My One-Week Babymoon in Mauritius
I’ll find any excuse to book a holiday, but one last trip as a couple before your baby arrives feels like an extra special reason to hop on a flight and switch off for a while.
I’d always hoped I’d be able to have a ‘babymoon’ one day, but you truly don’t know if it’ll be possible until right before in case of any complications.
Getting written sign-off from a midwife is basically impossible in my experience, so as long as they verbally say you’re fit to go and you feel well enough in yourself, I think that’s enough of a green light.
Deciding when to book the babymoon
We took the trip a little earlier than originally planned so that it fit within the second trimester window. Between 26 and 27 weeks to be exact, because this was the sweet spot where I felt relatively normal, despite the inevitable symptoms of being pregnant that come and go whenever they please.
This turned out to be a great decision because by the time I got home, the third trimester was practically knocking at the door and generously came loaded with a bunch of new and familiar struggles.
Choosing the babymoon destination
Being a November babymoon, warm and sunny short-haul destinations were pretty limited. Throw Zika Virus risks into the mix and the shortlist just got cut in half.
Ultimately it was between the Middle East or Mauritius, both great options but long distances on the plane. More so Mauritius, being a 12-hour flight from London.
I love the Middle East, but eventually settled on Mauritius because I wanted to go somewhere totally new that could offer plenty of beachfront resorts that I’d heard were ideal for babymoons.
The only hiccup with Mauritius is the cost. The flights weren’t cheap, especially because I’d booked fully flexible tickets in case I couldn’t travel, and hotels were extortionate. They can be a lot cheaper in the low season, but we were travelling at one of the most popular times of year.
My babymoon hotel non-negotiables
We settled on Preskil Island Resort because of its mountainous vistas, reviews of great waters for snorkelling, and close proximity to the airport.
I didn’t put a lot of thought into the room in all honesty, but we were given the key card to a spacious ground floor garden room close to the pools and restaurants, with sliding doors that led you straight to the beach.
All of the above, plus the mile-wide marshmallow bed and walk-in shower, turned out to be real luxuries for a slow pregnant person.
All that I really wanted for this trip was to sit poolside with a book, paddle in the ocean, take some photos, feast on good food, and soak up the quality time with my husband.
I will say that the food and drink at this hotel (looking at you, mocktail menu) could have been far better, but being there on an all-inclusive basis, I appreciated the flexibility of being able to get something whenever I wanted it.
How to have a relaxing babymoon with a hint of adventure
I’m notoriously bad at doing nothing which is why 95% of our holidays have featured wildly busy itineraries, but being pregnant usually forces you to slow down whether you want to or not, so I spent most of the week horizontal.
Pro tip: secure a sun lounger close to the toilets, because babies think it’s really fun to sit on your bladder and have you shuffling towards the nearest bathroom at speed with absolutely no notice.
One great way to relax is to head to a spa, and I’d heard promising things about the one at Preskil Island Resort. I settled on a 50-minute mum-to-be massage which was super inexpensive at around £45. Highly recommend, especially on a rainy day (of which there were a few).
With all that said, there are definitely things you can do if you want a little bit of adventure. I told you I can’t help myself…
Preskil Island Resort offers a few complimentary water activities, the pedalos and kayaks probably being the most suitable options for pregnancy. They also offered 40-minute glass-bottom boat trips out to the coral reefs, which is a nice way to fill some time in your day.
If you want to go further afield they can book you onto a half-day or full-day boat trip, but personally I didn’t fancy being crammed onto a catamaran with weather that was a bit precarious.
Instead we hired a car for a day and planned an achievable route around the south of the island – see more about that on my Instagram.
With a bit of help from the hotel, we organised it so the car was delivered to Preskil Island Resort and collected the following day, so we really had to do the bare minimum.
A Mauritius babymoon in a nutshell
The flight is long, but if you can find ways to make it comfortable it’s not so bad. I took plenty of water, electrolyte sachets, a foam cushion to sit on, a neck pillow, layers in case I got too hot or too cold, and plenty of snacks.
The hotel really is where it’s at, so focus your budget on booking something that is going to cater to all the finer details that you want and need.
The weather is hit and miss even in the peak season, 50% of our trip saw glorious hot sunshine and the rest brought torrential rain.
It’s easy to get around via rental car or taxi, though taxis are a lot more expensive, so it might be more cost-effective to get a car if you plan to explore the island.
The only downside? The adventurous activities will need to wait. I’d have loved to do some hiking or taken a seaplane flight over the famous lagoon, but growing a tiny human meant these were either going to be difficult or out of the question.
And don’t forget to pack your hospital notes (or take copies) just to give you peace of mind.
