When considering honeymoon destinations, like most couples, we were looking for somewhere romantic and relaxing, with an interesting local culture. On top of this, we needed to plan the trip to suit our 7-year-old son who had different priorities.
We decided to put together a Malaysia and Bali honeymoon package which allowed us to combine an exciting Asian city break in Kuala Lumpur with a twin-centre stay over in Bali. We packed our stay full of beautiful Indonesian culture and landscapes, romantic beaches, and fun activities to ensure we balanced some family downtime with enough adventure to please our son. Our itinerary would work both for honeymooners and as a memorable family holiday.
We took an overnight, direct flight from London to Kuala Lumpur with Malaysia Airlines, on their brand new A350. Malaysia Airlines’ huge network of connecting flights makes them a great choice to fly to KL and Bali. On arrival, our private transfer was waiting to drive us to our hotel, the iconic Hotel Majestic Kuala Lumpur.
We spent 2 nights in a Junior Suite, which is ideal for a family as it was really spacious, and our son Sam loved the view from our room overlooking the city. There’s a pool, which is the perfect place to relax and recharge after a day of sightseeing. Hotel Majestic is ideally located in the historical district, just a 10-minute drive from the centre of KL. My top tip is to download the ‘Grab’ app, which is their version of Uber – it’s so convenient to get around and the fixed-priced fare makes budgeting easy.
We pre-booked a half-day KL city tour including a visit to Batu Caves, on the edge of the city. The tour had an early start, but mornings are a perfect time to visit these impressive caves and climb the 272 steps to the entrance before it gets too hot and busy. Our guide, Bala was incredibly knowledgeable and Sam loved listening to his stories.
From there, we were driven through the city to the Petronas Towers for a photo opportunity. We decided not to go up the twin towers, but instead opted to go up the KL Tower for views over the city and back towards the Petronas towers. Sam loved the Sky Box, which is a perspex box that hangs over the edge – look down if you dare!
If, like me, you love Asian cuisine, Jalan Alor night market is a must-visit. It’s an entire road dedicated to street food. There’s a real buzz and the food is delicious – even for a fussy 7-year-old!
After our short city break, we headed to Bali to relax. The flight from KL is a little over 3 hours, though after the 13-hour flight to KL, this was easy! We split our time in Bali and had three nights in the cultural hub of Ubud, followed by four nights on the beach.
When we arrived in Bali, we were greeted by our private guide Budi, who was eager to tell us all about his country. The drive to Ubud gives you a great insight into the island; driving through villages, rice fields and Hindu temples, and seeing everyone go about their daily lives.
In Ubud, we treated ourselves to a luxury, two-bedroom Royal Villa with private pool at the amazing Puri Sebali Resort. Our villa was perfect: it was very peaceful, and we loved having our own space to relax and enjoy the pool. There are no words to describe the view from our private infinity pool overlooking the rice paddies other than breath-taking!
It was apparent during our stay just how friendly the Balinese people are and how much they love kids. Every morning, the hotel staff would go out of their way to make sure we were OK and say ‘good morning’ to our son, which he loved. This small resort had everything we needed. I highly recommend the hotel’s complimentary tour of the beautiful rice paddies and it’s well worth the early start (but be sure to wear good footwear).
Puri Sebali Resort is 20 minutes outside the centre of Ubud and there’s a complimentary shuttle service, making it easy to explore each evening. Ubud has a relaxed vibe, with lots of independent shops and plenty of restaurants. You should try Nasi Goreng, which is a stir-fried rice speciality in Bali that quickly became our son’s favourite dish.
After Ubud, we were driven south to Jimbaran for our beach stay. Rather than drive there directly, we opted for the ‘Bali as you please’ tour, which is 8 hours with a guide and driver, and you choose what you want to see.
First, we visited Mount Batur to the north and stopped at a viewpoint where we could gaze over the lake and villages below, and spot Mount Agung volcano in the distance. This region is famous for its coffee, so we also visited a coffee plantation and sampled lots of different flavours of coffee, including the famous Kopi Luwak.
Next, we were driven to Tegenungan Waterfall, a beautiful scene tucked away in the jungle. This was one of my highlights: it’s quite a long walk down to the waterfall (around 140 steps as my son counted!) but the falls are amazing, and the noise is mesmerizing. You can get close to the waterfall, but if, like us, you’d rather stay dry, just settle for a paddle.
Our final stop was Uluwatu Temple, one of Bali’s many Hindu temples, not far from Jimbaran. Perched on a clifftop, the view over the sea is outstanding – but watch out for the monkeys.
We thoroughly enjoyed our island day tour and loved that we could choose what to visit. We had heard about how beautiful the scenery was in Bali and it didn’t disappoint, the endless views of rice paddies and volcanoes were truly spectacular.
In Jimbaran, we chose the Movenpick Resort & Spa, and opted for a pool view room. Again, this hotel is perfect for families and couples and offered us some glorious relaxation to round off our honeymoon.
At check-in, we were greeted with cocktails and the staff took Sam off for his own check-in, which was a lovely touch. He even came back with a temporary tattoo! This hotel was larger than our Ubud resort, with the pool being one of the biggest draws. It’s a large freeform pool that isn’t too deep, has a man-made beach and a swim-up bar – what more could you ask for?
Jimbaran is known for its seafood, so there are plenty of dining options along the beach, which is only a 5-minute stroll from the hotel. It was romantic spending each evening unwinding with a Bintang beer, watching the sunset and tucking into incredible, fresh seafood.
If you’re looking for a relaxing, multi-centre holiday, I’d recommend a Malaysia and Bali twin-centre holiday for anyone. You’ll have the chance to enjoy a city, with its buzzing street food, followed by an amazing dose of Indonesian culture and beach, all surrounded by beautiful scenery, with time to relax as a family and as a couple. This trip exceeded our expectations and allowed us to have our perfect honeymoon as a family.
To book a similar trip, just get in touch. We’re experts in multi-centre holidays, round the world flights and tailor-made honeymoons. Simply call us on 01273 005 142 or request a quote by email and we’ll get back to you quickly.
