I Traveled 5,000 Miles at 27 Weeks Pregnant for the Ultimate Babymoon—Filled with Rainbows, Spa Time, and Gentle Adventures in Nature

Unfortunately, sometimes being pregnant can feel like a bit of a slog. For me, trimesters one and two entailed being tired and nauseous more often than not, and frequent skin flareups and constant sweat marks made the idea of any “glow” laughable. By six months along, I was weather worn and in need of some mental and physical sprucing up. A wellness-focused babymoon sounded like the best medicine—a trip that would help me reset as I rounded the corner into third trimester, giving my body and mind equal attention with exercise, pampering, and rest.

Claudia at the beach in Hanalei.

Claudia Fisher/Travel + Leisure

Trading my sweatpants-and-Birkenstocks uniform for dresses and beach coverups, I arrived with my husband at the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Kauai, Hawaii on the day I hit 27 weeks and stayed through the transition into the last leg of pregnancy, leaving when I was 28 weeks along. During the six days we spent there, I practiced holistic self-care with the hotel’s expansive wellness programming complimented by the serene setting; morning wakeups were to the tune of birds chirping and waves crashing outside our window, and afternoons opened with rainbows and hazy veils lifting over cliffsides pinstriped with waterfalls.

A rainbow over Hanalei Bay.

Claudia Fisher/Travel + Leisure

We had a good amount of rainfall during our early spring trip (which one yoga instructor called the “ideal Kauai” because without the rain, there’d be no rainbows and the island’s greens wouldn’t be as vibrant), which gave the week a symbolically cleansing tone as I headed into a new season of life, on the precipice of becoming a mother. Several other guests were also on babymoons, so I was definitely onto something with a trip to the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, and I returned home with a kick of energy that I very much needed.

The Scene

Few places can compare to the 1 Hotel’s only Hawaiian property, which has made a name for itself as a true health and wellness destination. Locally sourced ingredients in the restaurants, filtered water taps in every room, and the use of organic and natural materials for decor and amenities make taking care of yourself here as effortless as breathing. It doesn’t hurt that all this is nestled into a stunning jungle setting that’s blessed with greens so vibrant, they’re the closest thing to neon I’ve ever seen in nature, and the hotel’s layout maximizes outdoor exposure and breathtaking views.

The Hawaiian concept of kuleana—the community’s sense of duty to the land—and sister principle mālama—caring for—permeate the island’s culture, including at the hotel. There’s an ease, enjoyment, and pride to these senses of obligation and giving back, and the two are woven throughout the property in impactful ways, from 1 Kitchen’s partnerships with Kauai’s farmers, ranchers, and fisherman to the give-back excursions offered in the monthly programming.

The Spa and Gym

There’s a three-pronged approach to the cutting edge spa facilities: Bamford’s traditional treatments and touchless therapies and Vitality Kaua‘i’s med spa offerings. The gym—an airy space with every modern machine and tool you could need—is twofold, both modern (with VO2 max testing and an upcoming recovery lounge with the latest in compression and stretching tech from companies like Therabody) and earthly (with a beach gym made of invasive trees). Meditation pods, float tanks, sound journeys, IV infusions, hyperbaric oxygen chambers, crystal healing, guided hikes, and fitness classes are just some of the offerings, and the wellness program will continue to expand with new unique therapies, like horse breathing and cryotherapy. Not everything available is pregnancy-safe, but my husband took advantage where I could not so we both left feeling as restored and rejuvenated as possible after our customized plans.

We began our trip with a grounding experience perfect for transitioning from NYC hustle and bustle to babymoon bliss: a private “Sacred Sound Journey” on our first morning. The environment was soothing and cozy, with comfortable bolster pillows and sheep skin rugs to compliment the atmosphere created by the colorful bowls and calming and supportive sentiments of our guide, Rebecca. “You deserve to feel good, you deserve to rest,” we were encouraged.

Later, Rebecca told us, “I can’t believe this is my job,” and I noticed many people we met at the 1 Hotel exuded that same love and care for their craft. In my sunrise movement classes, my pregnancy needs were specially considered, like when the instructor had three bolsters prepped for me ahead of shavasana before it was even cued. This wasn’t the only time the hotel staff was one step ahead in anticipating my needs, either: There was a Frida pregnancy pillow waiting in our room upon arrival, and my facialist and massage therapists made adjustments in advance of my treatments, like setting the heated chair to a lower temperature and swapping a salicylic acid product with a locally made clay mask exfoliant.

