TOPS'L Resort
Top 10 U.S. Tennis Resort Tennis pkgs: 888-248-4964
www.topsl.com
Longboat Key Club/Resort
On Florida's SW coast;home of New 20-court Tennis Gardens
www.longboatkeyclub.com
Here's what others have had to say about Club Med-Sandpiper and International Tennis Academy (ITA USA) at Club Med Sandpiper.
"An awesome resort if you don't need to be on an ocean. Great for tennis instruction, very organized. I used to play tournaments as a junior and it was fun to get back into it by doing my daily "lesson", and my wife and daughter did theirs at the appropriate level. It is usually easy to find other guests to play with later in the day. Regardless of your level, it is very well run. The tennis staff are very professional, friendly, knowledgeable, and skilled.
We thouroughly enjoyed the rest of the resort. The staff are so friendly, enthusiastic, and helpful. The food was great and choices are anywhere from extremely healthy, low fat, to decadent, high quality gourmet meals, to fast food type options. The activities were well organized, and the night time entertainment was a lot of fun.
We look forward to returning often after the renovations. The accomodations currently are very comfortable, but I hear they are to become exceptional. The fitness centre was adequate, but after the reno, it is to become exceptional.
The kids activities are exceptionally well run, and plenty for teens, especially when it reopens after the renovations. There are areas to "get away" from noise, such as a separate adult only dining area and adult only pool."—R.T., Adv., June 2010
"What a great resort. They had 19 courts, some of which were lit. Getting a court was never an issue. There were daily tournaments, which we did not participate in, but we did meet another couple who we had a standing match with each morning. We then had private instruction for another 1 1/2 hours, so we were playing 9-12 daily. They also had daily adult and children's clinics. Lots to do besides tennis -- sailing, archery, pools, the bar, trapeeze, nightly shows, dance classes, golf, fitness classes -- all of which are included in the price.
Also, the kids program is incredible. The kids are out particiapting in activities while in the kids club. They are not stuck inside doing arts and crafts. The rooms were large, but dated. All the other facilities were great. It was nice that it was truly all-inclusive (including the liquor). We are getting excited for our return trip this summer."—R.Y., Int., April 2010
Two things distinguish Club Med-Sandpiper from most of its sister properties in 
North America, Mexico, and the Caribbean: its superb and extensive children's programs for kids as young as 4 months (though Punta Cana also has those) and its recent partnership with the International Tennis Academy USA (ITA), which relocated to the Club from Del Ray Beach.
Having the ITA on the grounds impacts tennis-loving guests in several very favorable ways. It means that the caliber of tennis instruction available is of a very high standard—something that is not always true of tennis instruction at a Club Med—and that's true whether you or your kids are taking the free daily clinics that are part of the all-inclusive package or opting for the ITA-run adult and junior tennis camps available at additional cost. But it also means that in wandering around the courts you'll get to watch the full-time academy students and an occasional touring pro working out under the watchful eyes of the ITA staff—among them ITA founder Scott Del Mastro, who has devoted 20 years to coaching and training juniors and professionals worldwide, and Gabriel Jaramillo, who while at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy helped develop Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier, and many others.
The installation of the ITA coincided with significant upgrade to the tennis complex as a whole. It now consists of six new Hydrogrid tennis courts and 15 hard courts, with a two-story tennis clubhouse currently under construction and plans for additional Hydrogrid courts once that's finished. The overall effect has been to turn tennis from a mere amenity into a genuinely compelling reason to choose this Club Med not only over its siblings but over many traditional tennis resorts and camps as well—and that's especially true if you're coming as a family.
Set alongside the Port St. Lucie River, 45 miles north of
the West Palm Beach airport, this expansive club covers some
1,000 acres, taking in a 21-court tennis complex, 
an
18-hole golf course, four swimming pools, a circus tent,
inline skate park, a marina and watersports center, a sprawling
restaurant, a theater, and a bar. The Club dates to the late
1980s, when it moved into the premises formerly occupied
by the Sandpiper Bay Resort Hotel. That explains why the
accommodations are much larger than is typical of Club Med.
But they are a bit dated, which is one of several reasons that Sandpiper will close on August 20 to undergo a $25 million makeover (though the tennis academy will continue to operate). When it reopens on December 18, 2010, it will scarcely look or feel like the same Club. Virtually every aspect of the resort will be improved, including the first phase of significantly upgrading the rooms. The main restaurant will adopt the Marketplace concept used at Punta Cana, while what is now Le Riverside will become a steakhouse. Tom Fazio is being brought in to redesign the golf and pitch-and-putt courses. There will be new amenities, among them a water park like the one at Punta Cana and a fully-equipped 15,000-square-foot riverfront spa and fitness center. Much of the concrete in the common areas will be ripped up and replaced with wooden walkways or landscaping. Kids will get their own social lounge. In all, the changes will be significant enough to raise this from a 3 Trident designation to 4 Tridents.
