Kids

Hanging at the Gayatri Bungalows in Ubud Bali

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Where to Stay in Bali with Kids

You know the drill, it’s time to book your hotel stays in Bali but as a family the process can be daunting.

You want to save money but you don’t all want to be sharing a bed. You want to have a pool for the kids but you don’t want to pay $80-$100+ per night for the privilege.

Many blogs and travel guidebooks, including my beloved Lonely Planet, recommend places like the Hard Rock Hotel or the Westin Resort as “great family friendly hotels in Bali”. Hell yeah, they are great for the family, who wouldn’t want a resort with water slides, man-made beaches, and babysitting? But, unless you have just won the lottery you may be like ourselves: looking for Westin comfort at hard rock bottom prices.

Finding budget-friendly, and family-friendly accommodations doesn’t always go hand-in-hand.

Below are the exact locations and accommodations we booked during our 30 day stay in Bali.  Keep in mind, prices will fluctuate by 2-3x during the high season!

Budget Accommodations for Families in Bali

We found each of the places below to be wonderful, family and budget friendly options that will provide maximum comfort at median/minimal cost.

Jimbaran

Hotel Puri Bambu Bali

Poolside at The Hotel Puri Bambu in Bali

Where we stayed: The Hotel Puri Bambu (Bookings) Hotel Puri Bambu (Agoda) ****  Spectacular budget friendly hotel accommodation in Jimbaran that will make it hard to leave your hotel.

WIFI STRONGWiFi – very good

Jimbaran is not a “must see” location by any means on a Bali itinerary. It is made very nice by the well priced and well located Hotel Puri Bambu which really sells it in my mind as an airport stopping point. The breakfast is one of the best we have had and they have a convenient and free shuttle into Kuta.

 

Kuta Beach

Satriya Cottages front
Satriya Cottages Pool
Satriya Cottages bungalows
Satriya Cottages cafe and bar

Where we stayed: Satriya Cottages (bookings) Satriya Cottages (Agoda) – Nice, well priced, central location – pull some cushions from the poolside lounge chairs at night and save money on the extra bed for your kids.

WIFI STRONGWiFi – Very Good

 

Sanur

outside our room
Poolside cafe, simple but sutiable.
Basic family room

Where we stayed: Prima Cottages (Bookings) Prima Cottages (Agoda) – Great budget family friendly hotel in the heart of Sanur with lots of decent eats nearby.

WIFI WeakWiFi – spotty

 

Balian Beach

Our “room”
The view in front of our room
The cool upstairs attic
Front porch
New friends
Balian Beach

Where we stayed: Pondok Pitaya (Bookings) on Pondok Pitaya (Agoda) Balian Beach. * One of the best places we have ever stayed!

WIFI WeakWiFi – Spotty and not accessible from the houses at the far end.

Balian has a combination of surf and exotic accommodations that will blow your mind. Pondok Pitaya is the glue the brings it all together!We came to stay for a few days and spent a week. The surf can be hit and miss but if you want surf, yoga, sun, swimming and a mansion for a week for less than it costs to fill up your car back home, Balian is for you!

 

Pemuteran

Wonderful Outdoor Breakfast
Waiting Beachside
Our 7 year old snorkeling in Pemuteran Bali
Enjoying the Morning Sun
Our (Almost) Private Pool
Kids Playing in Kitchen Area

Where we stayed: Amertha Bali Villas (Bookings)  Amertha Bali Villas (Agoda) When it comes to finding the perfect place in Bali for kids, snorkeling, beach and relaxation, it is hard to beat the Amertha Bali Villas.

WIFI STRONGWiFi – Very Good

The Amertha Bali Villas were heaven on earth. Although we were housed near the entrance in a group arrangement, we ended up pretty much having our own pool, with a pool slide, a shared outdoor kitchen a wonderful sitting area and lots of frogs for the kids. You walk one way and you get the beach, you walk 3 minutes the other way and you are on the main drag. This is a real advantage when you are toting around little ones. Breakfast was heavenly, we ate right on the beach and although our accommodations set us back at almost $100 per night, we stayed within budget, as the huge breakfast and plenitude of free daytime activities meant we had very little extra out of pocket expenses.

