Family Nest Experience Villas, Bali: An Honest Review from a Big Family

The entrance sets the tone — lush, considered, and genuinely welcoming.

First Impressions: The Villa is Dreamlike

Walking through that arched timber door into the private courtyard, we all stopped. The pool is long and clean, the architecture is modern Balinese at its finest — black-framed steel windows, vaulted ceilings, rattan pendant lights, and teak everywhere. It's the kind of villa that makes you want to do absolutely nothing except float. Steve and I had some big meetings during this stay — including launching Explore and The Flights Club — and the villa's dedicated workspace on the upper level was genuinely brilliant. Strong wifi, a huge teak table, and a view of the rooftops. Rare to find in Bali.

The arched entrance is one of those moments you photograph every single time.

The Workspace: A Genuine Surprise

I want to talk about this more because it's genuinely rare. The upstairs workspace had a large L-shaped teak table that could seat eight, rattan chairs, natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows, and wifi that didn't drop once across three days of video calls. If you're a family that works while you travel — and increasingly we are — this is a real differentiator. The kids were downstairs doing their thing, and Steve and I could actually be present in our meetings without hiding in a bathroom.

The workspace that made three days of big meetings genuinely enjoyable. Strong wifi, beautiful light.

The Lego Wall: Our Kids Went Absolutely Feral

There is a full wall — and I mean a full wall — covered in Lego base plates, with bins of bricks underneath. Previous guests have left their names spelled out in Lego. Our kids found "Jilly" and "Milo" and "Walou" already there and immediately started adding their own. They spent hours at it. For families with kids under 10, this alone is worth the booking. It's the kind of thoughtful touch that tells you the people who designed this place actually have children.

The Lego wall. Hours of entertainment. Previous guests' names still there — our kids added theirs too.

The Main Pool, The Porthole & The Kids Who Made Friends

The villa has a beautiful private pool, but the porthole is actually in the main shared pool — and that turned out to be one of the best things about it. The main pool is where the kids from all the villas gather, which means ours immediately made friends. There's a real community feel to it. The porthole itself is an underwater circular window built into the pool wall — I swam up to it and the kids went absolutely wild taking photos through the glass. It's the kind of architectural detail that makes a property feel genuinely designed rather than just built. The tiles are beautiful, the water is clean, and the shared pool vibe means your kids are never bored or lonely.

Left: the full villa from the pool. Right: the porthole moment — an underwater window that became the photo of the trip.

The Kids Club: Perfect for Under 7s

Our bigger kids were honest: they'd give this a 10/10 if they were under 7. The kids club is genuinely amazing — thoughtful, staffed by people who clearly love children, and full of activities that aren't just "here's an iPad". For our older kids, it was a lovely base but they wanted more independence and adventure. That's not a criticism of Family Nest — it's just context for families with a mix of ages. If your children are in that magical 3–7 window, book this immediately.

The Staff: Absolutely Incredible

I want to say this clearly: the staff at Family Nest are exceptional. Every single person we encountered brought warmth, attentiveness, and genuine joy. They remembered our kids' names by day two. They brought cold towels without being asked. They helped us organise a Gojek to Padang Padang beach without any fuss. In Bali, great staff can elevate a good property to an unforgettable one — and that's exactly what happened here. We felt completely safe the entire stay, which matters enormously when you're travelling with a big family.

The interiors are considered and calm — a real sanctuary after a day of adventures.

Padang Padang Beach: The Instagram vs Reality Experience

We took a Gojek to Padang Padang beach — about 10 minutes and very easy to organise. We arrived just as the sun was touching the horizon and we JUST missed the golden moment. The kids thought this was hilarious. We had a genuine Instagram vs reality experience: the photos we'd seen were all perfect golden light, and we got the last sliver of pink sky. Still beautiful. Still worth it. The beach itself is stunning — dramatic cliffs, clear water, the famous steps down. We followed it up with Mexican food nearby and the girls found sarongs for 80,000 rupiah each (about AUD $8), which was the cheapest we'd found anywhere in Bali. We bought extras for their friends.

Are you even a mum if you don't force your family to leave the villa for a 'cultural experience'? We caught the last sliver of sunset. The kids were absolutely unimpressed. We were thrilled.

Padang Padang: dramatic cliffs, white sand, and a sunset we technically missed but still photographed extensively.

The outdoor spaces are as beautiful as the interiors — every corner is considered.