Nusa Dua

It is the easiest part of Bali to manage with a pram, a baby and a lot of luggage. Pavements are continuous and level, the beachfront promenade runs for kilometres, and the reef keeps the swimming water inside it shallow and largely flat at most tides. Families with children under three, or with a grandparent along, consistently find it the lowest-friction option.

What you give up is Bali. The enclave is deliberately insulated — security gates, resort strips, few warungs, little street life — and prices inside it reflect that. Families who want their children to experience the island rather than a well-run resort generally use Nusa Dua as one week of a longer trip rather than the whole of it.

The reef that makes the water calm also makes it shallow and sharp at low tide, so reef shoes are worth having. Water sports operate out of neighbouring Tanjung Benoa, and the drive to Uluwatu's cliffs or to the airport is short, which makes it a workable base for day trips.