Parents-to-be make a getaway with babymoon

When many people hear the words baby and moon, they envision being up half the night for periodic feedings. But if you put the concepts together into a pampering, luxurious trip, all of a sudden, babymoon sounds quite inviting.

As with most trends, the babymoon - a vacation that expectant parents take to celebrate the pregnancy and enjoy their privacy before the family expands - started with celebrities and is now trickling down to us common folks. Famous babymooners include soon-to-be parents Marc Anthony and Jennifer Lopez, who reportedly spent time at the Hotel Kura Hulanda in Curaçao in the Caribbean, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who put Namibia on the map with their extended stay in 2006, before the arrival of baby Shiloh.

Food Network chef Giada De Laurentiis, who is due April 8, and her fashion designer-hubby Todd Thompson sought expert advice from thenestbaby.com editor in chief and author Carley Roney about where and when to go. And, you can bet

wherever Oscar-winner and expectant mom Halle Berry and fashion-model-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry go (they're staying mum on the subject), it will be beautiful.

Now, Long Island is jumping on the babymoon bandwagon.

Linda Slezak, president of the 16-member North Fork Bed and Breakfast Association (nfbba.com [CORRECTION: The Web site for the North Fork Bed and Breakfast Association is nfbba.org. It was incorrect in a story on "babymoons" on Wednesday. PG. A17 ALL 1/18/08], 877-883-9333) said several member inns have begun offering packages that cater to babymooners.

"All include some form of massage. Some are in-room, others include a visit to the spa," said Slezak, who is co-owner, along with husband Jim, of the Red Barn Bed & Breakfast in Jamesport.

"Inns are ideal for the sort of pampering that expectant parents need," she said. "We consider ourselves concierges to the Hamptons. If you tell us what you're craving, we'll be sure there's a basket of goodies in your room. If peace and quiet beside the fire is your preference, we provide that, and a comfy robe to lounge in."

Slezak, who estimates her inn hosts five or six expectant couples each season, said most babymooners the inns have hosted stayed just a few days, enough time to give them the feeling of being away without the hassle of planning a long trip. "That's the beauty of the North Fork. For people who live in the metro area, it is not that far away, but so different."

Ilonka Molijn of baby-moon.eu knows firsthand what pregnant women want. This mother of two works with the five W hotels and the Mandarin Oriental in Manhattan, all of which offer deluxe babymoon packages for $359 and up a night. Babymooners at W Hotels are showered with a welcome goody basket filled with treats, such as spa products, a onesie and a subscription to a parenting magazine. Their stay includes their choice of two items from the hotel's "Womb Service" menu (think ice cream, milkshakes, a plate of pickles). Molihn says this type of service is offered at luxury, five-star hotels around the world, with lots of customization options to give soon-to-be parents the star treatment. The average two-night stay, she says, is about $1,400.

Farther afield, Robert Dean of Juniper Hill Inn in Windsor, Vt. (juniperhillinn.com, 800-359-2541), has been catering to metro-area expectant couples the two years he and co-owner Ari Nikki have been proprietors of the historic inn.

"In addition to our formal package that includes a $25 savings bond for the baby, we offer in-room massage, fireplaces and crave baskets," he said. Dean, who consulted with a psychologist friend when designing the inn's package, also places emphasis on the often-forgotten man in this equation.

"So much attention is paid to the mother and the baby, men can suffer psychologically," says Dean, who added that many people are buying babymoon stays as gifts for couples. "We find out their favorite things. We had one expectant dad who loved baseball. So we included Vermont chocolate in the form of a baseball. If he loves steak, our chef, Lyda Lemire, and I will create menus that feature some of both of their cravings."

Babymoon PLANNING TIPS

You don't need a full week, or two, to get a lot out of a babymoon, experts say. And much of what your itinerary includes should depend on how the mom-to-be is feeling and what she craves during the trip.

Ashley King, owner of babymoonfinder.com, said you can save money by planning your own babymoon. And make your getaway during the second trimester, or at least before the pregnancy hits the 30-week mark.

"Choose a location you're already familiar with to cut down on planning," said King, 28, mother of two. She and her hubby, Trevor, 34, took babymoon trips to Hilton Head, S.C., and to Château Elan Winery, about an hour outside Atlanta. Make sure you'll have access to medical care, just in case, she advised. Once you're there, consider a prenatal massage, pedicure or soak in a tub.

Hotels will try to cater to all sorts of food cravings, so don't be shy. Ultimately, King says, you should get the feeling that the world revolves around you and your needs, at least for a couple of days.

"If you're up to it, try something adventuresome, like a cooking class or a parenting class," King says. "And, don't be afraid to ask [the facility] for help. Tell them what you want and maybe they'll do the rest."

New Jersey-based travel writer Jennifer Goldberg Levey, 37, and hubby Hal, 35, went on the "Hello Baby" babymoon at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz in November, before the birth of their daughter this month. "We wanted someplace romantic with spectacular grounds," she said. "The thing about having the package set up for you before you get there is that it is more relaxing. You can do your own, but it is nicer having someone take care of you."