Will Travel for Tennis: Hotels & Villas Primed for the Best Tennis Vacation

Image courtesy of Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

There are hotels with tennis courts, and then there are hotels with tennis courts that justify the whole trip. If you love tennis, you’ll especially love these properties. Each takes the game — and the requisite materials — very seriously.

Read on to spark your tennis-inflected wanderlust. Then, connect with Fora to plan and book your athletic getaway.

Amanyara

Image courtesy of Amanyara

This Turks and Caicos resort is blissfully secluded; it sits on an 18,000-acre nature reserve. But the Amanyara Legends Program adds an additional layer of prestige and exclusivity to the already prestigious and exclusive resort. 

The Legends Program comprises year-round sports clinics led by some of the biggest names in athletics. Past tennis-specific sessions have been hosted by the likes of Maria Sharapova, Frances Tiafoe and Leylah Fernandez. (Past non-tennis teachers have included Kevin Love, Demarcus Lawrence and Moritz Wagner.) And with four outdoor clay Har-tru courts, there’s arguably no better place to try your hand at the sport.

Fora Perks:

• $100 food / beverage credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

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Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino

Image courtesy of Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino

This well-manicured, hillside court overlooks the sparkling Gulfo Tigullio below. Reserve the spot for an al-fresco game with your companions, or opt for lessons from a professional coach. Afterward, refuel with a spritz and seasonal focaccia amid watercolor murals at La Terrazza Bar, an elegant open-air terrace primed for drinking in the ocean views.

Belmond knows how to do tennis right. In addition to Splendido, the brand’s Cap Juluca, in Anguilla; Hotel Cipriani, in Venice; and the Cadogan, in London, all deserve honorable mentions on this list for their stellar courts.

Fora Perks:

• $90 hotel / resort credit, welcome amenities, breakfast daily & an upgrade whenever possible.
  
  

Round Hill Hotel & Villas

Image courtesy of Round Hill Hotel & Villas

At Round Hill, you could plan an entire vacation around tennis. For one, their courts are beautiful. There are Har-Tru clay courts (faster than red clay, slower than grass) in addition to two hard-clay courts for those after a challenge. Monthly tennis clinics taught by pros and coaches help locals and guests alike up their game. In fact, Round Hill employs a dedicated team of tennis pros. 

Round Hill also allows for after-hours tennis matches. If you haven’t played tennis at night, Jamaica is the perfect place to start doing so. And if pickleball is more your style, there are dedicated courts for that, too, as well as pickleball lessons and clinics.

(And there’s perhaps no better time to book a tennis-inspired getaway at Round Hill. Lock in your trip before October 26, and you’ll get 30% off a four-night villa stay for trips up until October 31 of this year.)

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

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Passalacqua

Images courtesy of Ricky Monti for Passalacqua

Everything about this Lake Como palazzo feels like a fairytale. The hotel itself is magical, filled with handcrafted details and gems accumulated over the years by its owner, Valentina De Santis, and her family. 

“We just wanted to respect our soul,” Valentina said of the design process. “We just chose things that we loved, and when you have beautiful things and a beautiful place, there is always a good match somewhere.”

This ethos extends to the hotel’s tennis court, a handsome clay expanse on the edge of the lake: beautiful thing, beautiful place. The lake views are reason enough to enjoy a game, but the court also sits amid Passalacqua’s legendary gardens, through which soft music is perpetually piped.

“There is not a single corner where you cannot feel the sound of music,” Valentina said of Passalacqua’s dreamy outdoor setting.

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort

The idyllic tennis court at this Big Island escape is surrounded by naval rock and palm trees. The court is lovely, but the overall vibes here are special, too. 

“There’s an incredible ease and luxury here,” Fora Advisor Rochelle Hathaway, who has personally stayed at the hotel, said. “Every detail is taken into consideration.”

For instance, Rochelle noted the housekeeping team left a beautiful bookmark in her book, and a lens cloth next to her sunglasses. It’s no surprise, then, that the resort’s tennis offerings are equally meticulous. Still, a laid-back vibe reigns. After a tennis (or pickleball) match, reset at the nearby Shipwreck Bar, Kona Village’s breezy poolside restaurant.

“The Shipwreck Bar is a perfect place to treat yourself after a long day in the sun,” Rochelle added. Snacks, masterful cocktails and fresh sushi await. 

Fora Perks:

• $150 hotel / resort credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Parker Palm Springs

Image courtesy of Parker Palm Springs

Tennis enthusiasts will be familiar with the Parker, often described as one of Palm Springs’ premier tennis resorts. (Stay here when attending the nearby BNP Paribas Open, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.) There are four red-clay courts, and although the general milieu takes tennis very seriously, the Parker is delightfully playful. A match is best accompanied, for instance, with a fresh-squeezed lemonade from the sunny, yellow-and-white-striped Lemonade Stand. But if you really want to dial in your game, schedule a private lesson with the hotel’s tennis pro. Cool off in any one of the three stylish swimming pools — or sample all three.

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, $50 daily breakfast credit, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Related Article: Destination Debrief: Palm Springs

Four Seasons Resort Nevis

Image courtesy of Four Seasons Resort Nevis

The tennis program at this stunning beachfront resort is consistently ranked among the best in the world, a designation that is very much deserved. There are eight tennis courts: four red clay, two hard and two turf (and half are lit for nighttime volleys). There are also four pickleball courts. 

Take advantage of private and semi-private lessons, plus dedicated clinics led by seasoned professionals. You can even get your racquet restrung. If you’d prefer less structured play, practice your swing with a ball machine, or reserve a court and enjoy a game with your travel companions. 

Fora Perks:

• When you book Four Seasons with a Fora Advisor, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
  
  

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Italian Style Villas

Image courtesy of Italian Style Villas

Italian Style Villas has curated a stunning portfolio of properties throughout Italy. The company excels at striking the perfect balance between historic charm and modern luxury. Exhibit A for the latter: tennis. At many of their sprawling estates, the tennis court is the main event — a “key amenity.”

In Lake Como, volley with views of the lake. In Tuscany, perfect your backhand amid rolling hills and vineyards. Take in sea views during a hillside match in the Amalfi Coast, or amidst Puglia’s signature tranquility. Your Fora Advisor can matchmake you to your dream Italian accommodations — with a tennis court or otherwise.

Omni Amelia Island Resort

Image courtesy of Omni Amelia Island Resort

You'll find no fewer than 23 Har-Tru clay courts at this storied tennis resort. (And the courts are shaded by towering oak trees, which makes for an espeically pleasant playing experience.)

The year-round tennis program caters to athletes of all ages and experience levels, offering a slew of clinics, lessons and camps. But pros are just as comfortable here: Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, the Williams sisters and other tennis greats have all played at the resort.

Fora Perks:

• $50 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

Images courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara

This resort's four Har-Tru clay courts overlook the beach, a testament to its incredible setting. The Ritz-Carlton takes tennis seriously, offering a range of activities like open clinics, lessons (both group and private) and cardio tennis.

Staying active is easy here: Play a friendly game before exploring the hotel's 78 lush acres, filled with hiking trails. You're also close to the charming town of Santa Barbara itself, where boutiques, galleries and excellent restaurants await.

Fora Perks:

• $100 hotel / resort credit, a welcome amenity, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
  
  

Ready to travel? Connect with Fora to plan and book your tennis-focused trip.