The 18-story Naples Grande Beach Resort anchors a 23-acre property just inland from the Gulf of Mexico behind a 200-acre mangrove estuary called Clam Pass Park. From the balcony of my room, I can look west across those mangroves and east across the red-tile roofs of the tennis villas and the 15 Har-Tru courts of the tennis complex beyond.
As is often true in Florida, activity on the courts has started early; everyone, it seems, wants to play in the mornings and in fact I’ll be there shortly to join a men’s drill session. But though the courts are already busy, the hotel lobby is almost deserted. There is, I’ve been told, a large conference group in house; however, the meeting rooms are mostly on the second floor—an escalator ride up from the lobby—and thus out of the mainstream, leaving me with the sense of having the hotel largely to myself.
That circumstance is unusual, and not typical of my previous visits to the property. Though set up to handle large conference groups, the hotel also has the amenities to attract leisure guests, chief among them a 7-mile-long ribbon of sand along the Gulf of Mexico. To reach the beach and the resort’s watersports center, guests can hop a free shuttle or stroll along a .6-mile-long boardwalk that winds through the mangroves and over a canoe trail. To that natural feature the hotel adds a suite of distractions of its own, including a free-form swimming pool with a waterslide and waterfall and a second oval pool with cabanas and a hot tub, a pool-front fitness center, a spa, a kids club (also right off the pool), golf privileges, a lobby restaurant and bar, and, of course, tennis.
The main cluster of courts fans out from a single-story red-roofed air-conditioned pro shop with a flatscreen TV, basic tennis essentials, limited clothing and equipment, and a display of wooden racquets. The tennis-management company Peter Burwash International (PBI) installed Scott Pennington to direct the facility. Originally from Virginia, he played college tennis for Virginia Commonwealth and then headed to Europe where he played German Club team tennis and cycled around the E.U., including a trip from Prague to Vienna. He brings an extensive tennis resume to Naples, including a USPTA Elite certification, stints as a USTA Competition Training Center coach, National Zonal Coach, and Southern Section Davis/Fed Cup coach and experience at a variety of clubs in South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida.
Tennis Programs: In any given week, guests can look forward to daily clinics, cardio tennis, group and private and group lessons, monthly member and guest events, and more. His staff includes a full-time tennis attendant to see to all player needs include matching. A local membership ensures a base for the drill sessions and activities as well as for guests looking for a game, and the hotel allows outsiders to play, so even on occasions when the hotel itself has few players, the courts see a lot of use.
Court Complex: There are 15 Har-Tru courts, 5 of them with lights, just a 2-minute walk from the hotel lobby.
Court fees: $20/90 minutes
Off Court
Beach: A boardwalk through a mangrove estuary connects the hotel with a 7-mile-long beach on the Gulf of Mexico.
Golf: Guests have privileges at the nearby Naples Grande Golf Club, a par-72 layout designed by Rees Jones.
Spa and Fitness Center: The Zen-inspired Spa at Naples Grandehas 12 treatment rooms in a cluster of pavilions set in gardens just above the swimming pools. Before and after treatments guests have access to an outdoor relaxation space with lounges and to a labyrinth for meditation. Light lunches are available from a special spa menu. The Fitness Center, which spans 8,000-square feet, overlooks the mangrove estuary from the 3rd floor. A room key provides access 24/7 to the workout room, sauna, steam, and lockers supplemented by a yoga studio. Personal trainers are available.
Children's Programs: The hotel runs a kids’ program for those ages 4 to 12, basing in out of a room off the swimming pool and entertaining them with arts and crafts, video games, television, and sports and recreation.
Dining: Coffee, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches are available at Spressi in the hotel lobby while Aura serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with an emphasis on locally. Dinner options range from small plates, to flatbreads, pasta, and local grouper. For drinks, you can head to the simply title The Bar in the hotel lobby.
Accommodations
There are 474 rooms and suites in this 18-story hotel. All have balconies.
Getting there
Seasons: Year-round
Travel Instructions: By Air: The nearest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers, 35 miles to the north.
Great Resort for tennis. My brother told me to go here after his family visited and we were impressed. We have three little ones and they all took lessons there. The hotel is great. The spa is great. Naples is great! (and my wife said great shopping too). We will return.
DU
As far as Tennis Resorts go, the Waldorf Astoria Naples, (managed by Peter Burwash International), has it all! Ample tennis courts, very qualified and friendly professional staff and, to top it off, it’s all attached to an amazing Waldorf hotel with pool, spa, restaurants and access to the beach! As far as Tennis Resorts go, the Waldorf Astoria Naples, (managed by Peter Burwash International), has it all! Ample tennis courts, very qualified and friendly professional staff and, to top it off, it’s all attached to an amazing Waldorf hotel with pool, spa, restaurants and access to the beach! Both my son, who is an avid player at 10, and myself, a few years older, took lessons while we were on vacation there. (The name of the pro who taught us was Adri…pretty sure she’s the head pro there…she is great with kids and can definitely hit the ball with anyone…(I would be surprised if she wasn’t a professional player at one point in her life!) The hotel also has bungalows that are right next to the courts…that’s where we stayed and where we will certainly stay again. Both my son, who is an avid player at 10, and myself, a few years older, took lessons while we were on vacation there. (The name of the pro who taught us was Adri…pretty sure she’s the head pro there…she is great with kids and can definitely hit the ball with anyone…(I would be surprised if she wasn’t a professional player at one point in her life!) The hotel also has bungalows that are right next to the courts…that’s where we stayed and where we will certainly stay again.