I loved my pregnancy, or hāpai, massage so much that I booked another before leaving the spa that afternoon. Somehow it felt loving, especially when my therapist closed by saying, “I hope you’re feeling like a queen, because you are a queen,” again reminding me how much everyone I interacted with wanted me to feel good during this taxing time, with a genuine care for pregnant people that I didn’t find in the New York City crowds. My facial, personalized for my individual skin as well as for pregnancy, incorporated all the bells and whistles (gua sha, quartz roller, warm and cold stones) and left my complexion looking noticeably improved.

While I kept my spa plan pretty standard, my husband tried some of the alternative treatments and enjoyed the ocean float room enough to book it for a second, longer session, describing it as an “out of body experience” that helps clear your mind. He also really liked the infrared sauna.

I liked to start my days with the sunrise “movement” classes (a gentle and fluid blend of yoga, mindfulness, and pilates), which are offered daily either beachside if weather permits or in the window-lined studio. We took advantage of being on the beach by going for daily walks along the shore, and my husband loved the range of outdoor activities we had available to us, like snorkeling and paddle boarding.

Dining

Wellness and sustainability are foundational tenants of the 1 Hotel’s culinary ethos, as well. “We celebrate local ingredients to create nutrient-dense meals that fuel a mindful lifestyle,” the menu at the hotel’s all-day restaurant, 1 Kitchen, reads. Of course, everything is also delicious, fresh, and plated beautifully. At breakfast, which may as well be an indoor-outdoor bird sanctuary, I heard several people gushing about the lemon ricotta pancakes, but we decided to do the buffet every morning so we could indulge in a little bit of everything.

Welina, the property’s Japanese-inspired tapas restaurant, has a “Wellness Minded” section of the menu with a huge list of mocktails. Even though the menu is raw fish-forward, there are tasty options to accommodate pregnancy dietary restrictions, like chicken and wagyu. Some nights, you can catch live music here, and sipping on my drink at an intimate concert, I almost forgot I was pregnant.

For casual and easy daytime sustenance that’ll satisfy your cravings, poolside restaurant The Sandbox has pizza, salads, and burgers, and cafe Neighbors offers sandwiches and pastries with the added convenience of takeout (which I did so I could eat poolside). The Wai’oli stand will satisfy your sweet tooth with giant portions of fruity shaved ice and soft serve. During the day, I made sure to stay hydrated with fresh drinks from Welina’s new juice bar, too.

Experiences

A welcome sign and communal table setting at Common Ground.

Claudia Fisher/Travel + Leisure

An extension of the property’s locally and sustainably centered mindset, a partnership with nearby regenerative farm Common Ground offers guests the chance to tour the property’s bio-diverse “food forest” that showcases a way of farming that emulates nature. We enjoyed a hyper-local meal with ingredients sourced entirely from within a 20-mile radius; only the salt and oil were from other parts of Hawaii.

More off-property excursions allow you to explore Kauai’s natural splendor, like guided hikes, golf at a nearby course, and helicopter, e-bike, and boat tours. We rented a car (which the hotel recommends to avoid steep prices for a taxi to and from the airport), but you can also test drive one of the property’s electric Audis and venture out on your own to some of the island’s well-known sites, like Spouting Horn and Wailua River Lookout. We stopped at Kauai Juice Co on the (excellent) recommendation of a friend and Warehouse 3540, an unassuming and charming cluster of locally owned shops on the side of the road that had a selection of baby products I was really excited about, like tiny leather Mary Janes, colorful organic cotton swaddle blankets, and all-natural diaper balm.

For unique ways to give back to the community, you can adopt a dog for a day or sleepover (which Travel + Leisure’s senior editorial director Nina Ruggiero did on her 2023 trip to the hotel, when it made the T+L It List), participate in beach cleanups, and help restore trails and fishponds. Through initiatives like these as well as the protection and rehabilitation of Kauai’s land, the personified Mother Nature is on a pedestal here, which felt powerful in the context of my soon-to-be motherhood and encouraged me to appreciate and be proud of the great efforts my body was making to create life. Something spiritual stirred in me, almost like I was kneeling at the feet of the mother of all mothers, collecting her blessing before venturing out on my own.