Our Italian Babymoon: Venice, Rome & Nerano
Stay hydrated | Photo Credit: Jazmyn Barrett
*BONUS: Read to the end for a list of tips for pregnant travelers planning a future babymoon.
Backstory
In 2018, while pregnant with our daughter, we took a 13-day babymoon to Italy. For those of you unfamiliar with the term or concept, it’s just another capitalistic endeavor to get parents to fork out a load of money for yet another baby themed and pre-natal activity. But we like the concept, and at the end of the day, it’s a special vacation before baby arrives and traveling takes on another flavor (so no shade).
There are actual companies and sites geared towards this new wave of travel and if I’m being honest, I just might jump on board myself (bookmarking this idea). Sure, that’s such a contradicting statement to my diss of the concept, but planning a baby moon was stressful and I actually like planning things. I’d consider doing it for another pregnant family to take away the stress.
We lived in Spain at the time and none of my Spanish friends had heard of this, nor had they heard of a “push present,” “gender reveal” and most were just getting into baby showers. My understanding is that in Spanish culture, they preferred to give gifts after the baby is born.
In all fairness, a babymoon can be a beautiful thing. I first heard about this idea 4 years ago when a couple we knew were expecting their first child and explained the concept. In a nutshell, the parents-to-be take that one last hurrah before the baby arrives and all the trips and travels come to a screeching, or temporary, halt.
Fortunately for us, God’s timing was impeccable in this pregnancy because: a) we always take a vacation of some sort at the end of August into Labor Day; b) I was 30 weeks pregnant at the time of our trip so we were still in the safe zone for commercial flights and comfortable trips; and c) I had just come off a HUGE work project and was in desperate need of a little R&R.
So hot even my dress needed a drink!
We love to travel (can you tell?). I’ve said it hundreds of times and I don’t plan to stop saying it, nor do we plan to stop traveling. If I had it my way, we’d be like the Bucket List Family, traveling to a new destination though not every week, maybe every two weeks or once a month.
Or maybe we could be like the late Anthony Bourdain, traveling the world and highlighting food and culture. We’d give it our own twist, throw in “Olsonville Adventures,” make sure to take great photos and videos featuring our cute baby (or babies) and ride on a camel, or a bottle nosed dolphin, into the sunset! But we’re still early in this parenting journey, and as unapologetically ambitious as I am, the world is ever evolving.
Which is why we are grateful to have gone on this trip. It was a great opportunity to get away, disconnect, minus the occasional Instagram post, and exist in another space as one.
Love Birds in Venice | Photo Credit: Jazmyn Barrett
Why Italy?
We chose Italy for a number of reasons. Here’s a peek into our process:
Acasia: Hey Chris, where should we go on vacation this year?
Chris: Hmmm…I don’t know. Where do you want to go?
A: I don’t know, Morocco, but that’s too hot. Oooohhh what about the Maldives or Santorini! (rushes to computer to look up Santorini details). Ohhh, wait, nope. That’s WAAAYYYY too expensive!
C: Well we were supposed to do Northern Spain this year.
A: Yeah, but maybe it’s better to travel somewhere where it’s difficult to navigate the streets with a stroller because next year, we’ll have a stroller and a carrier and this and that…(insert whatever other baby accessories you need when traveling). Plus we can drive or take the train to N. Spain, which might be less stressful and practical with a 9 month old.
C: Hmmmm, ok.
A: What about a cruise? Like a mediterranean cruise.
Weeks before we’re supposed to set out on our trip and we don’t have one flight booked, let a lone a clue about where we’re going, I reach out to a few travel agents. One kind soul is able to help me out and I send her a few links to some cruise itineraries.
Lonely Planet go-to travel materials
Acasia: Ok so here’s one that is a good 8 days with stops here, here and here.
Kind Soul: Ok, that’s nice. Here’s a price for what you’re looking at
A: Well I like this one too! (which happened to have a better price for similar port stops)
K.S.: Oh that’s nice too. Ok how far along are you in your pregnancy? How many weeks?