 

Ubud

Hanging at the Gayatri Bungalows in Ubud Bali
Courtyard
Little Buddha
The garden
Daily breakfast in the garden

Where we stayed: Gayatri Bungalows (Agoda)  – The Gayatri Bungalows are simple, clean and conveniently located hotel right in the center of Ubud. It’s a family run business with a traditional feel. If you can’t find an apartment to rent in Bali this is a great alternative and gets big points in my book for its prime Bali real estate and great pricing.

WIFI WeakWiFi – It’s spotty and can be slow at times but is free.

 

Don’t miss our family friendly Bali destination guide.

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Hiking the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia with Kids

Hiking-The-Camerron-Highlands-with-Kids

When we came to the Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lumpur (or KL as the locals call it) we were excited to get out and about into nature. Unsure of how we could accomplish this with kids we did the only thing smart world traveling families can do: We just found a trail and started walking.

Jungle Trekking the Cameron Highlands with Kids

There are several treks throughout the Cameron Highlands that are suitable for small children. The key is finding the starting point, which is not at all obvious. We did two treks both starting from Hotel De La Ferns which is 2km North of Tanah Rata.

  1. Path 4: Which began down a little known, unmarked road at the forestry department near the Kelab Golf course.
  2. Path 1: Gunung Brinchang – A true uphill jungle trek not for the weak of heart that requires some prior proper planning.

1. Hiking Path 4 to Tanah Rata

This is an extremely easy, rewarding (and a bit slippery) walking path that leads from just below the golf course all the way into Tanah Rata. You will pass two child-friendly parks, strawberry farms, and a waterfall. It is a good hike to get your feet wet – literally!

From Hotel De La Ferns you can take the road (or the secret path behind the blue/white apartments) down towards the golf course and the strawberry farms. There is an unmarked road that veers off into what appears to be no man’s land. This is the road you want.

This is the road, blink and you will miss it.
Use this as a handy landmark.

There are actually several trail heads here. One option heads north and will take you up and around towards Tanah Rhata or connect you with several of the other trailhead towards Gunung Bringchangand.  The one we want heads south and is just up behind the small park with swings (you will know it when you see it).

As I mentioned, the hike is flat and passes several very nice destinations for picnicking, frolicking and simply enjoying the outdoors.

Great place for a snack and some playtime.
Cool suspension bridge
Huge Root Systems
Easy to follow brick path
Pretty waterfall

This trail ends at the elementary school, from here simply veer right and you will be on the main road of Tanah Rata. You can eat and catch a cab to wherever your need to go. In our case, it was back up the hill. The kids rode with mom in a $2.30 taxi and I hiked back up where once again it started to rain 🙂 Go figure!

2. Hiking Gunung Bringchang with Kids (The tallest peak in Malaysia)

Cameron Highlands with Kids Malaysia (1)

I must admit we did absolutely no research prior to heading out to hike up “Jungle Walk No. 1”. We had met some friendly young hikers the day before who recommended the trek and gave us some details about how to find the trailhead and how to “easily” secure a ride back down. It seemed easy enough, so we decided to give it a go. We spoke with our hotel manager before leaving and he assured us it was an easy trek suitable for small kids.

I am going to warn you, this hike is a 2-hour trek straight up a mountain and when you get to the top there is a 5-mile hike back down into civilization on the other side. Do not go up this mountain without having a plan for getting back down on the other end. We were led to believe that there would be taxis waiting or empty cars of people who could help. When we arrived there was one visiting family who we sadly watched leave.  It then began to POUR. We started our trek downward with no one in sight.  We walked for several miles down in the pouring rain. After about an hour, we came across a strawberry farm and spoke with a group of Malay farm workers who, despite their good intentions and big smiles, couldn’t understand a word we were saying. Luckily, a couple of minutes later a truck came up the hill and we were able to wave him down.  He kindly used his phone to call for a ride.

Now that I have scared you, I will tell you that this hike is one of the most beautiful and rewarding hikes I have ever taken and our kids absolutely loved it. You will find yourself enveloped in deep, lush green tropical rain forest, with root systems that you must scale, climb and grapple with until you finally are released from the mountains tentacles at the top. Watching the rain clouds pour into the mountainside, surrounded by giant ferns, mammoth vines, and exotic bird calls will transport you to a different word.

