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Family Holidays

There is a plethora of possibilities when it comes to traveling in Indonesia, listed here are a few tried and tested options but talk to friends about where they've been to, word of mouth is the best source of information. See also our separate Bali page. We'd like to keep the travel section of familyguidetojakarta.web.id up to date and feature as many varieties of family holiday as possible so if you've been somewhere that you think other Jakarta residents should know about please email us at info@familyguidetojakarta.web.id

Sumatra

Bukit Lawang
For those families who are looking for a little adventure in the jungle for a long weekend try Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra. Bukit Lawang is one of the most accessible places to see orang-utans in Indonesia and for enjoying ‘tubing’ down child friendly white water! Read about one family's experience here

Hendra Wan (Iwan)
A very friendly guide who speaks English well and is very interested in developing eco-tourism in and around Bukit Lawang. Pak Iwan is reliable and can organise transport, tours and accomodation. A number of expats visiting Bukit Lawang have used him, and one family have set up a website for him as a "Thank you".

Hp:0813 969 24074
http://bukitlawang.weebly.com

Jungle Inn
Hp: 0813 7073 0151

Guide - Hasani
Hp: 0813 7500 764

Bukittinggi

Novotel Bukittinggi
Beautiful, cool (take a sweater/jacket for evenings), and surrounded by two volcanoes. Bukkitinggi is the center of Minangkabau culture, which is matrilineal, friendly and traditional. Hang out in the hilltop square where there is a huge clock tower; explore the clean and lively traditional market; ride horse carts; visit the park/zoo. Note: animal conditions at the zoo are poor, but the kids should enjoy seeing the taxidermized two-headed goats and other unusual animals in the small museum. Hotel staff with help you to organize excursions to Danau Maninjau, a rain-filled lake inside a super volcano crater. Explore caves and tunnels, used during the Second World War, climb a volcano, swim under a waterfall. The hotel offers a great kids menu and a breakfast buffet included in price of room. A row of backpacker restaurants down the street serve pizza and other kid-friendly food. Swimming pool, and small kids play area with a Playstation should keep them entertained.

Tel: 0752 35000
Fax: 0752 23800
Email: hotel@novotelbukittinggi.com
www.novotel.com

Java

Jalan Jendral Sudirman 89, 55223 Yogyakarta
Tel : 0274 580 930
Fax : 0274 580 931
Email : admin@novotelyogya.com

Mt. Bromo

Lava view Lodge
Located on the lip of the original caldera Lava View Lodge is the ideal choice to stay while visiting Mt. Bromo. Its location has a spectacular view of not only Bromo but also Mt. Batok and Mt. Kursi as the lodge is located on the lip of the old caldera. This lodge offers a unique family room, bungalow, standard superior and standard junior villas. The villas have basic furnishings and hot showers. The staff are very kind and helpful, and will even knock on your door to wake with enough time for breakfast before your sunrise tour. The lodge offers guided tours though out the area with wonderful English speaking guides. The restaurant has a selection of European and Indonesian cuisine. The general manager and operator of this lodge also runs a tour company by the name of Global Adventure Tours, so he is able to suggest some really great itineraries. Remember to bring warm clothes as the temperature here can get below zero.

Cemorolawang, Sukopuro Probolinggo, East Java
Tel: 0335 541 009
Fax: 0335 541 147
www.globaladventureindonesia.com

Grand Bromo Hotel - located 18kms from Mt. Bromo
Located in the very portal of East Java’s most exciting tourist attractions is Mount Bromo. This volcano stands in the center of desolate sea of sand caldera, luring visitors from around the globe. Watching the sunrise over the rim of the crater, a marvelous sight of local cultivatios on the hilly slopes will be an experience to carry for lifetime. Local village give visitors insight into the way of life of Tenggerese people who have inhabited these slopes for centuries. The area is rich in natural beauty. Only minutes from this stark grandeur of volcanic panorama, Grand Bromo Hotel sits in lush tropical setting (850 m above sea level), overlooking picturesque vistas of Probolinggo harbor. Grand Bromo Hotel has 16 Hostel rooms, 21 Standard Rooms, 154 Deluxe Rooms, 4 unit Cottage, 1 unit VIP Cottage. The hotel has a nice restaurant and café to chose from as well as an open theater, gift shop, play ground, great pool, tennis court, beach volley ball and a jogging track.

