Acacia Bungalows
Bukit Peninsula, Bali
Acacia Bungalows consists of 4 totally funky bungalows which can be rented individually or in conjunction with each other if you have a few families together. A pool fence can be put up for you in any of the properties at no extra charge, and if you need other things like a cot and high chair, or airport transfers with car seats these can be organised. There is a shallow section in the pools, and in-house menu and the lawn areas are enclosed so littlies can wander safely.
Best for
Style-loving families with a bub, toddler or preschooler who love surfing and/or spectacular beaches & scenery.
Photo credits - Bali Retreats, Micks Place, Glenn Hardwick
The lowdown
Style-wise these pads tick all my boxes! I LOVE the vibe of these bungalows! Whoever decorated and designed these pads can do a makeover of my house any day!
The two single story bungalows (with a king bed and lounge) are called Motu and Mahli and are entirely separate with interconnecting gates. They have their own little pool, which can be fenced. The other 2 bungalows, Laguna and Wai’lele are just next door and are both on the same property. They share a large lawn area, a groovy chill-out zone, and a lovely large pool with a shallow kids' section that they can fence. Each bungalow has air-con, a king-size bed at the back of the bungalow, a mini bar, satellite TV and DVD, and a lovely indoor-outdoor bathroom.
They have staff onsite to help you out with anything that you need, be it meals and snacks, taxi bookings, restaurant bookings etc. They can also organise for you to have massages and spa treatments at the bungalow,
Acacia Bungalows are set back on top of the cliffs where most of the more upmarket accommodation is in Bingin. Like most beaches on the Bukit Peninsula there are lots and lots of windy and uneven steps to get to the beach, so it can be a bit tricky getting to and from the beach with little kids and so you need to be prepared to spend lots of time poolside.
The neighbourhood
The bungalows are located in Bingin, a hip little place on the Bukit Peninsula . It has a laid-back ambience, and groovy surfer vibe – think “Jack Johnson”, rustic beach warungs, world-class surfers and icy Bintang beer. The Bukit Peninsula is famous for its epic waves, spectacular limestone cliffs, white sandy beaches, and million dollar views.It’s not too far from the airport and tourist hubs like Seminyak, but it feels like a world apart. Maybe not a place you would typically think to visit with a young family, but we love it.
Stuff for kids
Enclosed lawn/garden for frolicking
Pool fence at no extra cost (for all bungalows)
Shallow section in the pools
Baby-sitting can be arranged at extra cost
Sleeping areas can be closed to outside (with aircon)
Transfers with car seats can be organised
They can assist with other things like cots & highchairs (may be at extra cost)
Layout
The bungalows are essential one room so there isn't much space in the bungalows. They have a bed at the back and lounge at the front. They can make up the lounge as a bed for a child, but it can be nice to have the separate bedroom that can be closed off to the living area when you have kids. Saying that, the outdoor sitting areas and pool are lovely places to hang out, so you can be in the pool, reading, lounging or getting a massage in the bale during kiddy sleep time. They don't come with kitchens, but there is an in-house menu, and maybe thats easier when it comes to feeding little tikes.
Other important stuff
Air-con & daily housekeeping
Daily breakfast is included
Mini bar/fridge & safe drinking water
Cable TV, DVD & wifi
Staff onsite from 7.30am till 9pm
In-house menu
Massages can be arranged
Must Do
Micks Place, a short walk away has fabulous views and is a wonderful place to indulge in a bit of pampering. Their body scrub is my favourite, and the massages are very good as well. The Cashew Tree Café is a hop, skip and a jump away from the bungalows. They serve tasty and healthy food and drinks, have oodles of space to frolic, toys and a cool kids fort and playground area. They also do a wicked margarita.
*Photography credit: Micks Place, Glenn Hardwick, Bali Retreats
MY WISH LIST: Acacia Bungalows are on the Growing up Troppo wishlist, i.e., I haven't stayed at Acacia Bungalows. But, I've had a very good sneak peek at the properties when I was in Bingin. I've read every review, and had contact with Lorraine from Bali Retreats, who manages the bungalows. I have no connection with Bali Retreats, I just like their properties and they seem friendly and helpful. If I have got anything wrong about this place or you think it's not accurate, please let me know. I hope the review helps to take out some of the legwork of finding the perfect family friendly getaway.
REVIEWS
Colleen's Review
Colleen found out about Acacia Bungalows through the Growing up Troppo Facebook
Page and had a holiday there with friends and gorgeous baby Ruby. She has taken time out of her busy life with gorgeous baby Ruby to give us the lowdown from a mum's perspective with a (gorgeous) toddler.
Thanks so much Colleen!
About Colleen
We have one cheeky toddler who is 15 months old. She's been well travelled- USA, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan, Indonesia twice and interstate Australia. I am a nurse educator and my husband is a doctor in Darwin, Australia. We love to travel and want our kids to grow up with the travel bug too! We believe travelling teaches you about the world and yourself.
Our favourite trip to date as a family was 3 weeks in Japan when Ruby was 9 months old. The Japanese loved her and we found travelling to be comfortable and fun with her at that age. Our crappiest travel moment was when Ruby was one we had an overnight flight from Brisbane to Hawaii- she was sick, teething and barely slept the entire flight. In comparison, the flight home was a breeze.
When did you stay at Acacia Bungalows?
In July 2016 for 4 nights
Who did you travel with?
Mother-in-law, 14 month old and 4 friends
What made it really special & unique?
The booking and communication prior to arrival was excellent. It is a beautiful private bungalow with private pool and a gorgeous spot for just hanging out. It felt very special. They had an onsite kitchen which cooked family-friendly meals for breakfast. We also booked in for dinners and lunches with them which made it very easy to relax and have our daughter fed during the 'witching hour'. The on-site spa meant it was easy for me to sneak away for a relaxing one-hour massage. Near the bungalows is the Cashew Tree, a great restaurant that had a fantastic playground area for toddlers/kids.
Why do you think it rocks?
They provided a pool fence at no extra cost and set it up as I requested and so we had lots of pool play time. It was pretty safe for toddlers. It was perfect for us!
Can you tell us the basics about the holiday pad? They offer different bungalows. For our group of 4 adults and one child we stayed in the bungalows with the shared pool and larger yard. The kitchen is for staff only. There is aircon and fans and a TV available. It's ground level.
Style notes...What did you LOVE about the design, decor and vibe?
Perfect Balinese lush villa, great price for what you get too.
What do we need to know?
There are not many taxis in the area. Most people organise a motorbike which isn't great with a young family. However, the villa can organise a driver or you can book in your own. If I had teens I would hire two bungalows- the teens in one and parents in the adjacent bungalow- Laguna and Wai'Lai (I forget the names).
Would you recommend it to families?
Definitely!
