7 best babymoon Labor Day getaways to enjoy before your 'labor day'
Having a baby changes ... everything.
The days are longer, the years are shorter and, for better or worse, vacations will never be quite the same. Before you welcome your baby into the world, you deserve to treat yourself to a luxurious, indulgent, relaxing vacation that will help you fully prepare your mind and body for your new baby.
Your destination, mode of transportation and planned activities should be discussed with your health care provider, but we've lined up eight resorts around the world that specifically cater to parents-to-be.
Esperanza Resort — Los Cabos, Mexico
Esperanza is a romantic beach resort on the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula that wholly embraces its seaside surroundings. Your pre-baby worries will wash away with the tide as you watch the turquoise waves crash against the rocky bluffs between the resort's two private coves. The prenatal massage that's included with the resort's exclusive "Hola Bebe" babymoon package will ensure that any pregnancy pains melt away.
Related: How to get to Los Cabos on points and miles
Also included in this babymoon retreat are a gift for your new addition, a spa treatment for your partner, a private dinner (with mocktails!), 24/7 room service to satisfy pregnancy cravings and a private photo shoot. This four-night package starts at $1,125 per night and includes accommodations in one of the resort's ocean-view casitas.
After you welcome your bundle of joy, you'll receive a complimentary evening of babysitting services if you return to the resort with your family.
Domes Noruz Chania — Chania, Crete
Crete is the largest of the Greek isles, but when you visit Domes Noruz Chania resort in the Chania region of Crete, you'll feel like you've got the entire island to yourself.
This adults-only (a part of your life that's about to decrease drastically), boutique resort is situated directly on the beach. You can enjoy the sun and sand from almost every area of the hotel, from the alfresco dining areas to the seaside pools and even the outdoor tub on your suite's terrace.
The on-site Soma Spa offers prenatal massage as well as a full-service "peaceful pregnancy" experience that also includes a facial and foot treatment.
As part of the Autograph Collection, you can book this hotel using cash or Marriott Bonvoy points. Award pricing starts around 70,000 points per night (or $511 per night plus taxes and fees) for a king room with a private plunge pool, and certain credit cards can net you more than the one-night award pricing with the welcome bonus alone.
Others, like The Platinum Card® from American Express, come with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status, which can get you room upgrades (when available), late checkout and bonus points on eligible hotel purchases.(enrollment is required)
Sunset at the Palms Resort & Spa — Negril, Jamaica
Sunset at the Palms is an adults-only, all-inclusive beachfront resort in Negril that combines relaxation among tropical gardens and sugar-white sands with plentiful opportunities for adventure with activities like kayaking, snorkeling and pedal boats.
At this intimate property, 85 "treehouses" are surrounded by palm trees and flowers, but you don't have to climb a tree to reach them. All rooms and suites have a private porch, plush robes and stocked mini-fridge.
Couples searching for a secluded slice of paradise where they can spend their babymoon soaking up Jamaica's laid-back vibes will find it here. Pricing begins at about $394 per night (plus taxes and fees).
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North — Scottsdale, Arizona
There are plenty of hotels where you can experience Scottsdale's desert allure, but not all of them offer pregnancy perks like a maternity pillow to use during your stay and a Four Seasons-branded onesie for your baby. Those are things you can only find at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.
The resort's "Hello Baby" package also comes with a $100 resort credit to use on dining or spa services during your stay, a chocolate welcome gift and a complimentary dessert when you dine at the on-site restaurant, Proof.
Casitas and suites start around $1,000 per night (plus taxes and fees) and are decked out in neutral colors that let the natural beauty shine from your private patio or balcony. Some room types have large outdoor living areas with private plunge pools, a sitting area with a fireplace, TV and an outdoor shower.
Cardmembers with Platinum or Centurion-branded American Express cards can book through the Amex Fine Hotels + Resorts program for additional benefits like daily breakfast for two, room upgrades (when available) and a $100 resort credit to use during your stay.
Brewery Gulch Inn — Mendocino, California
A babymoon is all about escaping your everyday routine and soaking up every last second of baby-free time. What better place to do that than at a secluded resort atop a pine-covered bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean?
The Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino is a small, 10-room inn that celebrates nature with salvaged-redwood construction, farm-to-table food and a rugged setting that lends itself to frequent appearances by birds, deer and other wildlife.
The resort's babymoon package comes with massages for both parents, a helpful parenting book to bring home with you and gifts or gift certificates from nearby local businesses. The price for the package is $395 plus the room rate in an accommodation of your choosing, which starts at around $425 per night plus taxes and fees.
We recommend the Pine room with its cozy fireplace, two-person hot tub and private deck.
Planters Inn — Charleston, South Carolina
Located in the heart of historic downtown Charleston, Planters Inn has been a favorite destination for guests looking for luxury and comfort since 1844. With four-poster beds and bespoke decor in every room and meticulously gardened grounds, this 64-room boutique hotel oozes sophisticated Southern charm inside and out.
Speaking of charm, when you book Planters Inn's babymoon package, you'll receive a basket stocked with locally made bath products to enhance your soak in your room's oversized tub, dessert and sparkling cider delivered to your room, breakfast for two and a children's book and teddy bear to bring home for your new addition.
Pricing for the Planters Inn babymoon package starts at around $450 per night (plus taxes and fees) and includes accommodations.
Hana-Maui Resort — Hana, Hawaii
Hyatt's Hana-Maui Resort has the best of the sights along the famous Road to Hana all in one place. The beach's sparkling blue waters and soft sands are fringed with lush, green tropical forests and tree-covered mountains are visible in the distance.
The hotel's 75 rooms and suites are clustered in small buildings spread throughout the property, which gives the resort a private feel — but that does mean you'll do a decent amount of walking to get around the grounds and the beach is only accessible via the complimentary hotel shuttle.
Related: 26 Maui hotels you can book with points
The Hana-Maui Resort doesn't have a specific babymoon package, but they do have a full-service spa, delicious dining options, two refreshing pools and easy access to some of the area's most spectacular beaches, including Waianapanapa State Park's black sand beach.
The Hana-Maui Hyatt is a World of Hyatt Category 7 property and off-peak pricing starts at 25,000 points (or about $700 plus taxes and fees) per night for a standard room or 50,000 points (or about $900 plus taxes and fees) per night for a suite.
Bottom line
Before baby, give yourself the gift of peace, relaxation and pleasure by visiting a resort specifically designed to promote wellbeing or that offers custom packages and discounts for parents-to-be.
After baby arrives, you can revisit these destinations (the ones that aren't adults-only, at least) to relive the memories you made before becoming parents and make new ones as your family grows.