Whether you're family planning or already expecting a little one, planning for your babymoon is integral to welcoming a new person into your world.
Going on a babymoon can give parents time and space to celebrate their relationship and all that is to come. While it may seem like yet another event to plan, babymoons are an event unique to parenthood.
By preparing well in advance, parents can budget and fundraise to take this memorable vacation. Even if you didn't choose to go on a babymoon for previous children, there's an opportunity to make the most of your time.
In this post, we'll cover the following:
- How to prepare for a babymoon
- How to budget and fundraise for a babymoon
- What to do on a babymoon
By the end of this article, you'll know how to plan your ideal babymoon, budget for a babymoon, activities to do on a babymoon, and more.
How to prepare for a babymoon
There are a few things you need to prepare when planning your babymoon:
Decide on a date
The best time to plan a babymoon is during the second trimester, or weeks 13-27 of your pregnancy.
This is because you're not too physically uncomfortable yet, and your symptoms from the first trimester have subsided. Also, you have not yet experienced the fatigue and back or rib pain that comes with the third trimester that many pregnant people experience.
An ideal amount of time for a babymoon trip is between a long weekend and a week or ten days. It depends on how far you're traveling and how far your budget can get you!
Decide on a destination
You should consider the best weather for a babymoon (and the time of year).
For example, suppose your entire second trimester falls during summer. In that case, you will want to choose a cooler destination to head to during the height of the heat, like Canada, high-altitude regions of the US like Colorado, or the Pacific Northwest, which tends to get days that are not painstakingly hot.
When researching and planning a babymoon destination, it is crucial to consider the average temperatures and climates of the destination.
For example, if you arrive in parts of Mexico in late December, it can be up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is incredibly hot and would likely be too hot for pregnant people!
Therefore, research and plan to make sure you choose a destination that will be comfortable and enjoyable for you and your partner.
If your second trimester falls during winter, it's a great time to head to the Caribbean, a country like the Dominican Republic, or coastal parts of Mexico.
You may want to escape the winter cold by then (unless you live in southern areas, like Florida or LA), and planning in advance gives you and your co-parent lots to look forward to!
Keep your health top of mind
Keep your health in mind during a babymoon and err on the side of caution. Stay away from extreme heat, extreme cold, extreme sports, or extreme time away from your hotel or an area where you can rest if needed.
Additionally, it is important to plan activities that are not too strenuous, as pregnancy is a health condition. Plan for short drives, stops, stretches, and avoid activities that may be too taxing.
Finally, focus on food if you like, as pregnancy is a great time to enjoy delicious, nutrient-dense dining. Savor this special time with your partner before the arrival of your new baby, and remember to appreciate their support throughout the babymoon.
Start saving for your babymoon with Braid Pools. Click here to learn more.
Babymoon budgets and financials
Babymoons are a discretionary expense, and the cost varies significantly on income and circumstances. Most people pay for babymoons with a variety of income sources rather than, say, just a savings account.
To avoid going into debt while planning your babymoon, you need to have a solid understanding of your finances. Doing this step will inform you whether or not it's sensible to take a babymoon trip in the first place.
Babymoons have many financial parts:
- How much does a babymoon cost?
- How do you budget for a babymoon?
- How do you pay for your babymoon?
- How do you collect money for your babymoon?
We'll answer these questions and show you how to simplify your babymoon finances with Braid Money Pools.
Braid is an app where you can collect, manage, and spend money with your partner, family, and friends. Keep reading to learn more about Braid and why it's a fantastic tool for babymoons.
How much does a babymoon cost?
The cost of a babymoon depends on the length of your stay and the planned activities. For example, a short weekend getaway may cost less than a week-long trip. Also, the cost of flights, accommodations, and activities vary depending on the destination. For example, a babymoon in the US may cost less than one in Europe.
Regarding activities, the cost of a babymoon can range from free things, like walks in the park or on the beach, to more expensive activities, such as spa treatments or dinner dates.
If you plan to fly, consider whether you prefer a budget airline or a more expensive carrier. Additionally, think if you will need a car rental or if you will be able to use public transportation.
On average, a babymoon can cost anywhere from $200 to $8,000. Many couples opt for budget-friendly babymoons that include cheaper accommodation and activities.
However, the cost can be much higher if you are looking for a luxurious getaway. Ultimately, the price of a babymoon depends on your budget, length of stay, and the type of activities you plan to do.
Ready to start putting money aside for your babymoon? Start here!
How do you budget for babymoon expenses?
