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.
Here's a sample of recent critiques of the top resorts and camps by other vacationers.
Dispatches from my latest travels
Club Med-Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
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
NE Tennis Holidays
#1 U.S. tennis camp; VT/FL/NH Cape Cod;Fine dining/lodging
netennisholidays.com
Summer Rates: Caneel Bay
#1 Carib. Tennis Resort awaits Rates: $395+ from May 1, 2010
www.caneelbay.com
indicates a tournament
Ladies 3.5 Interstate Team Challenge, TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, Florida
For teams of women with an average NTRP rating of no more than 3.5.
Wild West Tennis Camp, Doral Desert Princess Resort & Spa, California
12-hour camp for all levels with welcome brunch, logo prizes, and ticket to one day of the BNP Paribas tournament.
Wild West Tennis Camp, Doral Desert Princess Resort & Spa, California
12-hour camp for all levels with welcome brunch, logo prizes, and ticket to one day of the BNP Paribas tournament.
Ladies Senior 4.0 Interstate Team Challenge, TOPS'L Beach & Racquet Resort, Florida
For teams of senior women with an average NTRP rating of no more than 4.0.
Dennis Ralston Premier Camp, Ralston Tennis, California, Phone: 760-636-4055
For all levels
BNP Paribas Open. Phone: 800-999-1585. www.bnpparibasopen.org
The former Pacific Life Open, this combined WTA/ATP singles and doubles event takes place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the Palm Springs desert, with Rafael Nadal and Vera Zvonareva as defending champions (the main draw begins Mar. 10 following two days of qualifying events). For lodging check out La Quinta Resort & Club, Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Shadow Mountain Resort, Westin Mission Hills, Mission Hills Country Club.
Play Roddick, Clijsters, Canas, Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, Florida
The Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne is staging a round-robin mixer (max. 40 entrants) during the Sony Ericsson Open. Top men finishers get a shot at returning Andy Roddick's serve while the top women finishers get to challenge Kim Clijsters. Several other events planned, including a King/Queen of the Court featuring Roddick, Clijsters, and Guillermo Canas and a champagne reception. For more information, contact Mark Chellas at 305.365.4300 or mark.chellas@ritzcarlton.com
Grand Slam Weekend: Fred Stolle, Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, Florida, Phone: 305-933-6925
Fred Stolle, winner of 17 Grand Slam titles and a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, presides over a weekend of tennis festivities. It begins with a pro-am round robin tournament, a pro exhibition, and wine reception with Fred Stolle and other celebrities on Friday evening. That's followed on Saturday by a Grand Slam doubles clinic, lunch, and the awards ceremony.
Azalea Spring Tennis Classic, Callaway Gardens, Georgia
A USTA-sanctioned event with divisions for Men's singles, Open through 85; and Men's doubles, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Dennis Ralston Premier Camp, Ralston Tennis, California, Phone: 760-636-4055
For all levels
Sony Ericsson Open. Phone: 800-725-5472. www.sonyericssonopen.com/
Fields of 96 men and 96 women compete in this major event (part of the Masters Series for men, and a top tier event for women) held at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Florida.
Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Finals, La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, California
Rain forced a delay of the Pacific Coast Men's Doubles Finals, which have been rescheduled to Easter Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.
U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. Phone: 713-527-0345. www.mensclaycourt.com
Held at River Oaks in Houston, Texas.
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See Also: Map of Europe and North Africa
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Discounts, room upgrades, and special packages only available on Tennis Resorts Online.
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.
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Port Royal Racquet Club, South Carolina
Special Weekend Group Packages
A specialist in group packages, Port Royal is offering Tennis Resorts Online users a special 4-day/3-night program for groups of 4 or more. It consists of deluxe lodging in two-bedroom villas (based on 4 people per villa), 6 hours of clinics, complimentary court time, a welcome social, souvenirs and a 15% discount on pro shop merchandise. The cost is $405/person with lodging; $150/person without lodging.
To book, call Tanda at 843-686-8803 and tell her you want the "Tennis Resorts Online Group Package."
John Newcombe Tennis Ranch, Texas (Juniors)
TRO Special: 10% Off Junior Camps
Tennis Resorts Online has secured a 10% discount on any weeklong (Sun.-Fri./Sat.) junior camp you book at the John Newcombe Tennis Ranch. The discount may not be combined with other offers. To get it, phone toll-free 800-444-6204 and mention this discount code: JR-TRO10. Request a brochure.