Something to hang your calendar on
Hop on a Seabourn Collection Cruise
Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn inaugurates two tennis-centered sailings this spring, and they’re both worth a gander: We here at Racquet will be joining British legend Sue Barker for an eight-day cruise of the Mediterranean, stopping in Monaco for two nights for the Monte Carlo Masters. There’s another sailing, this time with Tommy Haas, that takes in the Barcelona Open. Tennis by boat is about to be a thing; get in. Seabourn Cruises
Compete in the Baha Mar Cup
It’s an excuse to go to the Bahamas. Enough said, but here’s more: Every December, local boy Mark Knowles raises money and brings in tennis royalty (last year featured Johnny Mac, Andy Roddick, Donna Vekic, Vika Azarenka and Eugenie Bouchard, among others) for exos and hits, and parties and sun. The Baha Mar courts are impeccable, the folks at PBI run an excellent clinic and pro-am, and the amenities at the Rosewood are…what you’d expect from a Rosewood property: On-point and full of localized gems. Baha Mar Cup
Head to Melbourne for the Aussie Open
We at Racquet don’t play favorites, so don’t take this the wrong way, but: It’s hard not to recommend heading far, far away, in the depths of winter, for the start of the tennis year. We did, and we suggest you do, too. Clear your head, get some sun, enjoy the heat and take in The Happy Slam in Australia’s foodie haven, Melbourne, which also recently surpassed Sydney as the country’s largest city BUT AGAIN WE DON’T PLAY FAVORITES so maybe visit both. Visit Melbourne in January
Join Passione Tennis for a group trip with affable Italians
Racquet's creative director Gianmaria Schönlieb recently joined his childhood tennis friends in an experience that blends vacation, company, and intense training. It’s called Passione—a group of friends united by their shared love for tennis, running a business dedicated to organizing unforgettable tennis getaways across Italy. Among them, some have played the Australian Open, while others picked up a racquet for the first time at 30. Some hit crisp, flat shots, while others haven’t attempted a volley in years. Together, they craft experiences that seamlessly combine tennis, fun, relaxation, and camaraderie—all set against the breathtaking landscapes of Italy and beyond. Passione Tennis
Wellness travel
Sensei Porcupine Creek
Mostly there’s tennis, and then there’s wellness, and they kind of sit next to each other nicely. But if you partake in the Optimal Wellness Program At Sensei Porcupine Creek, tennis and wellness are one in the same. This spectacular enclave backs into a private canyon in Rancho Mirage, where a spring-fed stream waters lush grounds of plumeria, and enormous sculptures by Keith Haring, Noshitomo Nara, and Robert Indiana surprise at every turn. The vibe is very, very exclusive and mindful. You know what mindfulness does for your tennis game? Wonders. It does wonders. They’ll measure your VO₂ max and your vertical leap; use biofeedback to explore your best options for meditation and breathwork; examine and improve your form with on-court video analysis; and imbue you with a calm and focus that can only make you a better player. And a better person. Sensei Porcupine Creek
Bürgenstock Resort
Boy, the Swiss (and now that you mention it, the Austrians and the Germans) know how to do a Sport- und Wellnesshotel. The Bürgenstock Resort on Lake Lucerne is indistinguishable from a Bond-style alpine hideaway (Villain’s lair? Health resort? You decide, but if you don’t approach the resort by boat and funicular–there’s a funicular!–you’re doing it wrong), complete with two wood-trussed tennis domes for the sport side of things. The wellness comes in the form of extensive spa treatments and an infinity-edge pool overlooking the lake below, or just several giddy rides on the funicular. Bürgenstock Resort
Four Seasons Ko Olina
The Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina is now programming one- and three-day tennis retreats throughout the year. Join a small group of tennis junkies for intense instruction, next-level wellness, and a soupçon of beachfront luxury. See our guide to Tennis in times of Upheaval for general vibes and an impetus to cross the Pacific. Four Seasons Resort Oahu
Listen, I just want to relax
Four Seasons Punta Mita
The Four Seasons Punta Mita’s assets are myriad, so they don’t have room to do it justice, but there’s a secluded tennis center where coolers full of cold towels and water bottles await you courtside. Play tennis, sweat, cool off in the Pacific, eat guacamole. Repeat. Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
Belmond La Samanna, Saint-Martin
La Samanna in the French West Indies is the perfect place to unwind between cliffside matches on their three Omni courts (synthetic grass, which feels exotic when you’re on vacation). Along with daily clinics with the pros, welcome cocktails and a private beach to hit after you hit, a more perfect mid-winter long weekend is hard to fathom. La Samanna
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
Two gorgeous red clay courts, balconies off every room and a legendary spa makes this an easy year-round destination for travelers who don’t want to work too hard for their post-match palomas. Rosewood San Miguel
You know what? I’ll DIY it
Live Aloha at Kapalua Tennis Garden
You can stay anywhere–anywhere–and still enjoy a hit on one of ten beautiful courts at the Tennis Garden. Walk across the street from one of many old-school Napili condos, or splash out for a room at the Ritz-Carlton around the corner. The trade winds might catch your ball and send it wide, but the views of Lana’i and Moloka’i across the Au’au channel are well worth a missed shot or two. There’s a good pro shop where you can still get visors with the pineapple butterfly logo that used to be pure cachet back in the 80s, when the Kapalua Bay Hotel reigned supreme in West Maui. The tropical modernist masterpiece is gone now, but the legacy tennis infrastructure is there for the hitting. Kapalua Tennis Garden
Train with the Cuban National Team in Havana
Spend a long weekend training with the national tennis team of Cuba while also exploring one of the most fascinating places on planet Earth. From dancing on stage at the Tropicana, to exploring contemporary art at la Fabrica, with competitive matches in between, the semi-annual trip is a must for the most intrepid tennis travelers. Elite Tennis Travel
Dip into Baja Tennis
No resort, no planning, no problem: The brother and sister who run Baja Tennis Club in the state’s chilled out capital of La Paz have all you need: excellent local pros, equipment and copious court time. They’ve even got newly resurfaced courts and a seasonal tournament or two if you’d really like to get to know the locals. For lodging, you could do worse than the Baja Club Hotel, part of the Habito group and in possession of the finest shade under the Pergola restaurant’s–you guessed it–pergola. Baja Tennis Club
