Remember that romantic honeymoon you enjoyed to celebrate the beginning of your lives together? Got a baby on the way now? Maybe it’s time to jump into one of the hottest trends in the tourism industry - babymoon getaways.
Romance and relaxation are as important to a babymoon as they were to the honeymoon. The impending arrival of a baby will change your lives forever so why not celebrate one last time as a twosome before a bundle of joy changes the way you think about vacations?
Babymoons, according to the World Travel Market Global Trends Report of 2006, are an example of how the travel and tourism industries are creating customized packages suitable for every stage of life. Many standard babymoon packages include 24-hour craving menus, specially designed pillows to make sleeping with a baby bump easier, couples massages, breakfast in bed, baby gifts, romance, privacy - total indulgence 24 hours a day.
Some popular babymoon destinations include:
- Tropical beaches where the buoyant waters relieve the aches and pains of pregnancy.
- Arawak Beach Innin Anguilla, British West Indies, treats expectant mothers to an unlimited supply of pickles and ice cream but, even more indulgent, is a trip for two to your own well-stocked private island for a day.
- Peter Island Resort, also in the British West Indies, offers a five-day “Baby Week” package that includes a two-hour class each day on subjects that include relaxation techniques and breastfeeding preparation.
- Westin New York at Times Square offers a list of the most popular baby names in the city by neighborhood; they encourage soon-to-be parents to explore each neighborhood’s vibes for baby naming inspiration.
- Topnotch Resort & Spa in Stowe, Vermont, offers a private hiking guide who will customize a mountain hike according to mom’s stamina and baby bump.
Packaged escapes aren’t for everyone so consider the things you and your spouse enjoy doing together and plan a babymoon around that. Visit places you’ve always wanted to go. Do things you’ve always wanted to do together as a couple. Bed-and-breakfasts are great escapes and spa destinations offer exotic and comforting treatments and events you’ll both enjoy.
Some things the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists hope you’ll consider when planning a babymoon:
- The second trimester is the safest time for travel.
- Don’t go too far from your ob-gyn; don’t separate yourself and your medical team by too many time zones or layovers.
If fun in the sun is your kind of indulgent pleasure, take plenty of sunscreen with a high SPF. Some women experience a condition called melasma, or the mask of pregnancy, which can become more pronounced with overexposure to the sun. Use sunscreen lavishly near the water and in snow-capped mountains.
< Babymoon Ideas and Destinations
Source: Kozolchyk, Abbie. “8 Best Babymoon Trips.” Parents. Meredith Corporation. n.d. Web. Dec 18, 2013.