The Question: My husband is travelling to Bali for work and I will be joining him for part of the trip with our university-age daughters. We would like to spend part of the time together as a family. Any suggestions?
Seaside restaurants, a sanctuary for monkeys and, yes, even a bit of shopping. Bali offers something for the whole family, says Jenna Francisco, the travel blogger behind This is My Happiness (thisismyhappiness.com), whose globetrotting includes stops in Indonesia.
If you don't have time to visit the less-crowded northwest Bali, there's much to see in south and central Bali. Some suggestions for family time:
Head for Seminyak in south Bali. The area offers “beautiful beaches and chic restaurants,” as well as simple seaside eateries, says Francisco, a mother of two who lives in California. She notes that while nearby Kuta is touristy, your girls may enjoy the shopping on the main drag where they can pick up carvings, clothing and jewellery.
Plan some days for Ubud in Central Bali. “This lush area is full of temples, galleries, markets, rice paddies and villages showcasing traditional handicrafts and stone carvings. Near Ubud are the wonderful Bali Bird Park and Monkey Forests. You can explore the area on foot, by bicycle, or by hiring a driver.”
And don't leave the island without spending some time in one of its temples, whether it's a small roadside attraction or the famed cliffside Uluwatu temple, Francisco says.
A note: Although the island continues to attract plenty of travellers (and makes the Top-10 lists from the likes of Travel + Leisure and Lonely Planet), Foreign Affairs (voyage.gc.ca) currently advises “a high degree of caution” here.
E-mail your travel questions to concierge@globeandmail.com.
Special to The Globe and Mail