AS
It is not very often that you find highly-skilled and passionate tennis coaches who are enthusiastic about sharing their love of the game of tennis with you! I very much enjoyed working to fine tune my technical abilities with the staff at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Florida. The tennis director, Adri and the two other instructors, Ron and J.D., all offered structured feedback with a positive and encouraging approach to helping me improve my game. I look forward to my return visit later this year. Believe me – this is most definitely the place you want to visit if you are looking to combine relaxation and tennis!
DS
An exceptional resort to play tennis, brush up on your tennis skills, and/or meet others with same tennis interets. The staff is outstanding, pleasant,quite knowledgable and make playing fun.
HS
It gives me great pleasure in writing a recommendation. It was a pleasure to work with the PBI team as always. I came to know Adri well through the succesful improvement of my tennis skills. I am still in contact with her and benefit from the opportunity to regularly ask for advice. I am happy to recommend Adri Atkinson and the resort she is working for.
GM
The pro shop fulfills all of your tennis equipment needs, from a decent selection in rackets, which you can actually demo. They have an experienced technician that can restring your racket for your specific needs at a reasonable cost; the only weakness that I saw is that they can add more tennis clothing. The tennis instructors are PBI professionals, all of them are very kind, patient, and talented and knowledgeable . With the clinics, lessons, leagues, ball machines, tournaments and socials that they offer, tennis enthusiasts have the opportunity to learn and perfect their game. All of the outdoor courts are in pristine condition. It feels really nice to have a clean stack of folded towels and ice water available next to every court, along with chairs and tables to relax in between games. The staff is super-friendly and I always feel so welcome when I am there. Overall we love the club and look forward to many years here.
SS
The set up was superb and the people knowledgeable and friendly. Our son is an advanced player and Adri quickly identified the best coach. The coach, J D Shade, was very very good and he worked with our son over a 9 day period. We travel all over the world and we rate J D Shade as the best coach we have come across. We consider J D as a friend. He knows tennis and our son has kept in touch with J D
SL
WA Naples Tennis, great vacation, great location with great tennis… While travelling in southwest Florida on business I had decided to book a week at Waldorf Astoria Naples for a little tennis and relaxation. My Spring Break as it were and I was very glad I did so. I would like to give special recognition to the staff and professionals you have at your tennis facility. Most notably Kadre, who hosts the pro shop and handles all the bookings and sessions of all members and guests for the PBI professional staff under the experienced, competent, and respected leadership of Tennis Director Adri Atkinson. All are great, experienced players, willing to share their knowledge and love of the game to all they come in contact with daily. They have a deep passion for what they do and are able to share that with others…at all levels. That is what I found most rare today and commendable. A great staff and team! Exceptional facilities that are meticulously maintained!! I was a solo traveler during Spring Break 2013, and they were heavily into their season, which begins October 1 with many bookings and sessions already in place. The tennis staff was great. They provided me games with other guests as well as helped me in one- on- one sessions. There was never a problem and they were very accommodating, always providing rackets, balls, and finding times when I could play. You see I am a Polio survivor with limited mobility. I am an avid tennis fan with limited ability and skills and play strictly recreational. The way Kadre, Adri and PBI staff worked and treated me I truly felt like I was some kind of touring professional. I will never forget that feeling. Thank you so much. Suffice it to say I had a great stay at a great resort and a great vacation. Many may say they were great and just doing their job and paid to do so. I could not disagree more for I have traveled much in my youth. It does not exist everywhere. What I will say however is yes I met some great people who do a remarkable job but more than that may I dare say made some great new friends. That is the most special feeling I left with…till we meet again!!
LM
I had a wonderful lesson from Ron. The staff was so friendly and helpful. They arranged for me to be included in some matches and a fun mixed round robin. Yes, I was thoroughly happy with my experience there and I would like to be back next year to enjoy more of the same.
DD
I am a psychiatrist from the Boston area and I recently brought my family down to the Waldorf for Spring vacation. I am the diehard tennis player in the family and I was very impressed with the tennis vibe at this resort. The professional staff beginning with Adri Atkinson (head pro) made us all feel like members not just guests. My wife and son are intermediate players and they were able to be matched into good competitive games. We all were able to take great groups lessons as well as privates and all of us improved and had fun. I really appreciated the game matching as it gave me the opportunity to me local players as well as other hotel guests. The tennis program really made the hotel seem like a great value. I am already planning our return trip for next Spring. Thank you.
