Dreaming of a family trip to Bali, the “Island of Gods”? A big question for parents always looms: what about the Bali family accommodation cost? How much will hotels and places to stay actually cost for your family? In our last big post, we shared our big plan. We aimed to spend 17 nights exploring Bali and Gili Trawangan, with a goal to keep our lodging expenses around $1074.62 USD. We meticulously picked hotels and guesthouses for comfort, location, and value. Our trip is now complete, and we’ve tallied every expense. So, how did our actual spending for accommodation compare to our $1074.62 plan? Did we exceed it because Gili Trawangan was just too good to leave? And what insights can you gain for managing your own Bali family lodging budget?
(Want to see our first plan in more detail? Check out our full Bali Hotel Price Guide: How We Scored an Incredible 17-Night Stay Under $1080 (Family Edition!)
Did you know? Did you know? Bali’s tourism is thriving! In 2024, the island welcomed a total of 6,333,360 international visitors (January-December), showing a 0.93% increase even compared to pre-COVID 2019 numbers! This truly highlights Bali’s enduring popularity, with a significant number of those visitors being families seeking great value. (Source: Bali Hotels Association – Monthly Passengers Statistic)
Our Starting Line: Our $1074.62 Bali Family Hotel Plan
To see how we did, let’s revisit our initial plan. Our $1074.62 USD goal was the cornerstone of our Bali accommodation strategy. It included:
- Nyaman Guest House (Sanur) – 2 Nights: $102.68 USD (Curious about our stay? Read our Sanur Accommodation Essential: Nyaman Guest House – Our Family’s 2-Night Honest Review!)
- Jambuluwuk Oceano Gili Trawangan – 2 Nights: $184.40 USD (Check out our experience in our Family Stay in Gili Trawangan: Honest Review of Jambuluwuk Oceano Resort.)
- Cinta Cottage Gili Trawangan – 4 Nights (initially): $145.20 USD (This became our Gili favorite! More on that below, and our full Cinta Cottage: Our Top Pick for Family Gili Accommodation (7-Night Review!).)
- Rumah Roda Family Homestay (Ubud) – 3 Nights: $93 USD
- Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur-Bali – 2 Nights: $208.20 USD (Want to know if it was worth it? See our Prime Plaza Hotel Sanur: Our Family’s Big Bali Hotel Adventure! review.)
- Febri’s Hotel & Spa (Kuta) – 4 Nights: $241.14 USD (Perfect for our late flight! Read our Kuta Accommodation: Febri’s Hotel & Spa – Family Stay & Late Flight Hack!.)
We made sure every one of these bookings offered free cancellation. That was incredibly important for us because, with a family, plans can and do change. This initial plan gave us a solid estimate of what our family’s lodging expenses might be.
Gili Magic: Changing Our Bali Hotel Budget for Paradise!
Travel with kids hardly ever goes exactly like you plan it! Gili Trawangan was absolutely enchanting with its clear blue water, no cars, and incredible marine life. We loved it far more than we had anticipated. We simply didn’t want to leave after only a few days. This is where our smart booking strategy really helped us manage our accommodation budget.
- Ubud, See You Later!: We decided to cancel our 3-night stay at Rumah Roda Family Homestay in Ubud. We had booked it on Agoda with free cancellation, so changing this plan cost us $0 USD! The $93 USD we had earmarked for this part of our trip was now effectively saved.
- More Gili Fun!: We just had to stay longer. So, we added 3 more nights at Cinta Cottage on Gili Trawangan. This, of course, adjusted our planned spending. These three extra nights cost 1,800,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah). Using the money exchange rate from our initial plan, this added approximately $131.39 USD to our spending.
This change clearly illustrates why it’s wise to be flexible when considering your lodging costs for a longer trip. It seemed like a small adjustment at the time, but it did increase our outlay. However, the sheer joy we experienced was immeasurable!
