Signing you up...
That impending bundle of joy is on its way and once he or she arrives, life takes on a different gear. Well so I am told. Currently expecting my first child, I very much liked the idea of a ‘babymoon’!
What is a ‘babymoon’ you may ask? ‘A relaxing or romantic holiday taken by parents-to-be before their baby is born’
When planning your babymoon you have to consider a few things. How far you want to travel, do you want pure relaxation, luxury and romance or a chance to shop for your new baby.
You want to ensure the country has a good health system on hand if there should be any unexpected complications.
I chose the Gold Coast as I wanted an overseas holiday, I wanted sun and I couldn’t wait to shop for baby, oh and me! It is also good value for money. Airfare deals to Australia tend to be released every month and apartments in the Gold Coast cater for all budgets, and with the added bonus of self-catering you have the option to save money on food where you choose too!
Definitely plan to have your babymoon in the 2nd Trimester if heading overseas and to check with your midwife that your pregnancy is coming along smoothly with no complications for an overseas holiday. All airlines have restrictions on how many weeks you can be to travel. We can find this out easily for you. But do organise a fit to fly certificate from your midwife prior to have on hand incase the airline asks for it at check in.
I have outlined my Top 5 reasons on why I thought the Gold Coast was the perfect destination for my babymoon.
Distance:
You get an overseas holiday but only 3-4 hours flight away. It’s perfect!
And just long enough when travelling with a bump onboard. Anything longer would certainly get uncomfortable. Late in the 2nd trimester some people can suffer from swollen ankles etc so you don’t want to be stuck on a plane for too long and good idea to get an aisle seat so you can walk around when needed too and have the all important access for the toilet. At 26 weeks I found it plenty comfortable with no side effects of swelling thankfully.
Weather:
Gold Coast offers pretty good weather all year round. I travelled in August so still our winter and got amazing weather every day for 7 days, not a cloud in the sky. Although there is no control on weather it can be pretty reliable in the Gold Coast. If travelling during the peak summer months be aware it will be hot and humid, so need a hotel with good air conditioning and swimming pool.
If it’s winter and a bit chilly, most resorts have heated swimming pools and/or Spa pools. The spa is a welcome relief to your lower back after a day out shopping.
Shopping:
What can I say! Spoilt for choice in the Gold Coast. Pacific Fair has just been completely renovated and looking impressive. Great brands like Zara, H&M and the Aussie icon of Target.
H&M do a ‘MAMA’ range of clothing. Perfect place to stock up on maternity singlets, tops and jeans. Target has cheap maternity wear, although not high quality its ideal to get you through the last 2-3 months at the end of your pregnancy. Plus they had a great nursery range, with on trend décor at great prices - like change table covers $7, cot and bassinet sheets from $10. So stock up!
Pacific Fair is male friendly too - free table tennis outside which looked to be very popular, plus loads of amazing seating areas and day beds. So if they tire from shopping with you, they can relax in the sun or shade with a coffee and their headphones (they offer free WIFI). Or perfect also for mums to be who need to put their feet up and rest a bit before hitting the shops for round two. Quality restaurants and gorgeous food court with really comfortable seating on offer!
What I liked about getting the chance to shop for my baby in Australia, is that you can get something a little bit different than what’s available back home and good price range to suit everyone’s budget. I also visited a baby store called Baby Bunting located in Helensvale, so if you have a car and want to go a little crazy, check this store out, it had everything! And some of the cutest nursery bedding around.
Harbour town is still worth a visit. An outdoor outlet mall, so great for wandering around on a sunny day. This is the place to go if you want shoes, lingerie – so mums to be that means flat shoes and maternity bras!
Free theme park admission:
Yes that’s right FREE!
Wet n Wild offer FREE 1 day admission to expecting mothers. This is only available at the front gate and women must produce a doctor’s certificate and Valid ID to qualify. Please do check their website prior to travel to ensure this has not changed prior to travel.
Even though I was pregnant and could not enjoy the rides, it was still a great relaxing day out in the sunshine. And importantly a fun day out for my partner who had been oh so patient looking at baby stores with me. I also enjoyed watching my partner go on all the scary rides while I had the excuse ‘I can’t unfortunately’.
You will also get all clucky looking at the kids pool area and start dreaming about when you can come back and bring your own kiddies there!
Do note: If travelling in winter many of the rides close down for renovation/servicing so you may want to call ahead in case any of your favourites are not in operation. Plus for your partner, only a limited amount of rides for 1 person. Many rides are for 2 people, so does limit the options.
Health:
I would start my day with fresh fruit salad on the balcony, then head off for a walk along the beach. It was a great way to help keep up my fitness while pregnant. If the sand is too difficult to walk along, then there are amazing walking tracks that run all along the front of the beach.
If your resort has a pool, then great to get your fix of exercise via the pool also.
You want to go somewhere with a good health system and hospitals. That would be my biggest concern if I went to the islands so Australia felt like a safe option. Insurance generally doesn’t include pregnancy or childbirth. Our insurance policy will accept unforeseen medical complications within the first 20 weeks only.
Also be mindful to check the destination you are travelling too for any mosquito borne diseases like Dengue Fever, Malaria or Zika!
With food, it is important to ensure you are eating right when expecting. I stayed in the Broadbeach area and was surrounded by good quality restaurants. Plenty of choice for ‘date nights’ out each evening, so great quality time for just yourself and your partner. With the Commonwealth Games coming up, Broadbeach has had a much needed facelift and this includes the restaurant areas. The Oasis precinct, the Casino restaurants, Pacific Fair eateries are all looking brand spanking new and awesome variety and atmosphere’s to enjoy. Some of the restaurants I would recommend:
Pacific Fair – The Outback steakhouse for a value for money steak, good service and awesome variety!
Casino – The Kitchen – Good Mocktails, quality food and chef came out and delivered food to table, nice touch. Gorgeous décor and has a lovely outdoor area for Sunday afternoon sessions with live music.
The Loose Moose – For Burgers and atmosphere!
Oasis – If you like Japanese, then for a cheap and cheerful option check out Harajuku Gyoza
Lastly, if you already have children, then the Gold Coast works perfect to have quality time with your children before they have to share their time with you also.
