• As an increasingly popular holiday destination over the past decade, "the island of the Gods" offers high-class accommodation and facilities against a backdrop of palm trees, beautiful beaches, lush green vegetation and volcanic mountains.
• Hotel accommodation is often very luxurious for a fairly reasonable price. The Balinese prize beauty, and this extends to their tourist development, for the most part.
• Bali is currently a cost-conscious option, and if you travel around and book accommodation as you go, rooms are very cheap.
• Lots to explore and see such as monkey forests, ancient temples, markets, dolphins (at Lovina beach in the North, staff wake you at dawn to go and watch the dolphins at sunrise in your little boat). There’s even a smoking volcano!
• Plenty of treatments on offer – beach massages, ayurvedic treatments etc.
• It gives you the opportunity to add a bit of spiritual study to your relaxation – Buddhism is the driving force behind most of Bali’s culture and social mores.
• Mothers with young children are universally welcomed - locals will quite literally fight to give up their seats for you in most areas.
• It’s very easy to travel away from the main tourist areas – local taxis (bemos) are plentiful and very cheap (but be prepared to bargain).
• As soon as you get just slightly away from the developed area, the old Balinese 'magic' is still there – temples at every turn, beautiful scenery and supremely friendly, serene people.
• It’s easier than in most places to sample the ‘real Bali’, without having to stray miles away from your hotel.

Things to think about:

• VERY long flight
• Can appear over-developed in parts, so be prepared to find an area that suits you.
• Stay as long as you can, because there is a lot to see, and it takes a while to fit it all in.
• Exercise the usual longhaul caution with food, avoid salads etc. Food not especially inspiring.
• Limited medical facilities.

Vaccinations: Hep A/Typhoid/Tetanus/Polio/TB (for children only)/Malaria (some parts of the country).

Sun sense: Dehydration is a serious problem for babies and young children. Ensure your child remains in the shade and avoid sightseeing during the hottest periods of the day.

Best time to visit: May to September, rainy season starts in October, and it really rains, so best to avoid it.

Flight time: 16.5 hours

Time difference: 8 hours ahead of GMT

Tourist office: 020-7493 0030

Web site: http://www.travelbali.com