Bali: is it good
for a family trip?
Yes, if the family is ready for a genuine long-haul trip. Reaching Bali from Boston takes one stop, via Hong Kong, Doha, Dubai or Seoul, and it is not a destination to underestimate the travel day for.
The Fredette Family in Bali
How Bali scored with our kids.
Six things we rate every trip on, out of 10, from our own family travel, plus our overall score, which is simply the average of the six. Flight ease and value are calculated the same way for every destination.
From our trip. Bali was a tough one for our family. We lived there for three months with Boundless Life, and there were so many ways to get sick: the kids had skin rashes and fevers. It was close to 100 degrees and 100% humidity the whole time, which one of our daughters and I do not handle well, and working East Coast hours from Bali was hard. For a vacation, at a resort with a beach and a pool, we think it would be incredible.
Flight ease
2.9/10About 22.4 hours total with 1 connection, layover included from Boston. We score every flight the same way: start at 10, take off half a point for each hour beyond 4 (a quarter point per hour past 10), and a point for each connection. No nonstop: one connection, usually through Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong or Seoul. Do not underestimate the travel day.
Kid friendly
6.5/10The Balinese are warm with children and Sanur's long, shallow beach is great for little kids. But our kids were sick often, and we would only call it truly child friendly if you stay at a resort with a beach and a pool.
Walkability
4/10Bali traffic is real and sidewalks are scarce; you rely on drivers. Sanur's flat seaside path is the exception.
Value
9.5/10Indonesia's cost of living index is 24.7 (Numbeo, mid-2026, where New York is 100 and the US overall is 69.7), about 65% below home. We score value the same way for every destination: costing the same as home is a 5, and every 10 points cheaper or pricier moves it a point. It is a country-wide average, so big cities and tourist hot spots run higher and small towns and villages lower. Resorts and Ubud villas run above this number, but day to day Bali is very affordable.
Food
7.5/10Cheap and excellent, but the tap water is not drinkable and it is easy to get sick.
Weather
4.5/10Hot and humid: close to 100 degrees and 100% humidity the whole time we were there. April to October is the dry season.
Overall
5.8/10Better as a resort vacation than as a place to live with kids.
One stop, a real long-haul day.
There is no nonstop from Boston to Bali. The routing goes through Hong Kong, Doha, Dubai or Seoul, depending on the airline and season. Budget the arrival day accordingly, and see our infant and lap-child flying piece if traveling with a very young child on a trip this long.
Ubud and Nusa Penida, from a Sanur base.
Our full guide is built around Ubud and Nusa Penida, though our real base was Sanur, through a Boundless Life worldschool stay. That detail matters for anyone trying to replicate the exact trip rather than the guide's suggested structure.
Search Vrbo rentals, already set to Ubud. Look for two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Where we would stay. Affiliate link, our disclosure.
What families ask us.
Is there a nonstop flight from Boston to Bali?
No. Reaching Bali means one stop, via Hong Kong, Doha, Dubai or Seoul, and this is a genuine long-haul trip, not a quick hop.
Is Bali good for a family trip with kids?
Yes. Our full guide is built around Ubud and Nusa Penida, with our real base having been Sanur through a Boundless Life worldschool stay.
Is Bali safe for families with young kids?
See our dedicated safety piece, Is Bali Safe for Families With Young Kids, for the honest, specific answer.
How does Bali compare to Thailand for a family trip?
Both are real long-haul Southeast Asia options with different strengths. See our direct comparison, Bali or Thailand With Kids, for how we would choose.