A Bali Trip with Mom and Kid: 7-Day, 6-Night Independent Travel from Beijing for Three

A Spontaneous Bali Adventure: A 7-Day, 6-Night Odyssey for Three

Chatting with friends, we casually mentioned Bali, and that little urge to travel suddenly stirred. Staying home on the weekend browsing flights, I stumbled upon a direct Garuda Indonesia flight departing March 30 and returning April 5 — a month earlier than planned, and at a surprisingly good price.

On Monday, I rushed to the office to request four days of annual leave, called my mom, and quickly finalized this trip for the three of us, immediately placing the order, afraid to miss out.

But the day after buying the tickets, once I calmed down, I started to doubt: with my mom and my kid, both needing constant care, would this trip work? Several times I stared at the refund button, almost clicking it. My husband also poured cold water: "You'll end up exhausted and won't have fun!"

But as it turned out, my anxiety and his predictions were all wrong.

My mom was a rock throughout — carrying the baby, watching the luggage, checking routes, she handled everything. The time spent alone with my son held so many surprises — he would hold my hand and carefully watch little crabs on the beach, and say in his sweet voice, "Mommy, I'll hold the umbrella for you." Those moments of joy far exceeded anything I had imagined before we left.

Now, we're already talking about where to go next.

Stay tuned: Season 2 of Traveling Freely with My Mom and Kid

Let me share some highlights from our trip for you to enjoy —

Watching Dolphins in Lovina

Before dawn, we boarded a rickety crab boat with a local guide and headed out to sea. Just as the oar cut through the morning mist, my mom exclaimed softly, "Look! Over there!"

Following her gaze, a pod of dolphins was leaping in the wake behind the boat, their silver-gray backs shining in the pale gold...

Standing on the cliff edge and looking down, I understood why this place has such a wild name.

Blue-green waves crashed fiercely against the rocks, as if driven by some force, instantly shattering into millions of sparkling droplets and forming a faint rainbow in the wind. My mom held my son's hand and stepped back a half step, murmuring, "So dangerous, so dangerous," but her eyes were fixed on the surging waves — the sunlight hit the crests so brightly it was almost blinding, truly like the sharp edge of a "demon's tears."

Complete Guide to Bali with Elders and Kids: Itinerary, Accommodation, and Pre-Trip Checklist

I. Daily Itinerary (7 Days, 6 Nights + Return Day)

Day 1: Arrival in Bali, Start Relaxed

Direct flight from Beijing to Bali, then head straight to INAYA Hotel in Nusa Dua to check in

Take a short rest, have dinner at NOMAYA RESTAURANT inside the hotel, and use good food to shake off travel fatigue

Day 2: Hotel Fun + Classic Sightseeing

Morning: Play in the pool near the room at INAYA Hotel with my son while my mom sunbathes and chats — keep it easy

Lunch: Eat at Bali Collection shopping center, plenty of choices and convenient

Afternoon: Half-day private car tour

Visit Tanah Lot: The spectacular view of waves crashing against rocks impressed my mom a lot

Evening: Move to Jimbaran Beach — walk on the sand in the sunset glow, the village's tranquility is intoxicating

Day 3: Full-Day Private Car Deep Tour, Culture and Nature

Wake up naturally, have hotel breakfast, recharge for a 10-hour private car tour

Morning: Visit Tirta Empul Temple, experience local prayer culture, feel the cool and sacred spring water

Lunch: Eat at d'Alaswarung restaurant (five-star recommendation! Food suits all ages)

Visit Ubud Palace: Admire the exquisite carvings and unique style of traditional Balinese architecture

Wander through Ubud Traditional Market: Hunt for handicrafts, spices, and local snacks, feel the local vibe

Visit Tegenungan Forest Waterfall: Watch the water rush amidst lush greenery, full of negative ions

Day 4: Island Carnival Day (Penida + Lembongan)

Depart from hotel at 7:00 am for a full-day island adventure

Water activities: Snorkeling to see coral, sofa boat riding the waves, banana boat screaming fun, underwater walking exploration

Lunch: Simple meal on the island to recharge

Afternoon: Move to Lembongan Island

Visit the famous Devil's Tears: Watch waves hit the rocks and create rainbows, wild and spectacular

At Dream Beach, walk on soft white sand, build sandcastles with my son, while my mom keeps taking photos of the blue sea and sky

