There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
Kiawah Island Golf Resort has been serving unforgettable match moments from the time its first guests stepped onto the tennis courts in 1976. Fifty years later, that legacy continues to rally. In late 2025, the acclaimed Roy Barth Tennis Center added two new padel courts to its award-winning lineup.
There is a certain breed of tennis player who cannot be stopped by the weather, and the debate over winter tennis in Florida vs. summer tennis in New England resorts is one they live rather than argue.
From the prominent Coachella Valley to the breezy coastlines of San Diego and Santa Barbara, this guide covers seven standout properties that have made California one of the most celebrated tennis destinations in the world.
This guide covers six padel resorts in Italy, from a family-friendly all-inclusive village on the Calabrian coast to a five-star lakeside retreat in Veneto.Â
Set in the courtyard of a 1940s hacienda and bordered by terraced beds of flowers, trees, and its own restaurant, the sunken clubhouse court at the La Quinta Resort & Club has always seemed like a symbol of the resort’s commitment to tennis. Tennis there burst onto the national stage in 1978 when a consortium of former players led by Charlie Pasarell set out to build the finest resort tennis club on the planet. It became one of the first resorts to offer all three playing surfaces—hard, clay, and grass (though the grass is now gone)—and Pasarell and company made sure it rose to national attention by staging a professional tournament that eventually spawned into own stadium. Those were heady days and the tournament was the springboard for what is now the BNP Paribas tournament in nearby Indian Wells.
From the very beginning, I’ve been one of La Quinta’s staunchest partisans. Its Clubhouse Court is hands-down the most beautiful court at a resort anywhere, and the later addition of a spa next door and a courtside fitness center only seemed to add to the allure. At 21 courts—16 hard and 5 Har-Tru—it remains one of the larger resort complexes in the desert, and the facility has supplemented its tennis with the addition of 8 pickleball courts. The setting is magnificent, the rooms exceptionally comfortable, the cuisine excellent.
The original Spanish hacienda-style hotel and its 20 cottages opened in 1926 and immediately attracted Hollywood celebrities and California moguls, who braved 20 miles of bad road beyond Palm Springs to reach this retreat among citrus trees at the foot of the starkly imposing Santa Rosa Mountains. Since then the road has improved and the resort grown to 620 casitas and 98 villas. Yet this doesn’t feel like a large hotel. The scale remains low—nothing taller than two stories—and the rooms have been cleverly arranged around numerous small garden-like courtyards each containing a small swimming pool and hot tub (all in all, there are 41 pools and 53 hot tubs).
Although it is no longer difficult to reach the rest of Palm Springs desert and its many restaurants and galleries, there is little incentive to leave the resort. All the rooms are a short stroll from a flower-bedecked plaza of shops and restaurants, so why get in your car when you can stroll over to the Adobe Grill for fishbowl-size margaritas served in hand-blown glassware from Guadalajara or its superb dishes from various regions of Mexico, like grilled rack of lamb with roasted corn and date tamale from the Yucatan or Caldo de Mariscos, a southwestern bouillabaisse? Unless you’re here in March and have tickets to the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, you’ll be perfectly content staying on property, playing tennis and relaxing at the spa or around one of the pools.
The consortium that started the tennis club—Charlie Pasarell, Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Bob Lutz, Tom Gorman, Marty Riessen, Roscoe Tanner, and Dennis Ralston—guaranteed by location and design that the courts would be a focal point of the resort. Tables from a restaurant and bar, now renamed Centre Court Cafe and filled with tennis photos, spill out onto the flower-filled patio overlooking the sunken clubhouse court. The complex is further anchored by a swimming pool, fitness center, and tennis pro shop. The effect encourages hanging out, before and after matches.
