Padel and Tennis Holidays
You know the stereotypes: pickleballers are famously sociable, tennis players uphold tradition and padel enthusiasts strike a balance between friendly and competitive. While these communities peacefully coexist (albeit with a hint of rivalry), they share more than they’d care to admit, especially when it comes to travel. All three sports make for exceptional holiday companions.
Whether you're looking to elevate your game or try something new, our guide to the best padel holidays and hotels with tennis courts serves up the perfect mix of volleys, sunshine and sangrias.
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Best padel holidays
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Best tennis getaway
Racquet Club Villa Padierna
Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort
Best padel holidays
Though padel traces its origins to Mexico, it was Spain that gave the sport its international footing. The opening of the first two courts at the Marbella Club in the 1970s, and the tournaments that followed, helped padel flourish across Europe and beyond. Today, the continent remains a stronghold of clubs, infrastructure and competitive play. But as the sport gains global momentum, new destinations are emerging. When Europe cools, the Gulf offers year-round sunshine and a growing constellation of courts, making it the ideal escape for padel enthusiasts chasing both warmth and world-class play.
Spain: play in the sport’s heartland
Every padel player worth their salt dreams of playing at a Spanish club, widely considered the best in the world. Here, in the sport’s heartland, the club culture runs deep.
Experience it firsthand at the legendary Nueva Alcántara Club in sunny Marbella. As an official M3 Padel Academy, the club follows the M3 Method, a high-performance training philosophy designed to elicit envious glances from your local court. Operating year-round, it welcomes players of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Stay nearby at Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Resort (just 20 minutes by car), where the on-site racquet club offers tennis, squash, padel and badminton for solo practice or friendly matches. Between sessions, the resort’s exceptional gastronomy provides a nourishing complement to your sporting escape.
If you're serious about elevating your game, M3 Academy in Madrid is known for running intensive training programmes for international padel players. Small-group coaching is led by Jorge Martínez, director of the M3 Padel Academy, using the same methodology that’s shaped top-tier athletes like Galán, Fede Chingotto, Delfi Brea and other professionals on the world padel circuit.
And all that time on the court doesn’t mean missing out on the fun, as Madrid is alive with culture, cuisine and green spaces, plus stylish hotels in the city’s most vibrant barrios. At NH Collection Madrid Eurobuilding, you’ll be minutes from the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to some of the world’s most prestigious football fixtures, while enjoying access to three outdoor padel courts for when you’d rather play than spectate.
Tivoli La Caleta Tenerife Resort
World Padel Tour court
In Tenerife, Top Padel Adeje is located within the Tenerife Top Training (T3) sports centre, offering four crystal padel courts with state-of-the-art grass and one-on-one coaching, all under the island’s year-round sunshine. Just minutes away, Tivoli La Caleta Tenerife Resort boasts an official World Padel Tour court. Even if you’re not a guest, you can book the court as part of a package that pairs your padel session with a relaxing post-game ritual in the resort’s Suite & Tea Lounge, complete with a complimentary refreshing drink. A win-win for sport and serenity.
Top padel holidays in Porto, Portugal
Improve your backhand volley in Portugal
With a name like Tivoli Estela Golf & Lodges Porto, you might expect a golfer’s paradise, and you’d be right. But there’s another game in town that’s just as popular. While golfers perfect their swing along one of North Portugal’s finest beaches, padel players can enjoy friendly matches on two well-maintained courts, followed by a soothing recovery session in the sauna. Historic Porto is just 45 minutes away, yet you’ll be tempted to stay put in your luxury lodge, nestled among towering trees.
For those seeking structured training, Top-padel Fluvial situated near the scenic Douro River is one of Porto’s premier venues, offering both indoor and outdoor courts, expert coaching and regular tournaments. Padel Athletic Club (PAC) is another favourite, especially among expats, thanks to its English-speaking coaches and beginner-friendly programmes. Norte Padel and Total Padel complete the lineup with highly competitive social communities, tailored training sessions and flexible booking options.
