The idea of an epic overseas family holiday was nice in theory but a nightmare in reality, and if I had my time again, I probably wouldn’t sign up for it.
The nightmare began in 2022 when my extended family decided to vacation in Bali for Christmas.
We usually get together every other year on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, where I grew up, but this time, we wanted to try somewhere else.
My family of origin and I had been to Bali before and knew what to expect, but we had no idea how different the experience would be with 18 people from five families.
The trouble started before we even got on a plane
Booking accommodations was a complete fiasco and should have been a red flag.
Some people wanted resort-style accommodation with all the bells and whistles — kids’ clubs, swim-up bars, and other Western comforts. Others in the group liked the idea of more authentic, budget-friendly accommodation with a Balinese feel.
It took six months and a lot of bickering on our family WhatsApp group to settle on a compromise: We’d stay in three different hotels during our 12 nights in Bali. Moving from place to place wasn’t ideal, but it meant everyone felt that their needs were being met.
Bickering over where to eat made me want to hide in my room and order room service
Everyone was excited when the big day arrived, and we all touched down at Denpasar International Airport. The youngest family member, our daughter, was 4 months old. The oldest member, my dad, was 78.
The excitement quickly dissipated at the first resort, though. Some family members wanted an affordable vacation, while others were ready to splurge on food, drinks, and entertainment without concerns about cost.
Meal time was particularly tiresome. Family members with more cash to splash preferred eating at our resort or restaurants in pricier areas such as Seminyak, known for its luxury hotels and high-end shopping and dining.
Whereas those on a tight budget would suggest dining at a local warung, a small traditional Balinese restaurant, usually decked out with simple plastic chairs and tables, offering cheap, tasty food.
The nightly debates about where to eat created unnecessary tension, and I wanted to hide in my room and order room service.
I didn’t anticipate the hassle of all the Christmas gifts
Holidaying during the festive season also created a logistical nightmare.
With five different families all celebrating Christmas, we exchanged many gifts.
Lugging the presents there and bringing them home proved to be a challenge, and we sent stuff back to Australia with my folks (who live in another state) because we couldn’t fit everything into our two suitcases.
The gifts are still collecting dust at my folks’ house.
The worst of it was yet to come
All those hassles paled in comparison to the digestive issues, aka Bali belly, that affected nearly the whole group.
It started with my dad, who went down on day three with vomiting and diarrhea, then took out 15 of the 18 of us. Each night, we’d place bets on who would go down next.
For Christmas Eve, we’d pre-paid for a lavish seafood buffet dinner at hotel number two, the Holiday Inn in Nusa Dua. That night, my husband started experiencing gastro symptoms, and needless to say, Christmas Eve was not what we’d hoped for.
By Christmas Day, our 4-month-old daughter had started projectile vomiting by the pool; then, I woke up feeling horrendous on Boxing Day.
I remember brushing my teeth when I thought I was over the worst of it, letting out a little gas, and then looking at my husband with horror because more than just gas had come out. That was a real low point.
When it was time to go home, I was ready for a real vacation with some actual peace and tranquility.
I think next time, we’ll keep the big family get-togethers at my parents’ house in Queensland and leave the international holidays to our family of five.
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