The Best Babymoon Destinations For Expecting Couples
You’re expecting! Congratulations! Now you might want to debate whether splurging on a babymoon makes sense before the baby arrives and the expenses that come along with early childhood. Trust me, you'll never regret taking a kid-free vacation once you have kids. You’ll have a chance to reconnect with your partner, relax during your pregnancy, take a breather to celebrate a new baby coming, and create memories with your S.O. before your lives completely change. Bonus, you get to explore a whole new place without diaper changes and running after a toddler. Do it! Here are 15 babymoon destinations to entice your pre-baby wanderlust.
Yucatan Peninsula
Photo by Samuel Sweet
Tripadvisor recently announced thebest summer travel destinations and the Yucatan Peninsula topped the global list. My favorite area: Tulum, a bohemian coastal town known for its stunning beaches, Mayan ruins, and cool, creative scene. You'll get a more relaxed and laid-back vibe to nearby destinations like Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Stay or book a quartz sand massage, where you lie on quartz sand, or a restorative massage, which uses the Aztec plant for its skin-healing benefits, at the Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya.
London, England
Photo by Dominika Gregušová
Get your European city vacay without the language barrier in London, TripAdvisor's second best global destination. Do the touristy roundup of Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, and Buckingham Palace (the changing of the guards happens at 10:45AM M-W-F-S). Visit the free National Gallery in Trafalgar Square for a Van Gogh or da Vinci spotting. Grab fish and chips at Golden Union or amazing curry (if you can handle the spice) at bonoo. Catch the original production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, and/or relive your rom-com fantasies in Notting Hill. There are beautiful parks too, like Hyde Park, to rest your feet post-exploring.
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Photo via Excellence Punta Cana
Get some serious R&R at this postcard-beautiful island for the ultimate romantic getaway. Lounge by the pool with a virgin piña colada at one of many all-inclusive resorts, like Excellence Punta Cana, an adults-only resort and spa. When you’re ready to explore the island, take a dip in the cenotes, or underground caves, at Scape Park in Capa Cana or the freshwater lagoons at Indigenous Eyes Ecological Park. Dine downtown at the Noah restaurant, which is the top restaurant in town, according to TripAdvisor, and watch an amazing performance at the Coco Bongo Punta Cana nightclub.
Maui, Hawaii
Photo via Westin Maui
Choose to lounge on a black-sand beach and read your favorite summer read or go on an island adventure filled with everything from whale watching on a boat to waterfall hikes in Haleakalā National Park. Either way, don’t lift a finger and stay at a luxe resort like the Westin Mauior the Hotel Wailea; eat farm-to-table at restaurants like Mama’s Fish House and Lahaina Grill; and enjoy beachfront prenatal massages, snorkeling, and a scenic 53-mile drive to the town of Hana.
Tuscany, Italy
Photo via Maegan White
Tuscany offers the best of both worlds: quaint countryside and cities filled with rich culture, art, and the best Italian cuisine you’ll likely ever experience. Check out iconic sights like the Duomo Cathedral and Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture in Florence and lean into the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Bike through olive groves and vineyards, stay in boutique hotels like Stelle Di Monte, or book a stay and couple’s massage in San Firenze Suites & Spa.
Santorini, Greece
Photo by Jimmy Teoh
This volcanic island in the Aegean Sea is famous for its breathtaking sunsets, whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, and dramatic landscapes. Start your babymoon on a healthy note with a wellness experience at the Andronis Concept Wellness Resort. Each suite has an ocean-facing infinity pool, where you can watch amazing sunsets and sunrises when the sky turns pink. Enjoy fresh Mediterranean cuisine at seaside tavernas, sunset cruises, and explore quaint villages.
Kyoto, Japan
Photo by Satoshi Hirayama
Visit tranquil temples, gardens, and tea ceremonies in this ancient city, home to 14 World Heritage Sites, including a beautiful moon-crossing bridge, Togetsu-kyo, in the small town of Arashiyama on the Oi River. Explore Kyoto’s traditional arts and crafts scene, from fabric dyeing at the Roketsu Dyeing Studio to the Kyoto Museum of Crafts and Design. Stay at the modern Ace Hotel Kyoto, the Shinmonzen Hotel in Kyoto’s Gion district, or one of many ryokans, traditional Japanese inns.
