Bali has always been a dream of ours to visit, considering Bali is approximately 17 plus hours from the UK we wanted to stay somewhere we knew we could relax and adjust to the time difference with it being 7 hours ahead of the UK.

That’s a big-time difference for the kids to get used too and we wanted to make sure they didn’t struggle and could nap when they wanted. We wanted a peaceful beach resort for families so we could ease the kids in and the Novotel Nusa Dua looked perfect.

The 5 star Novotel Nusa Dua is located in the South East of Bali. It is situated in a 350-hectare ITDC (Indonesia Tourism Development Complex) secure gated community of luxurious hotels.

We were so impressed when we drove into the complex, everywhere was pristine and landscapes immaculate, it was a lovely surprise. We were stopped at a checkpoint before entering and our car was searched so you are safe in knowing the complex is a secure place for your family.

The taxi ride from the airport is approx 30 minutes but this depends on traffic in Bali as it can be very busy at times. The hotel can arrange to pick up and drop off to the airport.

The hotel is set back from the beach which isn’t a problem as you simply jump on the complimentary shuttle bus down to the beach. It takes about 2 minutes and our boys both thought it was a novelty as there are no windows in one of the buses, funny the things kids love. This runs from 6.20am just in time for sunrise, be sure to book a sunrise breakfast here, but more about that later.

As we drove into the Novotel we were instantly excited about our stay. We were again stopped before entering the hotel grounds for the car to be checked then we were driven into the reception area.

The friendly staff took our bags for us and we were warmly greeted at the open air reception and given a refreshing drink. We noticed a place where you could change currency in the reception area which is always handy when travelling. 

We made our way to our room walking throught the lush tropical grounds of the hotel. The beautiful pink flower trees and immaculate gardens were impressive and we found our room with ease as there are lots of maps around the grounds.

One thing I also noticed straight away was all the tsunami signs and instructions. I have to be honest it did worry me a little so id read up on what to do if it happened.

The active seismic activity around Bali means the threat of a tsunami hangs like a sword over the island but you need not worry as the Novotel is a “Tsunami Ready” hotel meaning all staff are trained in the event of an emergency and have strict procedures to get guests to safety. This really made me relax a lot more during our stay.

As we passed the huge two-tier pool which is located in the center of 10 blocks of rooms over 4 or 5 stories, the boys got all excited wanting to go swimming in this amazing pool. Our room was located in the block opposite the kids club and playground which my boys were extremely happy about.

Each block had a lift up to rooms and our bags were brought up to us swiftly.

Our room, well what can I say it was amazing! We had a two bedroomed apartment which was tastefully decorated in soft baby blue and orange tones. As we walked through the door into the open plan living and dining room we were blown away with the sheer size of the apartment.

The kitchen was well equipt with all the amenities you need with a large dining table for all the family to dine at if ordering room service. There was also free WIFI, Tea and coffee making facilities and beautiful polished wooden floors.

The master bedroom has a king-sized bed with doors opening on the huge balcony which is also accessible from the living room. The cool blue decor makes the atmosphere a calm and relaxing place to unwind.

We asked at reception for a baby cot for our 1-year-old and it was brought up immediately and made up for him.  The master bedroom has a spacious bathroom with a luxurious deep sunken bath and double shower. Fairtrade products are provided as well as travel essentials you may forget (we always do) including toothpaste, toothbrushes, and razors! genius!!

The hotel has 169 rooms from Deluxe to 4 bedroom apartments making it an extremely family-friendly hotel and great for large families who want to stay in the same room. Now we have two children we are finding that hotels want us to purchase two rooms which just isn’t financially do-able or convenient. The apartment at the Novotel is simply perfect for families of all sizes.

The second bedroom has two conjoined single beds again decorated in the matching cool blue tones. Dressing gowns are provided along with slippers in each wardrobe for your comfort. There is a good-sized bathroom next to the room with a large shower and amenities.

A safe is provided also which is a must for your passport, money and other valuables. There is a TV in the master bedroom and living room although we never used it as we were always out doing all the fun activities at the hotel. All rooms are air-conditioned which is a must in Bali, us Brits aren’t used to the heat!!

If you want to stock your fridge there is an on-site supermarket where we went daily for snacks and ice cream! The prices are good there and you can get everything you need.

