119. Pickleball Travel Guide: Best Resorts & Cruises with Courts Around the World (Luxury Travel Edition)

If you’ve ever searched ‘resorts with pickleball courts,’ this one’s for you! In this episode, I’m sharing the top-tier resorts and cruises around the world where you can indulge in luxury travel and get your pickleball fix. You’ll discover where to go for early morning matches with a sunrise view, which ships are built with courts on board, and how to pair your play with spas, gourmet dining, and cultural adventures. 

Connect with Michele on IG: @jetsettingwithmichele or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/MMTinsiders

Contact Michele to plan your next vacation: www.makinmemoriestravel.co/contact

This episode was produced by The Podcast Teacher: www.ThePodcastTeacher.com.

Transcript

Hello, jet setters and welcome back to another episode of Jet Setting with me. It is August 7th. Happy National Pickleball Day. Now, I know last week I said that this week would be all about Halloween, but with such a huge national holiday, I had to devote an episode to the best places to take a pickleball vacation. And so Halloween and our journey towards fall will resume next week. I can tell you this, the amount of pickleball knowledge that I have is my little pinky, you know, size. It's all based on my dear friend, mentor and travel buddy shout out to Tammy Shackley of H4M Matchmaking. I basically know that it is, quote unquote, like tennis.

It has a paddle and a ball. The courts are shorter than tennis ball than tennis courts, though. And it's, it's mostly played outside and you sweat a lot. And it's the sweat part and the heat that gets me. It's never something I want to do when I'm outside, therefore, I've never played. But I get questions from clients about pickleball courts and where they can go to play or if this resort has pickleball courts every single day. Heck, when I was working at Club Med, which has pickleball tournaments, by the way, I even read about a pickleball themed destination wedding. So today, let's hit it out of the park.

That's probably not a pickleball metaphor. And so for today, here is your pickleball travel guide with the best resorts and cruises with courts around the world. So first, let's break down why this is such a big thing. Because believe me, it's not to me. So first, let's break down why this is a thing. Pickleball has exploded in popularity. If you haven't heard about how many of your friends are playing or you're not playing yourself, you've probably been living under a rock since before COVID It is social, it's accessible, and people who play say it is downright fun, not to mention great exercise. So why not combine travel with pickleball? It lets you stay active while you're exploring these new destinations.

And if you're a beginner, you want to learn or you're a seasoned player, you can jump in on some of these pickleball vacations that offer a true unique community vibe. And this again, I know from my friend Tammy Shockley, who plays in her community like every day and she lives in two different communities and they still play pickleball every morning. I am going to cover top spots for you from the Caribbean And Mexico to cruises, Europe and even one fabulous place to go play pickleball in Asia. So let's start with the Caribbean in Mexico. And the number one place in this area and one of the top three locations in the world to go play is the Westin Resort and Spa in Cancun. The Westin is of course on the beach. It's got stunning white sands from Cancun and it offers players a view of the crystal clear turquoise water. While you're engaging in those friendly, or maybe not so friendly pickleball matches, multiple well maintained courts mean you can enjoy flexible play times.

If you decide to go with my advice of always seeing a sunrise, you can have an early morning game with a sunrise backdrop. Or if you prefer a sunset, you can close out your day with a pickleball game. After your game, I highly recommend that you indulge in the resort's award winning spa. They have treatments that have traditional Mayan inspired therapies for your very tired muscles. And the dining options at this resort range from fresh seafood, ceviche and upscale Mexican cuisine. Now the courts are suitable for all players, beginners to advance and there are even beginner clinics and friendly social games that are ideal for families or couples. Again, that unique early morning experience gives you that sunrise backdrop. And then you can have an authentic Mexican breakfast at the beachside resort right next door to the courts.

That's a very cool thing to do. Your best time to visit in Cancun is going to be November to April. You've got the pleasant weather, the lower humidity and that's going to be really perfect for your pickleball playing outdoors. Now in Aruba, there's the Marriott's Aruba Surf Club. Aruba's warm island culture you've heard me talk about. Aruba recently shines through in local festivals and markets. So you have some great off the court explorations on the court. It is a family friendly resort.

