A wild realisation dawned on me recently, and that was that I have travelled far more frequently since becoming a parent than I ever did as a carefree, single woman.
There are a few reasons for this. For one thing, having a partner and a son means I always have travel buddies on hand to plan adventures with. As you may well know, nothing kills a holiday idea faster than trying to align with a group of mates on when they can travel and where they want to go.
Another factor is work. Having been freelance for years, taking time off to explore the world felt daunting, as it meant forgoing paid work (which you kinda need to afford said exploration). However, now, as a 9-5 girlie with PTO, there is no reason not to jump on a plane to someplace new with my little family in tow.
My partner and I are fortunate that our son is an excellent travel companion. Now 4, we’ve been dragging him around the world since he was just four months old – to Italy, France, Greece, Singapore, Spain, England, Vietnam and, most recently, Indonesia.
Here’s the thing, though: just because we’re travelling with a preschooler doesn’t mean my partner and I want to stay somewhere that caters only to him. It’s still our holiday too, after all. And, as many parents can attest, finding that perfect balance between family-friendly and fashionable can be quite the challenge.
Hotel Komune, located right on the striking black sand of the Keramas surf break in Bali, proves that it can be done – and exceptionally well, too.
Ice-cream on arrival? Yes, please!
We stayed at Komune for two nights at the end of our recent Indonesian jaunt, after spending 10 days on Gili Air and Nusa Lembongan. Arriving back on the mainland, we were greeted by one of the transfer drivers from the hotel and promptly delivered straight to paradise.
From the refreshing ginger mocktails offered on arrival (ice cream for our son!) to the friendly check-in staff and concierge service, which took our bags straight to our room, we immediately sensed the next few days were going to be luxurious.
Our accommodation – two interconnecting beachfront king suites – was spacious and stylish, each equipped with a comfortable daybed on the deck, which leads to the villa’s own private stretch of pool. From there, the view stretched out before us: glorious palm trees gently swaying in the breeze, with the faint sound of beach beats from the main resort pool providing the soundtrack.
What food is available at Komune, Bali?
As a parent, you are always on the lookout for the signs that your child might be about to erupt into a hangry meltdown, so our first stop was at one of the restaurants on the Komune premises.
The Beach Club sits right on the waterfront and has a kids’ menu that delightfully reflects the common mealtime refrains parents know all too well. From the ‘I Don’t Care!’ (a ham and cheese toasted jaffle) to the ‘I Don’t Know! (cheeseburger), the little people in your life are well catered for.
Adults, meanwhile, can choose between traditional Indonesian dishes like Nasi Goreng and Nasi Campur and a vast array of options across pasta, pizza, seafood, meat and salad. And, of course, The Bar Bible offers guests a massive selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. My personal favourites were the Green Monkey – an invigorating blend of pineapple, orange, lime and mint – and the Lemongrass Slipper, which layers gin, Aperol, lime, fresh lemongrass and coconut pineapple syrup into a concoction that tastes like a holiday in a glass.
For anyone with dietary restrictions, The Health Hub caters to vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and gluten-free diets with a fresh, delicious menu featuring healthy bowls, wraps, seafood, and guilt-free desserts. Juices, smoothies and health shots (I loved the anti-inflammatory hot shot) round things out.
And because, well, why not, we also tried the famous floating breakfast one morning, which was a delightfully quirky experience. It turns out that food really does taste better when you eat it in your private pool overlooking the Indian Ocean!
A kids’ club that parents love
My son is more than happy swimming and splashing – and we did plenty of that. But he’s still a 4-year-old boy who has energy to burn and curiosity to satisfy. The kids’ club at Komune was truly impressive in this regard. While many “kid-friendly” places simply offer a sad little room with some dirty beanbags and a random movie on repeat, Komune gives kids the chance to be “free-range” and totally screen-free.
There’s a colourfully painted skate park (skateboards, scooters and helmets available for loan), the flying fox, cubby house and enclosed trampolines for kiddos to enjoy, plus daily activities including bead and kite decorating, offering making (Canang Sari), language lessons, marble races and chicken feeding. Genuinely a kids’ (and many adults’) idea of heaven!
Meanwhile, for parents whose “no screens” resolve has all but evaporated by dinner time, there is a kids’ movie on the lawn outside The Beach Club restaurant each night from 6:30 pm. Our son was ecstatic to see that Cars 2 was playing one night and promptly ditched his dad and me for a bean bag on the lawn to watch – all within view of where we were enjoying dinner and a cocktail.
Because no trip to Bali would be complete without a spa visit…
To close out the trip, my partner and I took turns indulging in deep-tissue massages at the spa while the other hung out with our son at the kids’ club.
The massages are personalised to your preferences, so I asked for more focus on my head and neck, as I had the start of a headache. My masseuse had hands that I am convinced were magic because I left the room after just under an hour without a care in the world.
The spa menu is extensive and luxurious, so whether you are into facials, body scrubs, massages or all of the above, there is a treatment for you – along with braiding, waxing and hairstyling services.
Other things to do at Komune
So, as we’ve established, Komune is amazing for families, but even if you are childfree (or simply leaving the kiddos at home), this place is just perfect for any type of holiday.
Keramas is world-famous for its surf break and black sand, and the resort is home to a world-first permanent night surfing installation right in front of the property. Guests can book a night surf themselves, with no more than six people allowed in the water at a time.
If yoga and Pilates are more your vibe, this is where Komune really enters its wellness-girlie era. The resort has beautiful studios surrounded by tropical greenery, with yoga and Pilates sessions on offer alongside regular retreats and training programs. Frankly, if there were ever a setting capable of convincing me to abandon my sunlounger in favour of a morning workout, this would be it.
There’s also a fully equipped gym with daily classes and personal training for anyone whose commitment to fitness doesn’t disappear the minute their out-of-office goes on. I salute you.
And, as you may have seen on your Instagram feed, Komune is also a pretty spectacular place to get married!
The reason we’d go back in a heartbeat
One last thing I’d be remiss not to mention is just how friendly every single person who works at Komune is. It felt like nothing was ever too much trouble and everything was done with such grace and warmth; it was unlike anywhere else we’ve stayed. The property itself is so unbelievably beautiful and well-designed, but the staff truly make a stay at Komune unforgettable.
Book your stay at Hotel Komune here.
Book flights to Bali, here.
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