Jl. Darmo Harapan 1, Surabaya 60187, East Java
Tel. 031 732 9945/6
Fax. 031 732 5256
Email: info@grandbromo.com
www.grandbromo.com

Magelang

MesaStila Wellness Retreat (formally Losari Coffee Plantations Resort and Spa) - UPDATED Nov 2011
This is a place to get away from the Jakarta madness and relax. This is a very special place. If you love a sense of history and the old Javanese Dutch architecture then this visit is a must. Each of Losari’s 26 villas is unique. They are all located on the hilltop in the middle of the plantation and are all reconstructed from original Javanese Limasans, Joglos or Kudos houses. The Club House is the original 1928 plantation house. It has been completely restored and houses many Javanese artifacts and antiques.
The minimum age for children is twelve years old; with a condition that they participate in retreat programs. Children  between five and eleven may stay at the property only under strict parental supervision and with “limited access” areas of the retreat. For adults their policy is just as strict concerning smoking, alcohol, laptops and mobiles. This is obviously a place to spend a healthy, relaxing weekend.
For more information check out the website.

Desa Losari - Grabag PO Box 108, Magelang 56100 Central Java
Tel: 0298 596 333
Fax 0298 592 696
Email: info@losaricoffeeplantation.com
www.losaricoffeeplantation.com

Ujung Genteng

Batu Besar Losmen
Sister resort of the ever popular Ocean Queen Resort at Pelabuhan Ratu, Batu Besar Losmen offers good surf, great food, friendly staff 6-7 hours drive from Jakarta. Extremely reasonable price IDR200.000 for an AC room (share or non share) includes 3 delicious and generously portioned meals. Very peaceful. Watch the giant green turtle lay eggs and release the baby turtles to the wild. Turtle friendly (apparently the ones on the beach are illegal and endanger the turtle sanctuary). The surf was world class and the staff were extremely helpful and nice.

Pantai Pengumbahan, Ujung Genteng.
Tel: 021 766 0359 or 0857-236-52821 (hotel)
Email: oqresort@gmail.com

Lombok

Sheraton Senggigi
For those who wish to experience what Bali was 20 years ago Lombok is the calm unspoiled paradise for you and your family. The hotel is located just 45 minutes from the airport and has been newly renovated. The Sheraton offers connecting rooms for larger families as well as discounted rates for KITAS holders. There is a large swimming pool with a shallow end for toddlers and a small playground with slide. The beach outside the hotel is volcanic sand and the sea is calm. Down the beach there is an art market and several affordable restaurants that offer good quality food. The staff at the hotel with help to organize any island activities you would like.

Tel: 0370 693 333
www.sheraton.com

Gilli Trawangan Island

Villa Ombak
Once you’ve made your way to Lombok’s ferry terminal the hotel will pick you up in their private boat and whisk you away to the resort. Villa Ombak has several different villas to chose from including a spacious family villa with a king size bed and a king size day bed. The shower water is salt water. The beaches are beautiful white sand and the water is turquoise. The restaurant is average but a short walk down the road are several different dinning options. There are no cars on the island and all transportation is done by bicycle or horse and cart. A public boat leaves daily for snorkeling trips to two other Gilli islands. A private glass bottom boat can also be hired.

