HEY DUDE, SURF'S UP 🏄‍♀️

 

Save this for your next trip to Bali!  Having not been to the Island of the Gods, Bali, since before Covid, we thought we’d head back for Easter break.  Our kids were especially keen to surf so we chose to go to Uluwatu on friends’ recommendations.  Whilst there are many hot, young things instagramming their lives away in Bali (I did sometimes feel like a dinosaur) we also found super family friendly things to do.  Here’s what we loved…

AIRBNB VILLA- Found an amazing deal on Airbnb for a 3 bed villa close to Bingin Beach.  It was perfect for our family - spacious outdoors, kids each had their own room, swimming pool, pool table, lots of shady nooks to either snooze/read/sketch/punch needle in - delete as appropriate! Daily cleaning was included as well as a really helpful concierge who organised surf lessons for the kids, organise massages and helped us to book restaurants.  It was easy to walk to shops, we felt safe and it was just a really serene space to inhabit for the week.  You can message me for details. 

RESTAURANTS/CAFES - 
There are so many delicious places to eat but these were our favourites. We ate in and sometimes ordered take-out. 

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒞𝒶𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓌 𝒞𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 (literally around the corner from our villa) (@thecashewtree.collective) - I think my favourite place.  Heavenly breakfast bowls, smoothes/shakes, delicious dinners. Live music mid week.

𝒟𝓇𝒾𝒻𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒮𝓊𝓇𝒻 𝒮𝒽𝑜𝓅 - (@driftersurfshop) the coolest surf shop and cafe, went on more than one occasion for lunch and breakfast.  

𝐿𝑜𝓁𝒶’𝓈 𝒞𝒶𝓃𝓉𝒾𝓃𝒶 𝑀𝑒𝓍𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓃𝒶 - (@lolasbali) tacos not only on Tuesdays! Get there for happy hour, flavoursome fajitas & tantalising tacos - thanks Jules for this epic recco!

𝒪𝓊𝓇𝓈 - (@oursbali)  chilled vibes and ambience.  European/asian cuisine. 

𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝑒𝓃𝒸𝒽 𝐵𝓇𝑒𝓌𝑒𝓇𝓎 - (@thebenchbrewery) Uber laid back, alfresco, pool tables, great people watching. Frustratingly, my husband had succumbed to Bali belly by this point but the kids and I had a great meal! 

𝒩𝑜𝓊𝓇𝒾𝓈𝒽 - (@nourishbali) laid back lunch in this busy cafe.  I had the tastiest falafel wrap. We did try to order pizza take out one rainy afternoon but it wasn’t meant to be! 

𝐵𝒶𝓁𝒾 𝐵𝓁𝓊𝑒 - (@balibluegelato) for mexican wraps or delicious ice creams

SHOPPING - There wasn’t as much shopping as I remember from Canggu/Seminyak and it’s quite spread out but a few of my favourites were concept store at Bingin 𝑀𝓊𝓈𝑒 (@muse.bali.store) where I picked up a shorts/shirt set that I then proceeded to live in , 𝑀𝒾𝒶 𝐵𝒶𝓁𝒾 (@miabaliofficial ) where I found a gorgeous 70’s inspired print dress which was giving me big Palm Royale meets Mad Men vibes.   For the kids, we picked up great rash vests and board shorts at the big surf shop located next to the Bakery in Bingin.  𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝐵𝒶𝓀𝑒𝓇𝓎 also made the most delicious cake ever for my daughter’s birthday! 

My daughter loved 𝐹𝓁𝑜𝒶𝓉 jewellery (@floatbali) which was available in many of the boutiques. Toko Coastal (@toko.coastal) had super cute little gifts, trinkets and clothes.  

 

SURF LESSON - organised through our villa, Arif was the BEST surf instruction from Malibu Surf School at Balangan beach.  We were picked up and returned to the beach and the kids had two hour joint lessons. We were a bit hampered as my daughter got a nasty outer ear infection but the holiday was top and tailed with lessons and they loved it. 

BEACHES - sundowners on Bingin beach followed by a bbq fish supper.  There are a lot of steps down and back up but that’s all good for the glutes!  I felt about twenty years too old for Padang Padang beach but it was the best place to just swim and people watch.  We did go to Dreamland but it was far, far from anything dreamy - very busy, lots of water pollution and waves the size of houses so that was a short-lived trip. 

GETTING AROUND - super easy to book taxis on the Grab app.  We didn’t rent scooters (as I’m too fearful - also what’s with no one wearing a helmet?!).  The traffic isn’t as big an issue in Uluwatu but the infrastructure isn’t there yet, with lots of bumpy, dirt track roads which you navigate to get to the various beaches. 

DOCTORS - as mentioned above, our daughter had a really nasty ear infection that required two trips to the doctor for drops and antibiotics. The Guardian pharmacy in Bingin directed us to a doctor and it was all very easy. I packed immodium, charcoal tablets and some plasters, antiseptic wipes and it’s worth having that with you in case Bali belly strikes or there’s a scrape on the beach. 

WHAT BAGS I TOOK ON HOLIDAY! - I travelled with my Amara Knot bag (big enough for everyone's passports, my two phones, wallet etc) then really alternated between the new Otis silver and Luna Lock bamboo, mixing up the straps as I went along.