LP
We were impressed with the tennis program at the Naples Waldorf. The staff were uniformly insightful but from different perspectives. Adri, JD, and Ron were great in every way. The lessons were tailored to our needs, the clinics allowed us to meet other players, the setting was beautiful. Thanks to the pros at WA!!!
QC
Outstaanding staff in general, but OUTSTANDING tennis staff in particular! Courts are in excellent shape. Game matching from the front desk draws on members and hotel guests. Tennis clinics have the right balance of instructors with relevant drills and personal attention. Above all, the tennis pros were charming and ready to go as deep into our games as we desired. They deserve our All Star rating!
BC
Great facilities, great staff, beautiful resort – our entire tennis experience was extremely positive!
BL
This PBI team at the Waldorf were great. They made my wife and feel very welcome and provided a week of great tuition. The coaching was specifically delivered to help us improve our doubles game with a mixed focus on tactics, positioning and strokes. We enjoyed it immensely and will continue to choose PBI centres for our tennis holidays.
RD
We have been anxious to go back we had a great time last year. My wife and I are returning this week. I spoke with head pro Adri and promptly got an email from Evan the pro that we worked with last year offering to set up mixed double games. Great tennis community and enthusiastic staff.
SP
Head pro Adri Atkinson possesses the unique ability to simplify complex instructions and help mid-level players like myself see instant improvement. I went into my lesson asking for 2-3 specific pointers I could take back and work on back home in Maryland. She delivered on my request, and resisted the impulse you see among some pros to add more and more tips until you can’t remember anything! My 90 minutes with Adri has already paid off, as I returned home and promptly beat a guy I hadn’t been able to get past before. Sweet!
MK
Strengths:Beautiful location in Naples, Fl. Great clay courts. Weaknesses: No facility to buy racquets, clothes etc., they say they are redoing facility but they should have had a temporary setup, not very knowledgable at front desk.
HP
Mike Manzella runs a great program and very professional with great tips and personalized instruction during clinics. We had the opportunity to partake in a fun Mixed Doubles tourney while there and he and his staff did an excellent job coordinating. Highly recommend this PBI resort, courts are maintained very well and instruction was well worth it. If there would be some more Mixed Round Robins during the week that would be a plus for us next year!
ZM
Adri, Evan, and Mike are phenomenal instructors. Clinics and lessons were very helpful and lots of fun. Cant wait to come back!
JW
The tennis pros were the best -Evan, Adri and Michael – extremely knowledgeable, polite, energetic, creative drills, and most importantly very attentive. I had a lot of one on one time and learned entirely new techniques. I would definitely recommend this resort an would love to return.
SA
Wonderful beach-front hotel with GREAT tennis – loads of well-maintained har-tru courts, lots of clinics and events and fabulous lessons from PBI pros that will take your game to another level. A great tennis vacation in classy Naples. Have been there many times and will keep going back.
JZ
The resort is set-up well for a tennis vacation. My son loved walking from our room to the clubhouse and courts whenever he wanted. Further, he quickly found a great pro (Evan) and followed him around for the whole vacation! The instruction was very motivational and our home pro’s commented on new skills without being prompted.
BR
The instruction here is truly out standing. I arrived with my racquet, but unaware of the PBI presence here. I played each day with several instructors and found each of them exceptionally able to diagnose weaknesses and then present a very simple,very manageable fix. Totally enjoyable week. I look forward to retiming and would highly recommend this property to anyone interested in bringing their game to the next levels.
JA
I recently took private lessons with Evan Gordon. He zeros in pinpoints and perfects your technique with a knowledgable and thoughtful approach. He provides excellent tips through defined instructions and play. Extremely effective and your game will improve immediately.
GF
Adri Atkinson may not be the new Director at the new Waldorf in Naples, FL but she certainly is directing me and others with our tennis in all of the right directions. Fabio V. started me off well 3 years ago, but he’s gone now. I certainly hope that Adri isn’t gone from the Waldorf as early as May of this year. Kudos to PBI. Re: Vol. !!, #2, p. 85 of PBI magazine.
LL
Participated in the PBI cup at the Naples Grand Resort in Florida,1/15/2012 and was very impressed by the professional staff. The event ran so smoothly and the director and staff of the event made it great fun for all. Highly recommend taking a few lessions from Mike Manzella, just a super guy with excellent teaching skills!!
JB
The tennis here is exceptional! The pros Mike, Adri, and Evan are very personable and friendly. The programs hosted by PBI keep you wanting more. One thing I will miss dearly about this resort is the kindness of the pro shop staff. They treated me like a king and were so nice to me every time I walked in the door. Good thing I will be coming back very soon!!
