Tennis Bucket List
Unable to travel during the pandemic, I tried to satisfy the urge to get away by dreaming of the places I've always wanted to visit. I've been luckier than most since my work has taken me to hundreds of tennis resorts and camps and all four Grand Slam Championships, but still I keep a running tennis bucket list. As a travel writer, I'm often asked what's my favorite place, and my answer is there's nothing so exciting as visiting someplace you've never been. For me, that applies to tennis resorts and camps, too. So here are the Top 3 on my bucket list, the first of which I've been fortunate to cross off.
No. 1. For decades, the Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks at the Place Hotel in Gstaad, Switzerland occupied the No. 1 spot on my tennis bucket list. The very outline of the program inspired dreams. Where else can you spend five hours a day on historic red-clay courts—the former site of the Gstaad Open—coached a legend who'd won 28 Grand Slam titles, 12 of them in singles? Jagged peaks and forested slopes backdrop a grand and itself historic family-run hotel perched just above the courts and a short walk (or free shuttle ride) from the town of Gstaad. The hotel kitchens prepare multi-course lunches and dinners, supplemented, if you wish, by wines from a well-stocked cellar. Every aspect of the week is enchanting, so much so that many guests leave vowing to come back the next year. I did too, though circumstances and the pandemic delayed that return until last year, this time with my partner. That trip and her delight convinced me more than ever that it had deserved its place at the top of my bucket list. Tennis Resorts Online visitors agree, having crowned it the No. 1 tennis camp in the world almost since we started publishing rankings.
You can see my top 3 that remain on my list by visiting Jan. 2023 Newsletter and I encourage you to let us know what's on your bucket list. You can share it by checking out What's On Your Bucket List?.
The Guide To Taking Your Tennis Or Pickleball Racquet On the Road
Since 1999, Tennis Resorts Online has been helping vacationers decide where to go on their next tennis holiday. I've made a career of giving such advice, initially as Tennis magazine's travel and resorts editor and since 1999 as the founder of this website. What you see here are not paid listings but the descriptions—provided without cost to resorts and camps—of those properties I feel are worthy of your attention. Over the course of several decades, I've visited more than 350 resorts on five continents and participated in some 50 different tennis camps, many more than once. It is that personal experience—supplemented now by reviews submitted by vacationers like you—that underpins this website.
Finding the Tennis Resort or Camp That's Best For You
What you'll find on these and the following pages is a suite of tools to help you make an informed choice on where to go. Start by checking out the rankings of the Top 100 Tennis Resorts and Camps, which we base solely on the reviews submitted by people like you. For more personal advice, use the "Tailored Search" form that lets you specify precisely the features you're looking for in a resort or camp. Those results link to my personal descriptions, which are supplemented by the reviews—good or bad—of others who themselves have been there. There are also maps of what can be found in six different regions of the U.S. and one for Europe. Every property we list appears in a master index, listing both alphabetically and by state, region, or country. There is also a section devoted to junior camps, though since I'm a little old to participate in any of those I've had to settle for writing a description and let those juniors who've attended or their parents write personal reviews. To supplement all of this I've included a calendar of events taking place at tennis properties across the globe. We also ask resorts or camps to put together packages that offer special discounts or perks to Tennis Resorts Online readers. You can contact me at
. See you on the courts. —Roger Cox, Editor
Your Recent Reviews
Here's a sample of recent critiques of resorts and camps by other vacationers, followed by a link where you can post your own.
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Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, Hawaii
"Great tennis resort. Rudy, the owner, gives personal service making sure the clients needs are known and addresses. Great adult and children’s private lessons.
Thanks Rudy, we will be back next year."—J.F., Beg., December 2022
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Taos Tennis at Quail Ridge Taos, New Mexico
"Tennis at the Quail Ridge is spectacular. Located on the outskirts of picturesque Taos NM, this resort is on the high mesa surrounded by mountains! It’s breathtakingly beautiful. 9 hard courts. The resort keeps the courts in very clean good condition, replace nets and keep the place in good working condition. Kirk, the owner/pro is a very good instructor and he makes everyone feel capable and included. Kirk is really funny. He makes clinics fun. He arranges round robins and tournaments to provide play time for his regulars. He has a huge following of repeat players for his tournaments in July and September. I highly recommend you plan a trip out west!"—C.S., Int., October 2022
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Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman), Florida
"Saddlebrook Hopman is a great place if you want to work on your tennis skills. Steve and Ed were very technical and helpful in improving my game, and were teaching me all the things to move me from a 4.0 to 4.5 player. They were patient and proactive in letting me know my areas of improvement so I appreciate that! I love Warren's energy and fun-loving nature, a must when you are playing tennis 5 hours a day!
