Babymoon Tips & Best Destinations

Are you planning a baby moon?

Well, first of all – Woohoo! You’re going to have a baby! Congratulations!

Second, let me help you with planning your perfect babymoon!

We took several trips during my pregnancy with Emma, so I’ve experienced first-hand how it affects travelling while pregnant.

What Is a Babymoon

A babymoon is a vacation while pregnant. Generally, it’s one last trip you enjoy before the little one comes, a little bit of a last “hurrah”.

If it’s your first baby, you might be going on a romantic trip with your partner to enjoy the time alone. If you already have a baby, it would be spending some bonding time with your kid(s) before the family dynamic changes.

Depending on when during the pregnancy your babymoon takes place, you might opt for the last adventure or a last very relaxing holiday. Both are great ideas!

When to Go on a Babymoon

 Although usually, the advice is to go sometime during your second trimester.

That’s usually when the symptoms of the first trimester (hello morning sickness and tiredness) subside and the energy returns.

And during the third trimester, the energy usually goes away again, and travel restrictions start appearing. Plus, when you’re coming closer to your due date, it’s always a good idea to not be far away from your hospital in case the labour starts.

Many people also plan their babymoon between weeks 14–28.

Babymoon Tips

Tips for planning a babymoon

Babymoon planning is pretty similar to normal vacation planning. There are some extra things you should be aware of, though, to make sure your trip goes without a hitch.

Consult your doctor before planning a babymoon!

Yes, even before starting the planning you should consult your doctor to ask if it’s ok that you go away. Otherwise, if you shouldn’t travel, all the planning would just be a waste of time, wouldn’t it?

They might recommend staying closer to home or adjusting your plans.

Plan your babymoon in the second trimester

That’s when fatigue and nausea from the first trimester usually improve, and your energy is still high.

Plus, in the third trimester, it’s a good idea to be close to your hospital. And, additional restrictions appear the further in the pregnancy you are.

Check out the restrictions for flying while pregnant

Not just of the destination – although there are some countries which will not let you cross the border if you’re pregnant.

Check out what rules on flying while pregnant your airline has.

For some airlines in Europe, for example, up to the 27th week of pregnancy, you can fly without any restrictions. Make sure to take your pregnancy passport with you to have proof, though.

Then, from 28th until 36th week (or the 31st week if you’re having multiples) you need a doctor’s note (in English!) stating that you are fit to fly. Check out your airline’s Flying during pregnancy page to see if they have a form available that you’re supposed to use.

AirBaltic, for example, will not let you on board if the form is older than two weeks or if you’re beyond the specific weeks.

And no, there will not be exceptions – I’ve personally seen a pregnant lady denied boarding for the flight home because her form was outdated. It’s just too risky to allow pregnant persons on board. If your trip is longer than 2 weeks, check out a prenatal care provider at the destination who you can access.

Make sure that the place you want to travel to is safe

This is one of the most important babymoon tips.

Check out your local Centre for disease control to see if there is any advice discouraging travel to certain destinations. Make sure to check specifically for pregnant women as well – there might be some diseases that would be more dangerous for pregnant in the area.

Since there’s no vaccine or medicine for Zika, it’s better to just avoid areas where it’s present.

On the same note, see if there are any vaccinations recommended for the area you want to travel to.

Walk around as often as you can

If you’re flying to your destination, consider getting an aisle seat so that you can stretch your legs from time to time. It’s recommended to walk at least every 30 minutes so that your blood keeps flowing better – avoid swollen feet!

If you’re driving to the destination, definitely plan a stop every 2 hours or so, more if it’s possible. Walk around, go to pee, just stretch your legs.

Be realistic about what you can handle

If your energy levels are lower, don’t plan a lot of adventurous activities, as you will just end up being disappointed if you aren’t able to do them.

The same, if you have pregnancy hots, don’t plan a vacation to a tropical island. I’m pretty sure being uncomfortable or not being able to leave the air-conditioned room is not what you want to do.

Check the food out before you go

If certain smells or foods make you feel nauseous, some destinations might not be the best fit.

So, make sure to check out what restaurants are available in the area you would like to go to. For this reason, a bit more touristy destinations are a better idea, as there are usually a bunch of different popular cuisines available, such as Italian, Indian, etc.

Don’t forget a travel insurance

Make sure it covers pregnancy-related care and prenatal treatment.

Even if you’re in Europe and you’re covered by the EHIC, it only covers very basic care in the state hospitals. And in many cases, unfortunately, the state health care could be a lot better.

Take a lot of pictures!

Even if you feel like you’re big and bloated, take pictures! You’ll love looking back at them.

