Honeymoon with 6 month old

[jolies1]

We are planning our honeymoon and will now, if all goes well, have a 6 month old by the time we get married / think about honeymoon - we’d like to try and get away while they are still small & portable!

Any recommendations for a trip that would be special but still appropriate for a baby and newish parents? We have wondered about a cruise (never done one) but open to anything - we are quite well travelled pre baby but know things will be different!

We would ideally be looking to travel Sep/Oct for anything between 7-14 nights ish.

Thank you for any advice or any tips from anyone who’s been in a similar situation!

A cruise would be perfect, especially if you can get one which leaves from Southampton so you wouldn’t have to fly. Some of the P&O ships have a free night nursery for children aged 6 months plus.

I was about to say it all seems like a lot of effort and could end up being not very enjoyable at all with a 6 month old (you don't know what sort of 6 month old you’ll have. Some are adaptable, some are really not), but a cruise could work.

as above get one that sails from the U.K. so you don’t need to negotiate airports with the baby. A lot of cruise operators offer baby sitting services so you’ll be able to enjoy a few nice meals to yourselves and it shouldn’t be too hot for the baby on board.

Would you consider waiting until baby is a bit older and leave them with grandparents if you are able? Let's face it you're looking for a family holiday not a honeymoon, and I personally didn't holiday abroad with a baby (though I know others do, but plenty don't because it's not for them also) a lot of places likely won't even offer baby club to a baby that young. I know that all sounds obvious but I'm assuming you haven't had the baby yet.

We delayed our honeymoon 5 years so we could go alone! (Had another baby in that time too).

It’s very difficult to plan in advance because you don’t know what variety of baby you’ll get. Mine was not portable, he was sicky and screamy.

We didn’t go on holiday when he was young because I would have resented spending all that money and being in a lovely place and not being able to enjoy myself.

Personally I agree with the person that said wait a few more years and go for a proper child free delayed honeymoon. And go for a family holiday in the meantime if you can afford both.

Thanks for advice so far - sorry if it wasn’t clear we are happy to have a “family holiday” just willing to spend a bit more than usual… nicer hotels or location, cruise etc

Holiday with a baby isn't a holiday, I find it so much harder than being in the comfort of my own home. Returned from "holiday" a few weeks ago and being back home & going back to work felt like a holiday tbh.

If I were you I'd save your money and go when your LO is a bit older and can entertain themselves for more than 2 minutes at a time 💗

(We got married during covid and never had a honeymoon, we will delay until we have a second child and that child is at least a toddler 😂)

Not been in same situation but we went on holiday when baby was under 1 and was fine but was in an apartment in Madeira with restaurants and swimming pools on site and then hired car. That was the Residence Porto Mare I think, not really a honeymoon place but set up of apartment in resort worked so could feed baby and not worry about baby being noisy.

We also just went to Mauritius Sugar Beach and Long Beach resorts and both those would work well with babies if you can get through the 12 hour flight. Plus I don't know about vaccines. But basically would go for something very easy and things to do close by. That has beach, lots of watersports, pools, tropical fish and birds, wonderful food and cocktails and lots of trips out close by within an hour and warm rather than boiling hot, c 26C. La Pirogue was good and thatched individual bungalows.

When we went to Azores Octant Furnas hotel that was lovely but rooms which can be tricky if you have the screaming baby. Resorts are generally much more tolerant if family of the screaming baby than local restaurants.

Personally would avoid a cruise or anything in close proximity to others incase you have a noisy baby.

Strongly disagree with pp who say wait til the baby is older - 6 months is perfect and holidays will only get more difficult once they're mobile. Unless it's a sicky baby - maybe get something you could cancel if this is the case? Would be a shame to have a chilled baby and miss this opportunity.

Sorry, not a holiday expert especially when it comes to luxury!

We had great holidays with a baby/toddler and I think a non-mobile, non-weaned baby is a great age to go away.

I would look for a catered villa in a complex, you have your space, you can stay on a terrace in the evening with your baby asleep. If you have anything like my DD, then you won't have a baby who sleeps in the pram in the eveing when there are things going on around you.

I personally wouldn't go long haul, too much hassle with jet lag but that maybe me as I hate going through it.

I can't remember the name but once came across a hotel/villa complex in southern France with nannies and the option to get food delivered to your villa/suite. Quite expensive but for a honeymoon I think I would go for it.

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