Gilli Trawangan Island, Lombok
Tel: 0370 642 336
Fax: 0370 642 337
info@hotelombak.com
www.villaombak.com

Karimunjawa Island, off West Java

Kura Kura Resort
This all-inclusive Swedish-owned resort includes not only all accommodation and meals but flights to and from this private island. Contact them to organize departures from Jakarta, Semarang, Yogyakarta or Bali. Kura Kura has 5 VIP villas and 5 two-bedroom deluxe cottages as well as 5 private pool villas. Despite its remote location, the resort is very luxurious. All rooms, furnished in teakwood are air-conditioned, have satellite TV, mini bar, western style bathrooms with filtered and pressurized hot and cold showers. All the bungalows have an outdoor terrace with teak garden furniture. Some of the daily activities include; diving and snorkeling, Robinson Crusoe trips,(drop you on a private island with packed lunch and cold drinks for the day), Jet ski’s, jet boats, waterskiing, sea kayaking, paddle boats, windsurfing, wakeboarding, sunset cruises, fishing and fishing village tour as well as the token island beach massage. Children under 5 are free if they share a room with parents. Children age 5-10 are entitled to a 50% discount off the standard price excluding flights.

Kura Kura Resort
Tel: 0813 2528 0500

Head Office:
Bumi Harapan Permai, Jl. Bangun Cipta Blok E6 13550 , Kramat Jati - Jakarta
Tel: 021 841 4266 / 021 840 3257
www.kurakuraresort.com

Sulawesi

Minahasa Lagoon
This resort is an excellent get away for the whole family who enjoys the ocean and the magical world beneath. Recommend for families with older competent swimmers as the Bunaken Marine Reserve has been touted better then the Great Barrier Reef. No tvs, quiet, calm and relaxing the prices. Meals were served at either your private balcony or at the restaurant (excellent chef, some of the best food sampled in Indonesia) offers Italian, International and Asian cuisine. No kids club, better for families who enjoy scuba or snorkeling together. Check the website of phone for package deals.

Tel: 0431 828 335
Email: resort@minahasalagoon.com
www.minahasalagoon.com

Murex
Just a 1-hour drive (pick-up service from the resort) from Manado’s Sam Ratulangi’s airport, this family-run diving resort is set in beautiful grounds on a black volcanic beach, overlooking the Menado Tua and Bunaken islands. Large swimming pool availale, suitable for children, adults and diver training. For divers/snorkelers: daily tours to the surrounding islands and longer trips on a live-a-board to Sangir and Talaud. For non-divers and resting divers: plenty of day trips exploring North Sulawesi – including mountain horse-trekking, volcano climbing, national parks and Lake Tondano. Murex also has a dive resort on Bangka Island.

Jl. Raya Trans Sulawesi, Desa Kalasey I, Manado
Tel: 0431 330 6779
Hp: 0818 705 145
www.murexdive.com

Holidays on Boats

Being an archipelago, opportunities to explore Indonesia from the water abound. Here are a few of the companies that offer such trips.

Java Sea Charters
Clean boat which can accomodate up to 8 people in 3 cabins (2 with one bunk bed each and the third with 2 bunk beds).Suitable for children from around three years who are able to sleep in a normal bed. The beds do come with protection for the little ones. Big deck where you can enjoy taking your breakfast, lunch and dinner. The deck is protected all the way round, although we would recommend that you still keep your eyes on children at all times. Food is very good and the crew are friendly. Amongst the trips they offer is a cruise around Krakatoa, a good getway for 2 days or more with the family. Prices are reasonable. Check their website for other available destinations.

Inside Hotel Kristal, Jl. Terogong Raya, Jakarta Selatan
Tel: 021 750 9043
Website: www.javaseacharters.com
Email: booking@javaseacharters.com / info@javaseacharters.com

Ombak Putih
The Ombak Putih is a beautiful, traditional 24 berth (12 cabin) schooner that sails through the Indonesian Archipelago East of Bali. Sixteen staff and one European tour leader accompany you on your journey through stunning azure waters, past smouldering volcano islands, white sand atolls and onto islands where time stands still. The boat does different routes at different times of year and you can look into this on their website.
Read about one family's trip from Bali to Flores here.

Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai 245, Sanur 80228, Bali ‐ Indonesia
Tel: 0361 283358
Fax: 0361 283357
Email:contact@anasia‐cruise.com
Website:www.ombakputih.com

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