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February 2011 Moms
Babymoon/honeymoon dilemma...WWYD?
My DH and I just got married a few weeks ago, and we've been debating honeymoon options for months. We knew we couldn't do a honeymoon right after the wedding because of work obligations, so we've settled on taking a week in the November/December time frame.
Our first choice for a trip is a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, but as I was researching pregnancy while cruising, I realized that most major cruise lines don't permit women who have entered their 25th week of pregnancy to board. I will be 25 weeks the first week of November, so cruising is basically out.
We've discussed other options:
1. A week in the Caribbean somewhere (St. Martin, St. Kitts, etc.)
2. A spa vacation at a nearby resort we could drive to (we live in Minnesota, so anything taking place in Nov/Dec gives us limited options)
3. A Europe trip (again, weather gets to be an issue, otherwise this would be at the top of our choices)
4. Vegas/New Orleans/Phoenix, etc...somewhere in the U.S. that's not too expensive to get to, but warmer than Minnesota. Other options?? Where do you live, and is it worth a visit??
Anyone else doing a babymoon? Where are you going? I've traveled pretty extensively in the U.S., Caribbean, Central America, and Europe, and I want to do something special and different without breaking the bank. Herein lies the dilemma: do we spend more to do something we've never done and will never do again (it is a honeymoon, after all), or do we spend less and do a more frugal getaway and keep our nest egg larger for when baby comes? Or skip it altogether and wait until next year when baby can come with, and I can enjoy the cocktails?
Thanks in advance for any insight you may have!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Babymoon/honeymoon dilemma...WWYD?
Well it isn't warm, but my husband and I honeymooned there and have since spent several vacations there and it's my absolute favorite place in the whole world so far!!! Whistler, BC! It's absolutely beautiful and there is so much to do.
I've never been there in December, but I would say it's still just as exciting and most likely covered with beautiful snow. The village is so fun and lively and you will find some of the most amazing restaurants up there. Again, it's my favorite place. It's so relaxing and romantic.
That's my suggestion, have fun no matter where/what you do!
I would do a babymoon/honeymoon so you have no regrets about not going anywhere before the baby gets here. There's always another opportunity to go somewhere else when you have a kid for many years to come.
Before you decide on where you're going to, I would think about how long of a flight you would feel comfortable taking since you'll be 25 weeks along. I'm only at 20 weeks and I fly out just about every week and a 2 hour flight is enough to make me not want to sit in the airplane for hours! So I can only imagine how much more uncomfortable 25 weeks would be!
Also, think about emergency situations (ie; are there hospitals nearby where you will be going? if you gave birth to a child outside of this country, are you going to be okay with it?). You probably would want to find a place to visit with plenty of transportation options since you wont be walking alot and you would need frequent rest.
Lastly as for suggestions on where to go...the Caribbean would be perfect for a winter getaway, but pick somewhere safe. Since you're in Minnesota, would you consider Bermuda? It's probably the shortest flight since you're in the east coast. We've been to Bermuda quite a few times and it's a nice place to visit. You can buy an all day pass for buses for around $5 and the buses are super safe and reliable. They stop at all tourist attractions. Bermuda is a very serene place with great beaches, good food, friendly people.
And if you would like to stay in the States, you could check out Miami and Key West. We're doing that when we're 27 weeks, flying into Fort Lauderdale (cheaper flights than flying into Miami), then driving to Miami for few days and then driving to Key West for few more days.
Good luck!
I agree with a pp who said to do something now so you don't have any regrets later about not doing anything & before things get crazy with LO. I contemplated going somewhere in the Caribbean but was nervous about how the hospitals were down there in case anything happened (I'll be about 28 weeks when we're taking our babymoon).
Instead of taking a 7-10 day vacation we decided to just do 5 days (DH can then save some vacation days for once LO arrives), but splurge on something fancier than what we would usually do on a vacation. We're doing a spa weekend at The Boulders near Scottsdale, AZ. They actually have many spa services available for pregnant women, like belly wraps, water massages, and regular massages geared toward us with big bellies! I'm psyched, and DH has never had a massage so he's excited to be pampered a little too!
Take the babymoon/honeymoon now before LO comes. Any vacation after the baby is born won't be the same, whether he/she stays at home with grandparents or comes with you (travelling with a baby is NOT my idea of a vacation).
We are going to Cuba when I will be 24 weeks, and although I know Americans can't visit Cuba, there are many other beautiful places in the Caribbean to visit. St. Martin, St. Kitts, Antigua, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Bahamas...I wish I lived closer to all these places because they are very expensive for us Western Canadians to travel to!
My opinion: spend a little more money (if you can afford to without breaking the bank) and do something you've never done and that you really want to. It's extra-special since it's your honeymoon and babymoon - enjoy the last vacation you will take with your hubby before baby makes three
Thanks to all of you for your good advice. It seems like you're just as split as we are on whether to bag it this year and wait til next year when we can leave BeBop with grandparents, or do it up now so we don't regret it later.
I'm leaning toward doing SOMETHING, and I think you all have convinced me that Caribbean is the way to go. Bermuda is a great idea as well.
Thanks again, and if anyone has any other ideas, keep 'em coming!!! I love thinking about/planning vacations!!
I would either do it now or if you do it later have the grandparents keep the baby.
If you do it now, my personal concern would be whether the destination has good healthcare in case of an emergency. The Caribbean makes me nervous on that front, but maybe I'm not well informed. It probably varies from place to place. I could imagine the Virgin Islands or Grand Cayman having significantly better healthcare than some of the poorer places.
How about Italy? Low season for tourists (yay), and while it won't be summer, it shouldn't be that cold.
Or for sort of a European feel a little closer to home, you could consider Quebec City and/or Montreal! Those are high on my list of new places I want to visit.
I've visited both cities and they are beautiful! If you're going in late November/early December, it will be a little chilly if you're not used to winter conditions (not sure what your winters are like in Minnesota).
GL and have fun planning!
we love Couples Tower Isle in Jamaica. It's all inclusive, has a wonderful spa and the meditation pool is a great place to sneak to at night (not really sneaking since the staff definately did not kick us out when we got caught in it).
If you sign up for their emails they do different specials that are only available if you book on a wednesday. one person we met got a $350 voucher to the spa o top of the 50% off sale they had going on.
I live between Orlando, Fl and Daytona Beach, Fl. That time period is when it finally starts to get nice around here. I would highly recommend St Augustine, Fl. If you're not familiar with it its the US's oldest city but there is tons of stuff to do. Its very low key and pretty around that time with lights decorating the old city. It has beautiful Bed and Breakfast's, old churches, little shops, carriage rides around the city, lots of dining options and about 3-5 miles from the beautiful white sandy beaches. Its just a super romantic place with things for people with many different interests. The prices are very reasonable especially with the amazing 3 course breakfast, afternoon teas, and evening appetizers and treat you get at the b&b's. Most of them are running specials from now till the end of the year and they have honeymoon/babymoon packages that are great. The best part is you can walk everywhere so you don't have to really do any driving while vacationin.
My husband and I go there on a regular basis because its only an hour and a half away from us. We are actually planning on doing our babymoon there in December during our holiday break at school (Im a middle school teacher). Hope this helps give you another option.