A: I’m 24weeks now and will be at 30 weeks on our trip dates.
K.S.: Shucks, I should have asked you earlier. You can’t cruise after 24weeks. No cruise line will let you.
Acasia slowly crumbles, wilts and listlessly slides off her couch ready to curl up into the fetal position.
With less than 2 weeks left to decide and a major work project underway, Chris and I take it old school.
Acasia: Ok Chris, we have to make a decision and soon! August is a breath away, hotels are booking up and let’s not forget about airfare.
Chris: Ok, ok. What do you want to do?
Acasia (rolls eyes and lets out a big sigh): I don’t know what I want to do. Oh! Oh! Here’s what we’re going to do (insert Eureka lightbulb here). I’m going to write the names of places on four pieces of paper and put the folded pieces into this wine glass (wink). You’ll draw a paper and that’s where we’re going.
Chris: Ok.
The look of satisfaction while sipping on an espresso!
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how we ended up with our itinerary. We actually opted for Italy in June/early July BUT there’s so much to see in Italy and we had to narrow down our plans.
Do we stick to one area or go all over the country? How much time do we spend at each location? I was pregnant and really just wanted to chill. But I also wanted to experience a few things since I could easily chill at home too.
This wasn’t our first time in Italy. We vacationed in Naples and Sicily in 2015 and in subsequent years for work. So while Italy wasn’t brand new, we knew there were plenty of new places for us to see and we wanted to see it all. That’s why we had to put locations on a paper and draw from a cup.
Chris picked the tightly folded paper with the words Venice, Rome and Amalfi, which is what I was hoping he would pick, and we went from there.
And what pregnant woman doesn’t want to take a trip to a location where the food is heavenly?
The look of satisfaction while sailing in Venice
The look of satisfaction while at the Colosseum
In the background of all of this planning was trying to sync up our trip with my sister’s schedule. She was set to be done with her tour at her first military duty station and had a few weeks of vacation in between. We hadn’t seen each other in over a year and I wanted to spend time with her before she went to her next site (oh the military life).
Once again, God’s timing was perfect because we got to enjoy the first half of the trip with her and she got to meet her niece, well the growing baby bump that was Baby O. So here’s our little itinerary:
Venice
Venice | Photo Credit: Acasia Olson
We started in Venice the land of lagoons and bridges. Venice is comprised of a bunch of tiny islands connected via these estuaries and accessible by bridge or boat. It blows my mind that this has been the case for centuries and they continue to carry on with life. But why not?
Because we visited in August, there were a lot of tourists and the weather was not merciful. It was hot and not a cloud in sight. But we pushed through.
We arrived at Marco Polo airport (and of course I had a conversation with the gondolier about the fact that we play Marco Polo in the U.S. but they don’t in Venice.
After getting our bags, we proceeded to the dock where we caught a boat. It’s similar to your city bus with a designated route and stops, except the routes are waterways and the stops are docks along the pier.
We were fortunate enough to find out, via YouTube, that it’s best to find a hotel that’s not too far from the water taxi and water bus routes because it’s easy to get lost in Venice with all the turns and bridges and dead ends.
St. Marks Square Venice | Photo Credit: Acasia Olson
Where to stay:
During our planning, we learned that the Cannaregio area was the less crowded and touristy area. Though a 25minute walk from San Marco, the central and more popular area in Venice, we enjoyed how quiet and remote our neighborhood was. The restaurant options were also great, less crowded and much more affordable than the more popular site.
Eurostars Residenza Cannaregio, which offered a free welcome drink and I enjoyed a virgin mojito (my go to)
What to eat:
Whatever your heart so desires. The options are limitless and you can’t go wrong. The restaurants we enjoyed were all top notch, easily accessible and offered great service.
What to do:
Venice | Photo: Acasia Olson
Venice - No filter because yes, it was hot
You can’t miss out on a Gondola ride. Yes, it’s such a tourist thing to do and at 80 euro for a 30min ride, it’s not cheap BUT it’s chill, relaxing and a fun way to see different places along the waterway.