Of course, a photo session with a professional photographer is the perfect option, but even selfies with a phone or pictures with the camera on the tripod are great to have.

Spa and Wellness on a Babymoon

I think many pregnant ladies are the types of travellers that love relaxation.

But about having a spa and wellness holiday – it really depends. And you should always ask your doctor who knows your actual medical state.

You should stay away from saunas and other heat treatments, though, as it’s unhealthy and can get dangerous for your baby when the body’s core temperature gets raised.

Some other things, such as massages, can be done with some precautions. The best is to go for a prenatal massage, as those specialists are trained for providing services to pregnant women.

Speaking of prenatal massages, they were actually incredibly pleasant when I was pregnant and saved me from having crazy migraines.

If you’re looking for a relaxing stay, you might also consider places with private wellness, like ryokans in Hakone with a private onsen, where you can enjoy the experience more comfortably and it’s our favorite place!

Tips for travelling while pregnant

Get flight socks – one of the best “travelling while pregnant” tips I can give you

Flight socks are basically compression socks or stockings. They help against your legs swelling. Plus, when you’re pregnant, you have a higher risk of deep vein thrombosis, and compression socks help lower that risk.

They’re not just good for flights but for longer car rides as well.

Keep hydrated and bring snacks

It’s important that you stay well hydrated while pregnant. In case of dehydration blood flow to the uterus can get reduced. So make sure to have enough water with you.

And about snacks, I always bring both sweet and sour snacks, as well as some fruit with me even if the food on-board is provided. For road trips, there are snacks galore with us.

Always take safe medicine with you

It’s a good idea to have some basic first aid with you always. It’s impossible to tell if there will be a pharmacy close by when you need something. And even if it’s easily accessible, who knows if there will be safe medicine for you.

So I always pack something for pain, such as paracetamol which is safe to take during pregnancy.

Take your basic pregnancy documentation

It’s a good idea to have your pregnant passport with you. If something happens, the doctors then will have all the basic information that they need.

It’s even more important when travelling.

Keep your seatbelt fastened low

Below the belly, both in a car and in an airplane. The seatbelt should be fastened on the hipbones.

It’s so that in case of an accident the impact is not on the belly, which is very dangerous for the baby’s health.

Best Places for a Babymoon

Places where we spent our babymoon

As I said, we went on a bunch of trips while I was pregnant. We managed both to catch some sun on the beach and some snow in the mountains.

Here are the trips we took and some other baby moon ideas.

Canary Islands – Fuerteventura. Perfect for a winter sun babymoon.

If you’re looking for winter babymoon ideas in Europe, I can definitely recommend Fuerteventura.

We went on a short trip to Fuerteventura in December 2018, and it was a very calm and relaxing trip. At that time, I was just 10-ish weeks pregnant, first trimester morning sickness and exhaustion! That meant that we needed a relaxing trip, not one with lots of walking or adventures.

Fuerteventura provided, so to say. We enjoyed some beaches, which were not too hot and not too cold in December and managed to enjoy some road tripping as well.

Since the Canaries are quite catered for tourists, even food wasn’t a problem.

Vienna in Austria – an easy city babymoon with lots of great things to see

We went to Vienna around the New Year just for a day trip. Since it was a day trip with very few daylight hours, we wanted to just check out some of the main sights in the centre and some of the Christmas markets.

There was a lot of walking included. Since I was in the first trimester of the pregnancy, I was getting tired more quickly than before, but it was still possible to go where we wanted to go without any major delays as the streets are all nice and even.

We travelled by train from Bratislava, and getting a seat wasn’t a problem. I really recommend Vienna as a babymoon destination if you’d like a city trip.

Dolomites and Lago d’Iseo – snowy winter baby moon in Italy.

Our favourite destination in Italy.

The Dolomites is great for a snowy babymoon because you don’t actually have to hike to see some incredible views! You can pretty much drive everywhere. And one of the most iconic views – the Tre Cime de Lavaredo – is quite an easy walk away.

In winter, there’s snow everywhere which makes the views perfect. But beware that the roads might take some time to be cleared, so the car needs to be in great condition. Especially the tyres.

As for lago d’Iseo – we went to Sarnico specifically. It’s just a little paradise in-between lakes Garda and Como. We love the place and go there quite often.

If you like mountain views, I believe that this is a great baby moon to go on.

Canary Islands – Gran Canaria with a day in Madrid both ways. Another great place for a sunny babymoon.

On this trip, I was already seven months pregnant.

There was no direct flight available from either Bratislava or Vienna to Gran Canaria, we decided to fly through Madrid. Since we’d never been to Madrid before, we decided to spend a night there so that we could enjoy the city.

