The babymoon – it’s fair to say we took a few… Not just the “last jam before the pram” before the arrival, but at regular intervals through 9 months of growing the baby. Our choices were around Baby P and to be sure I got the relaxing and de-stressing breaks I needed to help him flourish.
First off, India isn’t the place to go when you are pregnant. The day we found out our exciting news we also begun backing out of a planned trip to Kerala. Zika had popped up there since we booked and I have to say it has been very well hidden in tourism information. Thankfully we were refunded all money – I assume because the rooms were immediately rebooked and because we were very polite. What a relief that a chance conversation about a trip I might take back to Hyderabad with work flagged this to me! Imagine landing in Mumbai and walking past a sign announcing it… I do have an amazing Kerala itinerary that I hope we can enjoy with Baby P one day!!
So, that’s where not to go… Here’s where we did try and test… And why we’d recommend it!
Winter sun
Madeira stepped into the frame in December to snatch victory from the jaws of zika-defeat.
A four hour flight isn’t too bad in early pregnancy and at the other end it is warm but not hot and humid. Madeira is a really beautiful island, unspoilt by tourism and blessed with good food and hotels. It isn’t somewhere to go for a raucous party holiday – it is somewhere to enjoy to relax and recharge. And the countryside and coastline is spectacular. Real variety of scenery and excursions. One day we climbed above the clouds (I didn’t get to the top, I saw sense) and other days we did didly squat. Food is simple and beautiful places are easily accessible.
Tips for Madeira; hiking in Madeira; a stay at Casa Branca; and a stay at Jardins do Lago.
Staycations
We had a few… I found that as straightforward as I was able to make working life (telling my boss our news at 6 weeks was vital, I was so supported at work), by the weekend I was exhausted! So taking a few long weekends was a great way to relax and also enjoy some us time!
We had a blissful winter weekend in my beloved Cornwall at around 12 weeks.
I found a little self catering cottage by the sea, although we didn’t do a spot of ‘self-catering’! We kept it simple and enjoyed short walks, pub lunches and afternoons watching the sea. It’s long been our go-to place to recharge and despite being there primarily for a family funeral, we still felt the benefit of its restorative powers! In fact, come to think of it, we actually had two weekends in Cornwall – the first was earlier in the winter and was total simplicity and recharging, and stunning coastal walks.
A quiet weekend in Cornwall; and another!
We had a weekend city break of sorts. Heading over towards Bath, but actually staying in nearby sleepy Bradford.
This was at 20 weeks and I was pretty exhausted. Staying out of town somewhere a little more relaxed meant we could easily explore the city a little, but had somewhere quieter and un-touristy to head back to after a short while. I slept for an afternoon while Mr P enjoyed the rugby in the bar!
Near to our due date we spent a weekend in the Cotswolds.
A good location for us as it is only 90 minutes from our hospital. We did have to take twice as much baggage as normal as the hospital bags had to come too, so be it – better safe than sorry. It was such a treat to go away at this stage. For us to relax together and enjoy the fact that we could. But also to give Mr P a bit of a break as well, having a baby is a big deal for the dads too and they do get forgotten in the process. I was more relaxed in my pregnancy at this point (as much as I could!) and could make the most of the trip.
A luxury stay at the Lygon Arms
Luxury that’s best without baby
Let’s face it, not all hotels would one (necessarily) want to enjoy with a baby.
Thankfully we were invited to stay in a Chewton Glen treehouse which had long been at the top of my wish list. We were here at the very start of the pregnancy and it was just superb. We were truly spoilt. Children can stay in the treehouses (the kiddie rooms in the loft are gorgeous) but really, staying somewhere like this is better just for adults. It gave us the height of luxury and the ability to live out a childhood dream and stay in a treehouse!
Treehouse luxury at the Chewton Glen
“The” babymoon
We left this as late as we could. In fact later than British Airways like one to… I, the accountant, counted my weeks wrong! So we diligently got the fit to fly certificate but super-small baby bump and inattentive boarding staff meant I was never asked!
This trip was about finding a bit of luxury but also about a complete switch off. Making the most of being able to have a lie in, a dinner out, idle away days by the pool… We chose the Algarve in Portugal as it is a short flight (2 hours was more than enough at 29 weeks) and in May the climate is very pleasant. Baby P loved it too – we left the UK with him hovering around the 5th percentile size wise and we returned to another scan and he’d shot up to well above the 25th, which made the doctors happy!
There’s plenty of stunning places to see along the Algarve coast, but what appealed to us most was the simple food and friendly people that we’d been impressed by previously in Lisbon and Cascais. It didn’t disappoint.
And if you want to feel good about a pregnancy… Well Portuguese people, the ladies especially, love a baby bump! Nervous as I was, the buzz they created made me feel more excited.
Tips for the Algarve; a stay at Vilacampina; and a stay at the Bela Vista
What did we learn
Little and often is best. We’ve long been fans of the benefits of a mini-break and there’s no better time than during a pregnancy. Regular breaks from work to focus on me and the bump were magical. It also meant that we got regular us time too, which – when we were keeping our secret largely to ourselves – was really special.
Don’t make detailed plans. Whilst I never suffered from morning sickness and had a small bump, there were definitely days I was more up for exploring than others. All trips were planned fairly last minute (stuff could change) and so we had no expectations which meant no FOMO. Days by the pool or having a lie in and leisurely breakfast were as rewarding as other days when we strolled to beautiful places.
Always carry loo roll. If you like to get off the beaten path then remember that the bump has an impact on your bladder. Loo roll for a quick wee stop behind a bush is essential however prissy you are.
Daddy-to-be needed the trips as much as me. Having a baby isn’t just stressful for the mum to be, especially if it has been a difficult journey. Mr P had as many spa treatments as me and needed as much RnR time. None of it was just about me, it was a special time for us both. We both pinched ourselves throughout the pregnancy and being able to go on a ‘babymoon’ wasn’t lost on either of us either.
Take all the bump pictures. All of them! It’s baby’s first holiday and the bump will be gone too soon (even though 9 months feels like forever at the time). When is bump going to look better than in a summer dress or bikini! Although… If you are keeping bump a secret and have lots of photos with bump front and centre… It does make it harder finding appropriate pictures for a blog or any other form of social media!!
Heat isn’t great. Lying in the sun isn’t the done thing with a bump, so whilst sunshine is lovely, think carefully about the temperature and how to keep you and the bump cool. I’ve always been a seeker of shade in hot places so it came naturally to me, but I did have to remind myself when were in the Algarve on our ‘exploring’ days.
Flying isn’t as much fun. Not only does the fizz of flying quite literally go when you can’t drink the fizz… But it is also exhausting, even short haul! And let me tell you, putting on flight socks after 25 weeks even with a small bump is a procedure in itself! I was travelling with my boss at 18 weeks and (thankfully) managed to do it myself, but come 25 weeks Mr P was fully involved in the process!
Baby likes luxury! It’s fair to say that Baby P was spoilt rotten with 5* babymoon stays whilst he was growing in my tummy, so I suspect we have unknowingly created a rod for our own back when it comes to future family holidays! Although, like mother like son… Thankfully there’s plenty of luxury places to stay that are perfect for parents and baby!! First stop is Dubai in February so if anyone has any bright ideas for us…
wonderful holidays! you look great in all the photos!:)
Tanja/The Red Phone Box travels recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: Ely
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Thank you – some very happy memories from the trips and thank you for the compliment too, I was pretty lucky with the bump size!!