Pickleball vacations destinations

Best Pickleball Vacations: Play 6 Amazing Destinations of the World!

By Jackie Gately
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Have you ever thought of planning a pickleball vacation?

You can experience the joy of pickleball while you explore these stunning vacation destinations worldwide. From exotic beaches to picturesque mountains, this is your chance to experience the best of both worlds.

So, grab your paddle, pack your bags, and get ready for an extraordinary vacation that combines leisure, fitness, and the thrill of pickleball!

Pickleball vacations 2023
Enjoy your pickleball vacations and you’ll stay fit this summer.

CONTENTS – In this article, you will learn all about the best destinations for planning pickleball vacations and more, including:

Stay Fit With a Pickleball Vacation!

Vacations are a time for relaxing and forgetting about the daily grind. Travel also facilitate exploration and learning.

For some, a vacation involves nothing more than lounging by a pool. You can filter your lodging options on popular booking sites like booking.com, expedia.com, and hotels.com to find the best hotel.

For others, it means seeking out new cultures and exciting cuisines.

But if you wish to indulge while on holiday but retain your fitness levels, the good news is, it’s possible to do both. Seeing the world needn’t mean putting your favorite activities on hold.

With the growing popularity of pickleball, it means that there is always the opportunity to enjoy a game, even when you are thousands of miles from home.

Plus, pickleball is sociable.

So, you might meet new people, learn a few words in another language, and stay fit, all while enjoying a vacation in new surroundings, too.

What you need to do is choose the right destination, pack your best pickleball bag, and hit the road for a pickleball vacation in 2023!

A Brief Introduction to Pickleball

With the popularity of pickleball growing almost daily, it’s hard to imagine many people not knowing what the sport is about.

However, for those that are new or curious to learn, here are some brief introductory facts about pickleball.

Pickleball was created in the mid-60s by three friends as a way to entertain their families. Yet, pickleball has grown to become a sport that is popular across the globe.

And now, pickleball is seeking to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), it is the fastest-growing sport and pickleball participation nearly doubled in 2022.

One major reason that pickleball is so popular is due to its inclusivity.

Pickleball is a racket sport not dissimilar to tennis and is played on a court. Pickleball rackets are shorter than those used in tennis, and the ball is made from lightweight plastic. The court is also smaller than a traditional tennis court.

Is Pickleball Easier Than Tennis?

In short, yes. That’s because pickleball is easier to learn than tennis, requires less physical strength to hit the ball, and the courts are smaller than tennis courts. To give you an idea of the court size, you could fit almost four pickleball courts into the standard tennis court.

Pickleball is also said to be easier on the joints compared to tennis. Anyone capable of playing a low-impact sport will be able to enjoy pickleball. This is why many older adults find great pleasure in the game.

The Benefits of Playing Pickleball for Overall Well-being

Stay Fit With a Pickleball
You can have fun and stay fit when you play pickleball on vacation.

Playing pickleball brings about similar health benefits that tennis does.

For one, the game helps improve cardiovascular fitness and flexibility.

Other benefits include improved strength and perhaps hand-eye coordination gains.

There are social benefits to consider, too. Among them is that social interaction helps people stay active and young. Much like vacations are vital for mental wellness, socializing is, too.

Friendly competition and social engagement come with playing pickleball.

These benefits combined make pickleball an excellent choice for general wellness.

Better yet, because pickleball doesn’t require lots of equipment, it is easy to take your gear on the road when you travel. That makes planning your pickleball vacations easy!

Setting Vacation Fitness Goals

It is quite normal to over-indulge while you’re on a vacation break. If you came back from your last vacation carrying an extra pound or two, you wouldn’t be alone.

Around 61% of people gain weight on vacation. Typically, adults gain one pound per three-week holiday.

And of course, you should enjoy yourself when you are on your break.

Yet, a little exercise goes a long way in combating that extra slice of pizza when in Naples.

So, you’ll want to setting some simple objectives for maintaining fitness on vacation that will help to keep you in shape.

To enjoy pickleball while on holiday, you’ll first need to choose the right spot to visit. Let’s look at 6 great options for pickleball vacations, below.

Choosing the Right Pickleball Destination

Pickleball and fitness
Plan great pickleball vacations around the world.

Pickleball is played all over the world. Some countries have significantly more playing options than others, but finding a place for a casual game shouldn’t be an issue.

Before we begin, I invite you to download my FREE Bucket List Planner Worksheet. It’s a fillable, printable resource you can keep handy whenever you hear about great destinations. It will help you prioritize your dream vacations, and you’ll be more organized when your top destinations are in plain sight. That way, you’ll always have a trip to look forward to!