Day 5: Hotel Change + Leisure Shopping and Spa

Wake up naturally, pack up, check in at Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali in Kuta

Morning: Play in the new hotel's pool to get familiar

Lunch: Eat at esteler77 restaurant on the first floor of Discovery Shopping Mall (lots of soups, perfect for my mom's taste)

Enjoy a 2-hour spa (just across from the mall, a store with an English name starting with F, incredibly relaxing)

Evening: Go to Lippo Mall Kuta, have dinner next to the supermarket on basement level, and browse the supermarket for snacks

Day 6: Dolphin Watching + More Good Food

Depart early morning: Head to Lovina to watch the sunrise and chase dolphins — when the dolphins leaped out of the sea in groups, everyone gasped

Morning: Visit Twin Lakes, the lake and mountain scenery complement each other, peaceful and beautiful

Lunch: Return to Discovery Shopping Mall, eat again at esteler77 (so good we had to repeat)

Afternoon: Head back to Holiday Inn Resort to rest, let my son play in the pool for a bit

Dinner: Dine at Warung Segara restaurant, highly recommend the avocado and shrimp salad — refreshing and delicious, we licked the plate clean

Day 7: Final Shopping + Return

Wake up naturally, play in the hotel pool one last time, then check out and store luggage

Morning: Go to Carrefour for a big shopping haul — buy souvenirs and local snacks

Lunch: Quick meal at KFC (my son's favorite, and it fills us up fast)

Afternoon: Continue shopping, then take a taxi back to the hotel to pick up luggage

Evening: Head to the airport, have dinner there, then board the return flight

Day 8: Arrive in Beijing Early Morning

End of a fulfilling and complete Bali trip, heading home with full memories and souvenirs

II. Accommodation Choices: Convenience and Comfort First

No homestays: Traveling with a child, we prefer the convenience of "eat, stay, travel, shop, entertainment" all in one place; hotel service is more reliable

Eliminated Ubud: Though popular, it's lush and green, worried about bugs (personally afraid of insects, so better safe)

INAYA Hotel in Nusa Dua: Good beach, peaceful environment, ideal for initial rest after arrival

Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali in Kuta: Located in a bustling area, convenient for shopping and eating, links the second half of the trip with leisure and shopping

III. Pre-Trip Essential Items Checklist (Practical Version Tested)

Electronics: Adapter plug, power strip (super useful! Charge multiple devices for multiple people at once)

Protection: High SPF sunscreen, mosquito repellent (essential for island trips), child's sun-protective clothing

Medicine: Huoxiang Zhengqi (to prevent heatstroke), anti-diarrhea medication, iodine, alcohol wipes, band-aids (for minor accidents)

Daily items: Wet wipes (wipe hands and tables anytime), slippers (for hotel/beach)

Child-specific: Swimsuit, short sleeves/shorts, swim ring and other swimming gear (hygienic and better fit)

Luggage: 28-inch large suitcase (just right for clothes, medicine, and purchased souvenirs)

Practical Pre-Trip Guide: Communication, Money Exchange, and Travel Tips

I. Communication: International Roaming Made Easy

This time in Bali we used the "Wuxingxing One Belt One Road Package." International roaming internet capped at 30 RMB per day, very cost-effective. Easy to set up too — just operate in the app. We tried it last year when going to Thailand; the process is simple, just select the destination country.

No need to worry about setting it up early and it expiring — once you land locally, the network automatically recognizes and starts the validity. Setting it up a week in advance is fine. Details are clearly explained in the app, just follow the steps.

II. Money Exchange: Practical and Hassle-Free Method

Before departure, I exchanged 4000 RMB worth of Indonesian Rupiah at a bank near work with a one-day advance reservation. Direct exchange to local currency saved a lot of trouble.

Personally, I don't recommend exchanging to USD first and then converting locally — too many steps and easy to mess up. Better to just bring a UnionPay card; if you run out, ATMs work smoothly. On the last day, we used up all cash at Carrefour and then used the UnionPay card at an ATM — it worked perfectly.

Tip: Many local stalls accept small RMB bills like 10 or 5 yuan. Bring some for convenience.

III. Travel and Flight Details

Departure from airport: Depart from Beijing Capital Airport T2. It's smaller than T3, with fewer outbound travelers, so luggage check-in and exit procedures were quick, basically no lines. Recommended to check in online the day before and choose forward window seats. Traveling with elders and kids, it's better to prepare more.

