We Got Married at Shangri-La Fiji — and the Kids Chose the Venue
Sarah & Steve · 12 min read
“The kids made tie-dye t-shirts, enjoyed dance parties at the pool, 9 holes of golf, the daily activities, hair braiding… the smaller pool near the Tokariki restaurant is a great switch-up when the family pool gets busy. Our kids love it here — they chose it for our wedding and they choose it whenever they get the chance!”
— Sarah
Our Tips
The smaller pool near the Tokariki restaurant is a hidden gem — head there when the main family pool gets busy.
Book the daily activities in advance: tie-dye, hair braiding, golf, and pool dance parties fill up fast.
Neurodiverse tip
The buffet has a huge variety of options, making it easy for fussy or sensory-sensitive eaters to find something they love. There are plenty of quiet corners and garden areas around the resort to decompress away from the pool buzz. Fiji time is famously slow-paced — the unhurried rhythm of island life is genuinely perfect for neurosparkly wanderers.
Family Nest Experience Villas, Bali: An Honest Review from a Big Family
Sarah Pirie-Nally · 7 min read
“Dream-like villa, incredible staff, a Lego wall the kids went absolutely feral for. We missed the sunset at Padang Padang but honestly — nobody cared. The pool had them for 8 hours straight.”
— Sarah
Our Tips
Request the villa with the largest pool — the size difference between villas is significant and worth specifying at booking.
The Lego wall is in the kids' room and it's genuinely impressive — bring your own sets to add to it.
Neurodiverse tip
The private villa format is ideal for neurodiverse families — no shared spaces, no strangers, no noise from other guests. The enclosed garden and pool means kids can roam freely without supervision anxiety.
Grand Hyatt Bali: The Suite That Fits a Family of Seven
Sarah & Steve · 6 min read
“The Club access makes this resort. Private pool, private breakfast, and staff who genuinely love kids. The waterslides kept our five occupied for entire days. This is our go-to Nusa Dua resort.”
— Sarah
Our Tips
Always book Club access — the private pool and dedicated breakfast service is worth the upgrade, especially with multiple kids.
The interconnecting suite setup works perfectly for a family of 7 — request the Grand Club Suite plus adjoining room.
Neurodiverse tip
The Club lounge offers a quieter, less stimulating environment than the main restaurant — ideal for kids who struggle with busy dining rooms. The private Club pool is also much calmer than the main pools.
Paradisus by Meliá Nusa Dua: Jet Skis, S'mores & the Best Breakfast in Bali
Sarah Pirie-Nally · 6 min read
“A jet ski in the pool, s'mores on the beach every sunset, and a WhatsApp concierge who actually responds. This is the one I keep recommending to every big family I know.”
— Sarah
Our Tips
Book the Family Suite with pool access — the jet ski pool is the main event and worth every cent.
The WhatsApp concierge is genuinely exceptional — message before arrival with any neurodiverse needs and they'll prepare the room accordingly.
Neurodiverse tip
The WhatsApp concierge is a game-changer for neurodiverse families. Message ahead with your child's specific needs — they'll arrange a quiet room, remove certain items, and ensure a calm check-in. The pool area is also large enough that you can always find a quiet corner.
⚠️ Interconnecting room availability is not guaranteed — we recommend emailing the hotel directly with your Family Travel Card to confirm room configuration before booking.
Adventure Approved
Every activity tested by real big families
SPORTS & ADVENTURE
Adventures that everyone actually wants to do
"The best family holidays aren't the ones where the kids are entertained. They're the ones where everyone is genuinely alive."
— Sarah & Steve
From Gumbuya World's private cabana to waterpark days in Bali and beach adventures in Fiji, we find the activities that work for every age, every energy level, and every kind of brain. Our top tip: book the private cabana at Gumbuya World — it is an absolute game-changer for big families.
The best food experiences don't happen in Michelin-starred restaurants with a 6-month waitlist. They happen around long outdoor tables, with local chefs, and children who've just discovered they love octopus.
We find the cooking classes, the market tours, the family-run trattorias, and the craft workshops that turn a holiday into a memory your kids will talk about for years.
Big families are beautifully complex. We know that some of the best travellers in the world have ADHD, autism, sensory sensitivities, or anxiety — and they deserve holidays that are designed with them in mind, not just tolerated.
