The excitement builds as the date of departure gets closer .......

When going to Bali we would recommend that you don't take too much gear - particularly clothing, as it is cheap and plentiful when you get there. The weather can be hot and the basic clothing to wear is light, cool and casual .This includes going out to restaurants and daily street wear. Take an empty suitcase and fill it as you go - forget the washing until you get home ( Although in many of the smaller hotels and local laundries you can get your clothes washed and pressed at really good prices).

Carry a couple of knapsacks onto the plane as they’ll be handy to carry around gear during your holiday. Your kidz can pack this with some of their favorite things to keep them busy at the airport and on the plane on the way to Bali.

The following are a few ideas for items to take with you when you are packing :

• "Wet Ones" are useful everywhere.

• Tissues come in handy if the toilets are undersupplied.

• Sports drink bottles are great, so the kids have access to water at all times.

• A calculator for quick exchange rate conversion.

• Goggles for the pool - the chlorine can be very strong.

• Sunscreen. You will need to apply regularly to avoid sunburn. It really isn’t worth getting burnt early in your holiday!

• Can/stubby holder- you can get on the Island but it is easier to take one.

• Have a dental checkup before you go if you have any doubts about your kids teeth.

• A pack of cards/ A good book.

• A torch.

• Printed info from this website

Hi ! its me again. Click on me to get some really good tips for when you land in Bali

The following list might be useful when packing:

• Personal insect repellent, if there are a few mozzies around at night.

• Stuff for cuts and grazes - betadine.

• Ear drops for swimmers ear/pressure on the flight.

• Cold/flu preparations (changes in temperature and air conditioning often result in colds).

• Headache / fever tablets.

• See your doctor for diarrhoea/nausea medications - many are not suitable for children. Many people we met carried red cordial as an alternative.

• Its easy to get dehydrated in Bali , take some rehydration salts- Gastrolyte.

• Hangover cures?- don't forget the Berocca.

: Most items can be purchased in chemists/supermarkets but you may not be able to understand the labels/directions so it's best to take your own , where possible.

If you have younger children , you should also consider packing the following :

• Disposable daipers

• Formula milk

• Some people take a stroller on their trip. They actually swear by how invaluable it is on their trip. Click here for a report from a family. Others comment that the sidewalks in Bali are not really set up for these, they are uneven and often have a lot of kerbs. They say if you are moving around better to use taxi's. You can buy a stroller that turns into a backpack, this may be a good alternative!

• Here are the comments of a traveller with an 8 month baby-

  We brought along everything our 8-mth son needed. Diapers, wipes, cereals, bottled baby food (Heinz & Gerber), bottles, stroller, sarong sling (baby carrier), medicine and most importantly toys.
  Baby food there was twice the price compared to prices back at home.

  Tips for Babies.
  - Vaccination might not be necessary .We didn't give our son any.
  - Buy all the food you need. It was difficult to find some particular mix of baby food (e.g. chicken or spinach)
  - Insect repellent
  - Breast-feeding mothers will have an easier time travelling. I was glad that my wife was breastfeeding as it so convenient and helped to keep our son filled up till we reached the hotel.
  - Bring along a baby carrier so that your child can take their scheduled naps when you are on the road.
  - Strollers are not very useful there. It served as his feeding chair. The roads are quite narrow and dangerous.
  - Toys are important to distract your baby while you are having your meals.
  - You can get fruits at Matahari or hotels to feed your child.
  - Bring along their favourite pillow or bolsters if it is small. They might have a better sleep.
  - We gave our son boiled water together with mineral water.
  -Use a towel to wipe their face instead of splashing them with water as they might swallow some of the tap water.
  (Ramesh 2002)

THINGS TO REMEMBER

A couple of other things to remember-

• check with the airline or your travel agent that kids meals are ordered for each leg of your trip

• if you have a young child check to make sure that you have a seat with access to a cot - don't leave this until the last minute!

• take photocopies of your passports and any other important documents that you are taking with you and store them is a different place in your luggage - it is a great back up in case any get lost

• take a few plastic shopping bags to separate dirty or wet gear