Garuda Experience: The flight service was very attentive, distributing items at intervals:

9:30 Eye mask, socks, earplug set

10:30 Main meal

11:30 Arrival card (one per family; verify information)

13:00 Small snacks (like beans)

14:30 Sandwich

No need to worry about hunger or thirst throughout the flight. Their guava juice is worth trying, and there are plenty of beverage choices — just take what you need.

Arrival Declaration Form: They distribute the form on the plane; one per family is enough. Note: This form is not needed at immigration, but after passing immigration, on the way out, there is a designated place to collect it. Keep it safe!

Flew for exactly 7 hours

The visa-free line was huge; at that time, it would take at least an hour to get out

While waiting in the long line with my mom and son, I suddenly noticed two Chinese families with babies in the short visa-on-arrival line. I ran over to ask why they were queuing there. A beautiful Chinese mother told me that anyone with a child under 5 can use the fast track. Oh my god, I immediately confirmed with the local police officer that my 5-year-old son qualified. Then I saw my naughty son and felt he was adorable — lucky to have him! I hurried back to the long line to find my mom and son.

In front of us were two foreign mothers with five children. I marveled at how they handled so many kids. My mom said, "Look, two people looking after five, and the two of us can't even manage one — what a gap!"

It took about 10 minutes to pass through smoothly, no bribe asked. The immigration officer just asked me how many days I would be staying.

During this trip in Bali, both entry and exit immigration officers were very friendly.

The first hotel we stayed at in Bali was the Inaya in Nusa Dua, recommended by a friend and booked on Ctrip. The friend was reliable, and the hotel didn't disappoint. I'll share photos later.

But the hotel does not provide free airport transfers. I emailed the hotel and they quoted about 150 RMB.

After receiving the hotel's email, I compared prices. Since the hotel was booked on Ctrip, I checked Ctrip's transfer service, which was less than half the price — 52 RMB.

The day before, they added me to a group for the transfer. Any issues could be communicated in time. After leaving the airport, we were smoothly picked up by the local driver, put into the car, and the driver was very enthusiastic, introducing things along the way.

Everything went smoothly to the hotel lobby, where we checked in.

The front desk explained many points to note — dining, towel use, etc. They even said in Chinese, "No deposit required" haha. After the formalities, a service staff member drove us to the room on a buggy, introducing the hotel along the way.

The hotel's welcome drink tasted like bayberry juice — delicious! But my naughty kid spilled it after just two sips. The seating area with a view was also great.

Updates continuing...

2019.3.31 About to start:

Daylight came at 8:00 am. My son was still sleeping because he was too excited the day before and extremely tired. My mom went for morning exercise while I got ready.

Mom and son were full of praise for the hotel.

Today we walked to Bali Collection (5 minutes away) for lunch.

After adjusting, we officially started the afternoon fun.

The car service I booked was excellent — I recommend it.

I booked a half-day private car. The driver added me on WeChat the day before to confirm the time.

He picked us up on time. The car was in great condition, new, smelled nice, and super clean. We set off for Tanah Lot. From Nusa Dua to Tanah Lot took 1.5 hours, lots of traffic. A must-visit famous spot for my mom — she loved it the most!

2019.4.1

Everything went according to plan.

Today we started a 10-hour private car tour, also booked in advance.

There's a COCO supermarket in Bali Collection across from the hotel — we bought some backup food.

Back in the room waiting for the driver, my son jumped back into the water in just half an hour.

Originally, today's plan was to visit the Gate of Heaven and Water Palace, but both the driver and agent advised against it, saying that with elders and a child, it's too far — half a day on the road. They reminded me three times to skip it. At 10 pm, I decided to adjust the itinerary with the driver. As it turned out, listening to advice was the right call.

The driver arrived at 10 am. I got the same young guy as yesterday — very young, trendy, friendly, and the best part: he understands some Chinese! Great!

First stop: Tirta Empul Temple

There's a shopping street at the entrance of Tirta Empul. The bargaining process: you ask the price, the seller gives an outrageous quote, you walk away without a word, and the seller automatically starts lowering the price. Give them time — basically, 150,000 IDR drops to 50,000 IDR. Then go back and haggle down another 10,000 or so. Haha!

At the exit, there was a fruit stall. Bought a durian for 25 RMB.

After Tirta Empul, the driver asked if we needed to eat. As a foodie, of course! I told the driver to take us anywhere. Without a word, he drove and stopped at an unremarkable small door.