We were very impressed with the size of the apartment, it was lovely to be able to get one of the boys asleep in a quiet place if the other didn’t want to sleep in the day. Its a great apartment for families who need the space whilst traveling.

All the room blocks face the pool which is in the center of the resort so its never a long walk, the main restaurant is also in the center too which is so handy with kids.

Water is provided daily for the room and plenty of it. Housekeeping did a great job and even arranged my sons toy story toys so they were all dancing. When we came back he said to me “look mummy they really are alive” It really made his day. Its the simplest things that make a stay special and Novotel really know how to do this

I loved the layout of the Novotel resort, the two-tier pool 1500 sqm lagoon pool is in the center of the grounds making it a short walk from any block of rooms. Lush gardens surround the pool so there’s plenty of colorful birds and wildlife about. My boys loved watching the energetic squirrels running through the trees.

Comfortable sunbeds surround the pool and they are spaced nicely away from each other, it didn’t feel cramped at all. The beds themselves were very comfortable which is something I need with my bad back.

The pool has different depth levels so we were able to keep in the shallower water with the boys. There is however a kids pool near the kids club which is perfect for toddlers as there is lots of pool floats and toys. My little one spent hours playing in the water quite happily.

There are menus with buttons on for drinks from the bar but the bar isn’t far away so its easy to pop up for a refreshing drink or snack.

If your fancying a relax there is a spa situated not too far from the pool offering plenty of luxurious treatments from back massages to facials, unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the spa, maybe in another 16 years time!!

As I mentioned earlier the hotel isn’t located on the beach, it’s a short 2-minute shuttle ride down or if you wanted to walk it would take you 5-10 minutes. We hopped on to the shuttle every time as it was very convenient and frequent.

Nusa Dua beach is a beautiful long strip of powder white sandy beach that goes on for miles. My youngest made a dash straight for the wavy sea as soon as we got off the shuttle.

There are plenty of cushioned sun loungers for Novotel guests with bright red umbrellas in front of the Novotel’s beach bar 2.28 private beach club.

The sea can be very choppy here so make sure you make yourself aware of the flag meanings, there is a sign as you enter explaining this. There is a lovely paved walkway along the beach where we took walks at sunrise and sunset, it was easier than pushing the pram along the sand!

There were no water sports on the beach which I think is down to the fact the water is a bit too choppy for this. My sons loved building sandcastles here as there was a lovely breeze from the sea which you don’t get at the pool making it a lovely temperature at the beach.

The shuttle runs all day into the evening so be sure to make your way down to the beach for sunrise and sunset, they really are the most beautiful sunrises here.

We decided to try a sunrise breakfast down at the beach when the boys were less jet-lagged. We got the 6.20am shuttle bus to the beach and were so surprised to have the whole beach to ourselves, it was fantastic! who gets a whole beach to themselves?!

The staff approached me the night before regarding our allergies. They truly were fantastic at sorting our food out and I was confident I would be able to eat a good breakfast in paradise and not worry about either of us being sick.

My son is dairy intolerant and I’m wheat intolerant, so not great fun when traveling, I’m sure the hotels regret asking us about food intolerance ha!

Our table was prepared and then the feast began as the sky turned orange and daylight shone through the clouds, it was a magical experiancefor us all. one of the highlights of our trip, definitely. What beats a cup of tea watching the sunrise on a beach in Bali?

We all thoroughly enjoyed our breakfast so big thank you to the amazing staff who prepared it for us. The boys were tired after the early rise so we headed back to the pool for a snooze in the sun

We were lucky enough to take part in a traditional Balinese outdoor cooking class where we got to dress up as chefs including the little man who thought this was just fantastic. The chef talked us through each dish and let us help prepare the ingredients.

My son loved helping and was surprisingly very interested in cooking, he helped stir the pot and was excited to try the soup we made. I didn’t think for a second he would eat it as he is a really fussy eater but he shocked us all and ate it all!

Since returning home we copied the recipe the hotel kindly gave us and both my boys have eaten the “Bali soup” as we now call it. I think because he made it he likes to eat it which is brilliant as it’s healthy only thing is they ate the whole pan so my husband I got none!!

