Spark Pre-Baby Romance! Here are Three of the Best Babymoon Spots Around

Life is going to change with the big arrival. You know that. So before you have to start worrying about night-time feeds, nappy changes and enrolling your child in a good prep, take a little time for you. Oh, and your partner. Boutique travel experts Mr & Mrs Smith know how to spark pre-baby romance – simply check in at one of these three adult-oriented addresses. 

L Hotel Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia
Style Luxe, lively, lovely
Setting Seminyak’s style strip

Swanky, sophisticated Balinese boutique L Hotel Seminyak resides in one of the island’s most exclusive enclaves. Yet you could be forgiven for never discovering what lingers beyond the doorstep, as luxe suites, anything-you-ask service, a rooftop restaurant and neighbouring spa entice you to linger longer.

Sleeping Each of the 30 suites boasts lashings of modern marble, black parquet floors, Balinese carvings on the ceiling, peek-a-boo bathrooms – complete with Kiehl’s amenities – and white leather headboards framing each king-size bed. Suggest he books a Luxe Suite, with its huge freestanding bath tub, so that you can soak yourself to serenity.

Activities L Hotel has a team of personal butlers whose aim is to make your stay exactly what you need. Want to stretch out with a day-break yoga class, book an organic treatment at L’Spa or gaze over the pool while having a mani? Just ask them to organise it for you. Of course, you can go further afield: nearby Seminyak streets Jalan Kunti and Jalan Laksmana have great shopping for fashion, shoes and homewares. Even along Jalan Petitenget, where the hotel is located, you’ll find plenty of designer labels and contemporary handicrafts and art. The beach is a five-minute drive away and the hotel has a free shuttle bus to ferry you there.

Feasting Take to Luna Bar on the rooftop for a sunset cooler (the bartenders can whip up something extraordinarily tasty sans alcohol) before heading to the private corner at Kitano, the adjacent teppanyaki restaurant. Just above the lobby is Lola, with its menu of Asian fusion dishes. You can also feast in private, courtesy of the 24-hour in-room dining service, or check out some of the many local options: hip Potato Head Beach Club is just down the street, as is another favourite, Sarong.

Sassy savings Book a minimum of two nights until 31 March and save 25 per cent or, if you’re one to plan, book 21 days in advance for stays until 31 March and receive 30 per cent off the normal Mr & Mrs Smith rates.

Anantara Rasananda, Koh Phangan, Thailand
Style Freestyle Thai
Setting North-east shores

You’re probably well past the island’s famous Full Moon parties, so opt instead for style-savvy Koh Phangan boutique hotel Anantara Rasananda where king-size beds replace kipping on the sand and relaxation comes not from buckets of vodka-Red Bull but yoga and spa sessions.

Sleeping Of the 64 rooms, choose any with the word ‘ocean’ in their name, as that equals your own sun-bed on the powdery sand of Tong Nai Pan Noi Beach. The stunning Ocean Pool Villas have direct beach access, a private plunge pool with sea view, and an expansive bathroom with sexy soaking tub.

Activities That turquoise water is so hypnotic you’ll find it hard to drag yourself off the sand-banked sun-loungers shaded by vibrant contrasting red umbrellas. When you do, grab some snorkel gear to explore life in the depths. If sea splashing isn’t your thing, park yourself by the infinity pool slung between Rasananda’s bistro, bar and beach. Perched on a rocky outcrop, Anantara Spa offers treatments indoors and out. Further afield, the concierge can organise trips on the private yacht or a visit to a mountaintop meditation retreat.

Feasting Dig your toes into the sand at Bistro @ the Beach, where guests kick back and enjoy Thai flavours and seafood cooked on the grill. Really want to feel the pre-bambino love? Ask the staff about one of Anantara’s signature Dining By Design experiences – choose an exotic location and enjoy a dinner à deux you’ll never forget.

Sassy savings Book a seductive stay at Anantara Rasananda through Mr & Mrs Smith and, as well as getting the best possible rate, you’ll also receive a 10 per cent discount at Bistro @ the Beach.

QT Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Style Theatrical temptress
Setting Sydney’s happening heart

Once the little tacker has arrived it might be a long time before you get to stay somewhere as sexy and sassy as designer digs QT Sydney boutique hotel. She is something of a diva, with quirky-cool interiors, an enticing blend of Gothic, art deco and Italianate architecture and chic door gals with saucy uniforms and bright red bobs. Not exactly the place where toddlers running amok are looked upon with fondness, but perfect for a pre-baby bacchanal.

Sleeping The 200 rooms rock a fashion-forward look, with hits of colour, print and pattern across fur throws, rugs and cushions. The devil is in the detail, with bowler hat pendant lamps, ceramic animals and DIY martini kits upping the eccentricity. Want to be wowed by the city views? Go for number 73, a QT Deluxe King room.

Activities You’re in the middle of Sydney, so there are restaurants to be explored and shopping to be done (the QT is directly across the road from the historic QVB and its upmarket boutiques). Take a five-minute walk and you’re in lush Hyde Park – if people-watching is your thing, head there at lunchtime when everyone finds their place in the sun. Back at the hotel, the retro-luxe SpaQ – all softly backlit vintage tiles and apothecary bottles – is the place to unwind. Therapists individually tailor treatments to ensure you get exactly what you need. Need more suggestions? Consult the QT Concierge app.

Feasting The flagship is QT’s Gowings Bar & Grill, an edgy, all-day brasserie where seasonal local produce is presented in ways that suggest a broad range of influences – try the hot spanner crab cakes (a fresh take on a classic), comforting matzah ball soup or spiced duck cooked over the wood rotisserie. It’s quite Sydney’s dining room du jour, so is the perfect opportunity to dress to impress. Throughout the day you can also grab a bite from the street-side Parlour Lane Roasters.

Sassy savings When you book a stay at QT Sydney through Mr & Mrs Smith, you’re guaranteed the best possible rate, plus, as a Smith extra, you can use the hammam at SpaQ and receive a late midday check-out for free.

Want other romantic babymoon ideas? We can help, and once your little angel has arrived, Smith can also help you with child-friendly stays around the world. Simply visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or call the expert Travel Team on 800 905 236. What’s more, BlackSmith membership is now free for life, so book through Smith to receive life-enhancing extras and exclusive offers at 1,000 hotels and holiday houses around the world.