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Thanks to Four Seasons Scottsdale for the complimentary Babymoon Extras.
What the heck is a babymoon, you ask? A vacation taken post-conception, pre-labor: aka a honeymoon before the baby is born. Because, let’s face it, travel is limited after you add a new babe to the house.
We are fortunate enough to have been able to take a babymoon trip before the births of each of our kids and each has been totally different but great in their own ways. This time, we stayed at the gorgeous Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale, AZ, and it was FAN.TAS.TIC. There were so many little babymoon touches that made our trip relaxing, comfortable, and celebratory! Read on to see the babymoon details + babymoon planning 101: tips & tricks.
Why Take One?
This is our 3rd time going through the transformation of adding another human to our family. It’s a big deal. We joke that we need a trip to get away from our kids before we have another kid. Because it’s really hard to be parents. Being good parents means means having a good relationship – you can’t be a good mom and dad if you’re miserable together. So make the time to spend with each other without the craziness and stress of everyday life. Just a couple days together to unwind really helps you recharge. Plus it’s hard work growing a human – you deserve a break!
Pick a Time
First trimester is iffy if you have any kind of morning sickness, plus you may still be fighting major fatigue. The 2nd trimester is perfect for a babymoon (and pretty much anything else you would want to do) – you’ll be comfortable, rockin’ a cute bump, and have the energy to enjoy your destination. If you’re going to wait til the 3rd trimester – I did, we went at 31 weeks – be sure it’s early enough to fly or sit for long periods of time and go before you get really uncomfortable and tired. I’ve definitely hit a wall of sleepiness (hi, afternoon naps!) at 35 weeks.
Decide on Your Vibe
Romance? Relaxation? Adventure? City? Country? Beach? All questions you need to answer. I always wanted to go to a new city with plenty of stuff to do without being too busy. For our first baby, we hit San Diego and I was game for getting on a boat for whale watching, walking Coronado Island, and exploring downtown. In Austin (second baby), we did a duck boat tour, ate lots of tacos and paddleboated in Zilker Park. In Scottsdale, we hiked, relaxed and ate delicious food. Your energy levels, the season/weather and what activities you want to do will help determine your destination.
Choose a Great Location
We’ve been to San Diego, Austin, and Scottsdale for our babymoons. All a little different but all great babymoon destinations. Personally, I would only go somewhere in the U.S. – no need to risk needing medical assistance in a foreign country. Look for somewhere that Zika isn’t a problem – here are 20+ great Zika-free destinations in the U.S.:
- Scottsdale AZ
- Maui, HI
- Denver, CO
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Big Sur, CA
- Santa Fe, NM
- Las Vegas, NV
- Austin, TX
- NYC
- Boston, MA
- Cape Cod, MA
- Palm Springs, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Asheville, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Laguna Beach, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Sedona, AZ
- Smoky Mountains, TN
- Newport, RI
Choose the Right Accommodations
Honestly, for most kinds of trips, we usually stay in vacation rentals via VRBO or Airbnb. The reason we chose the Four Seasons in Scottsdale is that I didn’t want to lift a finger; I really wanted to be spoiled. With vacation rentals, it’s nice to have things like a kitchen and the privacy of having your own place to stay, but there’s no one to help you with your bags, or make your bed, or serve you breakfast. But the perks of a resort are key if you want to be pampered. The Four Seasons Scottsdale babymoon package included so many personalized touches for pregnant mommas:
- A full size body pillow. Plus, their beds and pillows are notoriously ahhhmazing so daily naps were on the agenda.
- A chocolate sampler upon arrival. We snacked on it all weekend long.
- A Four Seasons baby onesie – soft and cozy, a cute memento from the trip.
- A complimentary sundae or shake. So delicious and such a yummy touch.
- An amazing spa with a maternity massage table – SO nice to be able to lay on your stomach for the first time in months!
Here’s our trip in pics:
Don’t Count it Out
No one to watch your other kids for an entire weekend? No budget for taking a trip? No problem. Dedicate at least a night out (preferably overnight, if you can swing it), and act as if you’re really on vacation. Do something fun in your city that you don’t usually do; hit a new restaurant, catch a fun show, or even stay in and unplug from electronics and relax. Anything out of the ordinary and just the two of you before you become “mom and dad”.
Have you done a babymoon trip? Tell me where! Be sure to check out more travel posts before you go!
Disclosure: The Four Seasons Scottsdale gifted me with several amazing babymoon extras during our stay.