The resort is going through a transition and needs some improvements. There was only 1 restaurant open for dinner and many of the amenities (e.g. game room, spa) were unavailable. If you can stick to the tennis aspect of your trip, Saddlebrook is fantastic!"—V.E., Adv. Int., September 2022
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Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks, Switzerland
"The Roy Emerson Tennis Week is world class. In fact, we’d go so far as to say it is the best in the world. My wife and I have been three times and are thrilled to be returning for our fourth. We’ve met lifelong friends during our previous stays. Roy and Joy are special people that take great care in curating the agenda, and in ensuring that guests have the best time possible. They have sourced tennis pros from around the world who are top notch and return year after year. Irrespective of your skill level (and there is a broad range), they are able to cater the intensity and feedback, and you will be sure to come away a better player. We’d be remiss not to comment on the location which is magical and makes for the full experience - the Gstaad Palace hotel is beautiful. Truly five star accommodations, food, service, and amenities, amongst a spectacular setting that in our view is an unparalleled place for this tennis week. We feel very fortunate to have discovered this whole experience - it is the best there is."—J.G., Adv., February 2023
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Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, South Carolina
"Visited Palmetto Dunes 2/26-3/3/2023. During that time I participated in two tennis clinics, took two private tennis lessons with Tennis Director Eric, took two private pickleball lessons (Nancy and Sarah) and participated in a pickleball round robin.
The pickleball courts were a beehive of activity with 3-4 round robins throughout the day and wait lists to get in most of them. Instruction was outstanding from both pros in private lessons taken by myself and one by my wife.
In contrast there was minimal use of the tennis courts during my stay. I thought the level of instruction and enthusiasm exhibited by Eric (clinics and private lessons) and Head Pro Patrick (clinic) was outstanding. Eric significantly improved my backhand return of service against pace and gave me a foundation to build on with the topspin lob. He used the ball machine in the first lesson but was perfectly willing to do live hitting in the second lesson when we worked on the above as well as my net game. I have taken lessons at several of the top 100 resorts and his instruction had the greatest impact on my game. Will see him for lessons any time I visit Hilton Head, even if not staying at Palmetto Dunes.
Lastly, the pro shop selection of clothes, tennis and pickleball equipment was outstanding."—L.G., Int., March 2023
Your Recent Reviews
Here's a sample of recent critiques of resorts and camps by other vacationers, followed by a link where you can post your own.
-
Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii, Hawaii
"Great tennis resort. Rudy, the owner, gives personal service making sure the clients needs are known and addresses. Great adult and children’s private lessons.
Thanks Rudy, we will be back next year."—J.F., Beg., December 2022
-
Taos Tennis at Quail Ridge Taos, New Mexico
"Tennis at the Quail Ridge is spectacular. Located on the outskirts of picturesque Taos NM, this resort is on the high mesa surrounded by mountains! It’s breathtakingly beautiful. 9 hard courts. The resort keeps the courts in very clean good condition, replace nets and keep the place in good working condition. Kirk, the owner/pro is a very good instructor and he makes everyone feel capable and included. Kirk is really funny. He makes clinics fun. He arranges round robins and tournaments to provide play time for his regulars. He has a huge following of repeat players for his tournaments in July and September. I highly recommend you plan a trip out west!"—C.S., Int., October 2022
-
Saddlebrook Tennis (Hopman), Florida
"Saddlebrook Hopman is a great place if you want to work on your tennis skills. Steve and Ed were very technical and helpful in improving my game, and were teaching me all the things to move me from a 4.0 to 4.5 player. They were patient and proactive in letting me know my areas of improvement so I appreciate that! I love Warren's energy and fun-loving nature, a must when you are playing tennis 5 hours a day!
The resort is going through a transition and needs some improvements. There was only 1 restaurant open for dinner and many of the amenities (e.g. game room, spa) were unavailable. If you can stick to the tennis aspect of your trip, Saddlebrook is fantastic!"—V.E., Adv. Int., September 2022
-
Roy Emerson Tennis Weeks, Switzerland
"The Roy Emerson Tennis Week is world class. In fact, we’d go so far as to say it is the best in the world. My wife and I have been three times and are thrilled to be returning for our fourth. We’ve met lifelong friends during our previous stays. Roy and Joy are special people that take great care in curating the agenda, and in ensuring that guests have the best time possible. They have sourced tennis pros from around the world who are top notch and return year after year. Irrespective of your skill level (and there is a broad range), they are able to cater the intensity and feedback, and you will be sure to come away a better player. We’d be remiss not to comment on the location which is magical and makes for the full experience - the Gstaad Palace hotel is beautiful. Truly five star accommodations, food, service, and amenities, amongst a spectacular setting that in our view is an unparalleled place for this tennis week. We feel very fortunate to have discovered this whole experience - it is the best there is."—J.G., Adv., February 2023
-
Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort, South Carolina
"Visited Palmetto Dunes 2/26-3/3/2023. During that time I participated in two tennis clinics, took two private tennis lessons with Tennis Director Eric, took two private pickleball lessons (Nancy and Sarah) and participated in a pickleball round robin.
The pickleball courts were a beehive of activity with 3-4 round robins throughout the day and wait lists to get in most of them. Instruction was outstanding from both pros in private lessons taken by myself and one by my wife.
In contrast there was minimal use of the tennis courts during my stay. I thought the level of instruction and enthusiasm exhibited by Eric (clinics and private lessons) and Head Pro Patrick (clinic) was outstanding. Eric significantly improved my backhand return of service against pace and gave me a foundation to build on with the topspin lob. He used the ball machine in the first lesson but was perfectly willing to do live hitting in the second lesson when we worked on the above as well as my net game. I have taken lessons at several of the top 100 resorts and his instruction had the greatest impact on my game. Will see him for lessons any time I visit Hilton Head, even if not staying at Palmetto Dunes.
Lastly, the pro shop selection of clothes, tennis and pickleball equipment was outstanding."—L.G., Int., March 2023