There's a ton of activities. The vibe there is casual but very energetic. So it's perfect for all skill levels. With open courts and encourages pickup games and social play and post match. You can take advantage of the resort's beach access for wind serving, snorkeling or simply lounging in the sun. One of my very favorite places is Cap Cana in the Dominican resort. Excuse me, Cap Cana. It is the Dominican resort but it's named the Dominican Republic and the Secrets Resort there.

Now this is an all inclusive that is exclusively for adults. So it is a luxury, all inclusive escape. It has dedicated pickleball court courts which are within the landscaped grounds. It is a romantic getaway. Secrets always is a romantic getaway for couples. And you can have spirited competition on one day and then a quiet beach stroll on another day and gourmet dining every day. The resort does have private coaching, organized pickleball events, post play. Absolutely.

They have a world class spa. They also have, it's all inclusive. You can get your handcrafted cocktails poolside. It's geared mostly towards intermediate and advanced players due to the adults only, a little more competitive environment. They have occasional tournaments. They do have coaching available. They have private pickleball themed dinners and cocktail hours after your matches for you romantic inspired 40 types. The best time to visit here in the Dominican Republic is December to April.

That's more the dry season and it's got really pretty sunny days. My favorite beach in the world other than Maui I have always said is Seven Mile beach in Grand Cayman. And I have been to the resort on Grand Cayman, which is the Ritz Carlton. And this resort delivers pristine pickleball courts with the Caribbean Sea as a backdrop. And the luxury that the Ritz Carlton is known for, it is palpable. You get elegant suites, exceptional dining. Every detail is going to enhance your vacation. You can have expert coaching sessions.

They do have friendly tournaments which are designed for both beginners and advanced players. And of course when you're not playing pickleball, you need to be exploring local culture. They have nearby snorkeling adventures. You can visit famous Stingray City. I've done both of those things. But I will tell you, hands down, this resort has my favorite spa that I've ever been to. And you guys know me, I've been talking about spas for two years now. And my favorites, the Ritz Carlton and Grand Cayman is my absolute most favorite spa worldwide.

It's, I mean it's a destination unto itself. Now moving away from resorts and all inclusives. Let's go to sea. Another thing you know about me is I love to cruise. And there are some cruise lines that are getting into this pickleball game. Virgin voyages. I talk about it all the time. It is an adults only cruise line and they have these stylish modern ships.

They're brand new and they were built with pickleball courts. So they're not shortened to tennis courts. They are actual pickleball courts. They do offer some tournaments. It's really very social events. And they have some quote unquote expert led clinics which I think really is some of their entertainment staff who have learned to play pickleball, but still it lets you combine cruise travel to multiple destinations. It lets you, you know, continue to play every day. And of course, it's got that sophisticated atmosphere.

Virgin Voyages really does love its wellness community. The Caribbean cruises run year round and December to April is going to provide you the best weather for outdoor pickleball play. Royal Caribbean has gotten into the pickleball game in a big way with their new Oasis class ships. They have multipurpose sports decks and the pickleball courts are a recent addition to, as I said, the Oasis class ships. They have official tournaments and casual play. And of course you get the sea and the panoramic ocean views as your backdrop. And on these Oasis class ships, they have accessibility that includes paddle rentals. You can pay for a beginner lesson and it makes it easy for you to jump in the game.

Celebrity Cruise Line, which is owned by Royal Caribbean. So no surprise there that they are also getting into the pickleball game. They are currently focused on their Mediterranean sailings where there's at least one or more sea days that offer pickleball clinics. And they will combine this with their world class cuisine and their historic excursions. So their onboard social pickleball events are there to help you create community with your other fellow sailors. Of course, you get those beautiful, breathtaking coastlines. They do have some tailored programming for all skill levels. It ensures that everyone feels included.

And then ports like Barcelona and Athens are actually hotspots for blending your athletic play with the beautiful rich cultural experiences. Speaking of Barcelona and Athens and hot spots, let's take a quick trip over the sea across the pond, as those British people like to say, and talk about some European locations. So Spain's Costa del Sol, it is a pickleball paradise. There are very well kept courts. They are along the stunning Mediterranean beaches. They are perfect for mixing pickleball sport with seaside relaxation. That's where you'll find me. Many resorts here offer those early morning pickleball sessions in order to to beat that midday heat.

