NE Tennis Holidays
#1 U.S. tennis camp; VT/FL/NH Cape Cod;Fine dining/lodging
netennisholidays.com
Here's what others have had to say about Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa and Vermont Tennis Vacations.
"This is a wonderful tennis camp for all levels. We travel as a group of four and have experienced nothing but the best from this camp. We start planning for the next year about as soon as we return home. Rob is just a great tennis instructor as stated in many of the reviews. He is extremely patient and thorough when teaching a new idea or concept. He keeps the camp moving so you always feel you are going and not wasting time in between drills. The accommodations are superb and staff is extremely friendly. I was also asked by one of the owners (a tennis player) if everything was as expected in the camp and told things would even be better for the next year. They have created a good team and are striving to keep campers happy and coming back. I would not hesitate to recommend this camp, we all enjoy it very much."—N.K., Adv. Int., August 2010
""—J.B., Adv. Int., August 2010
"Well organized, adapting drills to all skill levels on the fly. Great pros!"—J.P., Int., August 2010
"I loved this camp and couldn't believe how fast our week went by. This was our 5th year of attending a tennis camp and I can't say enough as to how wonderful it is. The pros - Rob, Anders, and Dave - are the best. They are extremely knowledgeable and very good at critiquing one's game. Socializing with the pros is a great part of the camp. They make tennis fun and we even had our Serves timed for speed which was a new experience.
I teach tennis at our local club and I learned so many new tips and drills to share with them. This is a AAA Four Diamond Resort and Spa plus it is a Culinary School. Needless to say, the lodging and food was excellent. We will return again next year for great tennis and fun with the excellent pros."—C.A., Adv. Int., August 2010
"The teaching staff did an outstanding job in working with the level of the individual player. They were the primary reason we have gone two out of the last three years. The physical appearance of both the surrounding court area and tennis hut needs to be upgraded. A facility is needed for bathroom usage. My wife and I would recommend the resort without hesitation."—B.S., Adv. Int., August 2010
"This was my group's 3rd year to visit The Essex Resort and Spa for tennis camp. The previous 2 years we had gone somewhere else. This is the best camp! The head pro, Rob, is fantastic and the pros he has working with him are all first rate. The camp consists of 5 hours of tennis instruction and the ratio of 4/1 is perfect, the drills are fun, the instruction is always clear and easily understood. The pros are patient and will spend as much time as possible to make sure you understand the fundamentals of a stroke and/or drill and help you incorporate what you've learned into your game. Whether trying to learn an entirely new way of hitting the ball or just "tweeking" a shot to hit it better, Rob, Dave and Anders are always positive and encouraging. The camp as a whole involves serious learning and having fun-a great combination.
The resort in general is great: outstanding tennis facilities, plenty of good food, wonderful rooms, helpful and courteous house staff and the newly opened spa offers a host of personal services-I strongly recommend the deep tissue massage. It's a wonderful way to relax after 5 hours of tennis."—E.S., Int., August 2010
"WOW! What a wonderful weekend in Essex, VT. Facilities are excellent and staff is outstanding! Couldn't ask for a more fun "girls weekend" getaway. Rob and Anders keep you moving on the court and make it very fun, as the day goes incredibly fast. I highly recommend The Essex to any level player. See you next year!!"—A.P., Adv. Int., August 2010
"This is a a great option if you are looking for a smaller camp with two great pros in a beautiful setting with great food! There are more serious drills here and less cookie-cutter drills and games that attract the masses at some of the other weekend tennis camps. This is our 3rd year at this camp; we travel as a group of four - mostly at the same level and have thoroughly enjoyed the instruction and enjoyment of the resort."—P.S., Adv., August 2010
"I can't recommend this tennis camp enough. It's a fabulous facility located at a first class inn, near beautiful, fun-filled Burlington, VT. The tennis camp offers perfectly groomed clay courts, exceptional pro's, and more drills & match play than you could ever imagine. There are also some greatly appreciated amenities, such as gourmet dining on location and a swimming pool - nothing better than going for a dip after a long day of tennis! (Pool also has pool side bar service. A big plus!)