Napa Valley, CA
Photo via Auberge du Soleil
Napa Valley is famous for its wines, sure, but it also offers stunning resorts like Auberge du Soleil, or the bohemian spa retreat Indian Springs Calistoga with an Olympic-size mineral pool and Buddha pond for post-massage lounging. Go high-brow and dine at Michelin-rated restaurants like the French Laundry, or head to my favorite spot, the charming Oakville Grocery for picnic-style pizza and the best chocolate chip cookies warm out of the oven. Round out your trip with a hot air balloon ride, stroll along the Napa River downtown (if you're hungry head to Angèle Restaurantfor a rustic French meal along the river), and visit the famed Oxbow Market for local goodies to bring home.
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Photo by Ana Eva
Visit this UNESCO-listed southern Italian coastline lined with charming villages perched between mountains and the sea. Book a private villa at the romantic Albergo Punta Regina with a poolside view of the Mediterranean sea. Catch a bus for a beautiful tour of the coast from Positano to Amalfi. Stroll the gorgeous Villa Cimbrone Gardens or one of the many cathedrals, and explore historic Sorrento to shop trinkets to bring home.
Bali, Indonesia
Photo by Oleksandr P
From art markets to beach resorts to wellness experiences and (what else?) fire dancing, Bali is a truly unforgettable experience. Nestled behind layers of flora and rice fields, Buahan is a secluded adult-only, no-doors, no-walls resort that offers escapists an eco-barefoot retreat. Enjoy guided meditation and a walk into a waterfall, after an invigorating hike.
Maldives
Photo by Asad Photo Maldives
Tropical paradise? Meet the Maldives. Enjoy island hopping in this archipelagic state in South Asia in the Indian Ocean, stay in overwater bungalows, visit colorful markets, and dance the night away on sunset cruises. JOALI BEING is a whole wellbeing island, where you can drift into a healing mix of stretching, acupressure and massage while floating in water with a show of constellations above. We'll take two, please.
Charleston, S.C.
Photo by Sara Free
Explore this stunning coastal city with southern charm. Stay at the historic 86 Cannon hotel and take a horse-carriage tour to get a lay of the land. Find stunning old Victorian homes, quaint cobblestone alleys, and wisteria-lined fences for the perfect IG shot. Visit the Gibbes Museum of Art and historic spots like Middleton Place and the French Quarter. Book a ressie early at FIG for dinner, don’t miss the biscuits at Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit and don’t forget the beaches, like Kiawah Beachwalker Park or Sullivan's Island Beach.
Queenstown, New Zealand
Photo via Onsen Hot Pools Retreat & Day Spa
Nature lovers will adore this stunning location, situated between Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables mountains in southern New Zealand. Stay at the Queenstown Park boutique hotel or the botanical-themed Dairy Private Hotel – both lovely and super affordable. For a relaxing day with a view, check out the hot pool experience at the Onsen Hot Pools Retreat & Day Spa. Enjoy hiking and iconic scenery from Lord of the Rings (there’s literally a tour) and savor local cuisine like locally raised salmon or Kiwi-Italian pastas at Aosta.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Photo by Musa Ortaç
Feel like you’ve landed on the moon when you travel to Cappadocia, famous for its unique geological features called “fairy chimneys.” So cute! Stay at the wildly affordable yet luxe Kayakapi Premium Caveshotel and catch a hot air balloon ride through the stunning cone-like formation, home to entire underground cities like Kaymakli and Derinkuyu.
San Diego, CA
Photo by Musa Ortaç: https://www.pexels.com/photo/hot-air-balloons-flying-in-sky-above-mountains-14186574/
This picturesque city along the Pacific coast is known for its pristine beaches and near-perfect climate. Experience the laid-back surfer vibe at Ocean Beach, marvel at the pelicans and sea lions at the stunning La Jolla Cove. Wander through Balboa Park; dine in the Gaslamp District; explore the historic Hotel del Coronado; and hike the breathtaking trails of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve for the best coastal getaway on the west.
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Header image via George Chambers