MJ
Twice I’ve experienced tennis at the Waldorf Astoria Naples (formerly Naples Grande Resort), once in December 2010 and again in August 2011. On both occasions, I experienced a magnificent but seriously underutilized tennis facility. On my second visit, I was disappointed to find Jacob Hansen, an outstanding teaching pro, no longer present. It seems that insufficient programming impedes this resort’s popularity for tennis. PBI International has been managing the tennis programs here. On both my visits, scheduled activities for groups consisted solely of an adult clinic one hour each morning and mixed doubles once or twice a week. I suspect that tennis aficionados who seek more robust programming select instead other resorts in Florida such as IMG Bollettieri and Saddlebrook (Hopman). Were I the owner of the Waldorf Astoria Naples (Hilton Hotels), I would prevail upon PBI to program more robust tennis activities here or, failing that, inject some fresh, energetic blood. Such a wonderful tennis facility should attract many more patrons. If it fails to do so, then I fear for its continuing viability.
PN
strength – plenty of empty courts, pros were phenominal weakness – time of year not many people to play with
SC
Spent a great week at the recently renamed, Waldorf Astoria Naples during Christmas break. The tennis program was definitely the highlight of the resort for myself and my family. Adri, Evan, and Mike were great instructors in both clinics and private lessons. Very personable with great instruction.
TP
Best program of its kind in Florida.
RC
The tennis pro, MIke Manzella, is beyond fabulous. He keeps the energy going, keeps the drills interesting and is by far the best tennis instructor I have ever had. He is truly an amazing asset to your compapny.
RW
I had a few excellent sessions (mix of group clinics & pricate lessons) with Fabio and I can honestly say he is one of the best coaches I have ever had. His communication is excellent, and although I am a strong intermediate player he listened to what I had to say about my game, picked up on some of my issues and made some small adjustments that made sense and gave me some immediate results. Now it’s up to me to keep them going. The game arrangement was also spot-on and of the 2 games arranged I had a great game with both people. Great job Fabio!
MR
Coach Fabio is exceptional; technically excellent and great communicator. Tennis facilities first class. Resort generally is superb- dining choices are good, spa is excellent, rooms are spacious.
BS
Strengths: The tennis director Fabio Vasconcellos ran a superb tennis clinic weekend for me and my tennis friends. The courts were well groomed, lines brushed, and plenty of water for our much needed breaks. I commend Fabio for all of the hard work, which is shown through the immaculate settings. Fabio keeps the courts in order which makes it easy for tennis players from out of town to just show up and play. I found no weaknesses.
CS
I just spent eleven days at the Naples Resort. I played tennis for two hours a day for ten days. I found the tennis clinics and coaching fabulous. My game improved a great deal. I was also able to play in a round-robin and a doubles game with other hotel guests and locals. It was a wonderful experience.
JW
I really enjoyed my time there. My wife and I played twice a day and found the clinic to be fun and the lesson to be very helpful. Great courts and (in mid-April) very quick & easy to get times/lessons.
MA
An amazing tennis resort with wonderful pros – also a beautiful hotel. An ideal spot for tennis enthusiasts!
JP
The teaching among the coaches was consistent and helpful. The camps mixed skill levels which was not great. The teachers were personable and focused on your needs.
IZ
My second stint with Scott and Fabio at the Naples Grand and it another great time. The weather was fantastic and the staff personally created a custom package for my time there. Look forward to seeing them again next year!
CS
My three daughters and I just finished our 3rd annual vacation at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. We have always loved the location of the resort, which lies adjacent to Clam Pass Park, a natural mangrove estuary, that leads via a boardwalk to a beautiful, white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico. This year, however, I got courageous and signed all 4 of us up for private tennis lessons. We were all complete novices and had never had a single lesson in tennis. I can’t speak highly enough about the wonderful experience we had. Fabio Vasconcellos, the director of the tennis program, is a veritable gem. Not only did he launch my eldest daughter and me into our first experiences in tennis, but he also kept tabs on how my other two daughters were progressing in their own lessons. He was absolutely astute about making sure that we were relaxed, having fun and acquiring the basic building blocks to establish our game. My other two daughters took lessons with Scott and Evan and were equally as pleased. All 4 of us are now returning home excited about continuing tennis and improving our skills. Thank you Fabio, Scott and Evan!
DR
Spent a great week at the Naples Grande with my husband and three young kids. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are spacious, and the service was top notch. The tennis facilities here are second to none. I took two great private lessons with Evan. He is fantastic teacher and gave me some great tips. I’ve been playing for a couple years, but have never had much instruction before. Evan really helped me understand the game a lot better. Scott was great with my kids in his junior clinic. I would highly recommend the Naples Grande to anyone looking for a sweet tennis vacation!
MD
I have attended Fabio’s anual tennis PBI tournament the last 2 years and he does a fabulous job! The tournament is run very well and the food they provide is outstanding! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to play a lot of tennis and have a great time!
