The Close-To-Home Babymoon

Go to bed early, sleep late and do all the other things you won’t be able to do when the baby arrives.

Travel is expensive, especially around the holidays. And family festivities can be particularly draining when you’re pregnant. Avoid the hassles and enjoy some pre-baby alone time with your partner by booking a stay—even one night can do the trick—at a local hotel or resort that offers a “babymoon” (aka “last hurrah”) package. “This is your last time for spontaneous romance, without a baby in your arms or a child at your side,” says family therapist Gayle Peterson, LCSW, Ph.D., author of Making Healthy Families (Shadow and Light). “Celebrate this important transition in your relationship with a getaway that deepens your commitment to one another.” Here’s a sampling of destinations around the U.S.:

• The Viceroy Santa Monica’s New Beginnings package in California features in-room couples massage (prenatal for her, Swedish for him). “Nine months of preparing for the arrival of a baby can be stressful,so we created an offering that helps couples reconnect before the baby comes,” says director of sales and new mother Kate Jerkens.Viceroysantamonica.com
• W Hotels nationwide offer Baby Me packages with a Womb Service Menu and Spa-tacular Bliss Foot Patrol to soothe pregnancy-stressed tootsies. Starwoodhotels.com
• The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago’s Expecting You package includes a late-night visit from the Ice Cream Man, who’ll also serve up pickles to satisfy your cravings. Fourseasons.com

December/January 2009