Inside, I was amazed — trees full of fruit!

After lunch, we continued to visit Ubud Palace.

Last stop of the day: the waterfall.

2019.4.2 Visit Penida and Lembongan

In the morning, the day-trip driver was waiting in the lobby on time.

Departed for the pier, booked a day tour on Ctrip.

At the pier, the driver handed us over to the day's guide. At the waiting area, they gave us water and motion sickness pills. I didn't take them, but it felt thoughtful.

The guide was an Indonesian woman; her Chinese wasn't great, and she didn't tell us which island we were going to first.

The boat arrived at a kind of rest stop. The crucial part: we spent the whole morning here — snorkeling, eating, underwater walking, etc. Then in the afternoon, a boat suddenly came to take us to Lembongan. Only then did our group realize this place was Penida. Honestly, it wasn't that impressive — the island is very rustic with basic facilities. For elders and kids, no need to go to Penida; just Lembongan is enough.

My mom went off to do exciting activities while I stayed with my son.

My kid's grandma is a warrior — willing to try anything, eager to play.

My little guy watched his grandma with envy, constantly asking what he could do.

I took my son to try snorkeling. The local guide and I demonstrated, but he just wouldn't put his head underwater. To make my son happy, the local guide specially got bread to feed the fish and attract them. My son thought the bread was for him — whenever someone offered it, he opened his mouth.

Lunch was simple but filling.

In the afternoon, we headed to Lembongan. On arrival, a vehicle took us to see Dream Beach and Devil's Tears.

This day exhausted both the elder and the child — they were really tired and hungry.

Below is the meal my son ordered all by himself — and it was delicious.

Recommend eating at the supermarket on the basement level of Lippo Mall Kuta, which also has restaurants. The food is tasty and cheap; this meal cost 150 RMB.

Everyone was completely wiped out, so we decided to rest today and continue tomorrow.

Today we moved to Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali in Kuta. Unlike yesterday, there were lots of foreigners in Kuta. The hotel we stayed at was basically full of foreigners — seems this hotel isn't one of those internet-famous Chinese ones, but it was very comfortable.

Lunch at Discovery Shopping Mall.

Esteler77 — local fast food, tasty, clean, and cheap.

My mom and I thought we must experience a spa in Bali, so we found one near the mall.

What about the little guy? We went in and saw the price list — there was a Child Spa! So we brought him along to keep him from playing with his phone.

Kids' services differ from adults because some treatments are not suitable for children. They replaced them with a children's meal and a hair wash and styling.

The masseuse started with my son's foot massage — not as strong as for adults, just gently rubbing back and forth. Soon he fell asleep, haha.

My mom also began her 2-hour package.

After the massage, my son was thrilled. The children's package included a small hot dog.

2019.4.4 Depart for Lovina to watch dolphins with the kid

We left in the early hours. My son couldn't wake up, so I carried him. But the worst thing happened — the driver didn't show up at the lobby. After 15 minutes he still hadn't arrived. I asked the front desk to call him. On the phone, he said the driver overslept. I tried contacting Ctrip customer service — they replied, comforted me, and joined me in cursing the driver, haha. Also the front desk guy kept urging him. Finally the driver arrived, an hour late. But the staff said we could still make it. So off we went! (It almost became our regret.)

We sped all the way but hit traffic — even that early there was a jam!

After the dolphin watching, the driver felt really guilty — I could see it on his face. He asked if I wanted to go back to the hotel. I said yes. He proactively said, "I'll take you to Twin Lakes." So I accepted — gave him a chance to make up for it!

On the way to Twin Lakes, there were many monkeys right by the roadside.

I really like Lovina — great environment. If I come again, I'd stay here.

Returned to Discovery Shopping Mall — convenient for eating, shopping, entertainment.

Tonight we will leave Bali. The 7-day, 6-night trip is almost over.

Tonight at 10 pm we return to Beijing.

Today's plan: shopping.

After breakfast, strolled on the hotel beach.

Checked out and stored luggage at the hotel. Then took a taxi to the last stop: Carrefour for shopping. About taxis: I had learned from various experts' guides before, and it proved useful. I still want to remind everyone.

After shopping, we took a taxi back to the hotel to pick up luggage. The driver then took us directly to the airport — total cost 30 RMB.

The trip ended perfectly. My son and mom were both super happy ^_^

My son felt it wasn't enough.