Hiking the Cameron Highlands with Kids
Jungle Trekking Gunung Brinchang: The highest peak in Malaysia.
Real rainforest and awesome root systems

I haven’t seen country this green and spectacular since New Zealand. If you are debating whether or not to visit the Cameron Highland on your trip though Malaysia the answer is; you definitely should. Guided tours abound and they will take you to all the local “touristy” spots, for us though, simply getting on the trail and spending 4 days outdoors hit the spot.

For a good budget friendly accommodation check out Fathers Guest House. If you want something quiet with a nice view and a good breakfast I can recommend Hotel de La Ferns. It was a bit out-of-the-way but they offered us a great off-season rate ($64 with a huge breakfast) and the view was spectacular. It is best to book through their website as they often run 50% off promotional deals.

Trail Map of Cameron Highlands Hiking Trails

Below is a helpful trail map of the Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata and the various hiking tails. Download the image to your phone and take it with you hiking, it may come in handy.

 

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Nelson New Zealand The Middle of “Middle Earth”

"Tomato" and "Big Nose" make it to the center of New Zealand!

Nelson shares the title of the sunniest place in New Zealand and is also the geographical center… Welcome to the middle of Middle Earth!

Nelson offers fabulous outdoor activities such as swimming and a fun park at Tahunanui Beach a great place for a picnic or to enjoy the beach cafe there.

A visit to the Founders Historic Park – a “living” museum with an adventure playground is well worth the time.

Nelson has a very quaint and easy to navigate downtown, wonderful craft beer, a nice biking/walking trail right in the center of the city near the iSite. The “one ring” in the Lord of the Rings was created here in Nelson.

If you are lucky you may get to visit the Saturday market which is considered one of the best in the country. Not only all the fresh locally grown produce and products but many artists and craftspeople display their wares and crafts.

Top Things to do in Nelson with Kids

  1. Hike to the Center of New Zealand: A short hike that begins right in the middle of the city and will take you atop a mountain to the center of New Zealand. It is a mildly steep grade but short enough to be enjoyed by the entire family.
  2. Take a beer tour – In Nelson there is even a brewery in an old converted church. This way you can ask God’s forgiveness for bringing your kids to a bar while you enjoy a local craft beer!
  3. Go to Tahunanui Beach and the fun park
  4. Visit the Saturday Market if you can
  5. Take a bike ride down a bit of “The great wine trail“
  6. Visit the World of Wearable Art and Classic Cars
  7. Play at the skate park

Also, as a runner I found Nelson a wonderful place for a trail run. Follow the river for miles through rolling hills, mountains and grazing cattle!

Where to Stay with Kids in Nelson

There are several holiday parks in the region but we opted for an apartment instead.

We stayed at the Nikau appartments which gave us a full kitchen, bathroom and 2 bedrooms for the same price as it would have been to stay in the communal hostel.

The only downside that I see with apartment rentals is that it is easier to isolate yourself. But sometimes, for parents and kids alike, it can be nice to take a break and have a place to call “home” for a few days as you explore a city.

The Nikau apartments have a college dorm room feel but are still very nice for a short stay.

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Amazingly Awesome Adventures in Auckland

We landed in Auckland after 31 days of travel in Bali and a bit of a Visa mishap.

Excited to escape the heat and set foot on New Zealand for the very first time, Auckland proved sublime!

After 24 hours we were ready to call it our new home.

What to do in Auckland with Kids

1. Kelly Tarlton’s Sea Life Aquarium

Kelly Tarlton’s rocks!

It was my daughters 7’th birthday and when we gave her the list of available activities in Auckland this was her very first pick, and the best part? Admission free on your birthday! We applauded our daughters fine decision making.

Once you pay the entry fee (you can get 10% off in any of the city brochures so pick one up) you are welcomed into a world of rotating ice then a display of penguins that blew my mind.

I must preface this by saying I was a Zoology major in college and have been traveling with two small children for some time so I consider myself an aficionado… These penguins were something else.

Photos will not do these penguins justice so you will just have to believe me and when you are in Auckland go see them for yourself.