PS
I am a 4.0 player from the Boston area. I had a very enjoyable stay at the Naples Grande. The tennis instruction from Evan, Fabio, and Scott was 100% world class and definitely learned more than enough to take home. I had a few good matches with fellow guests, also the courts are the best Har-tru i’ve ever played on. I will be back.
BH
Had a 3 day stay there in March 2011 with my non- tennis playing wife and 3 daughters. They had a blast at the pools and the beach (a 5 min shuttle ride or 10 min walk). The resort is upscale and alittle pricey-but you get what you pay for. Breakfasts were excellent. Wife and daughter were very pampered at the spa. Tennis facility beautiful and well maintained. Had 2 lessons and honestly the instructor raised my level from 3.5 to 4.0. I learned more useful information in 2 private lessons than I ever could have imagined. Only negative was game matching, which I was very concerned about going to a new (for me) tennis resort. Could not get a match in the 3 days spent there which was disappointing. My suggestion to Fabio would be to have the staff make the extra effort to avoid this. I spent a decent amt of money for a once in a blue moon tennis vacation and it would have been very satisfying to play at least ONE match! Sorry Fabio, otherwise your staff and facilty are terrific. But would I take a chance in the future to return and maybe not play again?? Really, this situation cannot happen.. You should not have to drag along your friends from home so you can play at least one match!!
BY
Had 9 great days of tennis instruction and play. Great instruction, great facility that keeps me coming back. A special thanks to Evan Gordon for all of the help he provided to me.
SL
Great tennis program and instruction!
PJ
I took two excellent lessons with Evan Gordon, as part of the PBI program at the Grande. Evan was a great teacher, and gave me instruction on my forehand that had me hitting with topspin for the first time in many years of trying to change my stroke. I recommend him, the resort and the PBI Program very highly.
KH
Excellent staff, very helpful with finding competitive matches.
MT
My friends and I have gone twice in the past year and not only is the tennis great but the staff is superb. They really go above and beyond to make us feel wonderful. For us it is very convenient since we are in the east coast of Florida. But from all the resorts this has everything. Beautiful beach, great atmosphere, spacious rooms, great tennis and instructors, great tennis facility…and Naples has the restaurants and casual night life that we enjoy with the upscale service…
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267 Reviews on “Naples Grande Beach Resort”
Great Resort for tennis. My brother told me to go here after his family visited and we were impressed. We have three little ones and they all took lessons there. The hotel is great. The spa is great. Naples is great! (and my wife said great shopping too). We will return.
As far as Tennis Resorts go, the Waldorf Astoria Naples, (managed by Peter Burwash International), has it all! Ample tennis courts, very qualified and friendly professional staff and, to top it off, it’s all attached to an amazing Waldorf hotel with pool, spa, restaurants and access to the beach! As far as Tennis Resorts go, the Waldorf Astoria Naples, (managed by Peter Burwash International), has it all! Ample tennis courts, very qualified and friendly professional staff and, to top it off, it’s all attached to an amazing Waldorf hotel with pool, spa, restaurants and access to the beach! Both my son, who is an avid player at 10, and myself, a few years older, took lessons while we were on vacation there. (The name of the pro who taught us was Adri…pretty sure she’s the head pro there…she is great with kids and can definitely hit the ball with anyone…(I would be surprised if she wasn’t a professional player at one point in her life!) The hotel also has bungalows that are right next to the courts…that’s where we stayed and where we will certainly stay again.
Both my son, who is an avid player at 10, and myself, a few years older, took lessons while we were on vacation there. (The name of the pro who taught us was Adri…pretty sure she’s the head pro there…she is great with kids and can definitely hit the ball with anyone…(I would be surprised if she wasn’t a professional player at one point in her life!) The hotel also has bungalows that are right next to the courts…that’s where we stayed and where we will certainly stay again.
It is not very often that you find highly-skilled and passionate tennis coaches who are enthusiastic about sharing their love of the game of tennis with you! I very much enjoyed working to fine tune my technical abilities with the staff at the Waldorf Astoria in Naples, Florida. The tennis director, Adri and the two other instructors, Ron and J.D., all offered structured feedback with a positive and encouraging approach to helping me improve my game. I look forward to my return visit later this year. Believe me – this is most definitely the place you want to visit if you are looking to combine relaxation and tennis!
An exceptional resort to play tennis, brush up on your tennis skills, and/or meet others with same tennis interets. The staff is outstanding, pleasant,quite knowledgable and make playing fun.
It gives me great pleasure in writing a recommendation. It was a pleasure to work with the PBI team as always. I came to know Adri well through the succesful improvement of my tennis skills. I am still in contact with her and benefit from the opportunity to regularly ask for advice. I am happy to recommend Adri Atkinson and the resort she is working for.
The pro shop fulfills all of your tennis equipment needs, from a decent selection in rackets, which you can actually demo. They have an experienced technician that can restring your racket for your specific needs at a reasonable cost; the only weakness that I saw is that they can add more tennis clothing.
