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In October 2025, Mason and I travelled to Indonesia for a special one-on-one getaway, combining a city stay in Jakarta with a short break in Bali. We flew to Jakarta with Qantas and spent four nights at Raffles Jakarta before flying to Bali with Garuda Indonesia for three nights at Hard Rock Bali, celebrating Mason’s birthday during our stay. We returned home to Melbourne on Jetstar, with both our Qantas and Jetstar flights booked using frequent flyer points, meaning we only paid the taxes, a great example of how points can make travel to Indonesia more affordable. Check out the Points Coach for more tips.
We always organise a few things before our Bali family holidays:
- Covermore Travel Insurance
- eVOA, Love Bali Payment and Customs Declaration
- eSIM with Klook
- Schedule for our Nannies and Drivers (Their details are at the end of this blog post)
Accommodation we stayed in during our week in Jakarta and Bali:
Sunday 26th October – Flying to Jakarta
We left home at 10 am and parked at Busy Beaver Airport Parking before heading to Melbourne Airport for our Qantas flight to Jakarta. Check-in and immigration were smooth, with Mason wearing his hidden disability lanyard, which really helped the process feel calm and supported.
We spent some time in the Qantas Lounge before boarding. With the First Class Lounge under renovation, part of the Business Lounge was being used by First Class passengers, and while the food offering wasn’t amazing, the coffee was good and I may have snuck in an alcoholic ginger beer.
Our flight was scheduled to depart at 3:15 pm, but left around 20 minutes later. The flight itself was excellent, with great in-flight entertainment, food and drinks, and the most wonderful crew. They surprised Mason with a beautiful card and gifts and even invited him to visit the flight deck after landing. Mason had never sat in the pilot’s seat before and absolutely loved the experience. The crew were incredible with him, and I’m so grateful to the Qantas staff for making it so special.
Jakarta Airport was modern and very easy to navigate. As we had pre-purchased our Indonesia Visa on Arrival (the same process as Bali), we were able to use the smart gates and reached the luggage carousel just seven minutes after leaving the plane. A staff member from Raffles Jakarta met us on the other side and assisted us to our waiting van. Our bags arrived around 20 minutes after we disembarked, and from leaving the plane to leaving the airport took just 40 minutes.
The drive to Raffles Jakarta took around 30 minutes as we were travelling at 8 pm; traffic during the day can be much heavier. On arrival, our butler escorted us straight to our room for check-in, which was an incredible level of service and something we hadn’t experienced before. Our butler, Rio, was lovely and shared his WhatsApp details in case we needed anything during our stay.
Click here to book a stay at Raffles Jakarta
We had been upgraded from the standard Raffles King room to the Raffles Garden View King. The value of the rooms was fantastic. Including airport transfers and 4 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, the total was $ 1145 AUD. We booked through ALL – Accor Live Limitless, and due to my Gold Status, we got extra perks.
Our room 2312 was spacious, with a huge bathtub and a spectacular view across the Jakarta skyline. Mason was very happy! Rio delivered our welcome drinks before we ordered room service for dinner: a burger for Mason and satay with salad for me. A long but very special travel day, and the perfect start to our Jakarta stay.
Monday 27th October – Raffles Jakarta
We were both up early at 5 am, thanks to the time difference from Melbourne. Mason played with his toy cars while taking in the view from our room, and by 6:15 am, we headed out for a walk in search of a mini mart for Mason and a coffee for me. I love exploring new places on foot, and it felt so good to be back in Indonesia. The streets were already busy with motorbikes heading to work, but wide footpaths made walking easy and comfortable.
After Mason stocked up on supplies at the mini mart, we returned to Raffles Jakarta for breakfast at Arts Cafe and wow! The breakfast setting was beautiful, with a fantastic a la carte menu and a generous buffet. There was even a sushi bar, which was a fun surprise. The coffee was great, and we really took our time enjoying breakfast.
We spent the rest of the morning relaxing in our room before heading down to the stunning pool. We had the pool completely to ourselves and also enjoyed our welcome drinks included with our Accor membership, a mojito for me and a coca cola for Mason.