As for the destinations themselves, both Madrid and Gran Canaria are pregnant-friendly destinations.

In Madrid, people were letting me sit down in the metro and making sure I was comfortable. The city is mostly easy to walk.

As for Gran Canaria, it had a bit more hills and dunes, so keep that in mind if you get tired easily. We went on a couple of incredible road trips to see some interesting places, such as Tejeda, Guayadeque, and Aguimes. In some of those, I was too tired to walk around, as they were hilly. But, on the other hand, I could walk on the dunes of Maspalomas. It really depends on how much you can handle.

Plus, at the beginning of April, it was nice and warm in Gran Canaria and not too crowded yet. A win-win!

Hallstatt in Austria – a relaxing babymoon with some gorgeous views.

One of the last trips that we did while I was pregnant was a weekend road trip to Hallstatt in Austria. The drive took a bit more than 4 hours – and it was while I was 8 months pregnant!

We visited the town of Hallstatt itself, which is a bit hilly, but still is walkable.

As part of the trip, we walked around Gosausee as well. That was a bit trickier, as an avalanche had covered part of the trail. But otherwise, it’s a level trail with nice views.

We went to one of the three salt mines in Hallstatt that have tours. It wasn’t the main one, but they are all interesting. There’s a miner’s slide there which everyone took but I was recommended not to take it, as it might be risky.

What are some other great babymoon ideas?

There are loads of places all over the world that are great baby moon destinations, and some places that might not be too good to go to.

Here are some interesting places that I might consider for a babymoon if we ever go again.

Kauai babymoon in Hawaii – sun, relax and a bit of adventure

We went to Kauai long before we even started thinking of having a baby, but it seems to me like quite a perfect place to go for a baby moon. There’s the sun, there’s the sea, and there are actually interesting activities that are safe for pregnant women. And, obviously, the postcard views on every corner. Kauai is the island where Jurassic Park and many other movies were filmed!

Since I’ve personally been to Kauai and the island is relatively small, I can give actual examples of things to do there!

A cruise on the Na Pali coast is a must. But beware if you suffer from motion sickness – the ride can get quite bumpy.

There are loads of places you can just drive your car to, such as the Waimea Canyon or the Spouting horn near Poipu beach.

If you wish to do something more active, there are some nice and easy hikes, such as the Kalalau trail on the North Coast.

Or maybe snorkelling is more your thing? Many of the beaches, for example, Ke’e at the start of the Na Pali trail, are great for snorkelling. Or SUPing. Or just relaxing in the sun or in the shadow.

Japan – an incredible cultural experience in Asia

Yes, we’ve been to Japan already, but I’d be happy to go there again and again.

There are just so many things to do! Enjoy the many temples of Kyoto and the modern skyscrapers of Tokyo. Get pampered in a ryokan and experience the solemnity of Hiroshima.

Plus, the food! The food is incredible.

Japan is amazing from all sides, so to say.

I’d say that the itinerary that we’ve created and did is actually pretty babymoon friendly, so go check it out if you’d like to go to Japan!

Lake Tahoe in California, USA – babymoon in the nature

If you want to spend some time feeling closer to nature, Lake Tahoe seems like it might be just what you’re looking for. There’s clear blue water and fresh mountain air – perfect for some mental relaxation.

Situated in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the lake offers some incredible views and lots of possible activities that are appropriate for pregnant ladies.

There are a lot of hiking trails available, for example, Cascade falls or Eagle Falls trails that are quite easy (and go to some beautiful waterfalls, as you can probably tell from the name). You can easily find some more challenging ones as well – as I said, Lake Tahoe offers a lot of hiking options.

If you’d like to spend the day on the water, it’s possible as well! You can rent a speedboat or go kayaking, do stand-up paddleboarding or go on a boat tour. Enjoying the incredible views from the water seems like an amazing idea.

And it can even be done as part of a road trip from LA to San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway with stops at places such as Santa Barbara, Elephant Seal Vista point and Bixby Creek bridge on the Big Sur.

London, UK – another idea for a city-break babymoon

I love London. I can’t even explain why, to be honest, but I’ve been there three times, I think, and I can’t wait to go again.

Walk around the town just enjoying the architecture, both the in the modern district and by the Westminster. Go to museums or on a tour of the Tower of London if that’s your thing. Make sure to check out the Queen’s walk, and take the iconic pictures with the Big Ben and the Tower Bridge. Have a bird’s eye view of the city from the London Eye. Check out the many castles and relax in some of the parks. Shop on the Oxford Street. And on, and on, and on.

There are quite a lot of things to do, and you can do it in a relaxed way.

Can’t wait to go to London again!

FAQ – Babymoon

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