When your life is about to change forever – whether it’s the imminent arrival of a first child or indeed what you anticipate to be your last – taking time out to celebrate that transition can be a really special occasion. Perhaps you want spa indulgence and relaxation, a culturally stimulating city break, a gastronomic weekend, or lovely walks in the countryside. Read on for babymoon ideas!
Having a baby is one of the most romantic times in any couple’s journey together
So why not indulge in a really romantic retreat? Stunning cliffside hotel Villa Dubrovnik has wonderful views over the turquoise Adriatic, best viewed from its alfresco restaurant terrace. It also has a private beach and speedboat transfers into the UNESCO-listed Old Town. Coolly understated rooms come with private terraces; some have Jacuzzis and private gardens.
And the spa is truly outstanding, with a huge range of massages and full body treatments, including some for expectant mothers and couples.
If your idea of romance is walking along a deserted beach and sampling good authentic restaurants nearby, head to great-value Casita La Laguna. Set just outside Tarifa, on Spain’s southern coast, this secluded cabin for two has a large terrace and BBQ with a panoramic view stretching across to Morocco. Interiors are rustic-chic and there’s a wood-burner if you’re visiting in cooler months. Delightful!
If you’re UK-based and not keen on flying while pregnant, we recommend two brand new shepherds huts on a Devon estate. Collectively known as StarBed Hideaways, each double oak-clad cabin is set in complete privacy. You get long views across the countryside, hand-crafted interiors, a roll-top bath, a cute kitchen (you can pre-order meals) and a unique curved-glass skylight for bedtime stargazing. Head forth for country walks on Dartmoor or through the woods, return to cosy up beside the log-burner or sit out by the fire pit.
Pregnancy does amazing things to a woman’s body, celebrate and cherish these changes
If getting ‘match-fit’ for pregnancy and birth is your focus, then this holistic haven will deliver for both body and mind. Thailand wellness sanctuary Kamalaya has a beautiful hillside setting on Koh Samui, with tropical jungle, a white-sand beach, fabulous staff, and gloriously healthy food.
Each guest is assessed on arrival, and a suggested programme is then prescribed. Detox, rejuvenate, relax and check out the wonderful treatments; they offer a timely Embracing Change programme. Try any number of yoga, Pilates, meditation or Tai Chi classes, too. Serene bliss defined.
In the UK, contemporary Cotswolds country house hotel Cowley Manor has 55 acres of parkland, woods and lakes to stroll around. Inside, spacious bedrooms come with luxurious bathrooms, and the restaurant serves plentiful locally sourced food.
Cheltenham is close at hand for shopping, but it’s the hotel’s award-winning spa which will be the biggest draw: there’s a choice of heated indoor and outdoor pools, plus a great menu of pregnancy treatments tailored to each trimester. Massages include specifics for soothing aching legs and therapists can assist with nourishing balms for stretch marks. Note that they also do post-natal treatments.
Savour experiences which may not be so readily available after children arrive
While many doors open once children arrive, some grow less available. Take adult-focused rural foodie retreats or leisurely road trips admiring local sights for instance. We suggest combining all of these with a stay at opulent mansion Chateau La Thuiliere, in the heart of the Dordogne. It has 7 hectares of rolling parkland and a sleek pool. Pretty local towns include Bergerac and Perigueux; artisanal markets and brocante shops are nearby. After an outstanding 5-course evening feast, retire to your beautifully designed room for blissful sleep.
Many like the idea of a city break – which also becomes harder with small fry in tow. Berlin is perennially popular, so stay at design-led adults-only Hotel Q, conveniently found just off the Kurfurstendamm (the city’s main retail and restaurant street). After checking off as many sights as you have energy to get to, chill out in the striking lounge and seductive restaurant, and then head upstairs to your cocoon of cool (some bedrooms even have an integrated bed and bath design). There’s also a small basement spa if you’re in need of a restorative massage.
Or seek out the rhythms of a smaller town, perhaps one rich in history with a fertile hinterland. The Tuscan walled city of Lucca fits the bill perfectly: there are Baroque churches, sociable piazzas and any number of lovely eateries, plus it is 30 minutes from Pisa airport. Best of all is the town’s intact medieval wall, which now does duty as a shady pedestrian promenade.
Hidden in the old town’s tranquil residential back streets are Lucca Boutique Apartments, a pair of elegantly refurbished abodes each within different 16th-century townhouses. One has a slightly more contemporary feel to its restoration, the other has original frescoes; both have high-spec kitchens and bathrooms, gorgeous bedrooms and living rooms, and offer a truly spoiling couples’ hideaway experience.
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