Babymoon Biweekly - The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona

Adult Pool at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
copyright Starwood Hotels

Enjoy your final months of quiet bliss with the "Bundle of Joy" babymoon package, offered by The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa. Several cravings will be satisfied, from your body's need for a massage to your desire to shop, shop, shop, for yourself and baby. The thoughtfully designed package includes:

-Stylish babystyle® mommy tote filled with a plush teddy bear and deluxe mom-to-be pampering potions from Mama Mio
-$500 Kierland Commons shopping and incentive book
-$25 Kierland Commons Gift Card
-$50 babystyle gift card
-24 Hour "Cravings Chef"
-Breakfast in bed
-Couples Massage at Agave, The Arizona Spa
-Sparkling cider & chocolate covered strawberries delivered to room upon turn down
-Complimentary in-room movie



Agave, The Arizona Spa
copyright Starwood Hotels


The Kierland Commons shopping district is immediately adjacent to the resort, so you won't have to travel far to shop. When you're done, the beautiful Agave Spa can pamper tired feet before you head for the Latin-influenced menu of deseo, the hotel's chic dinner restaurant and bar.

Special Touches: Take in cocktails, appetizers and the desert sunset out in Dreamweaver's Canyon, the hotel's spacious courtyard, while listening to Scottish bagpipes herald the end of the day.

Through May 24, rates for the Bundle of Joy package begin at $799 for the first night, going to $359 for additional nights. From May 25 through September 9, first night rates are $599, additional nights are $179; September 10 to December 31, first night is $759, additional nights, $339. Additional nights include breakfast in bed only. For more information or to book this package, contact The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa at 800.354.5892 and ask for rate BABYMOON.

Babymoon Biweekly - Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa, Sausalito California

Many babymoon packages are just romantic packages for couples that have been rebranded. Not all of the babymoons we see boast baby-specific features, and while we agree that a romantic dinner and breakfast for two can be a wonderful treat, (particularly since once you have the baby it will feel like an unattainable dream), to us there are a few hallmarks of a real babymoon package:

-there should be a maternity massage involved, since pregnant women can't take advantage of "regular" massages
-Mommy should definitely get special treatment, but partners should get something special as well
-ideally, the package should include a baby gift; this is, after all, about his or her impending arrival, and a onesie or baby album makes a great memento.

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in upscale Sausalito, California clearly thinks along the same lines we do. They have what they're calling America's first destination maternity spa (not to be confused with Destination Maternity the store). The spa, lovingly called Barefoot & Pregnant, has an entire menu of massages, facials and spa packages just for pregnant women, with a few Daddy and post-partum treatments thrown in for good measure. Several of these have been packaged with hotel accommodations to create a variety of babymoons for expecting couples. There's even a package for two pregnant mommies on a girls getaway.

We particularly like the 5-day/4-night And Baby Makes Three package, which includes transportation to and from the airport, accommodation for two, in-room continental breakfast each morning, a romantic picnic lunch, dinner for two on two nights, a gift basket, a prenatal spa package for Mom and two spa services for Dad, and a private birthing session to prepare you for baby's debut. With all that to take in, it's no wonder it's a 5-day package!

Nearby San Francisco has its own charms worth exploring, although we won't blame you if you're too busy being pampered to get out much. The hotel's winding walkways and lovely bay views can be hard to pull away from, and with rooms sporting private decks and fireplaces, it might be hard just to get yourself to the spa. The good thing? You can always go back after baby is born: San Francisco is notoriously child-friendly, and we'll be making recommendations for your family vacation there in upcoming posts.


The "And Baby Makes Three" package is $2700; there is also an Expecting the Best package which can be customized for an accompanying Dad or Mommy's pregnant friend. The hotel also offers several package add-ons for an additional fee, including maternity photography. To book your babymoon, call Casa Madrona at 800.288.0502.

Pre-Baby Vacation Plans

You're not even a parent yet. You're just eagerly awaiting the arrival of your little one, and you're here because it has occurred to you that once Baby shows up, your vacations, not to mention your life, may go through some changes.

Kudos to you for not being one of those who thinks that life will be exactly the same after baby gets here, with just the small addition of some really cute baby clothes, a spiffed up nursery, and of course, an adorable baby that never cries and sleeps 10 hours a night. Yes, life will change. But it's not too late to cram in one last vacation before Baby arrives, a chance to enjoy some pre-baby bliss and get spoiled like hell.

If you're thinking about where best to spend your last few vacation moments as a childless couple, there's a website just for you. Babymoonfinder.com specializes in helping expectant couples find and plan that wail-free getaway. (Check out Globorati's post on this.)

What's cool about Babymoonfinder.com is that they're not just finding places for you to go - you can go on Expedia or Orbitz and do that yourself. What they help you to do is find any one of the growing number of packages that pamper you with your impending parental status in mind. For instance, the W Hotels in New York feature a Baby Me package, for stays until March 31st, that include a onesie for Baby, a subscription to American Baby magazine, and a gift for Baby that will be sent upon his or her arrival. Other hotels include prenatal massages for Mommy or a couples massage, which we love even more. Fabulous.

Skip on over to Babymoonfinder.com and plan that vacation. Trust us, you may not think you need it, but you do. Once you've planned your babymoon, come back to Child of Leisure: we'll tell you where to tote Junior once he's safely out of the box.