Affordable Babymoon Ideas & How to Pay for Your Trip
Congratulations, you’re having a baby! Soon, your entire life will be filled with baby bottles, diapers, and … so many sleepless nights. Before you welcome a new life into the world, your to-do list will likely keep expanding.
From preparing the nursery and assembling a crib to creating a birth plan and baby-proofing the house, there is a lot to take care of. And we know it can be completely exhausting. While you are hustling to get everything ready before you bring your little one home, you might want to take a minute to slow down and enjoy this process. One way parents are doing this is by celebrating with a babymoon.
A babymoon is an excursion you go on with your significant other just before the birth or adoption of your child. It’s a time to kick back and relax just one last time. Sure, this trip sounds like another expensive baby-related item, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few ideas on how to plan, where to go, and ways to finance your last getaway as a twosome without going overboard on the budget.
Figuring Out Your Timeline
To properly plan for a babymoon getaway, you need to first figure out when your baby will arrive. If you’re having a baby via pregnancy, this is doubly important. That’s because you might want to find that “Goldilocks” zone during your pregnancy for travel.
As the American Pregnancy Organization explained, more than half of pregnant women experience morning sickness, typically between the sixth and 13th week of pregnancy. All that morning sickness may make your dream getaway a nightmare.
On the other hand, you might not be able to travel too far into your pregnancy either, as several airlines discourage women from flying with them during the ninth month of pregnancy. The best time to travel, according to the American Pregnancy Organization, is within the second trimester. Figure out when that will be and you could start planning your travels from there.
If you are planning on adopting, there are fewer health-related restrictions to consider, but you still might want to do a bit of planning to determine when the most opportune time for your babymoon is.
Thinking About Your Babymoon Budget
Remember: You’re about to be spending a whole bunch of cash on a new baby. Perhaps now might be the time to be a bit more prudent with your finances.
When creating your babymoon budget, think of it as a less indulgent trip than a honeymoon, but perhaps allot a bit more cash than you would for a simple weekend away. It’s a celebration, but one that you should also feel financially fit enough to take without stretching your budget too far.
Choosing the Length of Your Babymoon Getaway
If your budget or your time is a little tight, you could always make your trip feel more luxurious by going away for a shorter stay like a three-day weekend. Alternatively, if you’d like more time, you could go for an extended stay but be more willing to compromise on things like the five-star hotel and the fancy dinners out.
Choosing a Babymoon Destination
You’re probably checking in with your OB-GYN frequently as it is. If you’re a high-risk patient, he or she may recommend a trip closer to home. Safety is likely your first priority, so you could let your doc know you’re interested in taking a trip and he or she should be able to give you the go-ahead or inform you of any concerns.
While it may be tempting to hop on a plane and travel to just about anywhere, there are a few things pregnant women consider that most people wouldn’t. For example, you might want to research any health-related issues a country might have, including mosquito-transferred illnesses like Zika or malaria. If you plan on traveling internationally for your babymoon, you could consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for any travel advisories .
If you’re pregnant, you might not want to fly long distances. According to the CDC, traveling on a plane for a long distance can increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis , which can be deadly for pregnant women.
Instead, you could take a look closer to home. There are a variety of picturesque locations in the United States that may be a short flight or drive away. Here are five budget and closer destinations in the United States you could try (and understand that none of these establishments are affiliated with SoFi—we discovered them through an internet search and wanted to pass them along!):
Arrowhead Inn : Durham, North Carolina
This charming bed-and-breakfast offers a special package for expecting parents, which includes a foot massage gift basket, an in-room prenatal massage, sparkling cider on arrival, and more.
Carmel Green Lantern Inn : Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Though the Green Lantern Inn’s package isn’t babymoon specific, it could still be ideal for couples looking to get away together. The package comes with a room decked out in silk rose petals, streamers, and LED candles. There could also be a bottle of champagne for dad and chilled cider for mom, along with a box of chocolates at arrival.
The Kenwood Inn : St. Augustine, Florida
The Kenwood Inn knows how to pamper a mama and papa to be. With their package, soon-to-be parents will get a one-hour prenatal massage for Mom or two half-hour massages for Mom and Dad, a bottle of sparkling non-alcoholic beverage, breakfast in bed, and even a horse-drawn carriage ride through the historic city.
Crystal Springs Resort : Sussex County, New Jersey
The Crystal Springs Resort in New Jersey has a babymoon package that includes all of the usual accoutrements like massages and chocolates, but also takes it a step further by including complimentary access to all resort entertainment, all fitness classes, and more. Because who says you can’t have a little adventure on your babymoon?
L’Auberge de Sedona : Sedona, Arizona
For the ultimate in luxury without the luxury price tag, you could book a stay at L’Auberge de Sedona. There, parents can relax during a two-night stay that includes meal and spa credits, plus a baby journal as a parting gift.
Financing Your Babymoon
Preparing for and raising a child are expensive prospects, so the idea of taking a vacation may not be high on your financial radar. But taking time to be together just the two of you could prove to be invaluable to the health of your relationship. To finance the babymoon of your dreams, you could look into a personal loan with SoFi.
With a personal loan, you could take out exactly how much you need to pay for your vacation up front, then pay it off in fixed installments over time. That way, you can focus on relaxing together before your family of two becomes a family of three.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
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