Later, we explored the Lotte shopping mall connected to Raffles Jakarta, which was super easy to access through a door near the breakfast restaurant. Mason loved shopping and found a huge penguin plush and LEGO sets we hadn’t seen in Australia. We stopped for sushi for lunch before heading back to our room with our shopping.
The rest of the afternoon and evening were spent relaxing, and we ordered room service for dinner. I ended the day stretched out on the bed, watching the city lights of Jakarta glow as we both drifted off to sleep, a perfect, low-key Jakarta day.
Tuesday 28th October – Exploring Jakarta
The time difference was still catching up with me, and I was awake at 4:15 am, not too surprising given I usually wake at 4:45 am to go to the gym at home. Mason slept until 6 am, and once he was up, we headed out for a gentle morning walk around Raffles Jakarta. The hotel grounds are fantastic, with a dedicated walking path, tennis courts and even a playground.
Breakfast opened at 6:30 am, so we made our way in, and Mason decided we were sitting at the Japanese bar, complete with sushi for breakfast. I went for the eggs benedict, and once again breakfast didn’t disappoint. After breakfast, we returned to our room for a short rest before heading out for the day.
At 9:45 am, we ordered a Grab car via the app and travelled to Trans Snow World Bintaro. Located inside Transpark Mall Bintaro, it’s a small mall with just a handful of shops. This was handy, as I needed to buy some cheap pants after realising I hadn’t packed any cold-weather gear. Snow World was great fun and very affordable to explore, with options to tube down the snow hill or ski. Mason gave both tubing and skiing a go, and we spent around 45 minutes enjoying the novelty of snow in Jakarta.
Buy tickets to Snow World Bintaro here
We returned to Raffles via Grab and relaxed before heading to Lotte Mall for lunch and coffee. Later in the afternoon, I had organised a nanny to stay with Mason in our room while I enjoyed some much-needed downtime at the Raffles Spa. I started with a Jakarta Sling at the Raffles Writers Bar, which was absolutely delicious, before heading to the spa.
The Raffles Spa is beautiful, with time to enjoy the steam rooms and experience showers before the massage. The massage itself was divine, and afterwards I headed to the Arts Cafe for the Raffles nasi goreng and, of course, another cocktail. Mason had a great evening with the nanny, and it was an early night for both of us after a big day.
Wednesday 29th October – Relaxing in Jakarta
We enjoyed a sleep-in and wandered down to breakfast around 7:45am. Breakfast was truly a highlight of our stay at Raffles Jakarta. The food selection was incredible, and the a la carte menu changed every few days, making it feel fresh and exciting each morning.
After a relaxed start in our room, we ordered a Grab car and headed to Grand Indonesia Mall. The mall is enormous, with a huge variety of shops and Mason made a beeline straight for the toy stores to add more LEGO to his collection. We stopped for lunch at Genki Sushi, where Mason loved the sushi train and the adorable kids’ meal set.
After a couple of hours exploring the mall, we grabbed a car back to Raffles and spent some time relaxing before the evening. I had organised a nanny for Mason through our butler, Rio, as I was heading out for the night. While waiting for my Grab car, I enjoyed another Jakarta Sling at the Writers Bar as a huge storm rolled over the city and the rain began pouring down.
Thankfully, my car arrived, but the six-kilometre trip to Aubree Bistro & Bar took 45 minutes in the traffic. I was invited by the team at Indo Buddies to celebrate their first anniversary, and it was such a fun night of dancing. It was wonderful to see Karlie and Trish from Bali Buddies again. I first met them in Sanur a few years ago. We laughed so much that my face hurt by the end of the night.
The drive back to the hotel was slow, but thankfully, the rain had eased. Mason had a fantastic evening building LEGO with the nanny, and Rio, the butler, surprised us with the most beautiful gift to remember our stay. Another very special day in Jakarta.
Thursday 30th October – Flying to Bali
We woke at 6 am knowing it was check-out day. After getting organised, we headed down to breakfast at 7:30 am, and of course, Mason chose to sit at the Japanese bar for sushi once again. I was happy to sit back with a good coffee and take it easy after a late night; the coffee at Raffles Jakarta really was consistently good.