The Real Numbers: Actual Bali Family Hotel Cost vs. Our $1074.62 Plan
Okay, let’s get to the most important part. How much did we really spend? Our total actual money spent on places to stay, after all our adjustments, was $1099.23 USD.
To simplify when we talk about the overall family lodging expense, let’s round it to $1100 USD.
What We Found Out: A Little More Spending for Lots More Fun
Here’s how our planned Bali family accommodation budget compares to what we truly spent:
- Our First Plan (USD): $1074.62
- What We Really Spent (USD): Approximately $1099.23
This means we spent $24.61 USD more than our very careful, initial plan of $1074.62.
Think about it: for less than $25 extra, we gained three more amazing days in Gili Trawangan with our kids! That little bit extra on our total accommodation felt like a huge win. It’s smart to have a little wiggle room in your Bali family hotel prices. On average, our nightly expense for our family of four was about $64.66 USD ($1099.23 / 17 nights). That’s a fantastic price for all the different, cool places we stayed. It truly shows that Bali can be a great deal for families, often much cheaper than many other destinations. Keeping these lodging expenses low takes some effort, but it’s definitely achievable!
Another cool fact: According to some travel sites, families can often find good guesthouses or homestays in Bali for $30–$50 USD per night, even with breakfast included! This makes the overall accommodation expense much more manageable.
Tricks That Kept Our Bali Family Hotel Costs Down
We stayed so close to our initial USD plan, even though we extended our stay in Gili (which was a bit pricier than our planned Ubud stay). How did we do it? Here are our main strategies for controlling the Bali family accommodation cost:
Navigating the Bali Family Accommodation Cost with Smart Tools
- Smart Travel Cards (Like Wise): Our Wise card was a huge asset. We loaded Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) onto it before and during our trip when the exchange rate was favorable. Then, we paid for many accommodations and expenses directly in IDR. This saved us from unfavorable bank exchange rates and extra fees. We actually wrote a whole post comparing Wise Card vs. Traditional Travel Cards: Which Is Better for Your Trip? This is a top tip for managing your overall lodging expenses if you want truly affordable Bali family accommodation.
- Paying Ahead on Booking Sites (Like Agoda): Pay Now, Save Later! When you’re searching for hotels on sites like Agoda, you’ll often see “Pay Now” or “Pay Later” options. While “Pay Later” sounds convenient, here’s a crucial tip many travelers miss: Agoda almost always adds a 5% service fee if you choose the “Pay Later” option. That’s right, that seemingly flexible choice can quietly inflate your total bill. Unless you absolutely need to delay payment and have confirmed the cancellation policy works for you, always opt to “Pay Now” if it’s available. It’s a simple click that keeps more money in your pocket for your family’s adventures, not hidden fees.
- Free Cancellation – Our Money Saver!: This was simply the best! Every place we initially booked allowed us to cancel for free. This meant we could plan far ahead but still modify things if needed. When Gili Trawangan captured our hearts and made us want to stay longer, we could cancel our Ubud hotel (saving $93 USD from our initial plan) without losing any money. This flexibility is incredibly important when you’re trying to find good Bali accommodation deals for families, because kids and new opportunities can always shift your plans.
- Looking Hard for Good Prices: The key to a good accommodation budget begins long before you even depart. We meticulously compared prices on various booking websites (Agoda, Booking.com, etc.). Sometimes we even checked the hotel’s own website directly. We even have a few clever tricks for this, like our guide on How I Book the Cheapest Accommodation Using Google Incognito Mode or Safari Private Browse. Using these methods can sometimes reveal different Bali family hotel prices too!
- Knowing About Different Kinds of Places to Stay: Our trip had a specific budget, but it’s good for families to know that the nightly expense can vary significantly depending on where you stay.
- Homestays (Losmen): Usually the most affordable. They offer basic amenities and a chance to experience local life. Expect $20–$40 USD a night.
