Bali Family Trip Mistakes: An Honest Guide to Avoid Our Regrets
Worried about making Bali family trip mistakes that could derail your entire vacation? We were. Looking back at our 18-day Bali adventure, we realized that the difference between a great trip and a stressful one comes down to the small choices you make every day.
This isn’t just another travel guide listing things to do. This is our brutally honest review of what we did wrong and, just as importantly, the smart decisions that helped us avoid even more pitfalls.
Consider this your essential guide to sidestepping the common Bali family trip mistakes. Learn from our regrets so your family can have the amazing, memory-filled holiday you deserve.
How We Avoided Major Bali Family Trip Mistakes: Our Best Decisions
While we certainly made some errors (more on that below!), we also made some brilliant choices. These decisions were key to our enjoyment and helped us dodge some of the worst and most common travel blunders.
The Mistake We Avoided: A Rigid, Stressful Itinerary
Many travelers make the mistake of over-scheduling their time. We learned that in Bali, flexibility is your superpower.
- Booking an Extra Night in Kuta: Our flight home was late at night. The common mistake is to wander around all day, tired and homeless. Instead, we booked an extra, affordable night in Kuta. This gave us a comfortable base to relax and shower before the airport, a decision you can read about in our family-friendly hotel review.
- Extending Our Gili Islands Stay: This was the single best decision we made. We avoided the mistake of sticking to a plan that wasn’t working for our family’s energy levels. We canceled our Ubud hotel and extended our Gili stay, a choice that dramatically improved our trip. If you’re curious about how this affected our accommodation budget, we broke it all down.
The Mistake We Avoided: Skipping the Gili Islands
It’s easy to just stay on the mainland, but one of the biggest Bali family trip mistakes you can make is underestimating the magic of the Gili Islands.
Every moment there was pure bliss. We spent our time sunrise paddleboarding on the calm sea, and the kids were completely captivated during our trip to Lombok Wildlife Park. The underwater world was a highlight, which you can read about in our detailed Gili Trawangan snorkeling guide.
The Mistake We Avoided: Being Unprepared
A little bit of prep at home helped us avoid countless headaches and potential travel disasters.
- Bathtub “Snorkel Training”: This playful practice meant our kids were comfortable in the water from day one, avoiding the common issue of kids being scared to try snorkeling.
- Going Cashless with Multiple Travel Cards: Relying on cash is a security risk. Using various travel cards (like Wise and Revolut) made payments seamless and safe.
- Packing Smart: Our “kitchen go-bag” (multi-pot, kids’ utensils) saved us from the stress of finding kid-friendly food late at night. The Nintendo Switch was a surprise hero for quiet evenings.
Our Biggest Bali Family Trip Mistakes (So You Don’t Make Them!)
Now for the hard part. The more I reflect, the clearer our missteps become. These are the Bali family trip mistakes we made that you can easily avoid.
Mistake #1: Wasting Time to Save a Few Dollars
- The SIM Card Debacle: We tried to save about $15 by finding a cheaper SIM card in town instead of at the airport. This mistake cost us nearly two hours of precious vacation time on day two. Your time is far more valuable. Learn from our error and check out our complete family guide to Bali SIM cards to get it right.
- Missing the Grab Free Trial: We didn’t sign up for the Grab (Asia’s Uber) free trial right away and missed out on initial discounts. Not researching local apps is a rookie mistake. To help, we put together a guide to essential Bali apps.
Mistake #2: Our Food and Drink Fails
- Over-Ordering: Bali’s food is cheap, and we made the classic mistake of ordering with our eyes, not our stomachs. This led to wasted food and feeling uncomfortably full.
- Questionable Choices: My ill-fated encounter with salak (snake fruit), a dodgy night market crepe, and icy drinks that led to upset stomachs were vivid reminders to be more careful with what we consumed.
Mistake #3: Gear Mishaps and Poor Timing
- Forgetting Snorkel Anti-Fog: Not using anti-fog spray from day one was a huge mistake that led to blurry, frustrating snorkeling.
- No Bike Lights for Adults: I only packed lights for the kids’ bikes. This was a genuine safety mistake when navigating the unlit Gili streets after dark.
- Packing Heavy & Useless Items: Packing thick beach towels from home was a huge packing mistake. They were just dead weight. We made several such errors, which is why we created our ultimate Bali family packing list so you don’t have to.
Key Bali Insights to Avoid Disappointment
Understanding Bali’s context is crucial. Recent statistics show that with over 5.2 million international tourists in 2023, the island is busy. The biggest mistake you can make is not booking key accommodations and tours in advance, especially in peak season.
Furthermore, remember that tourism is vital here. A study by the World Travel & Tourism Council noted tourism contributed over 19% to Indonesia’s GDP. Choosing to support local businesses is never a mistake. For official travel info, check the Official Indonesia Tourism Website.
Finding Your Travel Style: The Key to Avoiding the Biggest Mistake of All
The biggest Bali family trip mistake you can make is planning a vacation that doesn’t fit your family’s actual personality. This trip taught us who we are as travelers.
- Our Style is “Neighborhood Wandering”: We learned that chasing famous sights is a mistake for us. We prefer slow mornings, bike rides through local alleys, and eating at small warungs.
- Our Pattern is “The Deep Dive”: We avoid the mistake of trying a new place every meal. If we find a restaurant we love, we go back. It guarantees a great experience.
- Our Place is Gili Trawangan: For us, splitting time between many locations was a mistake. If even our 17-night, 18-day trip felt too short on Gili T, we know that next time we’ll just stay there.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the biggest mistake families make when visiting Bali?
The single biggest mistake is over-scheduling and underestimating travel time between locations. Traffic in Bali can be intense. Trying to see everything from Kuta to Ubud to the Gilis in a short time leads to exhaustion, not enjoyment. Be realistic and choose one or two home bases.
Q2: What part of Bali should families avoid?
While no area is strictly off-limits, families with young children might want to avoid the heart of Kuta’s nightlife district late at night. Similarly, while Gili Trawangan is fantastic for families, the central party strip can be loud in the evenings, so booking accommodation on the quieter north or west side of the island is wise.
Q3: Is 18 days too long for a Bali family trip?
Absolutely not! Even our 18-day trip felt like it flew by. A longer trip is the best way to avoid the mistake of rushing. It gives you buffer days for travel, relaxation, and spontaneous decisions, which often lead to the best memories.
Q4: Are there any common packing mistakes for Bali?
Yes! The most common are: 1) Overpacking warm clothes (you only need a light jacket at most), 2) Packing heavy towels instead of buying them there, and 3) Forgetting essential medication or a good insect repellent.
Your Turn: Learn From Our Mistakes!
Avoiding critical Bali family trip mistakes isn’t about a perfect itinerary. It’s about being flexible, preparing for what matters, and learning what truly brings your family joy. For us, the answer was the laid-back, beautiful chaos of the Gili Islands.
By sharing our wins and our woes, we hope we’ve made planning your own adventure just a little bit easier.
Now we’d love to hear from you. What travel mistakes have you learned from? Share your thoughts in the comments below
