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10 Days Bali Family Trip
Jetstar Flight, Bali Airport SIM Card Tips, and Sofitel Nusa Dua Stay
JUNE 2025
Jetstar flies from Brisbane to Bali twice a day once at 7:30 AM and again at 4:30 PM.
We took the 4:30 PM flight, so we spent the morning packing and relaxing at home. After the afternoon flight, we arrived in Bali around 8:45 PM!
The flight from Brisbane to Bali takes about 6 hours and 30 minutes, and there’s a 2-hour time difference. It’s not a super long trip, but since we flew in the afternoon, it really felt like the whole day was spent just traveling!
We ended up flying Jetstar for our family trip to Bali—an airline that’s pretty well known for delays. Since we booked the flights with our miles, I wasn’t too bothered, but I did have some worries. ><
To be safe, we booked a hotel right near Bali airport so if we arrived late, we could just head there and get some rest. We also made sure to take the day off after we got back to Australia to recover. Hopefully, the flight won’t be delayed, but at least we’ve got a solid backup plan in place.
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It’s been exactly one year since our family trip to Thailand last May, and now we’re off to Bali for another family adventure!
Since we flew with budget airline Jetstar, the seats were pretty tight. But luckily, little Liam was sitting in the middle, which gave us a bit more space, so it wasn’t too bad. It was just 6 and a half hours!
About two hours before arriving at Bali airport, Liam fell asleep.
It was around 9 PM Australian time, so it made sense he was tired. Even at just five years old, Liam seems to be a natural traveler—he usually sleeps well on planes, which makes traveling together much easier.
We arrived at Bali airport on time without any delays. Instead of buying a SIM card right away, we decided to head straight to the Novotel hotel inside the airport and get some rest.
First Day in Bali
The next morning!
Even though we went to bed late due to the 2-hour time difference, all three of us woke up bright and early. We had breakfast early, then stepped outside the hotel to catch a whiff of the Bali air. After checking out of the Novotel, we headed back to the international airport terminal to buy a SIM card, then called a Grab to take us to Sofitel Nusa Dua.
The Novotel may be called a 4-star hotel, but it’s definitely a bit dated—more like a motel really. Still, since it’s officially 4-star, the beds were clean and comfy, which was a relief.
One of the most important things on a Bali trip is buying a local SIM card!
It’s super convenient that you can buy SIM cards easily right at the airport, but they’re quite pricey there. Still, since Nusa Dua is a bit isolated and it would be hard to find a SIM card outside, we decided to buy ours right at the airport.
Buying a SIM Card at Bali Airport
We bought a 21GB Telkomsel SIM card for 250,000 IDR. We knew airport SIM cards tend to be expensive, but to save time during our short trip, we didn’t hesitate to pay.
Because it was busy and hectic in the morning at the airport, we didn’t ask enough about the validity period before buying. We only found out about it after swapping out the SIM card and receiving some messages in Indonesian.
SIM Card Validity Issue
The messages said (after translation) that the SIM card was valid for one month. At first, I thought it was a 7-day SIM card, but it turned out to be good for a full month. Even after a week, it was still working fine. Since I didn’t expect much from buying an airport SIM card, I was pleasantly surprised that it lasted longer than expected.
Tips for Buying a SIM Card at Bali Airport
Be prepared for the price—it’s usually higher than elsewhere since airport SIMs target tourists.
Always check the validity period before purchasing. Ask multiple times and be 100% sure.
If you want speed and convenience, buying at the airport is great, but outside the airport, SIM cards are much cheaper.
Overall, our SIM card experience in Bali was smooth and hassle-free. Thanks to the Telkomsel SIM card we bought at the airport, we had reliable internet during our 9-day trip. Considering our short stay and the importance of saving time, buying the SIM card at Bali airport was a reasonable choice for us.
Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua
We took a Grab taxi from the airport to Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua. The fare was about 250,000 IDR, and the ride took around 30 minutes.
Nusa Dua felt like a high-end resort area with tight security. The whole neighborhood was incredibly clean and beautiful. At the entrance to the Nusa Dua resort complex, the taxi went through one security check, and then there was another check right at the Sofitel entrance. Every time you leave and come back, you have to pass through these two security gates to get into the resort.
When we arrived at Sofitel Bali, it was still before 11 AM. Since our room wasn’t ready yet, we spent some time relaxing and playing by the pool, and were able to check in around 2 PM.
As expected, even the standard room at Sofitel Bali was quite spacious, including the bathroom. There was a comfy couch and a table, which made it nice to sit and relax.
The balcony was a great bonus too—it was perfect for hanging our laundry.
There was also a coffee machine, so every morning before going for a run, I’d brew a cup and enjoy it out on the balcony. It was such a simple but wonderful pleasure.
They replenished the coffee capsules daily, and the balcony had a nice view of the pool—not too shabby at all!
Sofitel Bali’s pool area was divided into three adult pools and two kids’ pools. One of the kids’ pools had a slide, and right next to it was another pool designed like a sandy beach. The water depth was just perfect for Liam to play safely, so we ended up spending a lot of time there.
The adult pools were about chest-deep—not too deep—so they were perfect for relaxing and playing around. There were also pool-access rooms on the first floor, with a long swimming pool that connected all the resort buildings to the main pool.
