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Contents: Tennis Tour Companies | Win a Tennis Vacation! | TRO Specials/Discounts
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Tennis Tour Companies

Chet Shuman wanted to surprise his wife Evelyn with something special for her 60th birthday. "She's a self-confessed tennis nut so I thought we'd take a family trip to Wimbledon," he remembers, "but I didn't know how to go about getting just tickets for the tournament." After asking the advice of friends, he put in a call to Grand Slam Tennis Tours. "They were very responsive, gave us a choice of hotels and their prices seemed reasonable, so we booked a package with them."
spaceWimbledon in particular and the Grand Slams in general are the hottest tickets in tennis. Mere mortals cannot get them, it seems, especially not great seats to the late rounds, no matter how far in advance they plan. Yet as the Shumans discovered, a hassle-free means to see any of these major tournaments, and others as well, is just a toll-free call away.
spaceTo help, Tennis Resorts Online has compiled an overview of the major tennis tour companies. That includes basic information on the tours they offer as well as links to their websites for more information. We've also put together a table of things to keep in mind to help you decide which outfit or package is best for you. More >>>

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On Tour

Here's an overview of the major tennis-tour companies and a summary of the types of tours they offer. Most include a choice of tennis tickets as part of their packages (those that focus on playing as opposed to spectating do not) as well as optional sightseeing excursions and other diversions.

  • Grand Slam Tennis Tours. Organizes tours to all the Grand Slams as well as to several Masters Series events and Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties. Some trips include the option of participating in their academy while on the road. www.grandslamtennistours.com or phone 800-289-3333.
  • Steve Furgal's International Tennis Tours/Topspin Tours. Furgal's packages afford the option either escorted or independent travel to any of the Grand Slams as well as to several Master Series events and Davis Cup and Fed Cup ties. Offers discounts to USTA members. www.tours4tennis.com or phone 800-258-3664 or 858-675-3555.
  • Wimbledon Experience. Provides organized packages to Wimbledon for overseas vacationers. www.wimbledon-experience.com or +44 (0)1895 451 216.
  • Championship Tennis Tours. Runs trips to Grand Slams as well as major Master Series events and Davis Cup ties. www.tennistours.com or phone 800-468-3664 or 480-429-7700.
  • Tennis: Europe. Takes juniors ages 14 to 18 on summer playing circuit in Europe, the western U.S., and Australia, with opportunities to sightsee along the way. www.tenniseurope.com or phone 800-253-7486 or 203-322-9803.
  • ASD Cultural Exchange. Focused on playing abroad, this non-profit organizes competitive sports tours to promote understanding of the country and its people by arranging matches at local clubs abroad. Occasionally these matches overlap with a Grand Slam. www.asdculturalexchange.org or phone 951-699-9244.
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Appraising Tour Packages

Here are several things to keep in mind as you're evaluating your options:

  • Request referrals. Poll friends and club members about their experiences. Have the tour company send you names and phone numbers of past clients and ask them what they liked best and least about their tours.
  • Find out how long the company has run tours to Grand Slam events (all of those listed here have been in business at least four years)
  • Ask detailed questions about the tennis tickets. What is their source of tickets? How many sessions are included? Where, precisely, are the seats—Center Court or somewhere else, high or low, day or night sessions?
  • How many nights lodging does the package cover and in what standard of hotel?
  • What meals are included?
  • Does the package include airfare? If it does, can you get a discount by booking on your own or using frequent-flyer miles?
  • Are sightseeing tours, theater tickets, social tennis and the like bundled into the package or must you pay extra to get them?
  • How flexible is the package? Can you arrange to arrive early or stay afterward? Can you vary the number of days with tickets or add or subtract other activities?
  • Are tour escorts there only if you need them or are they very much a part of the daily routine?
 

Vacation Sweepstakes
Tennis Resorts Online's Vacation Prizes

Tennis Resorts Online has again secured three exciting vacation packages to be given away in our annual drawing among those who submit reviews, favorable or otherwise, for the resorts and camps they've visited on vacation. To participate, go to Rate a Resort/Camp (or to review a Junior Camp, go to Rate a Junior Camp).

  • Saddlebrook Tennis, Wesley Chapel, Florida: Tennis Weekend for 2, 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.
  • 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, and souvenir for two players.
  • New England Tennis Holidays at the Inn at Essex, Essex, VT: Two nights lodging, two days of tennis camp, and all meals for two people at this 120-room inn, which is also home to the New England Culinary Institute.

TRO Packages and Specials

The following special packages and discounts are available only to Tennis Resorts Online readers.

Adult Camps
Junior Camps
Resorts
Teams and Groups
(Other Packages)


Online Booking

Many of your hotel and resort, air, and car-rental reservations can now be booked directly from Tennis Resorts Online. Just look for the "Reserve" button at the top of the review for a direct link to the booking engine or use the link to TravelNow.