Budgeting for a babymoon can be challenging, especially as pregnancy involves many expenses. So, planning and saving money for the babymoon is essential.
The first step is to decide on a budget for the trip. This should include the cost of flights, accommodation, and activities. If you are taking a long flight, you may want to factor in the cost of meals and snacks.
Once you set the budget, you can look for deals and discounts such as flight deals and hotel packages. You can look for free activities or activities with discounted rates. You can also search for budget-friendly activities and accommodations, like Airbnb.
It is also important to remember to factor in additional costs such as car rentals and travel insurance. Finally, consider saving money for unexpected medical expenses or flight cancellations.
By following these steps, you can ensure that you stay within budget and have a memorable babymoon experience.
How do you pay for your babymoon?
When it comes to paying for the babymoon, there are a few options. You can use your savings, credit cards, or a newer, more popular option: add your babymoon fund as an option on your baby shower registry.
Savings
Perhaps when you were family planning, you set aside savings for pregnancy-related expenses. If you have any left over, putting it towards your babymoon is a reasonable and memorable way to spend the money. If you don't have any saved, you can start saving once you've planned your budget.
Travel rewards
Finally, try using travel rewards. Many airlines and hotels offer loyalty programs such as points, miles, and rewards that you can use towards your babymoon. You can also look into travel advisors who often find cheaper deals.
Credit cards are a great option as they can offer rewards, points, and cash back—some can even help cover the cost of the trip. Many banks offer travel credit cards with exclusive benefits.
Gifts
The best way to pay for your babymoon is by opening up the opportunity for others to contribute. If your inner circle, or closest friends and family, are looking for a way to celebrate you aside from your baby shower, gifting money to your babymoon fund is thoughtful and creative. After all, experiences are often the best gifts.
What is the best way to collect money for a babymoon?
Don't stress about opening a new bank account for your upcoming babymoon fundraiser—just use Braid.
Braid Money Pools are where you can collect and manage money with your partner or those helping you plan your babymoon.
You can also pay for every babymoon-related expense directly from the pool efficiently and transparently.
Now that you know how to implement Braid into your financial management, here are five more reasons to use Braid for your babymoon:
1. Braid is easy to use
Set up your free pool and invite your friends and family to join in minutes. When it's time to collect gifts, family and friends pay into the pool using debit cards.
They don't even need a Braid account; they just need your dedicated Pool Link.
And because you don't have to move money in and out of different accounts, you can seamlessly track transactions and stay within your budget.
2. Braid Pools are free to use
Create your pool and use it for as long as you want without paying any service or maintenance fees. It's free.
Family, friends, co-workers, and others supporting your pregnancy can pay into the pool with their personal debit cards without incurring fees or with their credit cards for a 3% fee charged to the contributor.
There are also no balance limits, so you can collect as much or as little money as you want for your babymoon.
3. Share admin roles with partners and friends
As pool admin, you can assign admin roles to your partner or best friend so they can share pool tasks with you.
Admins can view all transactions, receive notifications for pool activity, invite others to the pool, spend with the Braid debit card, and more.
For example, you can give someone spending permission so they can pay for the flights and transportation while you take care of the hotel accommodations.
However you divide the tasks, everybody can see these various activities in your money pools, so they can see where their money is going.
4. Create as many pools as you need
With your partner, you may create multiple pools for different expenses relevant to the babymoon.
For example, you may collect transportation into one pool, then divide these funds into separate pools for the flights, ground transport, etc.
You can also create pools to budget for different activities. For example, "Spa Treatments", "Dining", "Excursions", and more.
You get to decide what works best for you. Braid is totally flexible.
Another reason why people enjoy using Braid is that it keeps babymoon money separate from personal accounts. And you don't have to start a new bank account or transfer money in and out of PayPal or Venmo.
Your babymoon money comes into your pool and stays there until you spend it with the Braid debit card.
5. Pay with the Braid debit card
Every pool has a free digital Braid debit card to use anywhere. You can also request a physical card to pay for in-person purchases.
As pool admin, you can set spending permissions so others can spend with you and help book accommodations, activities, and flights.
And don't worry about staying within budget—set spending limits per card user so everybody stays within their means.
Real-time notifications display your card activity instantly, and you can view all transactions in the app.
If you ever need to freeze the card, you can do so quickly in the app. And since the Braid card doesn't include transaction or overdraft fees, you get to spend 100% of what you collect for your babymoon.
Your babymoon fundraiser can be successful with Braid. This can simplify trip money and fundraising—and make handling the finances seamless.