Best padel holidays in Italy
Stylish play in Italy
Another padel-crazy European country is Italy, which ranks second only to Spain in global popularity and infrastructure, making it ideal for a padel holiday. Over the past few years, padel has surged from a niche pastime into a full-blown national obsession. Rome, in particular, stands out as a padel powerhouse, with more than 1,500 courts and over 400 clubs. With nearly 250,000 active players in the capital alone, solo travellers will find no shortage of partners to volley with. To truly feel the pulse of Italy’s padel passion, visit during the BNL Italy Major Premier Padel tournament, held each summer at the iconic Foro Italico in Rome.
Milan also boasts excellent infrastructure, with dozens of clubs listed on platforms like Playtomic. For die-hard fans, the NH Milano Congress Centre is a dream stay. It’s located next to the MilanoFiori Paddle Club, featuring four state-of-the-art courts with special rates for hotel guests, a competitive padel school, amateur and corporate tournaments, summer camps, private events and national FIT competitions.
This being the land of fashion, Italy is also shaping the lifestyle side of padel. Sportswear brands like Joma Italia and Erreà now produce padel-specific apparel, blending high-performance fabrics with sleek Mediterranean style. Italy’s padel boom has even sparked collaborations between designers and clubs, resulting in limited-edition collections and stylish courtwear to elevate your fashion game on and off the court.
Best Padel Holidays in Middle East
Desert rally: glamorous playgrounds in the Middle East
Resorts, where time stretches luxuriously during holidays, lend themselves naturally to team sports, and padel is leading the charge. Across the Middle East, properties that have redefined hospitality are now setting the standard for recreational padel, blending sport with scenery and elevated service. But it’s not just about leisure. The region is fast becoming a powerhouse for elite competition, with Premier Padel and the World Padel Championships hosted in both Dubai and Doha, two destinations rising in popularity for padel-focused holidays.
In the UAE, every Emirate seems to be vying for the padel crowd. In tranquil Ras Al Khaimah, Anantara Mina Al Arab Ras Al Khaimah Resort sits on a private peninsula with golden sands and sweeping lagoon-to-ocean views. Here, a sleek padel court offers an energetic alternative to kayaking through the mangroves, perfect for guests who crave movement with their mindfulness.
On the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the world’s largest sand desert, the Empty Quarter, beckons with camel rides, archery, falconry and yes, padel. At Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, you can play amid flame-coloured dunes that shimmer like a mirage under desert skies, then soothe sore muscles in a hammam with desert rose rituals.
Tennis Getaways in Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
In Qatar, you can play padel at local clubs while watching the pros take to the courts during the World Padel Championships in October or even combine your padel holiday with other major events like the F1 Grand Prix. If you prefer not to commute to a local club, Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara is an active traveller’s dream. With a water park, dive centre, multiple pools, mini golf, bowling, and clubs for kids and teens, it’s a playground for all ages. The adventure park thrills with ziplining, rock climbing and giant jumps, but for padel fanatics, the court is the crown jewel.
Best tennis getaways
Compared to tennis, which traces its lineage to medieval France and was later codified in Victorian England, padel is a relative newcomer. Aristocratic links that once gave tennis an air of exclusivity still linger (one visit to Wimbledon is proof enough), but the sport has evolved into a more egalitarian pursuit, played everywhere from Thailand and the Maldives to the Old Continent. Its democratisation also means more hotels with tennis courts, making it easier to play wherever you stay.
Play where the sun stays: Portugal
England may be the birthplace of modern tennis but it’s not known for reliable sunshine. For a tennis escape with guaranteed blue skies, head south. Portugal offers not only ideal weather but also a rich sporting culture.
On the banks of the Mondego River in central Portugal lies Coimbra, home to one of Europe’s oldest universities. Located roughly 200 km north of Lisbon and 120 km south of Porto, it’s a convenient stopover between the country’s two major cities and well worth more than a passing glance. Once the capital of Portugal, Coimbra is a medieval fairytale with green spaces, riverside walks and nearby nature escapes. Add to that a thriving tennis culture, and you’ve got the makings of a well-rounded holiday.
