Ah, the Babymoon. It sounds luxurious, right? Time for you and your pre-existing family to spend some valuable quality time together before your lives are forever shattered, er, changed. Choosing a babymoon destination can seem a little daunting. How do you balance pregnancy symptoms, Zika, CDC recommendations, travel restrictions, available vacation time, etc? I asked a number of travel bloggers for their babymoon stories and found that people have managed to go to some amazing places.

(Are you looking for tips on traveling while pregnant? I’ve got you covered).

Tips on Choosing a Babymoon Destination

So now you have wisely decided to invest in a babymoon. With all of the potential spots you could choose, how do you narrow it down?

Drive or Fly?

This one comes down to two questions: what is your budget and how far along are you? If you are after 28 weeks pregnant, you will need a letter from your doctor to fly on pretty much any airline. Driving can definitely be more budget-friendly, but keep in mind long car drives can have the same issue as an airplane flight. Pregnant women are more prone to leg swelling and blood clots on long car drives as well as flights, so get out of the car every hour or so, use the bathroom frequently, and remember to stay hydrated no matter how you’re getting to your destination.

How Far do you Think You Can Travel?

Here is the question you need to answer: how is your pregnancy going? Every pregnancy is different. If you are having a lot of pregnancy-related issues, you may not want to travel far from your doctor and home hospital. If you already have a kid (or more) at home, you may not want to go away for more than a few nights. If this is your first pregnancy, and you want to go all out, you can plan a longer trip. Plan what works best for you and your family.

How Much Time do You Have?

In the interest of not turning this post into a political rant, I won’t speak too much about the lack of paid maternity leave or even paid vacation time in the United States. I will say that if you have the time to take off, you probably need to take it at least once during your pregnancy. I don’t know about you, but pregnancy exhausts me, and a day or two off work to nap and catch up can do a world of good for my productivity when I return.

Still, you need to budget your time just like you budget your money. Once you take into account available babysitting and paid time off, you can figure out how far you need to travel.

FYI–jet lag is worse when you’re pregnant. During my first pregnancy, I flew back and forth to the East Coast for a couple of weekends and the red eyes were rough.

Babymoon Destination #1: Grand Cayman (yes, it’s Zika free!)

The first babymoon destination idea comes from Lindsay of Excursion Everywhere.

My husband and I were fortunate enough to go on several trips while expecting our first. I absolutely loved our last trip before baby to the Caribbean island of Grand Cayman. It is heavenly to swim in a gorgeous blue ocean when you are 27 weeks pregnant and forget that you are toting around a huge baby belly. I never wanted to get out of the water at Seven Mile Beach. It has the bluest water of anywhere in the Caribbean and the softest sand. It’s also luckily one of the few places in the Caribbean to be declared Zika-free as of August 2017 thanks to aggressive mosquito control!

Other fun things we did in Grand Cayman was take a shore excursion to Stingray City, the Coral Gardens for snorkeling, and to Starfish Point to see wild starfish. And on our last day we visited the Botanical Gardens to see the Blue Iguanas.  Since we weren’t able to enjoy any pina coladas on this beach trip, we had fun visiting some of Grand Cayman’s unique restaurants!

If you like these photos, make sure to check out Excursion Everywhere on Instagram.

Babymoon Destination #2: New York During the Holidays

Our second amazing babymoon destination comes from Emily at Henry and Andrews Guide

When people imagine going on their babymoon, most people think of warm beaches to kick back at. We did have that experience with our first baby (St. Martin/Sint Maarten), but we wanted something different for our second. We wanted somewhere with amazing food, since I (the expectant mom) couldn’t drink, somewhere Zika-free, and somewhere we can go on a weekend since we had an 18-month-old at home. We also wanted to check off a bucket list item – going to New York during the holidays!

It was a perfect place for a babymoon. We did everything “holidays in New York” you could imagine that you couldn’t do with a baby or small kids. I did a little surprise for my husband, who is a huge Home Alone fan, and recreated a scene from the movie. We had our limo driver from the airport bring us a pizza! We went to 2 Christmas shows – the Rockettes and a show at Apollo Theater, the First Noel. We went to see the Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center and ride the horse carriage ride through Central Park. It was an amazing weekend trip to spend time as a couple before a new baby came into our lives.

To follow along with their adventures (and those of their 2 adorable kids), check out Henry and Andrew’s Guide on Instagram.

Babymoon Destination #3: Amangiri

Thank you to Clare from Epic Road Rides for her story about visiting Amangiri in Utah.

If you’re looking for an out of this world babymoon experience, Amangiri in Utah is the place to get it.

The resort is architecturally dramatic – its straight, concrete lines are stark yet beautiful. They made us feel like we were entering a James Bond movie set.

