Travel agents say inquiries from parents-to-be about holiday destinations have shot up.

It’s not only Prince William and Kate Middleton who were on a relaxing vacation before the birth of their baby: couples in Chennai too, are now going on ‘babymoons’ – holidaying both in India and abroad just before their little bundle of joy arrives.

Road trips, beach getaways and houseboat cruises are some popular options for these holidays, and while babymooning is quite common abroad, the concept is now picking up in India, with an increasing number of couples opting for it, say travel agents.

When they were expecting their baby, IT engineer Tanushree Sharan and her husband, residents of Gopalapuram, decided to go on a trip to Puducherry and Ooty. “We thought that since it would be a while before we could travel with the baby, we ought to go on a holiday before the birth,” Tanushree said in an email, adding that since they were travelling at their own pace, it was relaxed and comfortable.

Vipul Kasera, founder of www.lifeisoutside.com, a travel portal for weekends and short getaways, said the number of enquiries for babymoons has shot up by around 40 per cent over the last year or so. “It’s a trend that is catching on. We have put together a bunch of getaways but a lot of people call us and we explain to them where they could go based on their requirements,” he said.

In India, resorts in Kerala, Karnataka and Rajasthan are popular, while Maldives is a hot destination abroad, he said. “For many people, an easy drive is a requirement, so it also depends on where they are based. What we’ve also found is that couples like to splurge on their babymoons – they want it to be a luxury vacation since it could be one of their last as just a couple,” he said.

A lot of couples also travel just before planning to start a family, said Sankalp Agarwal of Travel Triangle, a portal that connects travellers with local experts. “Goa, Europe, the United States and southeast Asia are also popular spots. We see a lot of couples in the IT sector opting for these vacations. Apart from relaxation, it’s also a nice indulgence, as after the baby, there’s often only one income for a while, which may make travel less affordable,” he said.

Sumana Manohar, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Apollo Hospitals, gets a lot of queries from expecting couples who want to plan a holiday. “Couples who can afford it definitely want a vacation. It’s becoming more common now,” she said, adding that it is safe to travel during the first and second trimesters.

Comfort is key. Only plan a babymoon if you love travelling says Tanushree, otherwise it can be more of a hassle than fun. But if you want to unwind, visit a spa and nap as much as you like before sleepless nights arrive, a holiday may just be called for!