After the penguins you will enter a world of big tanks, big fish, a circular underwater “people moving” observatory (similar to what they now have in San Francisco) and a great place to grab some grub which overlooks Auckland City at sea level.

All of this adds up to make Kelly Tarlton’s a must do activity in my list of things to do with kids in Auckland.

2. Take a Ferry Ride

There are two main ferry rides in Auckland that people will recommend for day trips. (see timetable)

  1. Devonport
  2. Waiheke

After discussing our sailing options with a friendly local at the ferry terminal the night before we chose Devonport for its small size and cheaper price.  Also, I heard it was the hometown of New Zealand born Lorde, both my daughter and I thought this was cool because we like to rock out to “Royals”.

Devonport is everything the brochures say it i:  It is quaint, has some nice shops, a fun playground next to the ferry terminal for the kids and a nice short hike up Mt. Victoria (that the kids complained about) where we “ice skated”,  rested and ate some lunch.

3. The Auckland Museum

We did go to the Auckland Museum and it does have a great kids section on the bottom floor where there are tons of hands on specimens for the kids to get excited about. The Mauri exhibits and the volcanic displays were amazing.

The Museum resides in a picture perfect park, that is great for a picnic lunch, we even took a short hike through the gardens.

I am not sold that this is a “must see” in Auckland, and after having been to Te Papa in Wellington, the Auckland museum isn’t nearly as kid friendly. That being said, if it is a rainy day and you are looking for a fairly inexpensive indoor activity that is educational with your kids, the museum should be on the top of your list.

4. Walk the City

Auckalnd is a great city just to be in. It has a fun vibe, lots of activity and great street musicians. People are friendly and you can walk kitty-corner across very busy streets, very cool!

A walk down Queen Street is worth it at any time of day or night, veer left to explore the University and nearby park, veer right and explore more shops, hip restaurants, and Auckland’s music and theater scene.

Not too loud, not too quite, very clean and full of activity, Auckland is just a great city to be in! Our kids thought so too.

Celebrating Layla’s 7’th

A Note on The “Seattle Like” Sky Tower

Since I lived in Seattle and have spent way too much money at least twice to go up the Space Needle we did not pay to take a ride up the Auckland Sky Tower. But, we did enjoy the sunset view from the base, the purple lights and a tramp around the Sky Tower Mall.

I am sure it is a great view from up top, but it is expensive and I think your kids will probably forget about it after a couple of days.

Where to Stay in Auckland

City Oaks Serviced Apartments

There are probably as many accommodations in Auckland as there are itineraries, but my wife found a self catering apartment complex right downtown that was spectacular.

It was less than $120 NZ per night for a 2 bedroom complex with laundry, free WiFi, a full kitchen and downtown location. We booked early and got a great deal through Agoda. so start there.

Te Papa with el papá

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The Wonderful World of Windy Wellington

Wellington New Zealand is a wonderful place for kids.

Why?

Because it has more free activities than any other place in New Zealand!

I would liken Wellington to the Washington DC of New Zealand, for its abundance of free museums that are spectacular for kids.

It is also easily navigated by foot (or in our case “scooterable”) which makes it a fun city to explore.

What to do in Wellington with Kids

1. Te Papa

Every guide-book says it, and I didn’t really believe that it could be that great after going to the Auckland Museum and being a bit disappointed. But Te Papa, as its name would suggest, is the granddaddy of all museums.

Every floor is designed to be a treasure trove for kids, walk about 5 minutes and you will come across a kids activity center. Go to the art gallery and they even have a special super sleuth game designed to get your kids excited  about art.

Kids naturally want to learn and it does my heart well to see a museum designed to build upon this innate love for learning.

If Te Papa is the only thing you do in New Zealand with your family  you won’t be missing much as it truly is spectacular.

Te Papa with el papá

2. The Cable Car

The following day after we visited Te Papa we went back into town to find the cable car and visit the botanical gardens.

We were met by  70 mph winds and some rain, but surprisingly our kids didn’t seem to mind.

We found the cable car entrance (thank you trusty Google Maps) and we took the cable car up for about $13 US. The best part is, you can get a one way ticket and walk, or again in our case scooter, all the way back down to the start.