“The fod wos good but they made us pay for milk it wos 6$ pooll amazing good breakfast ”
🧭
Lola P. · age 13
Paradisus -Melia bali
“This was a nice hotel with a very good waterpark of you have younger kids maybe under the age of ten. There was also a normal that was very big and extremely warm. There is many activities for kids any age even marshmallow toasting. The rooms to the most part were good but if u have a lot of kids and can be tricky since they only offer the fold out couch which is a very uncomfortable bed. Other than that the hotel was fantastic ”
✦The chocolate fountain or inflatable electric JetSki or s'mores making
🤿
Paxton P. · age 9
Family neast
“It was sow good it had lost of kids stuff like a tree house a private pool in the villa in the don’t private pool they had a window ”
✦The villa
🤿
Paxton P. · age 9
Bali - Paradisus by Melia
“The food was really good but the beds were not really good the pool was very good ”
✦The pool and Jet Ski
🎨
Stella R. · age 10
Family nest
“It’s was a really nice experience and I liked the pool and how kid friendly it was I will definitely be coming back”
✦Probably the kids area
🎨
Lola P. · age 13
Family nest bali
“This hotel was a great combo of private villas and resort social life there is an amazing pool that is both deep and shallow perfect for family with both young and old kids. There was an amazing kids play centre which also had a ball pit there kids menu is especially great for picky eaters although it doesn’t open until ten am. I would strongly suggest this hotel if you have young kids and are staying in Bali. One bonus is that is close to very nice markets and a beach perfect for looking at the stunning ocean sunsets.”
✦The best thing was definitely the pool as it was very deep which not many hotels offer.
📸
Luca P. · age 11
Bali
“Fun thrilling and perfect for explorers ”
✦The shops 🏬 and the amazing food
🧭
Paxton P. · age 9
PARADISUS
“The fod wos good but they made us pay for milk it wos 6$ pooll amazing good breakfast ”
🧭
Lola P. · age 13
Paradisus -Melia bali
“This was a nice hotel with a very good waterpark of you have younger kids maybe under the age of ten. There was also a normal that was very big and extremely warm. There is many activities for kids any age even marshmallow toasting. The rooms to the most part were good but if u have a lot of kids and can be tricky since they only offer the fold out couch which is a very uncomfortable bed. Other than that the hotel was fantastic ”
✦The chocolate fountain or inflatable electric JetSki or s'mores making
🤿
Paxton P. · age 9
Family neast
“It was sow good it had lost of kids stuff like a tree house a private pool in the villa in the don’t private pool they had a window ”
✦The villa
🤿
Paxton P. · age 9
Bali - Paradisus by Melia
“The food was really good but the beds were not really good the pool was very good ”
✦The pool and Jet Ski
🎨
Stella R. · age 10
Family nest
“It’s was a really nice experience and I liked the pool and how kid friendly it was I will definitely be coming back”
✦Probably the kids area
🎨
Lola P. · age 13
Family nest bali
“This hotel was a great combo of private villas and resort social life there is an amazing pool that is both deep and shallow perfect for family with both young and old kids. There was an amazing kids play centre which also had a ball pit there kids menu is especially great for picky eaters although it doesn’t open until ten am. I would strongly suggest this hotel if you have young kids and are staying in Bali. One bonus is that is close to very nice markets and a beach perfect for looking at the stunning ocean sunsets.”
✦The best thing was definitely the pool as it was very deep which not many hotels offer.
📸
Luca P. · age 11
Bali
“Fun thrilling and perfect for explorers ”
✦The shops 🏬 and the amazing food
🧭
Paxton P. · age 9
PARADISUS
“The fod wos good but they made us pay for milk it wos 6$ pooll amazing good breakfast ”
🧭
Lola P. · age 13
Paradisus -Melia bali
“This was a nice hotel with a very good waterpark of you have younger kids maybe under the age of ten. There was also a normal that was very big and extremely warm. There is many activities for kids any age even marshmallow toasting. The rooms to the most part were good but if u have a lot of kids and can be tricky since they only offer the fold out couch which is a very uncomfortable bed. Other than that the hotel was fantastic ”
✦The chocolate fountain or inflatable electric JetSki or s'mores making
🤿
Paxton P. · age 9
Family neast
“It was sow good it had lost of kids stuff like a tree house a private pool in the villa in the don’t private pool they had a window ”
✦The villa
🤿
Paxton P. · age 9
Bali - Paradisus by Melia
“The food was really good but the beds were not really good the pool was very good ”
✦The pool and Jet Ski
🎨
Stella R. · age 10
Family nest
“It’s was a really nice experience and I liked the pool and how kid friendly it was I will definitely be coming back”
✦Probably the kids area
🎨
Lola P. · age 13
Family nest bali
“This hotel was a great combo of private villas and resort social life there is an amazing pool that is both deep and shallow perfect for family with both young and old kids. There was an amazing kids play centre which also had a ball pit there kids menu is especially great for picky eaters although it doesn’t open until ten am. I would strongly suggest this hotel if you have young kids and are staying in Bali. One bonus is that is close to very nice markets and a beach perfect for looking at the stunning ocean sunsets.”
✦The best thing was definitely the pool as it was very deep which not many hotels offer.
"We're a big family who refuses to travel small. We've dragged our kids to four continents, eaten our way through twelve countries, and learned — the hard way — what actually works when you're travelling with a crowd."
Big Family Escapes is our curated guide to the world — the hotels that genuinely fit six, the restaurants that welcome chaos, the activities that work for every age and every kind of brain. We partner with The Flights Club to bring you the best deals, and we never recommend anything we wouldn't book ourselves.
