Be honest. Have you ever come back from a family holiday needing another holiday? We’ve all been there. You try to squeeze in every theme park, every must-see spot and every famous restaurant. By day three, the kids are cranky, you’re exhausted and nobody remembers what they did on Tuesday.
That’s why more parents are trying something different: doing less and enjoying more. Fewer activities, slower days, and more time just being together. And if you’re looking for a place that suits this kind of trip, Ubud in Bali is hard to beat.
Why Ubud works for slow travel
Ubud is Bali’s green, cultural heart. Instead of beach clubs and busy shopping streets, you get rice terraces, jungle, temples and a slower pace of life.
It’s also an easy trip from Malaysia. Bali is only around three hours’ flight from KL, so you won’t lose a whole day of your holiday just getting there.
A stay built around nature and family
One resort leaning into this idea is The Westin Resort & Spa Ubud, Bali. Here’s what families can look forward to:
The Farm
Kids can meet friendly animals, learn about tropical herbs and fruits, and get their hands dirty with nature activities. It’s a nice break from screens, and the kind of experience city kids don’t get every day.
Farm-to-table dining at Tabia
Tabia Restaurant uses herbs grown on The Farm and ingredients from local farmers. It’s a fun way for kids to see where their food comes from, and maybe convince them to try something new.
Wellness for parents
Parents don’t have to give up their routines either. There’s RunWESTIN, yoga, cycling and aqua aerobics, so you can start the day with a run or a stretch before the family wakes up.
Westin Family Kids Club
The kids club and the resort’s activity programme mix creativity, learning and outdoor play. That gives parents a little quiet time, too.
Beyond the resort
Ubud is best enjoyed at a slow pace. A few easy family outings:
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary: a favourite with kids, but keep an eye on your sunglasses and snacks. The monkeys are cheeky.
- Local art markets: great for browsing crafts and picking up souvenirs.
- Nature walks: the rice fields and jungle trails around Ubud are beautiful in the early morning.
The trick is not to plan too much. One outing a day is plenty. Leave the rest of the day for swimming, napping and long meals.
The Ubud Family Staycation Package
If you’re travelling with young kids, the resort’s Ubud Family Staycation Package offers good value:
- Free stay for up to two children under 12 sharing their parents’ room
- Daily breakfast
- Kids’ meals when dining with their parents
- One-way airport transfer for stays of two nights or more
The airport transfer is a nice bonus. Ubud is about an hour or more inland from the airport, and it’s one less thing to arrange after a flight with tired kids.
The best holidays leave room to breathe
A great family trip doesn’t need a packed schedule. Sometimes the moments you remember most are the simple ones: breakfast together, a walk through the rice fields, or watching the kids feed a goat for the first time.
So for your next holiday in 2027, try planning a little less. You might end up enjoying it a lot more.
For more on the resort’s family experiences, check out The Westin Ubud’s experiences page.
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