My friends and I love this camp so much that it's already on the calendar for next year! 5 Stars!"—A.P., Int., August 2010
"The tennis clinics were superb and the ratio of coach to players was 1 to 4. There was a lot of individual attention and help. The coaches observed each individual player and emphasized form and skills that were appropriate forthe individual player."—A.W., Adv. Int., August 2010
"The tennis program at The Essex is absolutely wonderful. The group of women I travel with have been going there for 4 years now, and each year the experience gets better. Rob Barr and his assistant, Anders (and associate pros) all are incredibly skillful at what they do. First, the teaching model is excellent. The skill is introduced and modeled, and then ample time is provided for practice and reinforcement. I must mention that Rob, in particular, takes many opportunities for one-on-one instruction as is needed by the tennis players. Then, consideration is given to tennis players for extremes in heat (water and towels provided) and rain (indoor facility available). Our 5-day stays have been outstanding especially when we factor in the beautiful new spa and the delicious gourmet meals. The staff at The Essex is marvelous and attentive. My only suggestion is that some of the rooms need updating.
We hope to return next year. It's a beautiful thing!!!"—A.M., Low Int., August 2010
"I went earlier this summer to a 5 day, 5 hours/day program at the Essex. I have been to 7 or 8 tennis camps/resorts and can say with assurance that this was the best and most productive learning experience I have ever had. Honor is due to Rob Barr, who leads the program. He is a gifted teacher and a lovely person to work with.
The program does not offer the usual generic drills with routine comments from the pros. The drills are careful building blocks within a given stroke and then a another set is introduced, and gradually the pieces are put together. The comments are focused and specific to each player. Rob and his staff seem to remember hour by hour and day to day how you are progressing. The atmosphere is gentle, positive, fun and congenial. His staff, particularly, dave, was also excellent. (We heard great things from repeat guests about Rob's co-director, Anders. Anders was apparently back home in Sweden for a bit.)
It was also very nice that Rob and the staff had lunch with us each day. I should add that the courts were in perfect condition and the facility overall was very lovely.
I would be remiss not to mention how nice the Essex Inn was. In addition to a fine facility (18 acres, including gardens and indoor/outdoor pools, etc.), the staff was exceptionally gracious in a down-to-earth sort of way. This is a lovely and unpretentious place. AND the food was just great and abundant. The tennis package was a very very good value.
I am an advanced intermediate player. I would recommend Rob Barr's Essex program as exceptional."—G.H., Adv. Int., August 2010
Jim Glanville, the general manager of The Essex, and several of the owners are all themselves avid tennis players, which explains the 
decision in 2004 to add six Har-Tru courts to this 120-room inn's amenities.
Guests bed down in handsomely decorated rooms
—some with gas-log stoves, whirlpool baths, or even kitchenettes—and dine on meals prepared by chefs who trained with the New England Culinary Institute. An added bonus is the inn's proximity to the airport in Burlington. And as of 2010, the Essex has now introduced its own Vermont Tennis Vacations, a program of 2-, 3-, or 5-day camps.
I've referred to this as an inn because it was originally called the Inn at Essex, but as tennis and other amenities were added, "inn" began to seem like too narrow an expression of the guest experience, so the name was changed to the somewhat cumbersome The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa. Whatever. But there is not doubt that it has been made more appealing by the opening of a 21,000-square-foot spa.
Now guests who overdo it will be steps away from relief, whether that means a massage, facial, or body treatment or simply relaxing in the sauna or steam rooms. The complex also includes a 25-yard indoor heated swimming pool with a heated Jacuzzi on its outdoor terrace and a complete fitness center with weight and cardio equipment and a selection of classes. Overseeing this and the rest of the recreation is John Morris, whom many of you will know from his stints with All American Sports (OK, you need a long memory for that), Amelia Island Plantation, and most recently WaterColor Inn & Resort.
Pro Shop: 802-878-1100
Tennis Staff. Tennis director Rob Barr and head professional Anders Lundberg are now running the Essex's tennis programs. Barr ran New England Tennis 
Holidays programs here for six years and has coached on the ATP and WTA tours. Lundberg played for the University of Texas and has been ranked No. 1 in his native Sweden in three different age divisions. Together they will spearhead the five-hour-a-day tennis camp being introduced at the Essex. Dubbed "Vermont Tennis Vacations," this 2-, 3-, or 5-day program will cover technique, tactics, hot selection, match psychology, court coverage, and movement utilizing fast-paced competitive drills in a fun and challenging environment.