The cooking class isn’t something id usually think to do with the kids but this experience has completely changed my mind and it will be something we will take part in on future trips, so thank you Novotel for opening our eyes to this new experience.

Food is a big deal with us and our intolerances but I need not have worried as the Novotel had it all covered. They really know how to look after guests with intolerances and always made sure we were catered for.

There are 4 places to eat at the Novotel, The Square which is the main open-air buffet restaurant in the center of the resort, 2.28  beach club which offers western and Asian cuisine as well as the most delicious cocktails, Gourmet bar is great for a casual lunch next to the pool area Then there’s “Pause Cafe” which offers baked goods cakes and yummy treats to accompany a hot cup of tea or coffee.

We had the most delicious meal at the Square restaurant one evening. It was a bbq theme night where the chefs prepared meat on the bbq in front of you. We got to choose from a vast array of meat to be freshly prepared and brought over to our table. I have to say it was the nicest bbq I have ever had in my life and I’m not just saying that it was so good!!

What I especially loved is next to the restaurant they have an open-air cinema for the kids so my son ate his tea and instead of fidgeting in his seat waiting for u to finish he was able to go and watch a movie whilst we ate. Whoever’s idea this deserves a medal!!

There is a huge variety of food available from the buffet to accompany the bbq meat. To my absolute delight, they had mash potato, to me, this is huge as I struggle to eat when traveling so meat and potato is always a winner.

The open-air buffet is warmly lit at night and bright and airy for breakfast in the morning. There are plenty of tables for everyone and we never had to wait for breakfast even during busy times.

The Breakfast spread caters for everyone from traditional English breakfasts to international delicacies. There is a cooking station for omelets or fresh eggs and tea and coffee making facilities.

We all enjoyed our delicious breakfasts each morning who wouldn’t there was so much to choose from.

One thing I will always remember about the staff at The Novotel was how attentive and helpful they were. They always had a smile on their faces and were there to help whenever we needed them. From booking our evening meal to enquiring about things to do, the staff at the Novotel were brilliant.

Our room was always made up lovely and was completely spotless with fresh towels and amenities daily. I especially loved how the room staff arranged my son’s toys each day, he really loved this and believed the toys were alive like in toy story, bless him.

The staff always went above and beyond, we couldn’t fault them.

We were lucky that our room block was located right next to the kid’s playground and club. Although we did not use the kids club we did make use of the playground on many occasions. Equipt with a slide, swings and lots of other apparatus for the kids, my boys were extremely happy. Every time we passed the playgroud we let them have a quick play.

The kids club offers a range of activities if you fancy having a child-free afternoon sunbathing, I would have loved to do this but we have never left the youngest before so I wouldn’t have been able to rest and my eldest was having way too much fun in the pool all day.

There is also a complimentry bus survice that runs to Bali Collection daily. Bali collection is a shopping and restaurant complex around a 5 minute drive from The Novotel if you feel like going for a wander.

Although we were kindly hosted by The Novotel it would have cost us around £200 a night for a 2 bedroom apartment for a family of 4. Such a great price for such a fabulous hotel.

• Although August is peak season room rates are still fairly priced and the weather is perfect.
• Take the free bus down to Bali Collection
• Book the Sunrise Breakfast you wont regret it.
• Enjoy the BBQ events, there is also a beach BBQ evening too.
• Take a trip to Ubud to see the rice fields.
• Make sure to count your money properly and get to know the currency as it can be quite confusing.
• Make the most of the 2-4-1 at the bar between 5-7, try the mojitos they are fabulous

We had the best time at the Novotel Nusa Dua, it really impressed us how good security is in the area and you instantly feel safe. We loved the layout of the resort, it made getting everywhere really easy with having the pool and restaurant in the middle of the resort.

We highly recommend the apartments, they were huge and immaculate. It was very handy having a kitchen with kids and separate rooms too.

One of my favorite memories from our stay is watching Moana with a mojito whilst the baby slept and my eldest relaxed on a bean bag at the open-air cinema. Such a simple thing but we all really enjoyed the screen outside.

Overall id say the Novotel is a fantastic place for families and you could clearly see every family there were enjoying themselves. They go out of their way to make sure you are having a good time and we most definitely did.

Although we were kindly hosted by The Novotel all opinions are 100% our own, everything we have written is what we really feel about the hotel.