At 9 am, we checked out and got into the hotel van for our airport transfer. It was sad to say goodbye; we had such a wonderful stay at Raffles. The van was just as comfortable and luxurious as when we arrived, and the drive to the domestic airport took around 30 minutes.
We flew with Garuda Indonesia to Bali, and the domestic check-in was incredibly easy. We moved through security smoothly and waited near our gate. The airport felt modern and new, with plenty of shops and dining options. We boarded at midday and departed shortly after. The flight was around 90 minutes, and I had pre-ordered a kids’ meal for Mason. It was super cute, and he loved it.
Before we knew it, we had landed in Bali. One of the perks of flying domestically was skipping immigration altogether; we had our luggage and were outside meeting our driver, Alex, within 20 minutes. I couldn’t help but think back to 2001 when I first travelled to Bali, and the domestic airport used to be the international terminal, so much has changed!
We walked through the undercover shopping area toward the car, and Alex drove us the 20 minutes to Hard Rock Hotel Bali in Kuta. We were excited to be back, as Mason always asks to stay at Hard Rock. This time, we were in a Rock Royalty King Pool Access Room, which included Rock Royalty perks such as dedicated check-in and extra personalised service.
After settling in, we relaxed before I headed to Rock Royalty cocktail hour by the Chill Out Pool. Mason stayed happily in our room, which was only five steps away. I enjoyed an espresso martini while soaking up the Bali evening atmosphere.
Check out our review blog post on Hard Rock Bali
Our nanny, Rina, arrived and Mason had dinner with her at Splash Bistro. I headed out into Kuta, first dropping off some laundry at a local spot before having dinner at Naked Tiger in Kuta Square. It was oyster night, 50% off, so I couldn’t resist half a dozen, followed by delicious food and drinks. A great little find in the heart of Kuta.
After a big day of travel, it was an early night for both of us. We were very happy to be back in Bali.
Friday 31st October – Hard Rock Bali
I woke at 6:30 am to the sound of rain, but in typical Bali style, it cleared within a couple of hours. Mason was still asleep, and with Rock Royalty breakfast just steps away, I enjoyed a slow morning coffee and quiet breakfast to start the day.
Mason finally woke at 8:45 am and immediately requested a walk to the mini mart. He loves stocking up on his favourite snacks and drinks. Being a buffet fan, he chose breakfast at Starz Diner, where the main breakfast is served. Pancakes, waffles and plenty of options made him very happy.
After breakfast, we met our nanny, Rina, changed into our swimsuits, and settled in for a full day at the pool. I had hired a gazebo at Hard Rock Hotel Bali, always a good decision. Gazebo number 6 was in a fantastic location, offering shade and a comfortable base for the entire day (you have it until 9 pm when the pool closes). Mason loved the new waterslides and, of course, ordering chocolate milkshakes from the pool bar.
While Mason and Rina enjoyed the main pool, I slipped over to the Chill Out Pool for a swim and some quiet time. Later, I jumped on a Grab motorbike and headed to one of my favourite Kuta cafes, Crumb & Coaster, for great coffee and delicious food. It’s popular and gets busy, but they also deliver via Grab, which is handy.
I then wandered through Beachwalk Shopping Center, which has a good range of international brands and even a cinema. There are a series of gate entrances around Beachwalk Mall and I used the Poppies Gate. For families with younger kids, Play at Sheraton is a great option. It’s the Sheraton’s kids club but accessible from the mall, so outside guests can use it while parents shop.
Back at Hard Rock, we enjoyed Rock Royalty afternoon tea before settling back into our gazebo at the main pool. Before we knew it, cocktail hour rolled around again, and at 6 pm we walked down to Kuta Beach for sunset. While erosion has changed parts of the shoreline, local vendors have set up bean bags along the sand, creating the perfect relaxed setting for a sunset. We grabbed drinks and soaked up one of Bali’s best daily rituals.