The gardens are free and there is an amazing playground with a flying fox. Takes about 30-45 minutes to make it down the back of the mountain and the trail ends right back in the city where you started.

This was a half day adventure in my book (at least when it is windy and rainy) but it was a lot of fun and totally worth the effort.

3. Mount Victoria Lookout

We didn’t mean to go the lookout, our car just headed up there while discovering the city and driving the coastal route.

The road is awesome, straight up the mountain and narrow with two-way traffic! You will wonder several times if you are going the right way but this is what makes it fun.

The view from the top on a sunny day is amazing and is worth the drive up. Our kids liked it, we drove down and then followed this up with a trip to Te Papa to make a day out of it.

4. The Weta

The Weta Workshop was another accidental find, somewhere in our readings I heard that Peter Jackson had a production company in Wellington where they did the special effects for the Lord of the Rings. As a movie and effects buff this sounded like fun for the entire family.

Once again, I heard the workshop was FREE,  I couldn’t believe it so I had to see it.

We took a half day before the cable car ride to go to the Weta Workshop. They showed a 30 minute feature film showing how they do movie effects, it was gross and a bit violent, the kids loved it. Then we paid the $40 to take the 45 minute workshop tour.

They have the real props from some of the best movies of all time, your tour guide will be one of the Weta artists and after you leave you will be thinking about a change of professions.

It was super cool, and super fun, and I would do it again.

The best part: The Hobbit Trolls!

Where to Stay With Kids in Wellington

We stayed in the Wellington Top 10 Holiday Park outside of the city, it wasn’t bad, but if I were to do it again I would recommend staying in the city if you can.

The kitchen cabin in the Top 10 was lackluster (despite an awesome jumping pillow) and it looked a bit like a prison cell.  I thought it was a bit overpriced at $120 NZ per night. That being said, most Wellington accommodations will be in th range of $160 for families.

Lonely Planet Travel with Children recommend The Carillon which is about  this price range, looks nice if it is within your budget.

The kids hanging two while dad hangs 10

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Raglan New Zealand: Perfect Surf and Fun for Families

Raglan Family Travel Quick Tips:

Stay at Raglan Kopua Holiday Park or Solscape (tepee themed rooms), rent a board from The Raglan Surf Emporium (very nice guys), get free WiFi from the quaint local library and grab some food from the local bakeries.

The surf spot is about a 10 minute drive up the road, just enter “Manu Bay” into Google Maps and it will take you there.  There is a beginners spot on the drive to Manu Bay that is good for those looking to learn on the whitewater but not much else.

The two surf spots just past Manu Bay are for advanced surfers only. The surf works best at medium tide and has a very strong rip at low tide.

Raglan with Kids

Raglan New Zealand is a wonderfully cute and hospitable town perfect for families with small children.

We went there for Manu Bay and to find (and hopefully surf) the longest left hand break in the world.

Hanging 10 at Manu Bay

What we found was a wonderful holiday park, with a skate park, playground and a short walk to the postcard-perfect city.

We hired a surfboard for about $19 US per day and hit the surf.

We stayed in Raglan for 3 nights but wanted to stay for 3 weeks.

Mid-week in the off-season we had the place to ourselves. We were there for the Labor Day Weekend so it was amazing to watch how this changed in the matter of a couple hours.

We stayed at the Raglan Kopua Holiday Park which is just perfect for kids.

The kids hanging two while dad hangs 10

Other accommodation options (especially if you are looking to surf) is Solscape.

They have Tepee rooms and train themed accommodations which would probably make this a big win for families and kids, but it is a car ride away from the city.

That being said, I think the skate park and running space of the Kiwi Park still makes this a better choice for families with children.

Make sure to stop by the local library, grab a brew from any of the pubs, hit the second-hand stores for some extra bedding and just walk around.

You will love Raglan and it is one of our best stops so far.

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How to Book a Budget South African Safari with Kids

Book a Budget South Africa Safari with Kids

Finding a great South African Safari doesn't have to be hard!

I am writing this post because safari’s in South Africa are a big reason most people go to South Africa and this was a huge source of confusion for us while planning our trip.

