in advance from Taiwan—even with extra care, you might still miss an online form (the author missed the departure declaration and had to fill it out on her phone on the spot, taking over ten minutes). The key is to stay flexible. For flights during Chinese New Year, start monitoring prices a year ahead—don’t wait for travel fair deals.
When planning our Bali trip, I gained a lot of valuable info from the “Go Bali Go Bali Travel Group” and benefited greatly, so I wanted to share this experience of traveling to Bali for Chinese New Year with seniors and kids. This was my third visit to Bali, and coincidentally, I found myself returning every decade—this time with a stronger focus on family travel.
Visa
I opted for the e-visa. Since traveling with seniors and kids tends to take more time, I preferred to handle everything possible in advance. Not just the visa—I also paid the tourist tax in Taiwan to minimize processing time upon arrival.
Bali’s customs process is now quite digital, but I missed that the departure declaration had also moved online. So I had to urgently fill it out on my phone on the spot, which took over ten minutes. Luckily, my family had already learned to relax, so this small hiccup didn’t dampen the first day’s mood—instead, it made everyone appreciate the flexibility and spontaneity of travel.
Though the trip had a few bumps, it really drove home how important it is to stay flexible and patient when traveling with family. I’ll continue sharing more details and insights from this Bali trip.
Quick Reference:
Latest version: 【Entry Requirements】3 Essential Steps Before Traveling to Bali in 2026
Flight Arrangements
When it comes to flights during the Chinese New Year period, regardless of the destination, my decade-plus experience tells me the best strategy is to start monitoring prices closely 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 flights during this peak season only tend to get more expensive.
For this Bali trip, we originally planned to go to Australia, but after discussing with family in March, we decided to switch to Bali. While searching for flights during the Chinese New Year period, I unexpectedly found that EVA Air’s round-trip business class tickets to Bali were only around NT$35,000 (USD$1,129), while economy class prices were already close to NT$20,000 (USD$645). In comparison, the business class fare seemed particularly worthwhile, especially considering the nearly five-hour flight to Bali—the added comfort came at a price that wasn’t as steep as one might imagine.
Business class meal
Chinese New Year is peak travel season, so ticket prices are naturally sky-high. But sometimes, shifting your perspective and slightly increasing your budget to choose business class can bring unexpected surprises. This experience taught me that being flexible with your budget and choices can make your journey much more comfortable and enjoyable.
How to Get the Cheapest Bali Flights? Trip.com Search Tips and Money-Saving Guide
Local Transportation
Public transportation in Bali is not well-developed, so getting around mainly involves 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 with elderly members and children. You can tailor the itinerary to your schedule, adjust times and locations flexibly, and the driver often doubles as a guide, recommending local attractions and restaurants that only insiders know about.
- Taking 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 prefer independence, renting a car or scooter is a viable option. However, be aware that traffic in Bali can be chaotic, and driving habits differ from those in Taiwan, so this is recommended only for experienced travelers.
This time we chose a private driver, which not only made the trip more relaxing but also allowed the family to rest well in the car, saving energy for the journey ahead. While Bali’s transportation isn’t as convenient as in big cities, with proper planning, the trip can still go smoothly and enjoyably.
Quick Reference:
Private Driver Experience
Traveling with elderly parents and kids? Absolutely go for a private driver. In Bali, the cost of hiring a driver 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 leaned toward finding a Chinese-speaking driver. I happened to see a recommendation for a female driver who had worked in Taiwan for a few years—she not only spoke Chinese but was also familiar with Taiwan. I added her on Line and booked four days of private driver service.
When we met her at the airport, she was incredibly warm. Her personality and way of speaking instantly 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, we realized her husband was the one driving—so we basically got a driver and a guide in one package. What a pleasant surprise!
This couple has a restless spirit. After their kids grew up and started working or studying, they bought a car and launched their private driver business. Maybe 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, just in case we got hungry in traffic on the way to the villa. She even asked for the villa’s contact number to confirm the route and arrangements in advance—so thoughtful. Throughout the ride, they were great conversationalists. Finding them basically won my mom over completely!
Once the elders relax, a family trip is half the battle won. So I highly recommend this couple. If you’re planning a trip to Bali, consider hiring them. (Contact info at the end of the article.)
Taxis and Traffic Conditions
We visited during the rainy season. It’s pretty much the same everywhere—when the weather’s good, ordering food or hailing a taxi is smooth sailing, but once it rains, everything changes. So on days without a private driver, don’t plan trips that are too far—30 minutes by car is the absolute limit. I suggest squeezing popular attractions into your private driver days; otherwise, on the way back, you might get overcharged or, if the weather turns bad, might not even find a ride.
This time we encountered an extreme situation of ordering food delivery in the rain: we placed an order at 11 AM, but by 1 PM no driver had accepted it. Eventually, Grab gave up and let us 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 due to the very haphazard road planning. Often, places that look close on the map require five times the travel time to reach by taking a long detour (sometimes I really just want to climb over the wall!).
Grab Ride-Hailing Experience
Most Grab drivers are decent, but we did encounter one who asked us to cancel the order when he picked us up, so he wouldn’t have to pay the platform fee. When we arrived at the destination, he jokingly asked, ‘No tip?’ In such situations, just stay calm—every place has its own culture and habits.
