Pregnancy can be hard with capital “H” hard, and not just physically but mentally and socially too, as you start to adjust to a new way of life. And while becoming a parent is a voluntary decision, so are many of the milestones we choose to celebrate with great fanfare: weddings and homeownership, christenings and quinceañeras. So why not commemorate one of the most life-altering experiences of them all?
Though some skeptics may call it frivolous or indulgent, I’m here to tell you to take that babymoon. Revel in your last moments as a family of two and marvel at the ways the human body stretches, adapts, and sacrifices. Like choosing a baby name, there’s no one-size-fits-all formula for the perfect escape—and your ideal trip may depend on how you’re experiencing pregnancy. That’s why I went straight to the source. Below, six moms (including yours truly) share their favorite babymoon destinations—and why these last hurrahs became some of the most memorable trips of their lives.
Hit your step count in France
Is Paris ever a bad idea? There’s the obvious joy of indulging in French cuisine at every craving’s whim, from world-class pastries to bistro classics, but for Architectural Digest’s global director of audience development, Pujah Shah, that just scratched the surface of the many in-destination babymoon perks. “It was important to me to stay active during my pregnancy, and Paris made that effortless,” Shah said. “Exploring new neighborhoods and museums didn’t feel like exercise at all, but it still ensured that I was consistently moving.” But it doesn’t all need to be go, go, go. Take moments of well-deserved rest with a picnic in Jardin du Luxembourg, a river cruise down the Seine, or an evening at the opera immersed in the gilded glamour of Palais Garnier.
With highly-ranked hospitals and access to pharmacies seemingly on every corner, France’s excellent healthcare system also offers expecting moms peace of mind. For Shah, a New Yorker who had never been to France, this was the confidence boost she needed to book a trip overseas. “I wanted to experience something new, to feel genuine wonder at the most significant time of my life. Knowing that I could have that experience while still having access to the world’s top doctors meant everything to me.”
If you have extra PTO days and want to follow Shah’s complete itinerary, stack on a few days in Nice, whose scenic Promenade des Anglais was “worth the trip alone.” A UNESCO World Heritage Site offering fresh coastal air and a food scene that reflects the influence of neighboring Italy, it’s a dreamy way to round out the last trip before baby.