Adding two small children to the mix makes this seem even more difficult as many safari’s will not take children younger than 6, sometimes older, on safari tours.

I am going to simplify this for you.

Booking a safari in South Africa with kids is not nearly as confusing as it may seem.

Self Drive Addo Elephant Park

There are two types of safari’s in South Africa:

  1. Those offered by private game reserves
  2. Game reserves that are owned and operated by the National Park System.

They are both on large areas of land that are usually surrounded by an electric fence.

The private game reserves are of varying sizes and the Nationally owned parks like Kruger or Hluhluwe-iMolozi are huge land masses.

Most National South African game reserves offer you the option of paying an admission (entrance) fee and then simply self driving the game reserve in your private vehicle.

Contrary to popular belief you do not have to have a big car to self-drive a safari, we did it in a Chevy Spark.

If you want there are various companies that you can pay to take you on a “safari drive” through the National Park. This is advantageous as the guides are experts at spotting game and  are very knowledgeable.

The important thing to note is that not all private companies offering tours on the National game reserves will take small children, but this does not mean that small children cannot enter the park, as I mentioned above you can self drive the park just fine.

You will still see a lot of animals on a self drive adventure through the park, and you can save a lot of money by doing this on your own.

A budget safari, therefore, would involve a paid entrance fee into one of the public National Game Reserves and a self drive tour in your own vehicle. 

The four big parks on a drive up the coast of S. Africa (in this order) are Addo Elephant National Park , Hluhluwe-iMolozi National Park the much less publicized St. Lucia wetland park  and the very famous Kruger

Kruger park is not a Malaria free park and thus more difficult with small children who cannot take malaria prophylaxis.

You do not need to pay a lot of money for accommodations in the park!

Avoca River CabinsThis was a huge source of confusion for us.

Often, when you visit the park websites, read information on a particular safari, or read Lonely Planet for that matter, they all make it sound like the only way to visit a park is to stay at the park. But this is not the case.

I will say it again for emphasis: You do not have to stay on the park to do a Safari at the park! All of these parks have lovely accommodations very nearby that are cheap, easy to book on the off-season, close to the park and have tons of amenities. This is my favorite.

You can read about more where we stayed on my posts covering Hluhluwe-iMolozi Park, the Addo Elephant Park and the St. Lucia iSimangaliso Wetland Parka. These were all wonderful safari’s that were cheap and had well priced accommodations outside of the game reserves.

Private Game Reserves that Take Small Children

There are so many private game reserves and most are quite expensive.

That being said, we did find one private game reserve (Schotia Safari’s) that is very close to The Addo Elephant park that takes small children, has a wonderful family friendly atmosphere and promises you will see the big cats. They have a great half day Safari that we would have done had we not been rained out.

Summary and Recommendations for Budget Safari’s with Kids

Here are some summary points if you are trying to plan your family safari trip to South Africa. 

  • You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy an African safari with your family, although a lot of the advertising and literature will make it seem that way.
  • There are two type of game reserves, private and National game reserves, if you want to save money go for the public National game reserves.
  • If you are driving up the coast go to Addo Elephant Park for sure, you can self drive this, just go to the entrance and drive in through the gate. If you are continuing up the coast I would recommend staying in St. Lucia to see the hippos and then self drive or book a tour from St. Lucia with Heritage Tours to the Hluhluwe-iMolozi Park.  While you are there in St. Lucia book a day to self drive iSimangaliso Wetland Park and drive down to the beach.
  • You do not need to stay at a hotel on any of the National game parks. Book outside the park to save money.
  • Avoid the private game reserves as they are very expensive (unless you are independently wealthy then have at it). If you do chose a private game reserve I would choose the very family and kid friendly Schotia Safari’s.

You can do all of this for very little money, it will give your kids (and you) a wonderful safari experience and if you make it out of bed early enough you might even see some lions.

I have no affiliation with any of these game parks, but I do believe this is a good summary of recommendations for most families with small children. If you have any recommendations please leave a comment down below.

Happy travels!

– Stephen

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St Lucia

View Google Map stay at Stokkiesdraai (good budget accommodation)

St. Lucia beaches headstandIf you’re wondering if St Lucia is worth the stop over,  don’t think twice.