Pro Shop: 772-398-5100
The presence of the International Tennis Academy USA totally alters the tennis chemistry at Club Med, Sandpiper. Headed by world-class coaches Scott Del Mastro and Gabriel Jaramillo, the staff brings a level of expertise and experience rare to find at any resort or camp and vastly superior to anything Club Med has offered in the past. On the most basic level that means you can look forward to high-quality instruction even in the clinics that are part of the all-inclusive package. But now, you also have the option to make tennis the centerpiece of yours—or your family's—Club Med holiday by opting into full-fledged tennis camps that run three hours a day for adults and as much as five or more for juniors.
Tennis Programs. There are essentially two categories of programs: Included and Premium. Included: Among the free tennis activities for adults (and junior ages 13 and up) are beginner, intermediate, and advanced clinics, Cardio tennis workouts, and singles, doubles, and mixed doubles tournaments. For kids, Sandpiper runs 30-minute Le Petit Tennis sessions for those ages 4-7 to help develop motor skills; 45-minute Junior tennis clinics for those ages 8-13. Premium: private lessons; weeklong junior camps for ages 8 and up (5 hours/day); an adult tennis academy (3 hours/day for 3 or 5 days); and full-time boarding or non-boarding programs for a semester or academic year.
Courts & Fees. There are currently 14 hard courts (one a stadium) and 6 HydroGrid courts. Court fees: None.
Golf Courses. Sandpiper has an 18-hole golf course, a 9-hole pitch-and-putt course, practice facilities, and a golf academy offering boarding and non-boarding options. Guests can also arrange to play at other courses nearby.
Spa & Fitness Center. Their small spa offers a variety of treatments, include various massages, facials, and body scrubs, with the option of having some of these treatments outdoors in a riverside palapa. There is a small fitness center with a covered outside deck overlooking the river and a lap pool directly in front of it. Some of the aerobics, stretching, and body sculpting classes take place there, weather permitting. The air-conditioned fitness center itself houses a selection of Stairmasters, treadmills, and exercycles and a few weight-training machines. However, both will be replaced by a 15,000-square-foot spa and fitness center late in 2010.
And ... Beyond tennis and golf, the other major sports at Sandpiper are inline skating and skateboarding—there is even a half pipe—the circus, sailing, bocce ball, and several swimming pools (including one for adults only). Except for premium activities (among them the tennis and golf academies), there is no charge for lessons or use of the equipment.
Sandpiper demonstrates 
its commitment to luring families by offering three levels of children's programs: a Baby Club for those ages 4 months to 2 years (one of only two in the North American Zone); a Petit Club, for those 2 to 4 years; and a Mini Club, for those 4 to 12. These provide supervision and activities from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (or until 9 p.m. in the case of the Petit and Mini clubs). Sandpiper also has a baby-bottle room, which is open day and night and contains a supply of baby foods and supplies. Parents can also pick up strollers with umbrellas there or arrange for babysitters from outside
The 365 rooms at Sandpiper occupy seven three-story buildings (with elevators) grouped around the central village. All have outside entrances and full terraces; some have views of the river. Some are a longish walk from reception. These are very spacious accommodations, particularly by Club Med standards, with connecting doors between pairs making them ideal for families. Each has a kingsize (or twin) beds, a sofa with brightly colored cushions, two cushioned rattan chairs, terra-cotta tile floors, a television, a phone, microwave, and coffeemaker. The bath, in tile and marble, has a separate vanity area with a hair dryer. There is a large walk-in closet (with two safes), a small fridge, and open shelves.
Like all Club Meds, Sandpiper serves up an extensive and quite varied array of fruits, vegetables, salads, pastas, breads, cheeses, hot and cold entrees, and desserts as well as an assortment of kids' favorites, like pizza, burgers, and hot dogs. It is all quite good. The buffet tables stand at the center of a sprawling building whose right and left wings contain two expansive rooms of tables. Adults with children are shuttled to one end; those without children have a choice of dining near families or at tables of their own at the opposite end. In addition, there is Le Riverside, a restaurant on the porch overlooking the river. It serves four-course dinners at tables as large or small as your party. There is no extra charge; however reservations are required to dine there.
If you're looking for other resorts with an adult tennis camp and well-run children's programs, check out:
Club Med-Sandpiper
Club Med's all-inclusive packages bundle lodging, meals, drinks, and a broad range of recreational programs, with extra charges only for premium activities like the International Tennis Academy camps. Rates vary from week to week. Both land only and packages with airfare are available. In all cases, you must be a member of Club Med to sign up.
International Tennis Academy (ITA USA) at Club Med Sandpiper
Club Med offers daily clinics and social tennis directed by the International Tennis Academy staff. However, those who want more can opt for the ITA's own three-hour-a-day tennis camps, which are typically booked in three-day segments.
Year-round 2010
Instruction Only, Adults: 3-day, $630; 5-day, $1,050
Seasons. Year-round.
Travel Instructions. By Air: The closest air gateway is Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) in West Palm Beach, 45 miles to the south. It is served by most of the major airlines. Rental cars are available as are cabs for transfer to the Club. Other accessible airports are Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FFL), in Fort Lauderdale 95 miles to the south; Miami International Airport (MIA), 111 miles to the south; and Orlando International Airport (MCO), 120 miles to the north.
General Tourist Information. For general information about vacationing in the Port St. Lucia area, visit the St. Lucie County website at www.visitstluciefla.com or the Visit Florida website at www.visitflorida.com.