The bold building contrasts with the wild, rugged, open natural space that surrounds it. It sits in  600 acres of the Colorado Plateau and there’s nothing else around it as far as the eye can see. One of the most dramatic features is that one side of the resort sits next to a lofty rock escarpment and the main pool curves around this. As you swim, you’ve got a super modern, upscale hotel on one side and on the other a craggy rockface that’s millions of years old.

You’re in the middle of nowhere in a building that looks minimalistic and cold – yet you’re also in the lap of luxury. Our huge room looked out onto the plains where the end of daylight bounced around and lit up the cliffs. There’s a 25,000-foot spa where they offer massages for mothers-to-be. We took gentle strolls to deserted slot canyons and ate seasonal produce alongside floor to ceiling windows that looked straight out on the desert. At night we watched the stars through the hotel’s telescope and cozied up for open-air film screenings.

We had a relaxed, dreamy stay at Amangiri, and left feeling energised for the rigours of parenthood ahead!

To follow along with their adventure, check out Epic Road Rides on Facebook.

Babymoon Destination #4: Slovenia and Turkey

Lucky Anca from Dream Book and Travel found time for two babymoons!

We had two babymoons, both in the second trimester of pregnancy. Luckily, the period spanned the summer months so we enjoyed being away from home, and then back to exploring Vienna during autumn.

Babymoon in Slovenia

As of June my morning sickness was still running strong, so we decided to choose a destination where we could drive from Vienna. We had never been to Slovenia, one of the few countries in Europe that really has it all – great cities, beautiful mountains, a seaside. We went for a long weekend, made a half-day stop in the capital Ljubljana, and drove further to the charming seaside town of Piran. Although small, Ljubljana is one of the liveliest cities I have ever seen – street markets, open-air cafés and restaurants, friendly people. I still regret I only planned to spend half a day there. I could have wandered the beautiful cobbled streets forever (in between toilet breaks, resting times, and snack halts, that is). Piran, on the other hand, we thoroughly enjoyed. It is ideal for a pregnant woman in terms of size and things to do – an easy climb to the church overseeing the town, a long walk on the seaside promenade, a great swim in the sea or at the pool, small family-owned restaurants, cafés, artisanal and souvenir shops to browse. Most places offer great seafood options – and per request, they cook it extra well for you. Just make sure you are in the know about which types of fish you are allowed to eat, and do not have any seafood the week before your visit.

Babymoon in Turkey

In August we flew to our favorite holiday destination of all – Turkey. As exploring ancient ruins and authentic produce markets in the 45 degrees Celsius sun was out of the question, we booked an all-inclusive stay at a resort in Antalya. I can only recommend this for a babymoon. The place where we stayed had premises big enough for long walks in the evening, and was conveniently located at the seaside, so we could swim in the morning before it got too hot. I also quite enjoyed the spa and massages being offered, as well as the evening shows taking place at a theater on the premises – plenty of entertainment without having to leave the resort. The only thing to be careful with in such a setting is not to overeat, as delicious options are available throughout the day. And we all know how tempting that sounds!

To follow along with their journeys, check out Dream Book and Travel on Instagram.

Babymoon Destination #5: The Maldives

Thank you to Shelley from Travel Stained for sharing her babymoon experience in the Maldives. (Keep in mind that the CDC still lists the Maldives as having Zika as of the writing of this post–you can check for updates on the CDC website).

Choosing an Island

If you think a trip to the Maldives is out of your reach, I’m happy to tell you it’s not. The incredible white sand, gorgeous water and far-flung isolation you’re craving for the perfect babymoon is not only possible, but it’s also totally affordable, by visiting a local island, instead of a resort.

There are literally hundreds of amazing places to choose from, but after some research, we settled on the Maldives local island Maafushi, because it was the most developed in terms of tourist infrastructure. Located a $2, 2-hour public ferry or $20, 20 minute shared speedboat ride away from Male, it did not disappoint.

We spent 10 blissful days on the best beach I’ve seen the world over. The water was so incredibly beautiful, I spent hours just watching it shift from turquoise to aquamarine to teal before my eyes. Some days, we could see dolphins frolicking in the distance. On another day, we dragged ourselves off that flawless beach and took a day tour that included snorkeling sites, a picnic on a deserted sandbar and a dolphin safari. One day, we took a day trip to a 5-star resort island… and couldn’t wait to get back to Maafushi.

Things to Keep in Mind

The local islands are Muslim and people actually live there, so there is no alcohol available (not a big deal for mama obviously, but your partner might be surprised). Bikinis are restricted to the bikini beach on the East side of Maafushi to respect the local culture. Not to worry though, the island is only 1.3 kilometres long and 250 metres wide, so getting anywhere is a breeze.

