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After a rough first trimester, my husband and I decided there was only one thing for it: a babymoon.
Not that I ever need much of an excuse to book a holiday, but this one felt different. It wasn’t about squeezing in as many sights as possible or ticking another destination off the bucket list (although that we did!). Instead, it was about slowing down together before life became wonderfully chaotic.
At 20 weeks pregnant, we escaped to Cyprus for five nights of sunshine, good food and uninterrupted time together. And it was exactly what we needed. We returned home feeling rested, reconnected and ready for the next adventure: becoming parents – eek!
If you’re thinking about booking a babymoon, here’s everything I learnt along the way, from choosing the right destination to packing the things you’ll be incredibly glad you brought.
And don’t miss my guide to travelling whilst pregnant – four trips down and I’ve learnt a lot along the way.
What is a babymoon?
A babymoon is a holiday taken before your baby arrives, giving expectant parents one last chance to enjoy time together before welcoming their little one.
For some couples, that’s a luxury spa break. For others, it’s a bucket-list trip they’ve always wanted to take before family life begins. The most important thing is choosing a holiday that leaves you feeling rested rather than exhausted.
For us, that meant swapping busy itineraries for lazy mornings, afternoon naps and long dinners overlooking the sea. It wasn’t the most adventurous trip we’ve ever taken, but it was definitely one of the most special.
Why we chose Cyprus for our babymoon
Choosing where to go on a babymoon was surprisingly difficult. Normally I’d be planning a trip packed with adventure, wildlife spotting or wandering around a new city from sunrise until sunset. But after spending the last few months in a constant state of sickness and fatigue, I knew my body needed complete rest.
Cyprus ticked every box. It was around a five-hour flight from the UK, warm without being unbearably hot, and easy to navigate. Better still, there was no pressure to cram our days with sightseeing. Instead, we based ourselves at the beautiful Sunrise Jade Hotel in Protaras, an adults-only resort overlooking the sea with excellent restaurants, a lovely spa and exactly the peaceful atmosphere we’d been craving.
It ended up being the perfect babymoon destination and I couldn’t have been happier with the hotel. Here’s my top tips that helped make the rest of the trip seamless.
1. Choose a destination where you won’t feel like you’re missing out
This was probably my biggest tip. As someone who usually plans holidays around exploring, I knew I’d struggle if we booked somewhere with endless attractions, excursions and bustling cities nearby. I didn’t want to spend the whole trip wishing I had the energy to hike a mountain or wander around museums all day.
Instead, I deliberately looked for destinations that naturally encourage you to slow down.
Places like the quieter Greek islands, Tuscany and remote Italy, Portugal’s Algarve coastline and Cyprus all made my shortlist because they’re destinations where it’s perfectly acceptable to spend the day by the pool, enjoy long lunches and head out for dinner in the evenings without feeling like you’re missing out.
Removing that sense of FOMO made it much easier to actually relax.
2. Don’t fly too far
Everyone’s pregnancy is different, but I personally found five hours on a plane was about my limit. By the time we’d travelled to the airport, checked in, boarded and landed, I was definitely ready for a cosy nap and to stretch my legs.
Long-haul babymoons are absolutely possible for some people, but I’d think carefully about how you’re feeling before committing to a ten or twelve-hour flight. Remember that airlines also have different policies around travelling later in pregnancy, so it’s always worth checking before you book.
3. Pick your destination carefully
Before booking anywhere, spend a little time researching more than just the hotel. I avoided destinations where Zika is a risk or where vaccinations might be recommended during pregnancy. It’s also worth checking where the nearest hospital is, just for peace of mind, even though you’ll hopefully never need it.
Temperature was another important consideration for me. Pregnancy can make you much more susceptible to overheating and I definitely noticed I felt hotter than usual, particularly during the afternoons.
Choosing somewhere with warm rather than scorching temperatures made the whole holiday much more enjoyable.
4. Upgrade the room if you can
This was the best decision we made. Initially we couldn’t decide between a standard Deluxe Sea View room and a Swim-Up Room at Sunrise Jade. The swim-up room was a few hundred pounds more for our five-night stay, so we weren’t sure whether it was really worth it. But it absolutely was.
Unlike many private pools, the swim-up pool connects across several ground-floor rooms, which meant the water stayed much warmer than many private plunge pools we’ve experienced.
It also meant we could enjoy the water whenever we fancied without needing to pack up our belongings and head to the main pool. If I wasn’t feeling my best, I could sit on our terrace or have a nap while my husband relaxed in the water just metres away. Being on the ground floor also meant quicker trips back to the room whenever pregnancy inevitably meant another visit to the bathroom!
If you’re debating whether to upgrade, I’d say go for it. You’ll probably spend far more time enjoying your room than you normally would.
5. Book somewhere with a flexible cancellation policy
Pregnancy is wonderfully unpredictable. When we booked our babymoon, I had no idea how I’d be feeling a few weeks later.
We booked our stay at Sunrise Jade through Luxury Escapes because the hotel came with free cancellation until seven days before arrival, which gave us huge peace of mind. They also had a better price on the swim up room and reduced member prices!
Thankfully I felt much better by 20 weeks, but knowing we had that flexibility made booking feel much less stressful.
