Surprise Mom with One of These Vacation Ideas

Moms can be famously hard to shop for — the best way to relax and treat Mom this year might be with a vacation! The best part is that the meaningful trip can take place over the summer or later in the year.

Whether your mom is into wellness, culture or shopping, is an adventurous mom, loves a good spa day, or is an Instagrammer, the below are top international getaways that will create enduring memories. Destinations include Antigua, Grenadines, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, Greece, and France.

Moms can be famously hard to shop for — the best way to relax and treat Mom this year might be with a vacation! The best part is that the meaningful trip can take place over the summer or later in the year.  Whether your mom is into wellness, culture or shopping, is an adventurous mom, loves a good spa day, or is an Instagrammer, the below are top international getaways that will create enduring memories. Destinations include Antigua, Grenadines, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Panama, Greece, and France.

Moms Who Instagram (in Jamaica)

S Hotel Jamaica in Montego Bay, with its forward thinking design and a modern take on Jamaican hospitality, offers a seamless vacation experience with a boutique-style atmosphere perfect for moms who Instagram. While some may enjoy the traditional Mother’s Day brunch, moms-in-the-know, like celebrity mom, and the Season 7 Bachelorette, Ashley Hebert, enjoy breakfast on a floating tray in the hotel’s Instagram-worthy Sky Deck Pool. This breakfast experience served poolside on one of the hotel’s iconic red loungers or in the famous Sky Deck Pool, is available at an additional $110 per couple.

The Adventurous Mom (in Panama)

Whether your mom is a soft adventure aficionado or an intrepid traveler seeking high-adrenaline experiences, Los Establos in the heart of Boquete, Panama offers the ultimate all-inclusive, holistic adventure travel experience. Located 4,000 feet above sea, the 17-room boutique property, is a never-ending colorful mosaic with a stand-out service and unique selling point of 13 tours to choose from, all of which are included in a stay at the hotel. The concierge team easily arranges visits to these nearby attractions such as hiking, bird watching, zip lining, white water rafting, coffee immersion classes, a canyon tea tasting tour, and a trip to ancient cloud forests, where hidden waterfalls create ethereal mists, and flora and fauna converge in one of Panama’s most holistic natural experiences.

For the Cultural Mom (in Greece)

A vibrant cultural capital, Athens has so much to offer beyond archaeological sites. Discover Greece invites moms to explore the unexpected modern side of the city. Moms can stroll along the ancient streets and visit the Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation, National Gallery of Athens or National Museum of Contemporary Art to see various treasures. They can also get to know one of the mothers of modern Greek photography at the Benaki Museum who has organized the largest exhibition of photographs by the woman who is often called Greece’s best photographer. The exhibit, which runs through July 23, reintroduces the “great lady of Greek photography” to a modern audience.

For the Mom Seeking Authentic Experiences (in Costa Rica)

Situated in the Guanacaste Province on the Nicoya Peninsula – designated one of the world’s Blue Zones, Hotel Punta Islita, Autograph Collection offers an authentic Costa Rican experience. The intimate retreat invites culture moms to discover Punta Islita’s balanced life philosophy through activities that connect with community, culture, and deep respect for the planet. The Blue Zone Circuit is where she can learn about the traditional rural lifestyles of Guanacaste and the Outdoor Contemporary Art Museum combining the social concept of art and creative thinking as a generator of sustainable development. This groundbreaking initiative pairs leading Costa Rican and international contemporary artists with emerging talent from local communities. Together they have created 28 works of outdoor art, dozens of temporary exhibitions in the Museum House (Casa Museo), and countless workshops.

The Mom Who Spas (in Switzerland and Greece)

There’s no better place to spa than in Graubunden, Switzerland, where wellness has been a tradition since medieval times. There are a half-dozen leading thermal spa sites in Graubunden, and not to be overlooked is Bogn Engiadina in Scuol, known for its Roman-Irish baths and unique mineral springs where aristocracy, authors, poets and the like have been making pilgrimages to since the mid-1300s. Stay at the grand Hotel Belvédère, a traditional yet innovative wellness hotel dating back to 1876.

Mom-to-Be/Babymoon (in Antigua) 

Perched alongside a stunning oceanfront and coastline that backs onto a quarter-mile of white-sand beaches, Pineapple Beach Club Antigua is the perfect destination for the mom-to-be. Famous for its friendly and attentive staff and breathtaking views, the all-inclusive resort combines wonderful dining with unlimited opportunities for relaxation and adventure. Located on 30 beautiful beachfront acres, moms and moms-to-be can choose from many relaxing activities such as lounging poolside, hunting for souvenirs, or exploring the island on one of the amazing tours and excursions. Or simply give in to bliss at Tranquility Body & Soul Spa.

The Chic Mom (in France)

The coastal beauty and creative splendor of the French Riviera beckons. Chic moms will find everything that made this region synonymous with glamorous summer vacations—glittering beaches, Michelin-starred restaurants, and artistic inspiration. Hôtel Belles Rives, an Art Deco gem that stands above the sparkling blue waters of the Mediterranean, is a testament to the breezy extravagance of a bygone era yet reveals a modern design. Casual lunches and classic cocktails can be found at the newly renovated Bar Fitzgerald, named for the property’s original resident. To see and be seen, head to the hotel’s private beach to splash out at the Water Sports Club, sunbathe on the terraced deck, or stroll the jetty that’s home to the hotel’s private boat dock. Moms can extend that sun kissed, blissed-out feeling with an innovative treatment by luxe Swiss skincare house, Valmont at its namesake beauty corner.