- Guesthouses: A bit nicer, typically more private, and often include breakfast. About $30–$60 USD a night. Our stay at Nyaman Guest House was a perfect example of this.
- 3-Star Hotels: These often feature amenities like pools, restaurants, and air conditioning. Prices can be $50–$100 USD a night. Febri’s Hotel & Spa fit this bill for us.
- Villas: Great for families who desire space and their own private pool. The Bali family villa cost can range from $80 to hundreds of dollars a night. Cinta Cottage gave us that lovely villa feel.
- Resorts: Larger properties with a wide array of facilities. A Bali resort family package cost usually starts at $100–$150+ USD a night. Our experience at Jambuluwuk Oceano Resort gave us a taste of the resort life.
Last Thoughts: Fun That’s Worth More Than Money!
When we tally up our Bali accommodation spending, the extra $24.61 USD we spent over our initial plan seems truly insignificant. Especially when we consider how much pure joy and connection we gained. Those three extra days in Gili Trawangan weren’t just “more time.” They were more beautiful sunrises, more swimming with vibrant fish, more shared laughter as a family, and more opportunities to simply be together in a truly wonderful place.
This trip showed us again that planning your Bali family accommodation cost carefully is important. But it’s also smart to recognise when spending a little more gives you a disproportionately large return in unforgettable memories.
For families dreaming of Bali, you should know that an amazing, long vacation can absolutely happen without draining all your savings. It’s about making smart choices, leveraging effective tools, and being informed about family accommodation prices Bali. The real cost of a Bali vacation for your family can be surprisingly good if you plan it right. We sincerely hope that sharing our spending breakdown helps you get ideas for your own incredible trip!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Bali Family Accommodation Cost
Q1: What’s a reasonable nightly budget for Bali family accommodation cost? A: It really depends on what you’re looking for! You can find nice, clean guesthouses or homestays for a family for around $30–$60 USD a night. Mid-range hotels might be $50–$100 USD. If you want a private villa with a pool, the Bali family villa cost could be $80–$200+ USD. We aimed for about $65 USD a night for our family of four and found great options!
Q2: Is it cheaper to book Bali family accommodation in advance or last minute? A: For popular times or specific places you really want, booking in advance is usually better to get good family accommodation prices Bali. You might find some last-minute deals, but it’s generally riskier with a family. We prefer to book ahead with free cancellation. That way, we have a place locked in but can still change if a better deal or plan comes up. Using tips like searching in Google Incognito Mode or Safari Private Browse can also help you feel confident you’re seeing competitive prices.
Q3: How much extra should we budget for taxes and fees on top of the listed Bali family accommodation cost? A: Most booking sites like Agoda or Booking.com will show you the total price including taxes and service fees. Usually, this is around 10% for government tax and another 5-10% for service charge. Always check the final price before you confirm your booking to understand the full Bali family accommodation cost.
Q4: Are areas like Ubud or Sanur generally better for affordable Bali family accommodation cost compared to Seminyak or Canggu? A: Yes, often areas like Ubud and Sanur can offer more budget-friendly options for the Bali family accommodation cost. Seminyak and Canggu tend to be a bit trendier and can have higher prices, especially for villas and stylish hotels. But you can find good deals anywhere if you look hard! Our stay at Nyaman Guest House in Sanur was a great example of Sanur’s value.
Q5: Can using a travel card really save money on our Bali family accommodation cost? A: Absolutely! When you pay in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) with a regular bank card, your bank might charge you extra fees for changing money and give you a not-so-great exchange rate. A travel card like Wise lets you hold IDR and pay directly, often with much lower fees and better rates. We break down the benefits in our Wise Card vs. Traditional Travel Cards comparison. This can add up to real savings on your total Bali family accommodation cost for a long trip.
What are your biggest worries or best tips for managing lodging expenses in Bali? Have you found any secret spots or ways to save money? Tell us what you think in the comments below – we love to hear from our Herinian friends!