For Halloween dinner, Mason decided on Hard Rock Cafe, and it was such a fun choice. The staff were in full costume, the atmosphere was festive, and the burgers were delicious. We ended the night with a swim in the main pool; night swims at Hard Rock are the best. Before another early bedtime after a big day in Bali.
Saturday 1st October – Birthday fun
It was Mason’s birthday, and the Rock Royalty team at Hard Rock Hotel Bali made it extra special by organising a gorgeous birthday cake for him. Such a thoughtful touch and a lovely way to start his day.
Breakfast at Rock Royalty was wonderful once again, and after eating, Mason was keen to explore the Teens Club. He was beyond excited to discover a PlayStation 5 with F1 2025. As someone absolutely obsessed with Formula 1, it felt like the perfect birthday surprise. The kids’ clubs at Hard Rock are always great fun, and during our stay, they were operating from temporary rooms while renovations were underway, but it didn’t take away from the experience at all.
Rina, our nanny, arrived mid-morning, and I jumped on a Grab bike to try Farmers Daughter cafe. The food was lovely, but seating is limited, definitely not ideal for large groups.
I returned to the hotel for a massage and pedicure at the spa, which, as always, delivered a fantastic massage.
After the spa treatments, I went for a walk to Kuta Square and stopped for a coffee at Bare Bottle. Highly rate their coffee!
Later in the afternoon, it was time for the Rock Royalty cocktail hour and to say goodbye to Rina. She had been such a wonderful help during our stay, especially on days when Mason was happy to relax rather than head out exploring.
We walked down to Kuta Beach for sunset, and this time Mason tracked down the ice cream man. The sunset was absolutely stunning, one of those classic Bali evenings that never disappoints.
For dinner, we headed to Splash Bistro at The Hard Rock for the Chillin’ & Grillin’ Seafood BBQ. There was a fantastic selection of seafood, plenty of non-seafood options, and the desserts were a highlight. It was the perfect way to celebrate Mason’s birthday in Bali.
After a big few days, it was an early night for both of us, knowing we were flying home the next day. A very special birthday and a beautiful way to finish our Bali stay.
Sunday 2nd November – Flying home to Melbourne
We woke at 6 am, and Mason was ready for buffet breakfast the moment it opened at 6:30 am. The Rock n’ Run Charity Fun Run was being held that morning, so there was a great atmosphere around Hard Rock Hotel Bali, with runners and stalls set up along the driveway.
After Mason finished at Starz Diner, we wandered back to the Chill Out Pool so I could enjoy my Rock Royalty breakfast. It was already a beautiful but very warm Bali morning, and strong coffee was essential.
We packed up, checked out at 8 am, and met our driver, Alex. Because the fun run was still underway, we had to wheel our suitcases down to the street where he was parked, but the staff were helpful, and it was all very manageable. The drive to Ngurah Rai International Airport took around 20 minutes, and we said goodbye to Alex at the terminal.
A porter assisted us with our luggage (well worth the $5 AUD tip), and the process from check-in through immigration took about an hour. We relaxed near our gate while waiting to board. Our flight was scheduled for 11:30 am, we boarded about 15 minutes late and eventually departed an hour behind schedule. The flight was fine, and Jetstar always provide a great flight home, especially the daytime departures. The seats are pretty hard, but it’s only a 5-hour flight. Thankfully, the pilots made up some time in the air, and we landed in Melbourne only 30 minutes late.
Melbourne Airport was efficient as always, and we were through quickly. After collecting our suitcases, we used the disability line at customs because Mason was wearing his Hidden Disability Sunflower Lanyard, which made the process smoother and less overwhelming.
Final Thoughts
Such a fun, easy and special week away. It was a lovely way to celebrate Mason’s birthday and explore a new destination. If you are interested in exploring more of Indonesia, check out Indo Buddies. They have all the great tips!
Our Driver and Nanny details:
Alex Driver +62 813 3749 7178
Rina Nanny +62 821 1341 8258
As always, thank you for reading along. If you enjoyed this travel diary, then you might like to read our April/May or July trips from 2025. Also, feel free to join our Facebook Group.
Kate xx
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