The tennis instructors are PBI professionals, all of them are very kind, patient, and talented and knowledgeable . With the clinics, lessons, leagues, ball machines, tournaments and socials that they offer, tennis enthusiasts have the opportunity to learn and perfect their game.
All of the outdoor courts are in pristine condition. It feels really nice to have a clean stack of folded towels and ice water available next to every court, along with chairs and tables to relax in between games.
The staff is super-friendly and I always feel so welcome when I am there. Overall we love the club and look forward to many years here.
The set up was superb and the people knowledgeable and friendly. Our son is an advanced player and Adri quickly identified the best coach. The coach, J D Shade, was very very good and he worked with our son over a 9 day period. We travel all over the world and we rate J D Shade as the best coach we have come across. We consider J D as a friend. He knows tennis and our son has kept in touch with J D
WA Naples Tennis, great vacation, great location with great tennis… While travelling in southwest Florida on business I had decided to book a week at Waldorf Astoria Naples for a little tennis and relaxation. My Spring Break as it were and I was very glad I did so.
I would like to give special recognition to the staff and professionals you have at your tennis facility. Most notably Kadre, who hosts the pro shop and handles all the bookings and sessions of all members and guests for the PBI professional staff under the experienced, competent, and respected leadership of Tennis Director Adri Atkinson. All are great, experienced players, willing to share their knowledge and love of the game to all they come in contact with daily. They have a deep passion for what they do and are able to share that with others…at all levels. That is what I found most rare today and commendable. A great staff and team! Exceptional facilities that are meticulously maintained!!
I was a solo traveler during Spring Break 2013, and they were heavily into their season, which begins October 1 with many bookings and sessions already in place. The tennis staff was great. They provided me games with other guests as well as helped me in one- on- one sessions. There was never a problem and they were very accommodating, always providing rackets, balls, and finding times when I could play. You see I am a Polio survivor with limited mobility. I am an avid tennis fan with limited ability and skills and play strictly recreational. The way Kadre, Adri and PBI staff worked and treated me I truly felt like I was some kind of touring professional. I will never forget that feeling. Thank you so much.
Suffice it to say I had a great stay at a great resort and a great vacation. Many may say they were great and just doing their job and paid to do so. I could not disagree more for I have traveled much in my youth. It does not exist everywhere. What I will say however is yes I met some great people who do a remarkable job but more than that may I dare say made some great new friends.
That is the most special feeling I left with…till we meet again!!
I had a wonderful lesson from Ron. The staff was so friendly and helpful. They arranged for me to be included in some matches and a fun mixed round robin. Yes, I was thoroughly happy with my experience there and I would like to be back next year to enjoy more of the same.
I am a psychiatrist from the Boston area and I recently brought my family down to the Waldorf for Spring vacation. I am the diehard tennis player in the family and I was very impressed with the tennis vibe at this resort. The professional staff beginning with Adri Atkinson (head pro) made us all feel like members not just guests. My wife and son are intermediate players and they were able to be matched into good competitive games. We all were able to take great groups lessons as well as privates and all of us improved and had fun. I really appreciated the game matching as it gave me the opportunity to me local players as well as other hotel guests. The tennis program really made the hotel seem like a great value. I am already planning our return trip for next Spring. Thank you.
We were impressed with the tennis program at the Naples Waldorf. The staff were uniformly insightful but from different perspectives. Adri, JD, and Ron were great in every way. The lessons were tailored to our needs, the clinics allowed us to meet other players, the setting was beautiful. Thanks to the pros at WA!!!
Outstaanding staff in general, but OUTSTANDING tennis staff in particular! Courts are in excellent shape. Game matching from the front desk draws on members and hotel guests. Tennis clinics have the right balance of instructors with relevant drills and personal attention. Above all, the tennis pros were charming and ready to go as deep into our games as we desired. They deserve our All Star rating!
Great facilities, great staff, beautiful resort – our entire tennis experience was extremely positive!
This PBI team at the Waldorf were great. They made my wife and feel very welcome and provided a week of great tuition. The coaching was specifically delivered to help us improve our doubles game with a mixed focus on tactics, positioning and strokes. We enjoyed it immensely and will continue to choose PBI centres for our tennis holidays.
We have been anxious to go back we had a great time last year. My wife and I are returning this week. I spoke with head pro Adri and promptly got an email from Evan the pro that we worked with last year offering to set up mixed double games. Great tennis community and enthusiastic staff.
Head pro Adri Atkinson possesses the unique ability to simplify complex instructions and help mid-level players like myself see instant improvement. I went into my lesson asking for 2-3 specific pointers I could take back and work on back home in Maryland. She delivered on my request, and resisted the impulse you see among some pros to add more and more tips until you can’t remember anything! My 90 minutes with Adri has already paid off, as I returned home and promptly beat a guy I hadn’t been able to get past before. Sweet!
Strengths:Beautiful location in Naples, Fl. Great clay courts. Weaknesses: No facility to buy racquets, clothes etc., they say they are redoing facility but they should have had a temporary setup, not very knowledgable at front desk.
