Where Real Parents Are Taking Their Babymoons This Year

If you’re considering a babymoon (basically, a honeymoon you take before baby’s born), you may be wondering, simply, where to go. To help you decide, we asked expecting parents where they're going—and their 200+ answers reveal five clear travel trends and loads of inspiration. Here’s everything we learned from our poll, plus expert advice for traveling while pregnant no matter the destination or your vacation style.

Current babymoon trends

More than two decades after the concept entered the mainstream, babymooning remains a popular way for expecting parents to take a break before the newborn phase. And while every babymoon looks a little different, one thing was clear from our Babylist poll: whether it's a bucket-list vacation or a cozy staycation, the ultimate goal is carving out intentional time to rest, recharge and celebrate this season of life. Here's where real parents are headed—and what to know before you go.

🏖️ Beaches 

Sandy destinations dominated the responses. Babylisters mentioned everywhere from Florida, the Outer Banks, Puerto Rico and Aruba to, by far the biggest favorite, Hawaii—with multiple mentions of Oahu, Kauai and Maui. So if you’re dreaming of a White Lotus-style babymoon, you are not alone. All you really need is a bump-friendly swimsuit and to brush up on these tips and tricks for staying cool while pregnant beforehand.

• Aruba

• Alabama: Gulf Shores

• Anguilla

• Bahamas

• Bora Bora

• Costa Rica

• Dominican Republic: Punta Cana

• Florida: 30A, Anna Maria Island, Destin, Key Largo, Key West, Miami

• Hawaii: Kauai, Maui, Oahu

• South Carolina: Hilton Head

• Jamaica

• Massachusetts: Cape Cod, Nantucket

• Mexico: Cabo San Lucas, Cancún, Isla Mujeres, Riviera Maya, Tulum

• North Carolina: Outer Banks

• Puerto Rico

• Turks & Caicos

💆‍♀️ Splurge-y resorts

Luxury resorts and all-inclusive stays were another favorite, from domestic Ritz-Carlton properties to destination resorts in Cabo and Cancun. It's easy to see the appeal: fewer logistics to plan, plenty of opportunities to relax and no pressure to pack your itinerary. As an added perk, prenatal massages are generally considered safe after the first trimester—and many resort spas offer treatments specifically designed for prenatal pampering.

• Greyfield Inn (Cumberland Island, GA)

• Lake Austin Spa Resort (Austin, TX)

• Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun (Cancun, MX)

• Miraval Arizona (Tucson, AZ)

• Mohonk Mountain House (New Paltz, NY)

• Nobu Hotel Los Cabos (Cabo San Lucas, MX)

• The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa (Asheville, NC) 

• The Omni Homestead Resort & Spa (Hot Springs, Virginia)

• The Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain (Marana, AZ)

• The Wauwinet (Nantucket, MA)

👟 Walkable adventures

Fresh air and scenery are popular, but not everyone is looking for poolside relaxation. Outdoor lovers are gravitating toward national park trips from Banff and Acadia to Sequoia and Redwood. And others prefer pedestrian-friendly cities like Charleston and Savannah. Whether you plan to be in hiking shoes or sandals, just be sure to bring along a supportive pair for all that time on your feet. Psst: If this speaks to you, check out our gear picks for outdoorsy families.

• National Parks

  • Acadia (Maine)

  • Banff (Canada)

  • Glacier (Montana)

  • Great Smoky Mountains (border of North Carolina and Tennessee)

  • Redwood (California)

  • Sequoia (California)

  • Yosemite (California)

  • Zion (Utah)

• Walkable towns & cities

  • Asheville, NC

  • Wilmington, NC

  • Bar Harbor, ME

  • Boston, MA

  • Charleston, SC

  • Quebec City, Canada

  • San Diego, CA

  • Savannah, GA

  • Washington, D.C.

✈️ Bucket-list international trips

Japan. Italy. Portugal. The list goes on, and one trend stands out: some babymoons double as a dream trip to farflung destinations. Before booking, it’s a good idea to check with your doctor, visit the CDC's latest guidance for destinations with active Zika Travel Health Notices, and consider choosing refundable flights and hotels (or travel insurance) in case pregnancy symptoms (or travel conditions) change your plans. (One Vogue writer’s babymoon experiences are a good cautionary tale against nonrefundable excursions.)

• England: London

• France

• Italy: Florence, Rome, Tuscany, Venice, 

• Japan

• Portugal: Lisbon

• Scotland

• Spain

• Switzerland

• Balkans: Slovenia, Croatia & Bosnia

• South Korea: Busan

🏡 Close-to-home escapes

And of course not everyone is hopping on a plane or traveling at all. Plenty of expecting parents are choosing weekends at nearby hotels, spas or cabins, while others skipped travel altogether in favor of carving out intentional time together at home before the baby arrives. One simple trick to make any staycation feel extra special: put it on the calendar.

• Beach houses (South Padre Island, Texas)

• Bed & breakfasts

• Cabins

• Lake weekends (camping, canoeing and fishing)

• Local spas

• Road trips

• “Semi-local” hotels

• “Somewhere close. We don't have a lot of extra money but would like to do something.”

• Staycations

When to schedule your babymoon

Once you've settled on a destination, timing becomes the next big decision. It’s never a bad idea to plan a trip around accommodation and travel options that fit your budget and style. But you’ll also want to consider your personal comfort in this case: for some, it can be difficult to enjoy even a luxurious getaway during the first and third trimesters—making the second trimester a popular sweet spot for babymooning. 

I can say from personal experience, for example, that a big camping trip in the Texas desert with multiple stops for award-winning barbecue may sound like an epic babymoon for some. But when you add a long, winding, nauseating drive in 90-degree heat, two sweaty nights in a tent plus a major first-trimester aversion to smoked meats—it quickly becomes the worst trip ever. The spa day I enjoyed with another pregnant girlfriend during the second trimester of my second pregnancy, however, couldn't have been more perfect.

If you’ll be on a plane, you’ll also want to check your specific airline’s policies. According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, most carriers allow pregnant women to fly domestically up until about 36 weeks of pregnancy (or until 33 weeks if carrying multiples). For more guidance on air travel, check out our comprehensive guide to flying while pregnant.

What to pack?

Whether you’re hiking mountain trails or relaxing on a beach, you’ll want to bring daily staples that keep you feeling healthy and comfortable, like prenatal vitamins, cozy maternity clothing and pregnancy-safe sunscreen.

And if you’ll be flying or driving, consider packing a pair of compression socks even if they’re not currently a part of your routine—to help keep extra blood moving and prevent swelling. Registered nurse Julie Lamppa says they’re especially helpful if you’ll be sitting on a plane or in a car for any stretch longer than two hours.

If you’ll be babymooning with babies or toddlers in tow … 

🛎️ Check out these hotel hacks for traveling with little ones, to help you all enjoy your stay as much as possible. 

🖍️ Don’t forget travel-friendly toys.

💡 Try packing light: you can rent baby gear while traveling, so you don't have to schlep all the basics with you. 

🎶 If you’ll be in the car, turn up our family-friendly Spotify playlist of adult favorites that double as a huge hit with little ones. 

Wherever your babymoon takes you … 

… we hope it helps you feel grounded and, if you’re celebrating with a partner, connected. It may also leave you dreaming of future trips with your new arrival—in which case, this guide to registry picks for jetsetters is your next stop. Bon voyage!