Last-Minute Valentine's Day Getaways

Since President's Day is Monday, Valentine's Day falls on a long weekend, so why not take advantage and make a quick escape just for the two of you. Here are half a dozen suggestions of intimate resorts where you can reconnect on and off the court, if not over Valentine's Day weekend then another.

•Rosemary Beach, in the Florida Panhandle, is not so much a resort as a small, architecturally inspired town set behind high white-sand dunes along the Gulf of Mexico. Pathways and narrow streets connect neighborhoods of cottages, large and small, with a few shops and restaurants, a day spa, two village greens, a bed-and-breakfast, and a racquet club with 8 clay courts. Valentine's specials start at $189/night with lots of complimentary amenities, including free tennis lesson and personal fitness training for two, discounted spa treatments, a champagne toast, DVD rentals, late checkout, and more.

•Green Valley Spa, St. George, Utah. Promise an elegant junior suite with down bedding, a jetted tub, fireplace, and private courtyard, just steps from the courts and a full-service spa and a short drive from the red-rock spectacle that is Zion National Park. But do it in a card on Valentine's Day and wait at least a week before going, because there's a junior tournament scheduled for weekend of Feb. 13-14, taking up courts ordinarily used for the science-based Vic Braden Tennis College programs, a great way for the two of you to improve your on-court play. In spring, room only packages start at $189/night.

•Rancho Valencia Resort, Rancho Santa Fe, California. Bed down in an ultra-spacious Mediterranean suite with an oversize bath, cathedral ceiling, a hand-painted tile fireplace, and private garden patio. On Sunday, Feb. 14, join locals from all over San Diego County and other guests in a big mixed doubles round robin, followed by appetizers and drinks and lots of camaraderie or have the staff set up matches or clinics for you any day.

•Meadowood Napa Valley, St. Helena, California. Hurry: With only 85 rooms, suites, and cottages, many Valentine's weekend room types are already booked. But what could be better on Valentine's Day than a gorgeous setting, fine wine, great food, and visits to vineyards combined with with a solid tennis instruction, spa services, even world-class croquet courts?

•Wild Dunes, Isle of Palms, South Carolina. Couple a carriage ride through historic Charleston with the best of a resort vacation, including a diverse and well-honed tennis program, a choice of hotel and villa lodging, 2½ miles of beach, 36 holes of golf, and miles of bike trails. Check out their "Wild Winter Promotion" rates, with deluxe rooms at the Boardwalk Inn and some villas reduced 30%.

•Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. It's still shoulder season here in northeast Florida, so you probably won't be getting in the Atlantic, but that only adds to the allure of the 15 Har-Tru courts under former touring pro Mike Leach, and to the spa, oceanview fitness center, and handsome junior suites just steps from the ocean. On Sunday, Feb. 14, they're running their annual Sweetheart Mixer, a couples round robin. During this off-season, an oceanfront room with daily breakfast and unlimited tennis starts at $237/night.

Your Recent Reviews

Here's a sample of recent critiques of the top resorts and camps by other vacationers.

• John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
  "This is the third time I have been to Newks and I come back because I feel for the price it is good value. The food is home cooked buffet style and there is always plenty. The accommodation might not be five star but the rooms are clean and for the time that you spend in them are just fine.
  The tennis pros work really hard to make sure there is enough drills to keep even the most addicted tennis players happy. Groups are kept small enough so that you get to hit a good number of balls and the pros are very happy to help correct your strokes and answer questions. ' Evening entertainment at the bar is fun and often can continue quite late.
  Great value but not for those looking for a five star resort ... It is all about the tennis!"—M.M., Adv., January 2012

• Couples Swept Away Negril, Jamaica
  "My wife and I got back from our 12th trip to CSA on Dec 10 2011. The weather was great. The tennis was great. The food was great. The service was outstanding at all parts of the resort. Just another trip to CSA. We're going back in March."—J.F., Adv. Int., December 2011

• Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Florida
  "My best overall experience yet between the tennis, accomodations, amenities and food. Everything was first class. The tennis instruction received from Elad and Max was excellent. Highly recommended."—M.S., Int., January 2012