Quick Reference:
Bali Ride-Hailing App Driver Tricks: How to Avoid Grab/Gojek Scams?
Renting a Scooter
This time, since we were traveling with elderly and children, we didn’t get a chance to rent a scooter. However, I understand the price is quite affordable, around USD$6 to USD$10 per day. For a group of young travelers on a free-and-easy trip, renting a scooter is a great option, but be aware of Bali’s chaotic traffic and reckless foreign drivers—ride with caution!
Quick Reference:
Bali Scooter Rental Guide: Prices, Safety, and Tips at a Glance
Overall, while transportation in Bali can be a bit challenging, planning ahead for a private driver or choosing the right mode of transport can still make your trip go smoothly. I hope these insights will be helpful for future travelers planning a trip to Bali!
Accommodation Arrangements
Since this trip was all about ‘lazing around and relaxing,’ 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 may mean less convenience compared to city-center accommodations. So, based on my family’s personalities and needs, I tried to strike a balance between ‘luxury’ and ‘convenience.’ The villas I booked this time were all in areas where Grab food delivery or taxis are easy to hail, ensuring we could conveniently handle meals and transportation when needed.
However, this accommodation experience also taught me a few lessons. Villa designs in Bali often place common living spaces—like living rooms, dining areas, and kitchens—outdoors or semi-outdoors to bring guests closer to nature. While this setup feels very resort-like, it also brings more mosquitoes, which was tough for someone like me who attracts them. Next time, I’ll pay more attention and try to choose villas with air-conditioned, enclosed common spaces to enjoy a comfortable environment while avoiding mosquito troubles.
Booking Process
The booking process this time went very smoothly. Bali’s villa booking system already has quite a few small to medium-sized management teams in operation, with solid communication and service quality. If your English is up to par, you can communicate directly with hosts through Airbnb or other platforms, and you’ll usually get prompt and detailed responses.
In terms of accommodation, this villa experience left our whole family very satisfied. Especially being able to enjoy a leisurely vacation in a private space, it’s truly ideal for family trips with elderly parents and kids.
Quick Reference:
Bali Travel: Recommended Family Villas with 3+ Bedrooms
Dining Experience
Bali’s water is quite hard, which was a struggle for a tea lover like me. Luckily, a friend’s sister who lives in Bali warned me in advance: even bottled water from the supermarket makes tea taste far worse than what I’m used to in Taiwan. She suggested bringing tea bags made from broken leaves or stems, as they brew more acceptably. Although I packed some nice red oolong leaves, after the first day of trying tea bags from Taiwan, I gave up entirely—I didn’t even use the travel gaiwan I brought.
Local Food
When it came to eating, I tried local street stalls a couple of times—things like crispy roast pork rice and satay—but quickly stopped. The locals’ standards for ingredient quality didn’t quite match ours, so I mostly ended up dining at restaurants frequented by foreigners. These places tend to cater to international tastes, even when serving local dishes, making them a safer bet, especially for those who aren’t big on spicy food.
More Food Guides
- Bali Durian Season Guide: When Is It Most Fragrant and Cheapest?
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- Bali's Biggest Night Market Food Tour: Explore Authentic Flavors at Kreneng with a Local Chinese-Speaking Guide
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Vegetables and Fruit
Left: Our driver took us to a fruit stall to buy mangosteens / Right: Snake fruit—like sweet water chestnuts
In recent years, Bali’s highlands have started growing a variety of imported vegetables, such as cabbage and zucchini, with excellent quality. We bought zucchini three times to stir-fry ourselves, and the cabbage was crisp and sweet. Plus, January is peak season for local mangosteens, which were fantastic—we bought them twice to enjoy.
Quick Reference:
When is the Season for the Queen of Tropical Fruits - Mangosteen in Bali, Indonesia?
Dairy & Desserts
My travel companion is a big fan of dairy products and was keen to find local fresh milk. It’s important to note that Bali has no dairy industry, so there’s no locally produced milk. If you’re looking for good milk by Taiwanese standards, you’ll just be wasting your money. Compared to twenty years ago when my first trip to Bali only offered powdered milk and UHT milk, there are now some products labeled “Fresh milk” in English that come close, but they’re far from ideal for drinking straight—they’re only passable in coffee or tea.
Similarly, Bali doesn’t produce flour, and locals’ taste for sweets isn’t very Westernized, nor do they pay much attention to quality. So I wouldn’t recommend spending time or money here searching for good Western-style pastries or bread. This is Bali, not Korea or Japan—adjust your expectations accordingly.
Seafood
Mr. Lobster’s seafood feast for 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 arrange 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 delivered to our villa for New Year’s Eve dinner. The seafood was caught live and fresh, with excellent quality—tasty and delicious! Plus, the price was 30-40% cheaper than in Jimbaran. If you’re not specifically after the view, this restaurant’s seafood is a solid choice.
