Contestant's Row Friday: Free Dipaers for 1 Year

The geniuses behind The Knot, and The Nest have teamed up with the brilliant folks at diapers.com to give away a full year of diapers to a lucky parent who signs up or confirms his/her membership to The Bump.

Visit www.thebump.com to enter!

The Things I Do For You!

A welcome sign of tropical days to come crossed our path yesterday on The Telegraph: a travel blog. You must drop by and feast your eyes on The Telegraph's thirst-inducing photo and informative recipe for Grenadian Rum Punch. (FYI -I had no idea that rum punch had nutmeg in it!)

On a related note, we are embarking on a babymoon / family travel research trip to Grenada during the third week of April.

I know...I know... sounds like a grueling assignment, right? Honestly I was a little reluctant to give up even a single day of the cold, wet April weather that really brings the best out in New Yorkers but the Mr. talked me into it. (You know how I hate to travel to gorgeous tropical islands.) At the very least, I'm looking forward to returning with a lot of new material for the blog (The things I do for you!)

Babymoon on a Budget: Save and Save Again at a Palm Desert Hideaway

If the high-season prices of Palm Desert's mammoth resorts have got you down, check out the Mojave Resort.

The owners of this luxuriously retro boutique property are discounting their already great rates 25 - 30 percent through May 31. The Mojave, a TripAdvisor favorite, is secluded and private and within easy walking distance of Palm Desert's retail and restaurant area.

The Numbers
Guests who book a one or two night stay at the Mojave, receive 25% off the resort's competitive rates. Guests who stay three or more nights, receive 30% off.

And since my friends at Mojave know you will not be able to resist a return visit, all guests who take advantage of this offer will receive 25% of a future stay. Doesn't this deal seem particularly well-suited for babymooners who might also consider a quick getaway after baby arrives?

Why Palm Desert?
There is no better time to visit the Palm Springs / Palm Desert area than March, April or May. Great weather and a desert in bloom, make Spring the best time of year for a visit.

Expecting moms and dads who are up for a hike will love Joshua Tree National Park. Those looking for a little more R&R will love the laid-back spa culture in Palm Springs / Palm Desert.

Book Your Budget Babymoon
Make your discounted reservation at the Mojave by visiting www.resortmojave.com

Contestant's Row Friday: tinySunshine Embroidered Items

If you too think there is very little cuter than a freshly bathed baby in a hoodie bath towel, head over to Baby Loving Mama and enter her tinySunshine giveaway.

To win your choice of a personalized embroidered hoodie bath towel or a personalized onesie:

• Read about the giveaway on Baby Loving Mama
• Visit tinySunshine's Etsy shop
• Leave a comment on your fav item on Baby Loving Mama

Enter before 3/30 to win.

Marriott's Spa, Bed and Breakfast Deal

Stealing a few quick moments before Day 5 of the Toddler's tonsillectomy recovery officially begins to share a potential babymoon value at 12 Marriott resorts for all Marriott Rewards members.

Marriott is offering 20% off spa packages at resorts in Cancun, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Indian Wells, Palm Desert, San Diego, Sonoma, Vail, Orlando, Oahu and Vegas.

Most of Marriott's Escape spa package nightly rates include:

• Two 50-minute spa treatments daily
• Daily breakfast for two

Not a bad way to relax, right?

Discounted rates are valid seven days a week through May 15 but there are a limited number of rooms available under this promotion at each resort so it pays to book as soon as possible. You will need your Marriott Rewards number to book.


Photo courtesy of Marriott

A Break From Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

We're on Day 4 of the Toddler's recovery from his tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy -- Day 2 at home.

Holy cow! It's an understatement to say that I was not prepared for the extent of the pain my little one would experience. He's definitely improving but it's slow going...

I am a little preoccupied with fluid intake at the moment but I hope to be back in the blogging game in time for Contestant's Row Friday!

Photo by Auntie P

Contestant's Row Friday: 2 Night NYC Stay

This week's Contestant's Row Friday prize is in our own backyard -- a two night stay in a suite for a family of 4 at Shoreham Hotel in New York, NY (33 West 55th).

Suites at the Shoreham have two separate areas so it's well-suited for families. It's also hip and comfy enough for a Mom & Dad getaway. In either case, the 55th Street address can't be beat!

To win, visit Ciao Bambino before March 31st!

Knee Deep in Greece

Following our Exotic Babymoon post from last week, we have been elbow deep in Greece this week.

We have seen Greece in travel mags prepping us for Summer holidays, we are working on several requests for travel to Greece and I even saw Cookie Magazine's Going Places blog had a shout out for the re-release of this 1966 classic kid's book.

This is Greece is a cool memento from a luxurious Greek babymoon or just a great way to infuse a little wanderlust into your little ones.

Tea and Tattoos: A Global Take on a Classic Tradition

I had the best time on Saturday celebrating a good friend's upcoming leap into motherhood.

The theme of the small gathering of exceptional women was Tea and Tattoos. In addition to some delicious high tea favorites and baby shower traditions, a talented mehndi artist graced us with gorgeous, intricate and temporary henna tattoos.

Three Reasons I Love Henna at a Baby Shower?