Visita Aqua Alta Bookstore
Enjoy a Vivaldi Concert at any number of cathedrals and music halls
Walk across the Rialto Bridge
Visit the Jewish Quarter
Check out the attractions at Piazza San Marco (St. Marks Square), featuring Saint Mark’s Basilica, Doges Palace
Rialto Bridge | Photo: Acasia Olson
Rialto Bridge View | Photo: Acasia Olson
Highlights:
Venice| Photo: Acasia Olson
The first highlight was reuniting with my sister! It had been over a year and she and I worked out the logistics to do a little tour de Italy. So, this little international reunion was a dream and a glimpse into future sister-sail aways.
Now to Venice. What did I like most about Venice? It seemed stuck in time in a way that I imagined things to be in centuries past. Sure there were a few modern elements to this old city, but it was still old.
It maintains its historic charm. It’s so distinct and doesn’t have any intentions of changing and I can appreciate that.
Riding the gondola
Going to a Vivaldi Tribute concert and being carried away by the strings and soloist
Eating well seasoned, and filling food at a great price
Trying on masks as if we were preparing for Carnival
Riding to the train station on a private taxi boat. It was so classy and fun and we felt all fancy for the 15 minutes of rolling through the water to the train station
Brioche con gelato (yes!)
Venice
Venice
Venice Gondola Ride
Rome & The Vatican
The Colosseum | Photo Credit: Acasia Olson
I have to say that I was über excited to return to Rome. I had been several years prior on a stop over for a work training, but with only 4 hours to get around, I didn’t do more than grab a bite of food to eat, hop on a bus to the Vatican and dash back across town to catch my train to Naples for work.
This time around, we took the train from Venice to Rome and enjoyed the scenes traveling from northern to central Italy. My sister was also pretty excited because her biggest bucket list experience was to see the Colosseum so we were definitely going to spend time at the Colosseum.
Where to stay:
We stayed at Eurostar Roma Aeterna as well as Radisson Blu Es. Roma for our last day in country.
Spanish Steps - Rome, Italy
Spanish Steps - Rome Italy
What and were to eat:
So this was VERY interesting and something to note. Things shut down in Italy. Restaurants go on a little vacation usually sometime in August for at least two weeks. We encountered this on our first trip to Naples and obviously forgot that it’s a reality all over the country. We assumed that Rome, the capital of Italy, would be a little different. But nope. We were wrong and so we changed our meal plans a lot.
I honestly don’t remember the names of each restaurant (I know, shame on this pregnant woman), but I can say that’s because we just ate where we could before turning into a pack of hangry wolves. We got caught in the rain one evening and ran to the only open restaurant and ate to our heart’s content.
We also grabbed pizza at this one spot near the Colosseum.
The only restaurant that I distinctly remember and thoroughly enjoyed Locanda Rigatoni, had amazing dishes and customer service. I could have eaten there each night of our stay in Rome
They do make good tripe and oxtails if you’re interested in trying the cuisine specific to this region.
What to do:
Rome | Photo Credit: Acasia Olson
When in Rome, get to roamin’
Let your jaw drop while taking in the Colosseum (note, there’s a special elevator for seniors, pregnant women and differently abled visitors). Also, make sure to order your passes in advance. We saved LOADS of time waiting in line because we had tickets in hand.
Hop on City Bus Tour. Have your pick and pay attention to pick up and drop off points
Visit the Vatican, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel compound
Enjoy the Spanish Steps
Push your way through crowds at the Trevi Fountain
Highlights:
La Pieta - Vatican | Photo Credit: Acasia Olson
St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica
Baby O getting excited the minute I walked up the stairs of St. Peter’s Basilica
Coming face-to-face with Il Pieta and the awe of the architecture
Looking up at the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
Weaving our way through alleys and buildings to visit the Trevi Fountain.* This place is very crowded so go early morning or bring a top notch selfie stick. You can also be like us and try a few angles, but it’s tough to cut out the people in the background.
Spotting and purchasing “obscure” Aretha Franklin CD’s at a nearby CD and book store.
