Taking a trip with your baby bump and future dad-to-be: Actually THE moment to “slip away still”. Before baby is born makes for the perfect travel time as a couple, enjoying all the attention around your growing belly and spending some more quality time together. A wonderful feeling I can only recommend to all parents-to-be!
Before becoming pregnant, #babymoon travel was of course hardly on my list. I didn’t even know exactly what the term #babymoon meant. Meanwhile, I’ve discovered a rather large number of hotels in the German-speaking parts of the world alone, offering this very travel package. One of them is the Hotel Retter in Styria between Vienna and Graz. Choosing it was easy: I have already been here two years ago, remembering the wonderful hospitality and great organic food of the hotel. Check out my blog post about their Slow Food Festival if you are keen: Steirisch aufRETTERn : A Slow Food Festival Experience at the Hotel Retter in Styria!
So this time, instead of joining a wine and food festival, I went there on my first ever #babymoon – daddy-to-be and baby bump in tow ..!
Hotel Retter is tucked away amidst the gently rolling hills of Eastern Styria, near the cities of Hartberg and Graz …
… making for a perfect little escape for both baby and mum-to-be, allowing the first rays of the spring sunshine to tickle the growing belly!
The view from our balcony at the “tower suite” hotel room promises many relaxing spa moments in these beautiful surroundings.
#Babymoon reception: This is what you get as budding parents …
… a new sense of belonging I’d say. Walking into your room, you will find it equipped with a water bed (perfect for pressing that belly into), as well as cute little toys and baby nick-nacks, baby bath toys inside your bath tub, and (very thoughtful) a selection of fresh organic juices over wine bottles in the mini bar of the room.
Afternoon snack time means a free juice, salad and cake bar, all organic of course …
… and perhaps Moritz the cat is part of the hotel’s #babymoon package, fulfilling the need to constantly cuddle due to an overload of oxytocin hormones?
What I really like here is the attention to detail for expectant mothers. An easy task for a team as warm-hearted as the team at Hotel Retter: In spite of the size of the hotel, we meet with the boss Ulli Retter and her husband a lot, and enjoy talking about this special time in our lives. In addition to the delicious food (all organic), I found many little “mum treats”, such as the “Sweet Baby Cocktail” instead of the standard glass of sparkling wine, the beetroot carpacchio instead of the raw ham platter, the local juice selection such as the “Hirschbirnsaft” pear juice, which tastes so good it makes me forget about the wine list … nothing is missing, really. On the contrary: Baby and mummy feel wonderfully spoiled. Check this out.
“Sweet-Baby-Cocktail” to mark the evening …
… and delicious, healthy, organic food all around …
… loved our resting time in the soft water bed, too, realising we’ve never slept in a bed quite like this before! Perfect for future dads also.
After breakfast, we take a short walk to check out the local area surroundings …
… the adjoining house, all freshly built and renovated, offers to buy local produce such as jam, juice, wines, herbs, ice cream and more …
… later, we again wander off to the spa area of the hotel, and end up spending the rest of our day there, baby aroma oil massage included!
#Babymoon Spa: The perfect treat.
The spa area of the hotel also has several offers for parents-to-be, such as special massages with aromatic oils. Above all, however, we are able to take some time. Time to cuddle up in some of the cosy corners, time to make baby bump jump among the bubbles of the jacuzzi (oh baby, if you could only tell me how that would have felt for you?!), time to relax and enjoy as a couple. Time and togetherness – all that’s needed in this rollercoaster ride that is called pregnancy, really.
Love feelings those feet of mine all light and fresh after that special leg massage …
… and while Georg is still studying what to choose next …
… on his spa menu …
… I have already taken to the sun deck to chillax with baby.
Whether with your partner or on your own …
… the spa makes for many different moments of fun and relaxation.
Thank you, Hotel Retter, for allowing us to create so many beautiful #babymoon moments in Styria!
Check out even more tips like this in my most recent blog post: Baby bump travel: Nine reasons (and three hotels) for enjoying a #babymoon retreat in Austria. I have also written about the area of Eastern Styria and its many tips for day trips and hotel / foodie hideaways here: Gourmet Travel Tips in Styria: Visiting Zotter, Gölles, Vulcano & THE Austrian Cheese Artist.
More #babymoon pictures are here, also InstaStories if you like watching these:
Disclaimer: We have been invited by Hotel Retter on this trip. All opinions are my own.