Quick Reference:
Mr. Lobster’s contact info & latest deals are here
Transportation & Itinerary Planning
As mentioned earlier, Bali’s road design lacks comprehensive planning, resulting in traffic jams for over two-thirds of the day, almost around the clock. So if you have a packed itinerary, especially for spots more than an hour’s drive from your accommodation, it’s highly recommended to set off by 7 or 8 in the morning. 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, and don’t fantasize about covering over 40 kilometers in a single day! With Bali’s narrow roads and the fact that Lunar New Year falls during the island’s third peak season, it’s common for a trip under 40 kilometers to take two hours. Don’t cram your schedule just because the distance looks short on the map—you’ll only end up stuck in traffic, frustrated, and missing out on the joy of travel.
Click here for senior-friendly attractions
Click here for senior-friendly attractions
Family Travel Tips
For family trips, especially with elderly relatives and kids, I highly recommend a ‘one day with a driver, one day off’ approach. This way, everyone gets enough time to rest and relax between outings, avoiding the fatigue from long commutes.
For example, on the day with a driver, you can visit farther attractions or popular spots 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 plenty of time to play and recharge.
- 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 at first. In my memory, whether budget or luxury, the pressure tends to be too light for Taiwanese people—like a gentle stroke over the muscles. For those used to deep tissue work, it never feels quite right. 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 your typical Balinese massage, and it felt quite pleasant—I even dozed off for most of it. While it was much better than the ‘gentle touch’ I’d experienced before, it still left a bit to be desired. However, our driver mentioned that massages in Kuta and Seminyak are much better, while Ubud’s are just average, so I wasn’t too disappointed.
A Surprising Discovery: Hot Bamboo SPA
After arriving in Canggu, I started searching for nearby massage spots and stumbled upon ‘Hot Bamboo SPA.’ After reading the reviews, I was immediately drawn to its uniqueness. It offers a massage using warm bamboo sticks, 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 turned out to be unexpectedly popular and is one of the rare places that requires 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 my driver, I asked him to transfer the deposit first, and I managed to secure a reservation.
Simple Yet Professional Choices
Compared to the overwhelming options at other massage places, Hot Bamboo SPA’s menu is refreshingly simple, offering only three types of massages:
- Relaxing Bali Aga (gentle relaxation)
- Hot Bamboo (warm bamboo massage)
- Strong Barefoot (intense foot massage)
The pressure ranges from light to heavy, and you can choose from 60, 90, or 120 minutes—straightforward and clear. The interior is clean and artsy, with bamboo and natural linen tones, creating a cozy and natural atmosphere.
Strong Barefoot Massage Experience
Without hesitation, we chose the most intense ‘Strong Barefoot’ massage and booked a 2-hour session. The pressure was indeed spot-on—firm yet gentle. Especially when pressing on my back, I initially thought about asking the therapist to ease up, but within a minute, I felt completely relaxed and even started to doze off. I couldn’t bear to ask them to lighten the pressure.
This massage experience completely changed my view of Balinese massages. Hot Bamboo SPA’s professionalism and unique techniques truly offer a full-body and mind relaxation. If you enjoy a firmer massage, this SPA is absolutely worth a try!
> Quick Reference: Already included in our “Best SPA Recommendations in Bali Collection” — don’t miss our picks and recommendations for finding a great spa to relax! 🌴
Final Thoughts
This Bali family trip, though challenging with elderly parents and kids in tow, brought us unforgettable memories and valuable lessons. From flights, accommodation, and transportation to food and massages, every detail deepened my understanding that travel isn’t just about exploring the world—it’s 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, there’s a way for everyone to unwind. While traffic and dietary habits may take some getting used to, with a bit of planning and flexibility, these small challenges only make the journey richer and more fun.
This trip taught me that traveling with family isn’t about packing the itinerary full—it’s about whether everyone feels comfortable and happy along the way. Bali’s slow pace and warm hospitality provided the perfect space for relaxation. I hope this travelogue offers practical tips for future Bali travelers, and I look forward to creating more wonderful memories with my family on our next adventure!
Bali, see you next time! 🌴✨
Appendix: Driver Recommendation
Traveling to Bali with elderly parents and kids? I highly recommend hiring a private driver! The standard rate in Bali is usually based on a 10-hour day, with pricing depending on the number of passengers and luggage. For our group of seven, we sent our itinerary to the driver, and she quoted a fair price based on distances—very professional.
I especially recommend this husband-and-wife driver team. The wife, Ani, worked in Taiwan for years, speaks Chinese, and is familiar with Taiwanese culture, which made my mom feel more involved during the trip. Ani is cheerful and attentive—she often reached out 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 it’s like getting a driver plus a guide. They work seamlessly together, giving the whole family peace of mind.
Ani knows Bali inside out and can recommend restaurants and attractions from a Taiwanese perspective, without any hard selling—her suggestions are always objective and practical. At the airport drop-off, they even prepared local sweets as souvenirs, filling us with warmth and sincerity.
If you’re also planning a trip to Bali with elderly family members and children, this couple is definitely the top choice!
Ani’s Contact Info:
Line: agussolihin72
WhatsApp: +62 081246683494
Do you think Mei Liu’s itinerary is amazing? Hurry up and plan your own Bali free-and-easy trip! Feel free to share your itinerary in the group as well!
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