Trevi Fountain - Rome | Photo Credit: Acasia Olson
Nerano & capri
Mother Life - Capri | Photo Credit: Chris Olson
Nerano is a small beach town in the Sorrento Peninsula about an hour drive to Positano (in good traffic). To get there, we continued our train route, traveling south from Rome to Naples where we met the lovely Enrica of Valestra Transfer & Tour.
The hills are plenty and steep and you’ll either need to rent a car or hire someone to help you drive around the area. This company not only took us too and from our hotel between Naples and Nerano, it also offers day trips and tours to Positano and other cities along the Amalfi coast.
Where to stay:
Nerano | Photo: Acasia Olson
We stayed at Locanda del Capitano, a boutique styled hotel right at the water with a top notch restaurant on site. Our hotel included a fresh and healthy buffet breakfast in the price and our room faced the sea.
Where to eat:
Feast for two - Capri | Photo: Chris Olson
There are restaurants within walking distance, though not a lot. You can eat at restaurants of neighboring hotels, or, if you rent a car or hire someone to take you around, you can also look into restaurants along the coast.
What to do:
Capri - Faraglioni
Capri - Boats
Capri - Waters
We chose to end our little “Tour de Italy,” in the beach town of Nerano because it is a lesser known area, quiet, relaxing and right at the water. We wanted to end our trip chilling on the beach, soaking up the sun and relaxing.
We did take a side excursion to Capri for a little afternoon tour. Our tour included a trip around the island by boat as well as a walking tour to different points. We weren’t restricted to follow the guides, though we needed to keep track of time so we didn’t get left behind.
Shopping is also an option since there are a few little stores in the area.
Highlights:
Babymoon love - Capri
My main highlights include visiting Capri and enjoying all the sites from the various locations on the island.
I enjoyed relaxing on the beach and listening to the waves.
If you have enough time, getting handmade sandals at a shop across the way is also a treat. Though not really cheap, they are customizable and done on site. You might be able to find a shop along the area with shoes in multiple sizes.
For the sandals, you can go in and select a template or design and ask the cobbler to build from there based on your foot shape and size.
Beach life
Sandals
TIPS FOR PREGNANT TRAVELERS
Please, stay hydrated!
If you’re pregnant, plan early. We were pretty busy and swamped leading up to the safe travel zone, so if you don’t want to be stressed further during your pregnancy, do your best to plan well in advance.
Decide on what you want to do. For some couples or (friends who want to do a little girls’ trip while pregnant), if you’re early in your pregnancy and have energy, it makes sense to do everything possible, except for zip lining and other high risk activities.
Stay hydrated, no matter the time of year, stay hydrated.
Wear comfortable clothing. This goes without saying, but figure out what comfortable means for you both while traveling and walking around whatever location you visit. I opted early in my pregnancy to purchase and wear maxi dresses.
I didn’t want to have to fight with zippers and snaps when I had to pee and I definitely didn’t want to keep sizing up on jeans and shorts. So, breathable and stretchable dresses were the quick and easy solution.
I suggest keeping it simple and romantic or at least building in plenty of romantic and relaxing moments to enjoy your significant other. That’s essentially the point of the trip.
If you’re closer to the end of your pregnancy, consider the time of year and your energy levels. We walked a lot and it was hot out. So, give yourself grace, plan to do less than you want. You don’t want to pass out or get sick on your special holiday and you don’t want to have to seek medical attention while away.
In Italy, they were sensitive to my dietary needs and even asked me if I “could” or “really” wanted to eat a certain dish. Some dishes at the restaurants we visited were typically served and prepared rare or not fully cooked, so they often would discourage or offer alternative options and preparations.
In some places, expectant mothers get the royal treatment. On two occasions, the staff brought me to the front of the line when they noticed I was pregnant.
The first happened while waiting in line to pee at the St. Peter’s Basilica in The Vatican. The second was while waiting to board the ferry after leaving Capri.
You don’t have to splurge or do a grand trip. We took advantage of our proximity to Italy from Spain, but you can easily enjoy a weekend staycation in a nearby city or bordering state.