• NIKE Amherst Adult Tennis Camp, Massachusetts
  "Strenghts: Instruction first and foremost. It is the best. Friendly. Love the Amherst campus and surronding area. Did I say great tennis. Comradery of the campers and staff. Weakness: Food, but I came for the tennis. One can always go off campus for dinner."—D.H., Int., January 2012

• PBI Tennis Camp at Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, Tirol Austria
  "My wife and I have been regulars at Stanglwirt ever since we discovered it six years ago. We will return this year and spend a week in June 2011 with great pleasure. We both enjoy tennis that it is well organized from the team of PBI. Adri and her team of pros have been exceptional, attentive, patient (with my wife) and offered both group and individualized instruction and feedback. I appreciated that they were well-prepared and extremely knowledgeable. Along with structure to our activities they created a fun and collegial environment."—F.T., Adv., February 2011

On the Road

Dispatches from my latest travels

Club Med-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Rosewood Little Dix Bay, British Virgin Islands

Boulevard Village & Tennis Club, Vero Beach, Florida

The Inn at Palmetto Bluff, Bluffton, South Carolina

Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas, Texas

Caneel Bay, A Rosewood Resort, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Vic Braden Tennis College at Green Valley Resort & Spa, Utah

Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen, Virginia

Upcoming Events

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Sponsors

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Sponsor

Rated one of the Top 50 Tennis Resorts in the country, the 24-court Pinehurst Tennis Club hosts USTA events, team competitions, and scheduled adult camps (June 1-3, Aug. 17-19, and Oct. 26-28, 2012) while also offering the flexibility of custom-designed group, team, and individual packages, which include all the amenities of this Forbes Four Star Resort and Spa. For more information, visit www.pinehurst.com

Sponsor

All here. All yours. All pro. Escape to the Four-Diamond beachfront Longboat Key Club & Resort and enjoy complimentary play on our USTA award-winning, 20-court Tennis Gardens. Experience golf, spa, dining, and Sarasota’s culture and nightlife – it’s all here and it’s all yours. Click here now for Perfect Getaway Rates. For more information, visit www.longboatkeyclub.com

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Win a Tennis Vacation

Two minutes of your time could win you a tennis vacation. Rate any resort or camp you've been to and you're automatically entered in our sweepstakes for one of the following tennis holidays:

• New England Tennis Holidays at Sugarbush: Two nights lodging in a Clay Brook condominium, two days of tennis camp (five hours a day) on Har-Tru courts, lunch both days, and dinner the second night for two people at this new Vermont venue for the top-rated New England Tennis Holidays.
• Saddlebrook Tennis: A tennis weekend for two, including two nights luxurious accommodations, five hours of intensive tennis (for both people), video analysis, breakfast daily, and admittance to the spa and fitness center at this world-renowned resort in Wesley Chapel, near Tampa, Florida.
• TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, Destin, Florida: Three nights lodging in a two-bedroom courtside Tennis Villa or deluxe two-bedroom condominium plus complimentary court time, tennis clinic, round robin, one-hour use of ball machine, and souvenir for two players.

Exclusive Packages and Specials

Discounts, room upgrades, and special packages only available on Tennis Resorts Online.

IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy, Florida
TRO Special: $100 Off Full-week Adult Camps
Tennis Resorts Online has secured a $100/week discount on any Adult tennis camp you book at the Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Book two weeks, get $200 off. Discount applies to full weeks only. To get it, phone toll-free 800-872-6425 and mention this discount code: U_NY4252.

Not sure what you want? Send an online brochure request.

*Note: May not be combined with other discounts.

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John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas
TRO Exclusive: Save $100!
Tennis Resorts Online users can claim a special $100/person discount on any Sunday-Friday adult package Newk's offers between now and the end of May 2012. To get it, telephone reservations toll-free at 800-444-6204 or email the Ranch. You must mention Tennis Resorts Online to get the discount. Request a brochure.

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Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman), Florida
Free Upgrade to One-bedroom Suite + Amenity Basket
Book the Saddlebrook Tennis School (which offers five hours a day of instruction) and a regular deluxe guest room at Saddlebrook Resort and they'll upgrade you to a one-bedroom suite* at no extra cost (two-night minimum) and include a complimentary Saddlebrook Amenity basket.

To get it, phone toll-free 800-729-8383 and ask for the Tennis Resorts Online Upgrade.

*Subject to availability at the time of booking

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(More Discounts & Specials)

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