It’s South Africa’s first national heritage site for the wetlands,  the best viewing site for hippo’s in the world, it sports an amazing wildlife and wetland sanctuary that rivals all other S. Africa safari parks, has beaches, snorkeling and a quaint downtown. Next to Cape Town, St. Lucia was my favorite stop on our South African adventure.

St. Lucia is a great jumping off point and home-base for a safari at Hluhluww-iMolozi Park, a self drive or tour through iSimangalizo Wetland park to see spectacular wildlife and even a snorkeling trip on the far north end of the park.

Beach and leopards in one day, is it too good to be true?

It might be, because you will have to get up pretty early if you want to see any of the big cats.

St Lucia is s a quaint tourist town with ample B&B’s, self catering apartments and backpacker lodges.  They also have plenty of shops, and local art to buy.

Supposedly the hippos roam the streets of St. Lucia at night although as the designated night hippo watch person I have yet to see one.   We have 3 nights left here so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

We booked with Heritage Tours and Safaris for both the wetland Hippo boat tour and the safari through Hluhluww-iMolozi Park.

Heritage Tours is a good company, with a  wonderful website and knowledgeable guides.

I was a bit disappointed though that through all my emails and phone calls stressing about booking our Safari they failed to mention we could easily book all our tours in their main office right in the middle of St Lucia.  This of course,  is what I would recommend you do.

If you do chose to book online be forewarned that Heritage Tours has a stiff cancellation policy and quite a complicated email system for booking their tours.   They would not allow me to book over the phone with a credit card, so as I mentioned above, simply wait until you arrive in St. Lucia to book  your tours.

As the sun sets out our window, St. Lucia offers a beautiful African sunset.  So nice to be here in person and not looking at it in a magazine.

A note on eating with small children in St. Lucia

There are several restaurants on the main strip that offer free childcare and playgrounds within the restaurant to entertain your children while you sip wine and plan the next day.

These are all over Africa so keep your eyes peeled. The kids love it and it is a great way to relax and unwind for everyone. They will even paint their faces for FREE!

 

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Coffee Bay South Africa and the Wild Coast with Kids

Coffee Bay South Africa

Coffee Bay South Africa - The Wild Coast!

(View on Google Maps Stay at The Coffee shack)

Have you ever arrived in a place and thought to yourself, am I still on planet earth?

Welcome to South Africa’s Wild Coast!

IMG_4563-Edit

It’s hard to describe such a place, lovingly known as Coffee Bay.

But the name fits: Like coffee, it is both sour and sweet, incredibly enjoyable to sip, but best when served in the morning and definitely not too close to bedtime.

The drive from highway N2 down Main street 1.5 hours to Coffee Bay was a nail-biting, adrenaline filled adventure.

We dodged goats, cattle, large horned bull, sheep, people and pot holes.

This was made worse by large, randomly placed speed bumps which didn’t make any sense whatsoever.  It would make a great course for the Indie 500.

The landscape was dry and spotted with circular mud huts painted in bright turquoise, red and brown.

People could be seen traversing the long seemingly endless hillsides from one sparsely populated location to the next.

What do people do out here?  One thing is for certain, they walk!

We drove into town if you can call it that.  Just a dead end with a few traditional homes on a hillside.

We had already pre-booked our hostel but for good measure we stopped our car and poked our heads into the “nice hotel”.  As usual they quoted us an exorbitant price, which would make us feel better about where we were staying.

Where to stay in Coffee Bay with Kids

“The Coffee shack” as it is known, was over the bridge and at the end of the road, located on the edge of the river mouth.

We were greeted by a friendly local host and she showed us around. The place had a friendly “hippie” vibe and the kids were happy.

The walking paths were made out of native stone and the outdoor eating area had long log tables. There was a fire pit and a large irregular table under a thatched roof porch.

We were all given a complimentary drink from the bar.

The bathroom sinks and showers were made out of the local rock and the basins were hundred-year-old grinding stones worn down so thin that a hole developed and they made them into the sink basins.

Our room was across the river from the main facilities, all the way up a very steep hill. It was appropriately named “Kings Castle“. Great view!

