My Babymoon Plans

Okay. I admit it. When I found out I was pregnant, one of my first thoughts was – YAAASS BABYMOON.

As a travel obsessive, I’m well-versed in the opportunities for holidays at various points in my life. I mean, I’m already thinking about my grown-up gap year in South America when the kids leave home and my campervan road trip around Canada when I retire. What can I say, I’m a planner.

So I was already well-aware of the Babymoon trend that has bubbled up over the last couple of years. And I was already completely set on having one.

So what exactly is a Babymoon, ay?

A Babymoon is kind of like the honeymoon of having a baby, y’know hence the name.

It’s the last chance for you and your baby daddy to get away and enjoy some alone time as a couple before you become a trio in the not-too-distant future. It’s a chance to relax whilst you’re pregnant. To maybe have a mocktail and a pregnancy massage. It’s pretty much a trip where you’re allowed to be completely self-indulgent before the ol’ nipper comes along and becomes the centre of your world for the rest of your lives.

I mean, it sounds great. It’s essentially an excuse for a holiday. So obviously I want one (or three…).

The Babymoon Series

Now, the whole Babymoon phenomenon works out quite well for me seeing as this is a travel blog yet I can’t stop posting about the weirdness of pregnancy. So Babymoons really give me something relevant I can sink my teeth into, whilst I’ve reduced the amount I’m travelling at the moment. I really want to get stuck in and do all of the Babymoon research so you don’t have to!

And I’ve come up with a few Babymoon ideas that I really think you’ll like. Babymoons suited to all budgets and different preferences. Whether that’s a trip abroad, sipping on a virgin Mojito on the beach, or a spa day for a pamper a little closer to home.

So say hello to my new Babymoon series!

I’m going to be experiencing a few of these Babymoon ideas myself, and telling you all about them, the pros and the cons. As well as recommending some similar experiences so that you can plan your own getaway. I’m pretty excited about the whole thing.

My Babymoon Plans…

I’m kicking off my first Babymoon with a trip abroad – hooray!

Josh is stressed about me travelling whilst pregnant but I’ve spent the last 5 months convincing him it will be amazing! And I’ve managed to talk him into a 5 day beach break in Portugal with Jet2! I really loved our trip to Alicante with Jet2 last year, it was super relaxing and easy and totally changed my mind about package holidays. So I was keen to book something with them again.

(Read all about my trip to Alicante over here!)

And this time we’re off to The Algarve!

I’m so excited to have a proper holiday, swim in the pool, drink mocktails on the beach, eat dessert everyday. This is really what I think I need at this point in my pregnancy to be honest! A bit of R&R.

I’ve only been to Portugal once before and it was for a work conference in Lisbon, so I don’t feel like I’ve really experienced the country y’know? Although I admit I’m not going to be exploring too much, just reading all of the books I haven’t had time for this year and taking a few swimsuit bump shots. CAN’T WAIT.

But not everyone feels comfortable about going abroad when pregnant. I totally get it. If you feel anxious about being too far from home, you definitely won’t be able to relax on your trip. So I’m also going to be trying out a UK weekender Babymoon.

This seems to be the one most people opt for. A beach break in Cornwall or a cosy getaway at the Lake District. So I’m keen to see how different this will be to a trip abroad – Will it be just as relaxing? Less stressful without having to fly? Less exciting when it’s closer to home?

Well I’ll let you know pal, because Babymoon numero dos is going to be UK-based. I was hoping to secure some plans before I published this post but I’m still deciding between a country getaway in the Cotswolds or a boutique hotel by the seaside in either Brighton or Margate. Either way, I’m going to be relaxing and eating nice food and just getting a bit of peace & quiet before the baby comes along. I’ve also been adamant that my choice of hotel has to have a showstopping bath. So yeah, watch this space, kiddo.

(Photo below from my last trip to The Cotswolds with Log House Holidays)

Finally, I wanted to do a Babymoon option that didn’t cost a lot of money. If you’re crying at the prospect of maternity pay and are worried about how you’re going to pay for all the gadgets babies supposedly need, you don’t want to go galivanting off to Morocco for a luxury stay in a Riad in the lead up to the birth, do you?

So my last Babymoon taster is going to be a day spa. You can get your hands on an affordable spa day quite easily with deals on Groupon or LastMinute, and lots of places do spa treatments specifically tailored to the needs of mamas-to-be. It’s budget and fabulous and I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to treating myself to a pregnancy massage!

I’m going to be heading to the fabulous Eden Hall in Nottinghamshire for a day of pampering and I’m v excited about it. It looks super fancy and I’ll be indulging in their Mother To Be Spa Day package, alongside a nice lunch on the grounds.

I’m also treating Josh to a massage because I really think dads-to-be need to relax before the birth too. (He does a LOT of worrying.)

Okay yes, before you say it, I am indeed a spoiled brat with a whopping THREE Babymoons to go on!! But in my defence, pregnancy is tough. I haven’t been away for a few months now (rare for me) and once the third trimester hits I’m fairly certain I’ll be grounded for a while, both before and after the birth.

So why not go for it and enjoy myself over the next month or two? Good, I’m glad you agree.

Would you have a Babymoon?! Do you think it’s a necessary indulgence or a bit of hype to part parents-to-be with their hard-earned cash?

Let me know what you think in the comments below or find me over on Instagram for regular updates on my travels, my pregnancy and life in general!