Tennis Programs. Aside from the camp, the resort stages a weekly roster of tennis activities and events during the May to October outdoor season. These include daily stroke clinics, junior clinics, Cardio tennis, mixed scrambles, and the Essex Pro Challenge, which affords guests the opportunity to play a set again Barr or Lundberg, both of whom have held ITF world rankings. In addition, there is a weekly pro singles or doubles exhibition, followed by cocktails at the pool.
Courts & Fees. There are six Har-Tru courts. Court fees: None for camp participants or hotel guests.
Golf Courses. The Inn also owns the Links at Lang Farm, a 4,100-yard, 18-hole, par-60 course with a full practice facility and a clubhouse. Each of its holes has multiple tees to accommodate golfers of differing abilities. In addition, the Inn can make arrangements for guests to play at local courses, including the Vermont National Country Club, the only New England course designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Spa & Fitness Center. The two-story, white clapboard spa backs up to the woods at one side of the property just across from gardens and white picket fence surrounding the outdoor pool. It's a peaceful place of stone and wood, with fireplaces in the men's and women's lounges, maple flooring, and picture windows. The menu of treatments is broad, from the sports massages I crave to green tea and ginger wraps and noni fruit calming facials. For the fitness center, Morris insisted on high-quality (and quiet) TechnoGym equipment, setting it and a variety of cardio stations in a room with views on the forest. There's also an indoor lap pool.
And ... At the back of the property stands an adventure center that focuses on team building programs but also has a recreational menu of zip lines, rock and ice climbing wall, an overhead challenge course, and more. There's also hiking and biking in the nearby mountains and woods, and guided fly fishing trips.
The inn has 120 rooms and suites. Nearly half have Vermont hearthstone stoves or fireplaces. Each is individually decorated. All have been renovated with the help of Vermont artist Susan Sargent.
There are several dining options, all overseen by chefs or interns trained at the New England Culinary Institute. Although there is fine dining at Butler's Restaurant (and a rave-inducing Sunday brunch), the more casual Tavern, with its bar and option of dining outdoors on the patio, is where you'll find most of the guests. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and it's menu includes some spa or low-calorie, low-fat options.
Oct. 1-3, 2010: Vermont Open Tennis Championships
A USTA-sanctioned prize money event, with men's and women's singles and doubles competition in Open and 45s divisions.
If you're looking for an all-day tennis camp with lots of social atmosphere, also check out any of the following:
The prices for the tennis vacation package below include 5 hours/day of group instruction, lodging, three meals daily, and all taxes and gratuities. Rates are per person/double occupany. See the website for single-occupancy options.
Tennis Vacation Packages: May & June 2010
2-day: $529. 3-day: $795. 5-day: $1,239
Tennis Vacation Packages: July-September 2010
2-day: $589. 3-day: $859. 5-day: $1,295
Seasons. The resort is open year round; however, the tennis season runs from late May to mid September
Travel Instructions. The newly renovated and expanded Burlington International Airport has direct jet service from Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Newark, New York and Boston. Major carriers include American, Business Express, Continental, Delta, JetBlue, United, and US Airways. Major car rental agencies are located in the terminal itself. Upon request, The Essex provides complimentary shuttle service.
To reach the Inn from the airport, take a left out of the terminal onto Airport Drive. Travel ½ mile to Williston Road, turn left and continue for 1.7 miles to Industrial Avenue (first set of lights). Turn left for 1½ miles to the next light. Turn left again onto Route 2A North for 1.8 miles to a 5-way intersection in Essex Junction. Bear right onto Route 15 East for 1½ miles to VT 289 East and then .2 of a mile to Exit 1O, Essex Way. Turn right and a quarter-mile along you'll see the entrance to the resort on the left.
General Tourist Information. for general information about travel in Vermont, visit the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing website or contact them at 6 Baldwin Street, Drawer 33, Montpelier, VT 05633-1301; Phone 800-VERMONT (800-837-6668).