6. Choose an adults-only hotel
If this is your first baby, it’s likely the last holiday you’ll take as just the two of you for quite some time, and the last chance you’ll get to stay in an adults-only hotel for a while!
The atmosphere was wonderfully peaceful, breakfasts were unhurried, there was always a quiet spot by the pool and evenings felt calm and relaxed. Knowing that the next few years would be spent chasing our little one made it all the more easier to enjoy every moment!
7. Don’t assume you need all-inclusive
It can be tempting to book all-inclusive for the ease of it. But this can quickly ramp up costs and as I mentioned earlier, you’re better off putting that budget to a room upgrade.
Instead we chose half board, which included breakfast and dinner across five restaurants between our hotel and its sister property – and it was more than enough.
Some days we’d order lunch by the pool (the tuna pita was so enormous it lasted me two meals), while on others we’d wander into Protaras to cater to my pizza craving. Half board gave us the perfect balance between convenience and flexibility without paying for meals we simply wouldn’t have eaten.
8. Stay cool, hydrated and take a wearable fan!
One thing pregnancy has taught me is how quickly you can overheat. I’d often move between the sun and the shade throughout the day and wore SPF 50 religiously.
The real hero of the trip, though, was my wearable fan.
I’d already been using it on trains and warm days back home, but it became indispensable in Cyprus. Whether we were walking into Protaras for an iced chai latte (one of my many cravings), waiting for transfers or sitting outside at lunch, it made such a difference to my comfort.
The ISULIFE Portable Neck Fan is the one I bought with 5 speeds.
Here are a couple more recommended similar models that do the same job:
9. Travel at the right stage of pregnancy
There’s no perfect time for everyone, but many people recommend travelling between 20 and 24 weeks. For me, 20 weeks was ideal.
The relentless sickness I’d experienced during the first trimester had finally eased, I had a lovely little bump for holiday photos, but I still felt comfortable walking around, swimming and flying.
Everyone’s pregnancy is different, so I’d always recommend waiting until you know how you’re feeling before booking anything too far in advance.
10. Pack for comfort, not just style
Your suitcase will probably look a little different than it normally does. Alongside a haul of floaty lightweight clothes, I packed plenty of medication, Gaviscon, Rennie tablets, my maternity notes and comfortable sandals.
I also bought my first maternity swimwear, which surprisingly (after trying on a bunch from ASOS and H&M) ended up being from Amazon! Both the swimsuit and bikini were super comfy and gave me good coverage which I struggled to find from other retailers.
I wore a medium in each. Both are available in tons of styles and colours:
Buy now: Charmo High Waisted Maternity Swimsuit Bikini Set
Buy now: Charmo Maternity One Piece Swimsuits
One thing I wish I’d packed though was compression socks. My feet were noticeably swollen on the flight home and I definitely won’t make that mistake again.
I’d also recommend packing plenty of snacks and asking your hotel for extra pillows if, like me, you’ve become very attached to sleeping with a giant pregnancy pillow at home.
11. Give yourself permission to slow down
Pregnancy has really helped me relax into not doing it all. Our days were spent with mornings by the pool, snorkelling when I felt up to it and wandering into town for dinner or coffee.
I quickly realised I became breathless much faster than usual, so instead of pushing myself, I simply stayed closer to shore while snorkelling and listened to what my body was telling me.
Your babymoon doesn’t need an itinerary. Take it easy and enjoy those fun exciting chats around the pool!
12. Take tons of photos
You’ll never have this exact version of yourselves again. Take the bump photos. Ask someone to take a picture of you together. Capture the quiet breakfasts, the sunsets, the silly moments by the pool and the excitement of everything that’s about to change.
Looking back at ours, I’m so glad I took my professional camera and got the shots.
My babymoon packing list
Before you travel, I’d recommend packing:
- Maternity notes
- Travel insurance documents
- Compression socks for the flight
- SPF 50 sunscreen
- A wearable fan
- Plenty of snacks
- Gaviscon or Rennie tablets
- Medication and pregnancy supplements
- Sick bags – I don’t go anywhere without them!
- A reusable water bottle (metal is great for keeping cool)
- Comfortable swimwear
- Flip-flops or supportive sandals
- A pregnancy pillow (or ask your hotel for extra pillows)
- Comfy, loose clothing you can layer
Shop my most recommended babymoon products here!
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to go on a babymoon?
Many people choose to travel between 20 and 24 weeks, when morning sickness has often eased but travelling is still comfortable. I went at 20 weeks and found it the perfect balance.
Where should you go on a babymoon?
Look for destinations with short to medium flight times, warm (rather than extremely hot) weather and plenty of opportunities to relax. Cyprus, the Algarve, Puglia and the quieter Greek islands are all excellent options.
How long should a babymoon be?
I’d recommend four to seven nights. It gives you enough time to properly switch off without feeling too tired from travelling.
Final thoughts
Our babymoon wasn’t about ticking another country off the map or squeezing every minute out of an itinerary. It was about pressing pause for a little while, enjoying uninterrupted time together and appreciating that life was about to change in the most wonderful way.
If you’re expecting a baby and wondering whether a babymoon is worth it, I’d wholeheartedly say yes. It doesn’t have to be extravagant or far-flung. Find somewhere that lets you slow down, look after yourself and enjoy being just the two of you for a little bit longer.