Tennis Staff: Kevin Connolly took over as tennis director on March 1, 2019. A graduate of South Carolina’s Coastal Carolina University, where he played Division 1 NCAA tennis, Connolly has been part of the desert tennis scene since 1992, most recently as the director of the Peter Burwash International-managed Westin Mission Hills Resort. He inherits a well-oiled program, known for its quality game matching and a roster of weekly activities that include drill sessions, clinics, Cardio tennis, and, during periods of peak demand, junior clinics.
Court Complex: There are 21 tennis courts—16 hard and 5 Har-Tru—and 8 pickleball courts.
SATURDAY
INTRO TO PICKLEBALL
8am – 9am | $35pp
OPEN PLAY
Minimum 3 players | 2pm – 4pm | $25pp
(First hour led by a pickleball professional)
Additional clinics offered during holiday periods. Schedule subject to change.
Off Court
Golf Courses: Golfers who stay here can test themselves on 90 inspired holes, including the TPC Stadium, Jack Nicklaus Tournament, and Greg Norman courses at nearby PGA WEST and the resort’s own Pete Dye Mountain and Dunes courses. If they come up lacking, they can always check into the acclaimed Jim McLean Golf School.
Spa & Fitness Center: La Quinta 23,000-square-foot spa is remarkable for its elegant South of the Border architecture and abundant outdoor treatment rooms that manage to be both private and open to views of the sky, stars, and haunting desert mountains. Workout enthusiasts got a 4,000-square-foot fitness center adjacent to the tennis clubhouse. That handsome building has counterpane windows on both sides, with the cardiovascular equipment set to look out on the courts, and contains a full suite of LifeFitness machines and dumbbells as well. The center also has a lengthy roster of daily workouts, including yoga, Pilates, aqua-aerobics, stretch classes, and power walks.
Accommodations
There are 786 rooms, suites and villas mostly arrayed around gardenlike courtyards with swimming pools and outdoor whirlpools.
Getting there
Seasons: The resort is open year-round but confine your tennis vacation to the period from October to early May. High season typically begins in mid January and extends through April.
Travel Instructions: The resort is 19 miles from Palm Springs International Airport.
308 Reviews on “La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton”
Excellent
4.8
308 reviews
On Court Experience
5.0
Off Court Experience
5.0
Overall Tennis
5.0
Overall Pickleball
5.0
Tennis Instruction
5.0
Pickleball Instruction
5.0
Accomodations
4.9
Resort Amenities
4.9
BR
Great people and facilities!
DL
We stay at La Quinta at least twice each year and cannot recommend it enough for tennis players. Every visit feels like coming home to family. Whether it’s Kevin ensuring that you are having a great time and that all of your lessons and court reservations are ideal for your schedule, or Ian and Marcus giving insightful instruction while making it super fun for everyone, La Quinta is a special place. If you come once you will come again and again!
BP
Ian is a great coach and the place is first rate.
DW
La Quinta tennis resort is a top notch tennis facility. The courts and surroundings are beautiful. Ian Mindell and the other coaches are very skilled coaches and fun to learn from. Keven runs a smooth and professional operation.
JH
Jose is an outstanding tennis coach, and I truly can’t recommend him enough. From the very first session, his professionalism set the tone. He is always punctual, prepared, and completely present on the court. Jose creates a positive, respectful environment that makes every lesson both motivating and confidence-building. You can tell he genuinely cares about his players and takes real pride in their progress.
His skill and coaching ability are exceptional. Jose has a gift for breaking down technique in a way that is clear and easy to understand, and he tailors each session to your individual strengths and areas for growth. Whether you’re working on fundamentals or refining advanced strategy, his feedback is precise, thoughtful, and immediately helpful. Thanks to his guidance, my game has improved noticeably, both technically and mentally.
DE
I am not only new to desert life; I am also new to La Quinta Resort & Club. I was very nervous about this move—how do you find a club where you know you can grow in a positive direction and feel wonderful every time you enter it? La Quinta Resort is that club.
The staff welcomes you with sincerity and truly takes the time to get to know you. When you enter the clubhouse, you are greeted by staff members who are friendly, smiling, and eager to help you start your day with whatever you may need to have a great experience each time.
