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Hey people, need some advice plz
We want to go for 1 last holiday before the little terror is here, September or Oct when it Will be approx 5 or 6 months in
All inclusive and nice beach is the key really, have read various things about going to zika virus free place so just need help narrowing plz
Thanks
Congratulations.
I am 6 months pregnant now, with not too big a bump (baby on the 15th percentile), but already feeling the heat here in North East London! I would recommend somewhere with temps no higher than 30 degrees and not too far away flight wise. So perhaps the Canary Islands, at a push? Greece is also super nice in September, pushing in to October in the southern islands, too.
Long haul – from the experience we just had, travelling at 4 months gestation to East Asia one way in Business return in Premium Economy, I wouldn’t go long haul any later than that. My legs were like jelly at the end of the flights, both ways, and I wore compression socks, got up regularly etc. Totally up to the individual of course.
We are off on our last trip (by air) before baby is born to Portugal next week to see the in laws. I am already dreading the airport, boarding, disembarking experience etc.! No doubt it will all be fine.
Check Out Menorca. Flights are not long, weather doesn’t get too hot, beaches all around. Also great once the little one has arrived. Very child friendly.
Check out airline policies on when the limit for travel is as IIRC it varies by airline.
We ended up doing a driving holiday to the Vendee in a convertible when my wife was 6 months pregnant and had a fab time. Importantly it wasn’t too hot (and therefore uncomfortable) and we visited a handful of towns over a fortnight, from Normandy down in a southerly direction.
I would strongly recommend Madeira. Direct flight around 3.5 hours from LGW, makes an excellent Club Europe redemption with Avios given flight time + full meal service + solid BA lounge @ Gatwick.
The “island of eternal spring” the weather hovers around the mid-20s and seldom hits 30, even in July/August.
Beautiful setting, great food, reasonably priced accommodation and the option to do nothing at all or quite a lot (the island is very varied with plenty of gentle trails/levadas that are suitable for someone who is pregnant as well as other scenic areas to explore, would recommend getting a driver for the day).
It’s much more lush and tropical than the Canaries and they produce much more of their own food (lots of endemic specieis, including 4 different native types of banana on the island), we vastly prefer it.
I should caveat that Madeira doesn’t have sandy beaches but the hotels have great pools and there are pebble beaches in several areas.
Thanks for all the reccomendations,
Driving I’d prefer not to do as too much hassle all around
In terms of places is Mauritius OK to go to?I think we have given up on the idea of maldives and carribean for now
Greece, more so analipsi has been sent to us as an optionMRU is a very long flight, as per @redlilly’s caveat above. Also a very long way from home if you did end up needing medical treatment. I would go no further than southern Europe, make sure you’re within a reasonable distance of a good hospital, and take out the best travel insurance you can find.
You’ll hopefully have a trouble-free pregnancy and wonderful healthy baby but there have been rare cases of babies arriving unexpectedly and parents having to navigate foreign health systems and not always helpful insurers.
Madeira has a few beaches with sand, some of them are man-made: https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/sea-lovers/beaches/sand-beaches/
I second NorthernLass recommendation. Please make sure you can go to a place where you have the health care you might need. You never know what might happen, even if you had a problem-free pregnancy until then.
In Portugal you are likely to face health care professionals that speak English (nurses and doctors under 50 almost likely will) and unlike the NHS the emergency care won’t send a pregnant lady home and tell her to come back 2 days later for an ultrasound. In a very very serious situation they might need to send you in a military airplane to Lisbon – but at least they have that option there.Congratulations. I agree with @NorthernLass’s comments. I would definitely go somewhere not too far from the UK and with good hospitals. During second trimester of my first pregnancy I ended up in A&E the day after we returned to the UK from Morocco. I cannot tell you how pleased I was to be home and in the hands of the NHS. During my following two pregnancies, we decided to stay in the UK.
people what about mauritus, has also been suggested to us
I think the consensus is
– not far from a hospital
– ideally not far from the UK if need arises to get back asap
– take out your very best travel insurance
– go with eyes wide open and an appetite for riskAfter our first, we were doing day trips and ferry rides within a week as the delivery was plain sailing and we had family over to show around. Easy peasy this childbirth stuff!
Assuming the same for our second, we were equally cavalier however she arrived a tad early, had to stay to treat some jaundice and then my dear wife caught an infection meaning two weeks of non-stop hospital visits.
Just last month a colleague of mine had booked an elective C section for their delivery which turned in to an emergency C section as the baby was having issues and arrived early. This stuff happens all the time.
I have had very good doctor treatment on the continent, India etc for mild little things but I wouldn’t risk it for something which can be as complicated as childbirth / pregnancy.
people what about mauritus, has also been suggested to us
Congratulations.
Mauritius is a very long flight, I only know this as I have been looking into Mauritius (and Thailand) myself.
As I understand it the good thing about Mauritius is that there is no jet lag. Also if you are looking for CW award seats they are like hens teeth although you may find reward economy availability if you feel you can mange that for 12 hours.I agree with the views that have been expressed, maybe a mid-haul to the Canaries or Madeira if you can overcome the lack of beaches in the later, although I can understand the desire to do a long haul while you still feel you can.
Before you book check out the local health care facilities. As well as decent travel insurance, make sure you take your EHIC/GHIC cards with you, incase you need state medical care in countries that have reciprocal medical agreements with the UK. I’m not 100% on this but I have read elsewhere that some insurance policies will no longer pay out if there is state care that you could have availed yourself of, so maybe check the small print on your policy.
I think it depends on the policy, but definitely check the terms. Also make sure you’re taken to a state run facility if this is required.
Lanzarote has glorious beaches and the best snorkeling I’ve done outside of the tropics. Health care is very good and there are plenty of flights – I think BA flies there so you’d have the option of CE which would be nice on a 4-hour flight.
Weather is usually mid to high 20s in the autumn, with very low humidity.
Congratulations!
I agree with advice on ensuring wherever you do go you’re close to a good medical facility should you need it. That said, when 16 weeks pregnant with my eldest we went to Japan and South Korea (Tokyo, Kyoto and Seoul), did a lot of the usual touristy things, in September. It was sooooo hot and I struggled with all the walking in the blazing sun and heat so took things a little slower but also had a fantastic time. I don’t regret it, especially as we went into lockdown shortly after baby arrived so glad we got one last big holiday in before we were all stopped from travelling. It was a long flight but we were fortunate to bag F on the way out and J on the way back, just taking a short haul LCC between Osaka and Seoul. I did check where the local hospitals were in each place we stayed and took photocopies of all my pregnancy records.
When pregnant with my youngest we went nowhere as was still during/just coming out of lockdown and eldest was still a baby/toddler.
I’ve seen a lot of people on babymoons in the Seychelles when we were there, zika free. Mauritius is lovely. If you do long haul I’d recommend flying J if you can for comfort and ability to just move around more.
Lots of lovely places in Europe though if you want closer to home. Plenty of lovely AIs in the Canaries.
Hope you find the perfect babymoon and have a smooth pregnancy.
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