Here are six suggestions for planning pickleball vacations 2023.

1. The US, Canada, and Mexico Pickleball

North America is an excellent place for a pickleball vacation.

In fact, Mexico has been recognized as a destination for pickleball vacationers because many of its resorts offer pickleball facilities. Yes, pickleball resorts are a thing!

The US probably has more pickleball players than any other country. And this has resulted in increased numbers of outdoor and indoor pickleball courts.

But in a state-to-state comparison, California, Florida, and Texas offer the most choice for pickleball players.

Don’t dismiss Canada either for a pickleball vacations, either. If you’ve always wanted to see the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, then go with the knowledge that pickleball is played across the country in Canada as well.

2. Pickleball in Spain

Spain is a highly popular destination for Europeans, and it’s also home to millions of pickleball players. In fact, the top ten countries for pickleball player participation include 5 European nations.

Visit Alicante and you’ll enjoy fresh seafood and more from this port city. You’ll also want to visit historic sites in Alicante, such as the stunning Castillo de Santa Barbara.

And then, you can join the locals at one of several pickleball courts.

3. Australia and New Zealand

Check out the ideal time to visit Australia if you’re traveling to the lands Down Under. Put the miles in, and these countries will reward you.

Famous landmarks in Australia, such as Ayer’s Rock and the Great Barrier Reef, will surely top your list of places to visit.

And while visiting Sydney and viewing the world-famous opera house, you should make time to find a pickleball club for a couple of games.

A short hop takes you to New Zealand. There, take in the magnificent scenery that has formed the backdrop for major Hollywood movies. You’ll enjoy the relaxed vibe of this country!

The cities are uncrowded and laid back, and also contain pickleball courts.

4. Play Pickleball in Italy

Cities such as Rome and Florence, Italy offer much to visitors. They are on most everyone’s bucket list!

Florence draws crowds with its rich history and sites like the Piazza del Duomo.

But, for serious pickleball fans, Pescara in September may be the place to be. That’s because Tocco Da Casauria in the Pescara province is home to the Italian Open Pickleball Championships!

5. England’s Pickleball Scene

Pickleball is popular with tennis players, and so is London.

Every year, the best of the world’s tennis players descend on Wimbledon. So, it should be no surprise then that tennis-loving Brits have adopted pickleball as if it were their own.

Take some time to enjoy the many sights of London. But when the crowds get to be too much, you can blow off some steam at one of the various pickleball courts around town.

6. Thailand for Pickleball

Going outside Europe for something more far flung might be your idea of travel. Therefore, Thailand may be the best choice for your pickleball vacation.

Bangkok has many options for playing the sport. But, head away from the city and hit the beach.

You can set up base on Phuket and explore famous islands around the coast, then head to Old Phuket Town to see the 19th-century buildings still used as homes and shops.

And play pickleball at one of many resorts or facilities, of course.

Bring Your Pickleball Mindset Home

Pickleball vacations this summer
Have pickleball paddle, will travel!

To get the most from your pickleball vacation you need recovery time.

All that sightseeing plus time on the pickleball courts will require a little rest. You can partake in a post-vacation detox on your return.

Don’t worry, a few indulgences certainly won’t hurt – especially if you make time to enjoy the places you visit as well as play pickleball.

Coming home with the same mindset you used on vacation might lead to you expanding your travels.

So, make a point to stay active with pickleball, but branch out and see more of your own country. Travel and pickleball seem to go together naturally, like hand to racket.

Final Thoughts on Pickleball Vacations

The world offers travelers so many wonderful destinations; choosing from so many is the problem.

However, if you’re in the mood to take your pickleball interests along with you, you’ll discover standout places to visit.

Decide what you want from your vacation and then choose possible destinations and scope out the nearby pickleball facilities.

That way, you won’t miss the chance to play pickleball with locals and expand your social interaction while away.

So go ahead and book your “destination pickleball”! You’ll have fun, might get some new skills, and even make new friends around the world!

Jackie Gately at the beach


About Jackie Gately, editor-IN-CHIEF

I'm Jackie Gately, your travel confidante and the creative force behind Enjoy Travel Life, awarded the "Best Casual-Luxury Lifestyle Blog (USA)" in Travel and Tourism by LUXlife Magazine for four consecutive years.

With 25 years of published expertise, I'm a seasoned writer, editor, and photographer curating inspiring travel guides and lifestyle tips for empty nesters. I hope to kindle your spirit of exploration, encouraging you to overcome obstacles and turn your dreams into reality.

Learn to minimize your pre-travel angst and maximize the joy of exploration with insights from my experiences. Let's make every adventure a celebration of this exciting phase of life! 

Follow my social channels for more inspiration.

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