Mike Manzella runs a great program and very professional with great tips and personalized instruction during clinics. We had the opportunity to partake in a fun Mixed Doubles tourney while there and he and his staff did an excellent job coordinating. Highly recommend this PBI resort, courts are maintained very well and instruction was well worth it. If there would be some more Mixed Round Robins during the week that would be a plus for us next year!
Adri, Evan, and Mike are phenomenal instructors. Clinics and lessons were very helpful and lots of fun. Cant wait to come back!
The tennis pros were the best -Evan, Adri and Michael – extremely knowledgeable, polite, energetic, creative drills, and most importantly very attentive. I had a lot of one on one time and learned entirely new techniques. I would definitely recommend this resort an would love to return.
Wonderful beach-front hotel with GREAT tennis – loads of well-maintained har-tru courts, lots of clinics and events and fabulous lessons from PBI pros that will take your game to another level. A great tennis vacation in classy Naples. Have been there many times and will keep going back.
The resort is set-up well for a tennis vacation. My son loved walking from our room to the clubhouse and courts whenever he wanted. Further, he quickly found a great pro (Evan) and followed him around for the whole vacation! The instruction was very motivational and our home pro’s commented on new skills without being prompted.
The instruction here is truly out standing. I arrived with my racquet, but unaware of the PBI presence here. I played each day with several instructors and found each of them exceptionally able to diagnose weaknesses and then present a very simple,very manageable fix. Totally enjoyable week. I look forward to retiming and would highly recommend this property to anyone interested in bringing their game to the next levels.
I recently took private lessons with Evan Gordon. He zeros in pinpoints and perfects your technique with a knowledgable and thoughtful approach. He provides excellent tips through defined instructions and play. Extremely effective and your game will improve immediately.
Adri Atkinson may not be the new Director at the new Waldorf in Naples, FL but she certainly is directing me and others with our tennis in all of the right directions. Fabio V. started me off well 3 years ago, but he’s gone now. I certainly hope that Adri isn’t gone from the Waldorf as early as May of this year. Kudos to PBI. Re: Vol. !!, #2, p. 85 of PBI magazine.
Participated in the PBI cup at the Naples Grand Resort in Florida,1/15/2012 and was very impressed by the professional staff. The event ran so smoothly and the director and staff of the event made it great fun for all. Highly recommend taking a few lessions from Mike Manzella, just a super guy with excellent teaching skills!!
The tennis here is exceptional! The pros Mike, Adri, and Evan are very personable and friendly. The programs hosted by PBI keep you wanting more. One thing I will miss dearly about this resort is the kindness of the pro shop staff. They treated me like a king and were so nice to me every time I walked in the door. Good thing I will be coming back very soon!!
Twice I’ve experienced tennis at the Waldorf Astoria Naples (formerly Naples Grande Resort), once in December 2010 and again in August 2011. On both occasions, I experienced a magnificent but seriously underutilized tennis facility. On my second visit, I was disappointed to find Jacob Hansen, an outstanding teaching pro, no longer present. It seems that insufficient programming impedes this resort’s popularity for tennis.
PBI International has been managing the tennis programs here. On both my visits, scheduled activities for groups consisted solely of an adult clinic one hour each morning and mixed doubles once or twice a week. I suspect that tennis aficionados who seek more robust programming select instead other resorts in Florida such as IMG Bollettieri and Saddlebrook (Hopman).
Were I the owner of the Waldorf Astoria Naples (Hilton Hotels), I would prevail upon PBI to program more robust tennis activities here or, failing that, inject some fresh, energetic blood. Such a wonderful tennis facility should attract many more patrons. If it fails to do so, then I fear for its continuing viability.
strength – plenty of empty courts, pros were phenominal weakness – time of year not many people to play with
Spent a great week at the recently renamed, Waldorf Astoria Naples during Christmas break. The tennis program was definitely the highlight of the resort for myself and my family. Adri, Evan, and Mike were great instructors in both clinics and private lessons. Very personable with great instruction.
Best program of its kind in Florida.
The tennis pro, MIke Manzella, is beyond fabulous. He keeps the energy going, keeps the drills interesting and is by far the best tennis instructor I have ever had. He is truly an amazing asset to your compapny.
I had a few excellent sessions (mix of group clinics & pricate lessons) with Fabio and I can honestly say he is one of the best coaches I have ever had. His communication is excellent, and although I am a strong intermediate player he listened to what I had to say about my game, picked up on some of my issues and made some small adjustments that made sense and gave me some immediate results. Now it’s up to me to keep them going.
The game arrangement was also spot-on and of the 2 games arranged I had a great game with both people. Great job Fabio!
Coach Fabio is exceptional; technically excellent and great communicator. Tennis facilities first class. Resort generally is superb- dining choices are good, spa is excellent, rooms are spacious.
