Debating between bustling Canggu and peaceful Amed for your Bali family trip? We compare the two, explaining why Amed’s calm is perfect for kids, and solve the biggest challenge: finding a nanny in the remote east.
Amed vs. Canggu for Families: Why the East is Better, and How to Find Childcare There
Bali is not one destination; it is many. The experience you have in the trendy, traffic-clogged streets of Canggu is utterly different from the experience on the quiet, volcanic beaches of Amed in the east.
For families planning a holiday, the choice often comes down to convenience vs. calm. Canggu offers every Western comfort imaginable: endless cafes, huge soft-play centers, skate parks, and instant access to nannies. But it also brings noise, pollution, and traffic jams that can rival any major city.
Amed, on the other hand, offers a slice of old Bali. It’s peaceful, the air is clean, the ocean is calm for swimming, and the pace is slow. For many parents, it’s the idyllic escape they dream of. But it comes with a major trade-off: a lack of infrastructure, specifically childcare.
This article argues why Amed is the superior choice for a truly relaxing family break and provides the solution to the one thing holding many parents back: finding a reliable nanny in Amed.
Why Amed Beats Canggu for a Family Reset
- The Beaches are Actually Kid-Friendly: Canggu’s beaches are famous for surfing, which means strong currents, big waves, and often red flags forbidding swimming. Amed’s bays, particularly Jemeluk and Lipah, are protected and calm. The water is clear, shallow, and perfect for young children to paddle and snorkel safely.
- No Traffic Stress: In Canggu, getting your kids 2km down the road to a restaurant can take 45 minutes in a car. The stress of navigating scooters with toddlers is immense. In Amed, there is one main coastal road. Traffic is practically non-existent. You can walk or drive between villages with zero stress.
- Connection Over Consumption: Canggu is about beach clubs and shopping. Amed is about nature. The entertainment here is watching the sunrise over Lombok, snorkeling with turtles right off the beach, or watching fishermen bring in their catch. It’s a wholesome environment that encourages kids to disconnect from screens.
The Canggu Advantage: Instant Childcare
The one area where Canggu wins hands-down is convenience. You can land, decide you want a date night, post on a Facebook group, and have three qualified nanny applicants within an hour. There are drop-in daycares like Parklife or Cubby House where you can leave kids for a few hours of supervised play.
Amed has none of this. It is a 3-hour drive from the nanny agencies. You cannot decide at 4 PM that you want a sitter for 6 PM.
Bridging the Gap: How to Get Canggu-Quality Care in Amed
You don’t have to choose between Amed’s peace and Canggu’s professional childcare. You just have to bring the childcare with you.
The solution is the “Traveling Nanny” model.
Savvy families hire their preferred nanny from a top-rated agency in Canggu or Seminyak—the kind with impeccable English, First Aid training, and years of experience with Western families—and book them for the entire duration of their Amed trip.
How to execute this:
- Book Early: Contact agencies 1-2 months in advance. The best nannies get booked up for live-in trips quickly.
- Secure Accommodation: Ensure your Amed villa has an extra room for the nanny. This is crucial for their comfort and privacy.
- Factor the Cost: Accept that you will pay for their transport (approx. IDR 800k return) and a live-in salary. Consider it part of the essential cost of a relaxing holiday, just like flights or accommodation.
Don’t let the fear of no childcare keep you trapped in the Canggu bubble. Amed offers the peaceful, nature-filled Bali holiday that many families crave. By proactively hiring a professional traveling nanny for your Amed trip, you get the best of both worlds: the serenity of the east, backed by the professional support system of the south.