Tennis getaway in Portugal
Coimbra, Portugal
Clube Ténis de Coimbra is one of the most established tennis clubs in the region, with top-notch facilities including three hard courts, two synthetic grass courts and a unique beach tennis court. Training is available for all ages and skill levels, from beginners to high-performance athletes, with equipment rental and a peaceful, green setting near the city centre.
For youngsters, the top choice is the UAUDream Tennis Academy, affiliated with the Portuguese Tennis Federation, with structured programmes combining competitive coaching with integrated physical training. Adults can opt for initiation or advanced classes, including cardio tennis and private lessons.
And if you’re staying at NH Coimbra Dona Inês, you’ll find on-site tennis courts ready for a casual rally or a more focused session.
Courts and coral: playing tennis in the Maldives
The Maldives may be best known for its overwater villas, reef diving and spa rituals, but for those who prefer a racket to a snorkel, the archipelago offers more than just idle luxury. There is a growing number of hotels with tennis courts, coaching programmes and active itineraries that balance movement with stillness.
Tennis Getaways in Maldives
Fresh from an island-wide reimagining, NH Collection Maldives Reethi Resort offers a considered mix of leisure and sport. Guests can alternate between beach volleyball, tennis, badminton or pickleball, with a well-equipped gym providing space for strength training, cardio and yoga. Avani+ Fares Maldives Resort is another strong contender for the best tennis getaway, with a jungle-clad court that feels both secluded and cinematic. The resort also hosts offbeat wellness retreats, including the popular “Baa Atoll Ballet Retreat” led by Royal Ballet-trained dancer Karis Scarlette. It’s worth checking the website for upcoming events.
Meanwhile, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas goes further, adding a Muay Thai ring, trampoline park, climbing wall and even a star observatory to its roster of diversions. Tennis courts, of course, are part of the mix.
Raise your game in Thailand
Thailand offers further proof that a sporting escape needn’t come at the expense of serenity. In the Thai capital, Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort is an established wellness retreat on the lush banks of the Chao Phraya River, complete with a tennis court and a generous dose of calm. Here, tennis play can be paired with restorative IV infusions, sports massage, nutritional guidance and more, ensuring a well-rounded wellness experience.
For those travelling solo, Bangkok’s tennis scene is well-stocked with clubs that welcome visitors. Try Le Smash Club & Tennis Academy in the Rama 3 area (bonus: pickleball courts), The British Club Bangkok (befriend a member to access coaching led by Marcel Petit and team) or The Fifty Tennis & Fitness Club near On Nut BTS.
Anantara Layan Phuket Resort
Best padel holidays in Thailand
Further south, on the northern tip of Phuket, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort and Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas where scenes from Netflix’s Mother of the Bride were filmed offer a chance to relieve the film’s comedic pickleball moment (although it’s tennis that takes centre court at both resorts). With Southeast Asia in the grip of a pickleball boom, there’s no better time to give the upstart sport a try.
Put your game face on in The Middle East
As with padel, tennis is well represented across the Middle East, with clubs and academies offering serious coaching, and resorts providing space for off-duty play. At NH Collection Dubai The Palm set on the man-made marvel of Palm Jumeirah guests can access adjacent tennis and padel courts at T&T Sports, with open matches bookable online. Deep in the desert, Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara courts are arguably the most spectacular, framed by shifting dunes and flaming sunsets. In Qatar, Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara sets the bar for on-site sporting facilities, from tennis and padel to rock climbing.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, destinations that embrace tennis tend to be just as enthusiastic about padel, and vice versa. So if you’ve ever snobbishly dismissed padel as inferior, or found tennis a touch too stiff, padel holidays or hotels with tennis courts are your chance to cross over to the other side, while the sun is shining.
