A little one on the way means big change is on the horizon. When it comes to holidays, it won’t be long before you’re swapping cocktails for cots and happy hour for afternoon naps. Eager to head off on one last holiday hurrah? Enter the babymoon. For parents-to-be, this is the perfect time for a blissful beach break, a chilled-out cultural getaway or a romantic rendezvous. Whether you're after pampering aplenty or guaranteed sunshine, here is our roundup of the best places for a babymoon, season by season...
Portugal and Morocco
Spring
Spring is the season when temperatures start to rise, but the sizzle of summer has yet to begin, which makes it a great time for a getaway. If you’re after culture, one of the best places for a babymoon in spring is Portugal. There, you can get in the festive spirit with countless celebrations, from the religious processions of Semana Santa (Easter holy week) to the ten-day Peixe em Lisboa seafood festival, all followed up with some time spent relaxing at the beach.
Another wonderful babymoon destination in spring is Morocco. With blissfully balmy temperatures in April and May, and far fewer crowds than in summer, you'll have the beautiful beaches, medieval towns and ancient temples all to yourselves, and they're much easier to explore before you've a tiny tot in tow (we don’t recommend trying to navigate the souqs of Marrakech with a buggy…).
Image by Tomasz/stock.adobe.com
Italy and Greece
Summer
There's nothing like a heavenly hit of the Mediterranean sun during a restful retreat before your little one makes their grand entrance. Italy in summer is one of the best places for a babymoon, ticking all the right boxes for an idyllic European holiday. Whether you fancy cruising the sun-soaked Amalfi Coast in a classic car, amping up the luxury on a slick city break to Rome or indulging in wonderful food (sans wine) in the Tuscan countryside, Italy’s got it all.
Greece, too, is fabulous in summer, with sugar-cube villages and sparkling coastlines galore. Whether you aim for the big hitters like Santorini and Crete or head off the beaten track to the likes of Naxos and Paros, expect plenty of delicious food and ample opportunity for relaxation.
Image by Lucy Laucht
Spain and Croatia
Autumn
Summer is winding down, and trees are dropping their leafy layers; autumn is the season to strike south and chase the last of the sun. Spain and Croatia are real winners at this time of year, making them a couple of the best places for a babymoon. With fewer crowds, the temperatures are perfect for trotting around handsome cities and filling up on truck-loads of tapas (mums-to-be are eating for two after all). If you didn't manage to make it to Tuscany in the summer months, don't fear - the romantic rolling hills of Istria's hinterland in the north of Croatia are stunning in all their autumnal glory. This is also the best season for forest foraging and truffle hunting. Either give it a go yourself or watch, follow and learn as the experts harvest nature's bounty before tucking into a delicious dish of fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Image by Olivier Romano
The Maldives and Oman
Winter
As the dark and drizzle sets in, escape the cold and seek out some winter sun on your babymoon break. Floating in the idyllic Indian Ocean, the Maldives - a doable ten-hour flight away - is a dream at this time of year, with average winter temperatures hovering at a balmy 28°C. Perfect for lazing on tiny castaway islands, bobbing around in boats and enjoying refreshing dips in the pool (alongside plenty of expectant-mum spa treatments), this is a destination that is made for escaping day-to-day life and indulging before the chaos begins.
Alternatively, just seven-and-a-half hours away is Oman, one of the best places for a babymoon due to its guaranteed winter sun. Embrace this last chance at an exotic adventure for two (or more if you've already got youngsters in tow) before your little one joins the party. From spending a night in the Wahiba Sands desert in a luxurious Bedouin-tented camp to dolphin and whale-watching excursions, it's bound to be a trip to remember.
Image by Marcus Vogel/LAIF-REA
Header image by Visualspectrum/Stocksy