• It's beautiful and personal to each guest - some of the ladies who were already Moms cleverly had the names of their husbands and children worked into their intricate designs.
• As the henna gradually fades away, guests are reminded of the guest of honor's upcoming joys and challenges.
  
• Henna is cooling and soothing. Just this small amount on my hand had a great overall chill-out effect.
  

If you're looking for a henna artist in the NYC area, we highly recommend Ammara at NY Henna - you can find her on Facebook as Ammara Nyhenna.

From the Archives: Five Tips for a City Babymoon

Since we've been getting several city babymoon requests lately, we decided to shine the light of day on one of our very first Two and a Half Travelers blog posts....

Many expecting couples think babymoon is synonymous with a tropical getaway. While a lot of people (myself included) do choose a beach vacation, many clients decide to spend their last hurrah in cities. City babymoons fit a variety of budgets and travel styles. They can be luxe and hip (think a week of celeb-watching at NYC's SOHO Grand) but they can be also be a great option for couples short on time or wisely saving their cash for their baby's college fund. City babymoons can also a great option for couples who may not feel comfortable traveling too far from major medical facilities.

Here are five traveler-tested tips for planning your city babymoon:

• Spend a little more than you normally would on the hotel. Since you will probably spend more time in your room than you have on previous getaways, rely on recommendations to help you locate a comfortable city hotel that offers plenty of amenities and a good concierge.
• Stay near public transportation. Having lots of transportation options is a pregnant woman's best friend. Sick of riding in the car? Why not stand (or sit) on the train / bus? Better yet, if you're staying in a downtown area, go by foot.
• Maintain a manageable itinerary. Focus on one or two key activities per day, leaving time for rest periods (back at the hotel, if possible) mid-day. Your feet will thank you!
• Locate a recommended spa and book yourself a couple's spa treatment. Many hotel spas and day spas offer pregnancy and couples packages. Don't miss out on an excuse to pamper yourself.
• Bring snacks -- Keep snacks on hand. Sure, cities have plenty of restaurants to choose from, but it's often difficult to find a place to eat quick enough when you're starving for two!

As a bonus, here are my top three babymoon city picks in North America:

• Vancouver
  
• New York City
  
• New Orleans

Contestant's Row Friday: Quinny Zapp

If you're in the market for a the super-sleek Quinny Zapp Stroller and looking to help bring a special needs child home to his adoptive parents, you can't lose with this week's "Bring Josiah Home" drawing.

About the fundraiser for Josiah
This week, we're highlighting a very worthy cause where just a little can do a whole lot. The Bring Josiah Home" drawing raises travel funds to help Josiah's soon-to-be adopted family bring Josiah home from Taiwan.

Read more about Josiah and his family. They are getting closer to the final amount needed but the adoption has been a long road and cost was far more than expected!

The raffle items are all new and most have been generously donated by those wishing the best for Josiah and his family.

About the Quinny Zapp
The Quinny Zapp is the the worlds smallest folding stroller. It folds down so small that it can be used as a carry on on most airlines. It includes its own carrying bag, weather canopy and rain shield.

Reader Question: Exotic Babymoon

As our readership has grown so have your babymoon and infant travel questions. We love creating unique travel experiences for our clients and we're equally happy to provide helpful hints to our readers.

If you have a travel itinerary or scenario you'd like us to consider send it to: info@twoandahalftravelers.com.

Question from GB of New York, NY

Do you have some babymoon ideas for an expecting couple early in their second trimester in the spring / early summer? The more exotic the better.

Answer from Two and a Half Travelers

For those looking for a more active babymoon-timing can be everything. Many women report a little kick of energy in their second trimesters which can translate into a perfect opportunity to take that last vacation before baby arrives.

Since GB will be early in her second trimester at the time she takes her babymoon and has had a normal pregnancy to date with no complications, we highly recommend a city babymoon visit to Istanbul wrapping up with super romantic and relaxing visit to Santorini in Greece.

Why?
GB is based in New York and can access relatively direct flights to Istanbul and Athens thereby reducing layovers. Istanbul and Santorini both have some amazingly luxurious hotels where pampering is standard. What could be better for expecting parents?

And although we wouldn't expect GB to require medical care, both Turkey and Greece have easily accessible health systems if an emergency arises.

Alternatives
If GB has done a cruise before and is pretty sure she will not experience sea sickness, she could consider an 8 day/7 night early Summer MSC cruise out of Venice to Greece, Istanbul and Croatia. Babymooners seem to appreciate the convenience of an Eastern Mediterranean cruise since overland travel can require more planning and can mean a little less time for relaxation.

To take her babymoon up a few levels on the exotic meter, GB could switch the focus to the Western Mediterranean departing on a cruise from Barcelona with stops in Malta and Tunis. Some cruise lines will also have a stop in Egypt.

Small Print
The most important thing about your babymoon is that you feel comfortable with the decisions you've made about travel. Like most advice (both professional and unsolicited) that you receive while pregnant, there's often no universal right and wrong when it comes to travel.

In our view, traveling while expecting or with a newborn really comes down to two things: common sense and your own comfort level. Do your research (or work with someone who can do it for you), talk to your doctor and pay attention to your body and your instincts to ensure that you're comfortable with your decision to travel.