In Reply to: Taking mum to Bali - ideas posted by Luv2travel on Monday, 9. February 2009 at 18:21 Bali Time:
But my mum is 75 (and it will be her first visit, though my 10th). I hope this info is useful to you:
I have booked the Lokha Legian in Jalan Padma for three nights. They have Deluxe rooms with two queen beds in them. I booked directly with the hotel via their website. March - $80 US night. I like this hotel for the staff, the great breakfast buffet, cleanliness etc and proximity to shops and eateries.
Also going to Ubud for three nights and have booked Tegal Sari there- In March you can get a superior room twin single beds Rp 400,000 +10% tax per night including breakfast, or 1 super deluxe room downstairs with 1 queen size bed and 1 single bed : Rp 500,000 +10% tax per night including breakfast. I want Mum to see the rice fields there and all the art shops.
Also will be staying at Puri Raja in Jalan Padma Utara for three nights - paying for a deluxe room (by the pool)US$ 85.00/room /nite though you could get a superior room is US$ 60.00/room/nite. All inclusive of american breakfast & Tax. Daughter is staying as an 'extra bed'($17 US more) so I chose the larger deluxe room to allow for that, and to be near the pool. Puri Raja will give Mum a chance to see the beach walk and enjoy some time by the pool.
I have booked all accommodation directly with the hotels myself and forwarded credit card details (carefully) to secure bookings.
AS Mum has always wanted to pat a live 'big cat' a visit to the Safari Park will be on the agenda, plus I intend to take her to the Bird and Reptile park, Neka art museum in Ubud (she is an artist herself) and the Garuda Vishnu statue park (because it is just amazing). I will probably take her to Tanah Lot and (if she is up to the distance)to the Tirta Gangga water palace gardens. If she is interested I want to take her to Sukawati markets and perhaps a Balinese morning market.
It is hard to know what to choose to do as I am not sure how she will cope with the different environment and heat, but I am using my fabulous driver (more of a friend now than just a driver) to take us places and he will be able to help with any problems that may crop up.
On short trips between longer outings I will be prepared to jump into an airconditioned taxi any time to head back to the hotel. Mum has always had a 'thing' about flies and food, so my biggest challenge will be planning outings for meals that eliminate the chance of her seeing into any of the kitchens! Haha!
One thing I am going to do is take heaps and heaps of photos of her enjoying herself and get them printed off before we come home (cheaper there), and I will put them into a big album for her. She has mild dementia, and the photos will help her immensely remembering her big adventure.
Going to get her some new reading glasses too, as she loses or sits or lies on her current ones and they are getting past repair.
With the respect the Balinese have for the elderly I feel confident that explaining her memory problems to them they will watch out for her if she wanders, though I am also going to have her wear a lanyard with a 'luggage' tag inside her top that will have her hotel details as well as my cellphone and driver's cellphone number there, all written in Indonesian, on it, just in case she gets separated from me in a busy place.
It is going to be a different holiday for me as I usually go with my husband and daughters, but this time it is just me and one of my daughters who is coming along as an 'extra bed' cost for accommodation, but really so we can 'tag team' with Mum and make sure she has someone with her at all times (including at night as she wanders), plus get a little time to ourselves to fit in some shopping/dental work etc. But the main focus will be what Mum can cope with and enjoys most. It is going to be fun for me seeing my 'second home' through the eyes of a 'Bali virgin', albeit a 75-year old one!