Holidaymakers are prioritising wellness and incorporating sport into their travel plans – here’s where we recommend …
For me June is synonymous with the sound of a tennis ball hitting a taut racquet and the thrum of a rally. And if trend predictions are correct, this summer, many holidaymakers will be joining the “racketeers”, a term coined to reflect the growing racquet sports craze. Indeed, “flop and drop” holidays may be on the decline as travellers opt to “fly and flourish” – prioritising wellness and incorporating sport into their travel plans.
As a result, hotels have been investing in state-of-the-art facilities, especially pickleball and padel courts and augmenting their tennis offering. On the Riviera, the posh Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has a special partnership with Lacoste, with branded tennis courts and a covetable collection of limited-edition tennis gear.
The Sani Resort, Greece, comprising five hotels, is home to the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre. This offers everything from tennis “tasters” to competition practice, which not only focus on physical training but also incorporate elements of Nadal’s winning ethos. For poolside reading, pack Christopher Clarey’s new biography The Warrior: Rafael Nadal and His Kingdom of Clay.
I’ve enjoyed several tennis holidays – memorably at the Emilio Sanchez Academy just outside Barcelona, where sociable Spanish lessons complement the intensive coaching. As a pied-à-terre in the city, try the chic Antifa Casa Buenavista which has a modernist look and a rooftop pool.
Having stayed at its swish resorts in Mauritius, Majorca and Corfu, I also recommend Club Med holidays, especially for solo travellers, where the range of allinclusive activities and (free) tennis coaching is outstanding. I particularly liked the cosmopolitan mix of guests and calibre of accommodation. Recently renovated, Marrakech La Palmeraie is a short lob from the Medina.
A balance of exercise and indulgence is guaranteed on Cycling for Softies’ inclusive holidays. It offers interesting cycling holidays through the wine regions of Portugal, Slovenia, Italy and Spain. On its Provencal Discovery Tour, cyclists set off (independently) from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and meander through olive groves punctuated by stops in villages such as Les Baux-de-Provence and Eygalières. Leisurely lunches, plenty of rosé tasting, charming accommodation, luggage transfers and fully serviced e-bikes are all included.
Personally, I can’t think of a better “fly and flourish” destination than Île de Ré. Crisscrossed with 140 kilometres of cycle paths, its ten quaint villages and 13 beaches are a tonic for all the senses. Stay in picturesque Saint-Martin-de-Ré at the quiet L’Hotel de Toiras.
SEE MORE: A Glossy Guide To Ile de Ré
