A little one on the way means big change is on the horizon, and your sights may be set on heading off on one last holiday hurrah before you swap cocktails for cots and happy hour for afternoon naps. 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 one last adventure before your tiny tot arrives, we're here to help with our roundup of babymoon destinations for every season...
Spring Babymoon Ideas: Portugal and Morocco
Spring - the season when temperatures are rising but the sizzle of summer has yet to begin - is a great time for a Babymoon holiday. If it's culture you're after, make a beeline for Portugal where you can get in the festive spirit with countless celebrations taking place, from the religious processions during Semana Santa (Easter holy week) to the ten-day Peixe em Lisboa seafood festival, all followed up with some time spend at the beach relaxing.
Alternatively, head to another great babymoon destination in Spring - Morocco. With blissful 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 have a buggy in tow.
Summer Babymoon Ideas: Italy and Greece
There's nothing like a heavenly hit of Mediterranean sun to accompany a restful retreat before your little one makes their grand entrance. Italy in summer ticks all the right boxes for an idyllic babymoon holiday in Europe. Whether you fancy cruising along the sunshine-soaked Amalfi Coast in a vintage car, amping up the luxury on a slick city break to Rome or indulging in wonderful food (sans wine) in the countryside of Tuscany, we can help you craft a bespoke itinerary to suit.
Greece, too, is fabulous in summer, with sugar-cube villages and sparkling coastlines aplenty, whether you aim for the big-hitters like Santorini and Crete or head off the beaten track to the likes of Naxos and Paros. Whichever Greek slice of paradise that you visit, expect plenty of delicious food and ample opportunity for pampering and relaxing.
Autumn Babymoon Ideas: Spain and Croatia
Summer is winding down and the trees are dropping their leafy layers; Autumn is the season to strike south and chase the last of the summer sun. Spain and Croatia are real winners at this time of year with fewer crowds and pleasant temperatures perfect for trotting around handsome historic cities and filling up on truck-loads of tapas guilt free (mums will be 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 the season for forest foraging and truffle hunting and we can recommend the best spots for both. Either try your hand yourself or watch, follow and learn as the experts harvest nature's bounty, before tucking into a delicious dish of fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Winter Babymoon Ideas: The Maldives and Oman
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 do-able 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 of a luxury hotel hideaway (alongside plenty of expectant mum spa treatments), this is a destination that is made for escaping day-to-day life and completely indulging before the chaos begins.
Alternatively, just seven-and-a-half hours away is Oman, another great spot for some winter sun and a 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 arranging to spend a night in the Wahiba Sands desert in a Bedouin tented camp (which is much more comfortable than it sounds!) to organising dolphin and whale-watching trips, we'll make sure it's truly a trip to remember.