And several local clubs have weekly social mixers that warmly welcome travelers. Hard to imagine Spain welcoming travelers, but over here in the less touristy areas, they don't. And so you are invited to join in those local mixers and local pickleball communities for the authentic vibes. Portugal is another place in the Algarve region where they blend world class pickleball facilities. And here you have the cliffside views, they've got golf courses, so it's a really good place to go if you have a fan of pickleball and golf and they have delicious local seafood. So here we want to look out for resorts for you that offer those combined pickleball golf packages so you can mix your sports. And we absolutely need to get you a tour of the seafood market right after your game so that you can pick out your fish and have it for lunch. Late afternoon market excursion coupled with that seaside dinner is how we're going to treat you when you go on your pickleball vacation in Portugal.

Now, if you've decided to hit me up and you want to try pickleball in southern France, they have exclusive retreats and here you've got the French Riviera, where they are going to be nestled in country estates and you compare your daily matches with gourmet French cuisine and, dare I say, wine tastings. Many of the upscale southern France pickleball retreat locations also offer gourmet cooking classes alongside your pickleball lessons. So it's a great way to immerse yourself in both sport and Provence's culinary heritage. I'll come along for the culinary heritage part. Here you want to visit during the late spring or early autumn so that you can get these festival experiences without summer crowd. I've mentioned traveling on the shoulder seasons before and that is definitely recommended here. These European regions always are going to provide the rich cultural experience, a historic town, the vibrant local market, and so those are all ideal for exploring when you're ready to take a break from the courts. The top three best pickleball vacation spots for everyone.

I mentioned the Western Resort and Spa in Cancun. It perfectly blends the beachfront luxury vibe and the excellent facilities after match. You can soothe your muscles or enjoy local Mexican cuisine. And it does have access to the beaches and there is a vibrant nightlife in Cancun if that is something you are interested in. Virgin Voyages, of course, is always going to be one of my favorite cruise lines. It's adults only and their food is, as I've always said, chef's kiss. It's really great. And they were designed with pickleball courts, so they were built with true pickleball courts on board.

And then I mentioned there would be one in Asia. So how about Bali? For the ultimate deep dive into wellness culture, natural beauty and pickleball courts. They are blending active play with yoga, spa treatments and beach vibes. It is a true holistic vacation. Many resorts do package pickle ball with those holistic wellness experiences. So that's certainly something that we can discuss and that I can book for you. Balinese massage, meditation, organic food workshops. I definitely am going to tell you that we need to extend your stay by at least one spa day so that you can rejuvenate after any pickleball play.

I again recommend that early morning pickleball that is going to capitalize on Bali's cooler hours for you. I can't say much about less humidity, but definitely cooler hours and definitely we have to explore the local Balinese culture. There's temple visits, traditional dance resort and some resorts are going to allow me to offer guided cultural tours for you with other pickleball players so you will have something in common with your fellow cultural explorers. So some tips for you. Stay tuned for pickleball festivals and retreats. I'm sure if you're a member of a club at home they may be hosting or they will post notifications about pickleball festivals and retreats. I also, as I said, I know from when I worked at Club Med, I know some pickleball vacations that happen in tournaments and things like that. Of course you can pair it with a culinary and a wellness adventure.

Now maybe you've got me excited so why stop at just playing? As I mentioned, in France we can schedule cooking classes that features cuisine, wine tasting or like in Valley, mindful yoga sessions so we can nourish your body and your soul and even your pickleball game. Be sure to pack smart and travel light. Bringing your own paddle and court shoes guarantees comfort and confidence on your unfamiliar surfaces. But don't sweat it if you can't fit it in or if you forget. All of these places do have quality rentals and they're all over they're available. It's fine to time your travel around major tournaments. In this case you're going to catch the high energy competition events that's going to add a layer to your vacation. You might cheer on the pros, you can participate in clinics, or they might even have amateur brackets for a little friendly rivalry.

And that is it my friends. Your pickleball travel guide for the best resorts and cruises with courts around the world. And I will see you next week where Halloween really will be happening. Until then, safe and happy travels everyone.