Liam loved jumping into the adult pool and diving underwater over and over again. No wonder he was ready to crash and sleep every night! Haha.
If you follow the pretty paths from Sofitel Bali Resort, you’ll come right out onto the beach.
There were parasols on the beach, making it a perfect spot to relax while enjoying the sea breeze.
We spent our days going back and forth between the main pool, the kids’ pool, and the beach—playing nonstop from morning until sunset for three whole days.
At the Sofitel Bali beachside restaurant, Toya, they have happy hour from 3 to 5 PM. The pool bar offers happy hour from 5 to 7 PM with a buy-one-get-one-free drink deal.
There’s also a kids’ club where children can stay for free for two hours a day. After that, it’s a paid service. Since not many kids used the kids’ club, Liam only went once for an hour on the first day and wasn’t too keen to go back. He did want to do the paid T-shirt-making activity, so we sent him for a few of those, but most of the time he stayed with us by the pool.
From age four, kids can attend the club without a guardian. When Liam was four, we stayed with him, but by age five, he was happy to go on his own without any worries.
The Sofitel Bali kids’ club felt very safe, with plenty of teachers around, so leaving the kids there felt reassuring.
For lunch on our first day, we ate at Toya, the beachside restaurant. The calamari was delicious, but the pizza was pretty disappointing—the cheese wasn’t even fully melted when it arrived.
We finally got our welcome drinks on the third day! Since happy hour was happening whenever we wanted to drink, we ended up paying for drinks and couldn’t use the welcome drink vouchers right away. But we managed to use them the day before checkout. The Accor Plus benefits were definitely worth it.
When we went to Thailand last year, Accor Plus Silver members could only order non-alcoholic drinks. But in Bali and Australia, alcohol was included, so it was great to enjoy a drink by the pool. There’s a specific menu for the welcome drink voucher, so just ask the staff for details.
The famous Cucina restaurant at Sofitel Bali! Here’s a photo to celebrate our first day in Bali.
During our stay at Sofitel Bali, we had Indonesian food for lunch at Cuisine and Italian food for dinner at Cucina for all 3 nights and 4 days. The food was absolutely delicious every time, and we never got tired of it.
To celebrate our first night, we ordered a seafood platter. It was the perfect amount for two people and absolutely delicious.
At Sofitel Bali’s Cucina restaurant, they have a famous pepper performance! Liam even got to take a photo with the pepper and one of the staff—such a fun moment! ><
We ate a lot more than just what’s in the photos, but I didn’t get a chance to take pictures of everything…ㅠㅠ
Basically, all the pasta and pizza were delicious, and the other main dishes were just as tasty.
At kwee zeen, the Indonesian dishes were beautifully presented and tasted amazing.
And you absolutely have to try Balinese coffee when you’re in Bali! It’s a sweet iced coffee made with coconut condensed milk, and honestly, you just can’t skip having a sweet iced coffee in a hot country like this.
The food at all the restaurants inside Sofitel Bali was delicious, and of course, the breakfast was amazing too. I ordered the eggs Benedict, and the way the eggs were cooked was absolutely perfect. Usually, I don’t have high expectations for eggs Benedict at hotel breakfasts, but Sofitel Bali really impressed me with their breakfast menu.
Also, if you ask, all the restaurants provide coloring pages. It’s a great way for families with kids like us to keep the little ones entertained while waiting for the food.
Nusa Dua Beach looks the most beautiful in the morning after a run.
I took a taxi alone, went to get my nails done, and then suddenly felt like getting a massage. So, I booked a massage on the street, and they even came to pick me up!
While waiting for the pickup, I bought a beach bag from a street vendor for 150k rupiah. It’s a big size and perfect for carrying all sorts of things. Since it was an impulsive buy, I’m not sure if I got overcharged, but I’m pretty happy with it.
Nail Salon: Alleshanails Salon
They operate by appointment only, and you can book via WhatsApp. It’s about 5 minutes from Sofitel Bali. It’s a local spot—not fancy, but they did a very thorough job.
www.alleshanails.com
Massage: Nusa Dua Spa by Lily Treatment
Also by appointment only, they offer pickup and drop-off service, and you can book through WhatsApp.
I was lucky to get a same-day booking and pickup on the first day, but on the second day, I had to go in the afternoon because the preferred time was fully booked.
On the first day, I got a Balinese massage, and on the second day, a deep tissue massage. Both were affordable and very satisfying. Everyone was friendly, and after the massage, they even drove me back—such great service!
On the second day, I brought Liam along. The room was pretty spacious, and Liam sat comfortably on a chair with a headset watching videos on an iPad. The staff even pushed two chairs together so he could stretch out and relax. It seemed like a great place for parents with young kids.
Bali Collection
Honestly, I wasn’t really excited to visit, but since it seemed like the only place to go out at night in Nusa Dua, we checked it out.
As expected, there wasn’t much to buy, and the prices were pretty high. We each had an ice cream, rode a horse once, and headed back to the hotel within an hour.
Sofitel Bali offers a shuttle bus service, but we just missed it right in front of us, so we took a taxi instead.
And just like that, our last night at Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua passed, and tomorrow we’ll be moving on to Sanur.
Preparing for our Bali trip with a kid – Flights, Hotels, Entry Documents & Taxi Apps