The owners dog took the kids and Stephen for a walk up the hill and across to the beach.   I walked around touring the hostel/campground.   It’s such an eerie place when no one is around.  I guess the town would be livelier in the summer?

We only stayed one night.  I felt stuck in a time warp somewhere between the need to be part of the future but stuck in the past with no indication that the place would ever catch up.

I also felt sad for the day the big money does discover this area.  I guess I felt at odds with myself wanting that, and not wanting that, at the same time.

Although we had a very short stay, the free dinner, awesome view, fun-loving atmosphere, friendly dog and sheets, made it a great stop.

I would like to go back again in 20 years, just to see if anything has changed.

And yes, I think I would go back to the Coffee Sack and ask for the Kings Castle.

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Top 6 Family and Kid Friendly Accommodations in South Africa

Our favorite kid and family friendly Budget Accommodations in South Africa

Our South Africa itinerary consisted of 11 stops:

Cape Town → Hermanus  → Oudtshoorn →  Wilderness  → Plettenberg Bay  → Jeffrey’s Bay  → Addo Elephant Park → Chinsta → Coffee bay  → St. Lucia → Durban

Hermanus

We stayed at the Hermanus Esplanade which was a good deal. At $55 US per night, we were given an entire fisherman’s cottage for our family.

Kind of dangerous but cool!We had a nice refrigerator, stove, family room and two bathrooms.

What we didn’t have was wi-fi or a swimming pool. Not biggies but the backpackers hostel may be worth the look and it seems to me it may be just a bit better for families.

Our kids had a special hideout upstairs as well which allowed them to sleep in and us parents to have a private room downstairs. The only downside is we are here in August and there is no heat whatsoever, it was quite cold in the evenings.  We improvised by firing up the hot plate and using it as a radiant heater, which I must say didn’t work that badly – just don’t tell the owners.

Oudtshoorn

The main house at Karoo SoulKaroo Soul – We stayed in the family “cottage” for US $60 per night. Nice and close to town, with a full kitchen and private bathroom.

This was a bit more than we wanted to spend for 3 nights but definitely comfortable and the staff was super friendly. On the plus side, we received discounts to activities probably worth about $20 on the first day alone.

Wilderness

??????????????Wilderness Beach House Backpackers – This place is so fun and friendly, the views are spectacular, it’s close to the beach and the owner of this lodge will make you feel right at home. It is cold in the winter and they don’t have heat, so be warned. You may want to ask for extra blankets.

Plettenberg Bay

welcome2-676x450Swallow’s Nest: We ended up at a B&B operated by a Dutch couple and their son. We talked them down to 700 Rand a night for a really nice 2 bedroom cottage overlooking the entire bay. They had a good internet connection a small pool (that was too cold for the kids unfortunately) and the best part… The most amazing breakfast I have ever had.

Honestly I would probably recommend the beachside backpackers just because their location is a bit better and it is probably a bit more budget-friendly for families but this breakfast was so good I may actually consider going back someday for that alone.

Jeffrey’s Bay

Friendly FunStay at Cristal Cove

For around $65 a night we had our own family apartment complete with two bedrooms, two baths, balcony with a view to the ocean, full kitchen, living room, TV, consistent WiFi, beer bottle candles, a friendly cat, a lively bar downstairs, a pool table, tennis courts a block away, a playground a block away, great people to talk to and to round it off, Supertubes right outside our bedroom window

Addo Elephant Park

Avoca River CabinsThe Avoca river cabins are about 15 minutes away from the Elephant Park. Hands down this is the very best place we have stayed in all of south Africa (and that is saying a lot!).

  • Free kayaks for use on the river
  • Amazing river front cabins with a heater during the winter months!
  • A beautiful pool with a slide
  • A full kitchen
  • Two playgrounds each equipped with a ground level trampoline, zipline, tire swing and a jungle gym.
  • Less than $65 US per night!

Let me say it one more time as well to make sure you get this down. There is a free and amazing kid size zipline! So cool.

Breakfast was 5 dollars for adults and free for children, and because the property is on an orange orchard you can help yourself to all the oranges you would like. Because of this we ate oranges and drank freshly squeezed orange juice for 3 days straight!