You will find me on the tennis court most of the time, playing or taking a lesson with Pro Jose. His positive energy makes you feel like you can attempt any new or rusty skill and achieve it. With patience and guidance, Jose helps you find the confidence that never lets you doubt your ability to succeed. As you are learning, he encourages you and breaks each skill down step by step so you can mentally process it and allow your body to achieve it. Jose is a true motivator and cheers you on as both small and big improvements are made.
I am very happy at La Quinta Resort & Club. It has become my second home, and I highly recommend it to anyone coming to the desert. You will not be disappointed.
MQ
La Quinta is a great place to play tennis. It’s exceptional actually. I’m pretty good but playing with Jose. I’ve gotten way better highly recommend five stars. Go with Jose and push yourself to the max.
EC
Jose is a great tennis and pickleball instructor. He explains technique clearly and tailors each lesson to what you actually need to improve. His feedback is easy to understand and apply, and I noticed better contact and consistency quickly.
He’s professional, patient, and brings great energy to every session. Highly recommend Jose if you want to improve your game and enjoy the process.
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308 Reviews on “La Quinta Resort & Club, Curio Collection by Hilton”
Great people and facilities!
We stay at La Quinta at least twice each year and cannot recommend it enough for tennis players. Every visit feels like coming home to family. Whether it’s Kevin ensuring that you are having a great time and that all of your lessons and court reservations are ideal for your schedule, or Ian and Marcus giving insightful instruction while making it super fun for everyone, La Quinta is a special place. If you come once you will come again and again!
Ian is a great coach and the place is first rate.
La Quinta tennis resort is a top notch tennis facility. The courts and surroundings are beautiful. Ian Mindell and the other coaches are very skilled coaches and fun to learn from. Keven runs a smooth and professional operation.
Jose is an outstanding tennis coach, and I truly can’t recommend him enough. From the very first session, his professionalism set the tone. He is always punctual, prepared, and completely present on the court. Jose creates a positive, respectful environment that makes every lesson both motivating and confidence-building. You can tell he genuinely cares about his players and takes real pride in their progress.
His skill and coaching ability are exceptional. Jose has a gift for breaking down technique in a way that is clear and easy to understand, and he tailors each session to your individual strengths and areas for growth. Whether you’re working on fundamentals or refining advanced strategy, his feedback is precise, thoughtful, and immediately helpful. Thanks to his guidance, my game has improved noticeably, both technically and mentally.
I am not only new to desert life; I am also new to La Quinta Resort & Club. I was very nervous about this move—how do you find a club where you know you can grow in a positive direction and feel wonderful every time you enter it? La Quinta Resort is that club.
The staff welcomes you with sincerity and truly takes the time to get to know you. When you enter the clubhouse, you are greeted by staff members who are friendly, smiling, and eager to help you start your day with whatever you may need to have a great experience each time.
You will find me on the tennis court most of the time, playing or taking a lesson with Pro Jose. His positive energy makes you feel like you can attempt any new or rusty skill and achieve it. With patience and guidance, Jose helps you find the confidence that never lets you doubt your ability to succeed. As you are learning, he encourages you and breaks each skill down step by step so you can mentally process it and allow your body to achieve it. Jose is a true motivator and cheers you on as both small and big improvements are made.
I am very happy at La Quinta Resort & Club. It has become my second home, and I highly recommend it to anyone coming to the desert. You will not be disappointed.
La Quinta is a great place to play tennis. It’s exceptional actually. I’m pretty good but playing with Jose. I’ve gotten way better highly recommend five stars. Go with Jose and push yourself to the max.
Jose is a great tennis and pickleball instructor. He explains technique clearly and tailors each lesson to what you actually need to improve. His feedback is easy to understand and apply, and I noticed better contact and consistency quickly.
He’s professional, patient, and brings great energy to every session. Highly recommend Jose if you want to improve your game and enjoy the process.