The Outdoorsy Mom (in Costa Rica)

Located on 17 acres of beachfront forest, surrounded by mangroves and the unparalleled natural beauty of the Gulf of Papagayo, the 121-suite El Mangroove, Autograph Collection is the idyllic destination to celebrate Mother’s Day. Whether relaxing at the 130-foot long fresh-water, black-tiled pool facing the beach, visiting the Bearth Spa, where therapies using healing local ingredients are offered in serene relaxation terraces amid the mangroves or heading to the beach to swim, fish, snorkel, or take to a sunset cruise on the Pacific, El Mangroove offers couples the perfect getaway to experience nature in its purest form.

The boutique hotels located in Sifnos Island, Greece, Verina Astra and Verina Terra are an effortless celebration in outdoor living. The Verina Team of experts can curate the perfect Sifnian day for the mom who loves to spend time in the natural wonder of Sifnos. Yoga sessions in the stunning Verina Terra Yoga deck, under the olive trees, or high atop the hill at Verina Astra. A guided hike over 100km of professionally marked trails. Or explore neighboring (and even uninhabited) islands, swim in secluded bays, enjoy sunset at sea, and discover the freedom of roaming the Cyclades by boat.

Goddess Mom (in Greece)

For the Goddess Mom in your life, Anthologist offers unique items that celebrate heritage, authenticity, and the human drive to seek beauty and meaning… a true shoppable museum of objects that tell stories. One such item is the Anthologist Goddess Bracelet ($225). Worn as part of traditional costumes in northern Greece, Anthologist creative director and founder Andria Mitsakos discovered this bracelet, which represents female fertility, in a flea market. Using it as inspiration, she created this piece in honor of her mother reflecting the story of her birth.

The Gastronome Mom (in Antigua and Greece)

Tucked between a peaceful lagoon and the white-sand shore of the Caribbean Sea, Elite Island Resorts with five resorts in Antigua including the adults-only Pineapple Beach Club and family-friendly The Verandah Resort & Spa. Moms can dine on the sand under thatched palapas at either resort or relax with a massage. With all the resorts located near some of Antigua’s top restaurants, foodie moms can also savor the Caribbean beyond the beach during Antigua and Barbuda Restaurant Week. With so many flavors of these vibrant cultures, Restaurant Week couldn’t fit into one 7-day span, so this “week” is actually 14 days – May 7-21, 2023.

An ode to nature and a stylish sanctuary, Blue Palace, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, is where moms have the opportunity to sample tasting menus from culinary luminaries who celebrate the open-fire cooking techniques of nomadic people. The Game-Changers of Greek Cuisine series or the exclusive two-hourPHĀEA Farmers’ Feast experience, allows Foodie Moms to harvest the ingredients from the organic garden for a farm-to-table dinner under a pergola, paired with just the right glass of wine.

Moms Who Love a Family Getaway (in Antigua and Greece)

Ideally situated on 30 acres of stunning beachfront and indented coastlines in Antigua, The Verandah Resort & Spa is the perfect place for moms who want to go on a fun-filled family getaway. Featuring a backdrop of lush green gardens, stunning tropical views, and a shimmering turquoise sea, this all-Inclusive resort offers engaging activities, a variety of dining options, and entertaining nightlife.

 In Greece, at Cretan Malia Park moms get to celebrate the slow and soulful pace of Cretan life this summer. The littlest members of the group can also immerse themselves in Cretan soul at the Little Explorers Kids’ Club, where children enjoy crafts, games, lessons on Cretan myths and legends, mini gardening in the organic Kids’ Club garden, and quiet time in the Kids’ Library. Older children can learn the basics of beach safety and lifeguarding with a 5-hour course over spread over 5 days through the Nipper Programme. Moms can enjoy spa treatments, biking or other fitness adventures with the whole family. And at night, watching outdoor movies together.

A Second Home for Mom (in Costa Rica)

Now, for the first time ever, El Mangroove, Autograph Collection, the 121-all suite resort located within the Blue Zone of Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula on the prestigious Gulf of Papagayo launches its new residences, offering 13 chic and eco-conscious luxury residences. Award-winning Costa Rican architects Garnier Arquitectos and Ronald Zürcher designed the three- and four-bedroom, single-family, villa-style residence features to reflect a contemporary aesthetic inspired by the indigenous flora, and fauna, as well as the ocean views that surround the property. El Mangroove, Autograph Collection® Residences are fully managed, maintained and serviced by the hotel’s Autograph Collection-Marriott-trained staff.

Mom Who Has it All But a Private Island (in the Grenadines)

Give the mom who has it all, the full resort! Accessible only by private launch, Palm Island Resort is a luxe 135-acre private island oasis with 41 suites and three spacious villas in the Grenadines. The adult-oriented all-inclusive resort and spa is offering a total buyout package so that Mom and 99 of her closest friends can enjoy the island all to themselves. Credited with one of the finest spas in the area, the resort boasts two restaurants and options for secluded picnics or romantic dinners. Resort amenities include full gym to snorkeling, kayaking, Hobie cats and more. The rose-hued Pink Lady, a 37-foot classic sailing boat and Catamaran Yanni, are also available to guests.