Strengths: The tennis director Fabio Vasconcellos ran a superb tennis clinic weekend for me and my tennis friends. The courts were well groomed, lines brushed, and plenty of water for our much needed breaks. I commend Fabio for all of the hard work, which is shown through the immaculate settings. Fabio keeps the courts in order which makes it easy for tennis players from out of town to just show up and play. I found no weaknesses.
I just spent eleven days at the Naples Resort. I played tennis for two hours a day for ten days. I found the tennis clinics and coaching fabulous. My game improved a great deal. I was also able to play in a round-robin and a doubles game with other hotel guests and locals. It was a wonderful experience.
I really enjoyed my time there. My wife and I played twice a day and found the clinic to be fun and the lesson to be very helpful. Great courts and (in mid-April) very quick & easy to get times/lessons.
An amazing tennis resort with wonderful pros – also a beautiful hotel. An ideal spot for tennis enthusiasts!
The teaching among the coaches was consistent and helpful. The camps mixed skill levels which was not great. The teachers were personable and focused on your needs.
My second stint with Scott and Fabio at the Naples Grand and it another great time. The weather was fantastic and the staff personally created a custom package for my time there. Look forward to seeing them again next year!
My three daughters and I just finished our 3rd annual vacation at the Naples Grande Beach Resort. We have always loved the location of the resort, which lies adjacent to Clam Pass Park, a natural mangrove estuary, that leads via a boardwalk to a beautiful, white-sand beach on the Gulf of Mexico. This year, however, I got courageous and signed all 4 of us up for private tennis lessons. We were all complete novices and had never had a single lesson in tennis. I can’t speak highly enough about the wonderful experience we had. Fabio Vasconcellos, the director of the tennis program, is a veritable gem. Not only did he launch my eldest daughter and me into our first experiences in tennis, but he also kept tabs on how my other two daughters were progressing in their own lessons. He was absolutely astute about making sure that we were relaxed, having fun and acquiring the basic building blocks to establish our game. My other two daughters took lessons with Scott and Evan and were equally as pleased. All 4 of us are now returning home excited about continuing tennis and improving our skills. Thank you Fabio, Scott and Evan!
Spent a great week at the Naples Grande with my husband and three young kids. The hotel is beautiful, the rooms are spacious, and the service was top notch.
The tennis facilities here are second to none. I took two great private lessons with Evan. He is fantastic teacher and gave me some great tips. I’ve been playing for a couple years, but have never had much instruction before. Evan really helped me understand the game a lot better. Scott was great with my kids in his junior clinic.
I would highly recommend the Naples Grande to anyone looking for a sweet tennis vacation!
I have attended Fabio’s anual tennis PBI tournament the last 2 years and he does a fabulous job! The tournament is run very well and the food they provide is outstanding! I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to play a lot of tennis and have a great time!
I am a 4.0 player from the Boston area. I had a very enjoyable stay at the Naples Grande. The tennis instruction from Evan, Fabio, and Scott was 100% world class and definitely learned more than enough to take home. I had a few good matches with fellow guests, also the courts are the best Har-tru i’ve ever played on. I will be back.
Had a 3 day stay there in March 2011 with my non- tennis playing wife and 3 daughters. They had a blast at the pools and the beach (a 5 min shuttle ride or 10 min walk). The resort is upscale and alittle pricey-but you get what you pay for. Breakfasts were excellent. Wife and daughter were very pampered at the spa.
Tennis facility beautiful and well maintained. Had 2 lessons and honestly the instructor raised my level from 3.5 to 4.0. I learned more useful information in 2 private lessons than I ever could have imagined.
Only negative was game matching, which I was very concerned about going to a new (for me) tennis resort. Could not get a match in the 3 days spent there which was disappointing. My suggestion to Fabio would be to have the staff make the extra effort to avoid this. I spent a decent amt of money for a once in a blue moon tennis vacation and it would have been very satisfying to play at least ONE match! Sorry Fabio, otherwise your staff and facilty are terrific. But would I take a chance in the future to return and maybe not play again?? Really, this situation cannot happen.. You should not have to drag along your friends from home so you can play at least one match!!
Had 9 great days of tennis instruction and play. Great instruction, great facility that keeps me coming back. A special thanks to Evan Gordon for all of the help he provided to me.
Great tennis program and instruction!
I took two excellent lessons with Evan Gordon, as part of the PBI program at the Grande. Evan was a great teacher, and gave me instruction on my forehand that had me hitting with topspin for the first time in many years of trying to change my stroke. I recommend him, the resort and the PBI Program very highly.
Excellent staff, very helpful with finding competitive matches.
My friends and I have gone twice in the past year and not only is the tennis great but the staff is superb. They really go above and beyond to make us feel wonderful. For us it is very convenient since we are in the east coast of Florida. But from all the resorts this has everything. Beautiful beach, great atmosphere, spacious rooms, great tennis and instructors, great tennis facility…and Naples has the restaurants and casual night life that we enjoy with the upscale service…