Enjoy their travels by following Travel Stained on Instagram.

Babymoon Destination #6: Hawaii

Especially if you are flying from the west coast or somewhere with direct flights, Hawaii is perfect for a babymoon. It’s Zika-free, the tropical tradewinds cool you off, and the sunsets are seriously to die for (not to mention the food). Sure, you can explore and adventure, but you can also just hang out at the beach or pool (seriously, buoyancy is the best thing in the world when you’re pregnant) and drink fruit smoothies.

If you are trying to decide which island to visit, check out this great post from Borders and Bucket Lists on which Hawaiian island should you visit?

Babymooning on Kauai

Kauai has an authentic Hawaiian feel. The North Shore of Kauai boasts the beautiful Hanalei Bay, which is beautiful particularly in summer. During the winter months, the north shore gets more rain and the surf is much higher. During the winter, head south to Poipu. The beaches there are beautiful, the snorkeling is easy, and it gets less rain than up north.

We have stayed twice in condos at the Villas at Poipu Kai. We love the convenience–they are easy walking distance both to Shipwreck Beach and Poipu Beach. Restaurants and the luxurious Grand Hyatt Kauai are also within an easy stroll, and it’s a great place to stay if you are touring the island. I have attended a conference and eaten at a few different restaurants at the Grand Hyatt, and the food is delicious, the pool looks incredible, and it seems like it would be another great spot to stay if you’re looking for the hotel vibe.

For an easy hike doable for pregnant women (or kids carrying toddlers), consider the Mahaulepu Trail. You access the trailhead from the end of Shipwreck Beach, just past the Grand Hyatt. It’s a fairly easy climb with beautiful views. I wouldn’t wear flip-flops if you’re pregnant due to shifting center of gravity, but apart from that I think it’s a great activity.

Babymooning on Maui

We are actually currently planning a babymoon on Maui. We have heard nothing but good things. I have to be honest, I’m not sure I’m going to wake up at 4 AM to catch the sunrise on Mt. Haleakala, but I fully intend to enjoy some delicious food and some snorkeling.

To help plan our upcoming adventure, I’ve looked to other travel bloggers. Here are some of the most helpful articles I’ve found.

• Momma to Go Maui Activities (I did check and the snorkeling company they used do often take out pregnant women, just keep in mind possible motion sickness)
• Snippets of Stewarts What to Do in Maui. I am excited to try some of the places in Paia.
• One Day in a City Babymoon in Maui

Considerations when Going to Hawaii and Pregnant

• Keep in mind that perhaps not all fish may be considered “safe” in pregnancy. If you are in doubt if it is a high mercury fish, check out this local guide from Hawaii Department of Health.
• The undertow can be strong, so keep in mind your fitness and comfort level. I am not a super confident ocean-swimmer, so I try to stay away if I see a lot of surfers in the water. I always observe the water from the beach for a bit before making my decisions.
• Bring extra reef-safe sunscreen (other forms are now banned in Hawaii). Besides, Melasma can be an issue in pregnancy. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.
• Hiking can be slippery, and again, your center of gravity may be shifting as your belly grows. Bring sturdy shoes, a lot of water, and tell someone where you’re going.
• Try the fruits, the shave ice, kalua pork, and more. What better place to indulge?

Not all Babymoons Go As Expected

Of course we all want our vacations to be perfect, relaxing, revitalizing experiences where we connect more with our partners and family. In real life, though, s*^$ happens.

My First Babymoon to San Diego

So, back before I realized I was pregnant with our first baby, my husband and I planned a weekend away to La Jolla. We planned on some wine tasting, lots of fish tacos, adventure. In reality, I had horrible morning sickness (I was about seven weeks pregnant at the time), and could barely move. We only left the room about twice the whole weekend–once to go to the movies (in a theater that had lost its air conditioning), and once to visit the restaurant at the hotel.

Still, though I felt horrible the majority of the weekend and slept for most of it, it was great to spend some quality time with my husband. He brought me ginger ale, pretzels, and room service. He’s a great guy.

Tips from a Pro

If you are looking for some excellent tips from an experienced travel blogger, check out this post from Fly by the Seat of Our Pants How to Have the Worst Babymoon Ever. Some takeaway points:

• Always consider your budget–this is not the time to stress about money
• Do your research on the location
• Go to a place where you feel comfortable. Pregnancy is uncomfortable enough.
• Try to book direct flights if possible.

Final Thoughts on Choosing a Babymoon Destination

The whole point of a babymoon is to spend quality time with your family or partner before your lives change. No matter where you choose, remember to have fun.

The post How to Choose a Babymoon Destination and 6 Great Babymoons appeared first on From Toddler to Traveler.