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.
Even in Spain, which abounds in high-profile tennis academies, the announcement that Rafa Nadal planned to open one of his own generated uncommon excitement. Located in his home town of Manacor, on the island of Mallorca, this expansive training facility, officially dubbed the Rafa Nadal Academy by Moviestar, stands out both for the talent behind it—both Nadal himself and his uncle Tony—and for its philosophy. The training methodology focuses on preparing for “the tennis of the future,” which for them means a competitive landscape of ever faster and stronger opponents. But also deeply ingrained in the fabric of the academy is an emphasis on values: a desire to foster both a winning spirit and exemplary good character in those who attend.
The modern complex rises on the southern outskirts of Manacor, an area that remains predominantly farmland. The view to the north takes in the skyline of the city, dominated by the 75-meter bell tower and Neo-Gothic finials of Our Lady of Sorrows (Nuestra Senora de los Dolores) parish church. The campus itself is anchored by two sleek, modern buildings—one with accommodations for adults, a spa, and a sports museum (more about that later), the other a residence hall for juniors and the American International school. Beyond them sprawls a complex of 19 hard courts—one of them a stadium and one of them indoors—and seven red-clay courts, the last elevated and set at the western edge of the property to minimize the spread of clay dust carried by the prevalent winds. A mini football pitch, multi-sport court, four padel courts, two swimming pools (one indoor, one outdoor), a fitness center, spa, health center, a courtside restaurant and bar, a cafe, pro shop, and a student cafeteria, and recreation and study areas complete the layout.
For juniors, the academy offers summer camps as well as weekly, monthly, and full-time programs during the rest of the year. (For more detail , visit our academy page in our junior camps section). Adults, meanwhile, have a variety of tennis options, ranging from private lessons, to group clinics and four-hour-a-day tennis camps. There are also options for tennis-specific fitness training focused on velocity, flexibility, speed, strength, agility, or a combination of the above. In addition to the tennis options, the Academy leverages its health center to provide services to assist with injury treatment and recovery (Nadal’s own doctor directs the facility) as well as help with other lifestyle issues like smoking or weight loss.
Adults are housed in double rooms whose small terraces have views either of the courts or the Manacor skyline. Compact but minimally stylish in gray, white, and charcoal, these accommodations have a full range of amenities including flatscreen TVs, coffee makers, WiFi, and private bath with shower. They also have access to the fitness center, spa, and swimming pools. The Terrace Restaurant below, which also has a bar, serves three meals daily (rates optionally include breakfast, half-, or full board).
There is one final piece to the Sports Centre and that is an interactive museum of sport dubbed Sport Xperience. A choreographed walk-through takes you from an entrance foyer lined with glass cases containing the autographed clothing or equipment or famous athletes in many disciplines, Seve Ballesteros, Lionel Messi, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Marc Marquez (racing), Usain Bolt, and LeBron James among them. From there, doors open into a room anchored by a hologram of Rafa, smiling and blinking, and then welcoming us o experience what goes on in the mind of a champion. “Champions are made from something that grows in them,” the inspirational narrative begins as projected images of great athletes, in and out of tennis, fill the walls as each speaks about a quality—like honesty, commitment, passion—that he or she feels is crucial to success. That room then empties into interactive exhibits devoted to the Rafa Nadal Foundation’s causes and finally to a wall displaying all of Rafa’s trophies, including those from his 14 Grand Slams.
The Rafa Nadal Academy offers world-class tennis training programs led by experienced coaches, combining Rafa Nadal's personal values and methodology. It provides high-performance facilities, professional-level courts, and a structured development pathway for young and professional players.
Off Court
Off the court, the academy emphasizes education, personal growth, and well-being, offering bilingual academic programs, sports science services, and a nurturing international environment that prepares student-athletes for life beyond tennis.
Accommodations
The Rafa Nadal Academy provides modern, comfortable on-site accommodation designed to support student-athletes’ rest and recovery. With supervised residential facilities, nutritious dining options, and communal spaces, it ensures a safe, structured, and enriching living environment.
Getting there
Closest Airport:
Fly into Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) — it's about a 45-minute drive from the academy in Manacor.
Transportation:
Rent a car for flexibility, especially if you plan to explore the island. Taxis and private transfers are also available from the airport.
Accommodation Nearby:
If not staying on campus, Manacor and nearby coastal towns like Porto Cristo offer hotels and vacation rentals.
Weather:
Mallorca has a Mediterranean climate — pack light, breathable clothing in summer and a jacket for cooler evenings in winter.
Local Attractions:
Take time to explore beautiful beaches, caves (like Drach Caves), and local markets. Manacor is also Rafa Nadal’s hometown with several Nadal-themed spots to visit.
Language:
Spanish and Catalan are spoken widely, but English is commonly used at the academy.
Booking in Advance:
Reserve training programs, accommodations, and transport early—especially during peak seasons (spring and summer).
Mention code TENNISRESORTS to receive an exclusive discount off of your booking. Individual bookings will receive a 5% discount on the price. Complete your details and we’ll get someone from their team to contact you directly with further details.
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The sceptics were a majority, when my friend K and I told them that we planned to spend the Berlin winter vacation at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor/Spain: The training is not as good as it used to be, they said, the coaches are inexperienced, the groups are too big, Manacor is an ugly town, Mallorca in early February will be cold… But we went, nevertheless. We booked a one week tennis training camp, including 2 hours of tennis + 45 minutes cool down each day from Monday through Saturday plus 4 off-court sessions at 60 minutes lecture (and Q&A) concerning relevant topics, i.e. strategy, tactics, psychology, numbers and more. It proved to be an excellent decision: We enjoyed the advantages of the beautiful Mediterranean island in the calm and relaxing off-season, with mild 17 degrees Celsius during the day, trees full of oranges, lemons and tangerines, flowers and the scents of nature everywhere, the Mont Puig mountains in a (near) distance, and the (still empty) beaches of Porto Cristo and other places a mere ten kilometers away. Indeed, Manacor as such is not a place you’d normally visit when going to Balears, but the excellent quality of the Nadal residence, the academy, the fitness and cross training centers, the indoor pool (in summer they open the outdoor pools, too), the spa and several nice restaurants/cafés and a club house definitely makes up for it.
We had booked rooms at the residence, including an excellent breakfast buffet, and never regretted it. The rooms come with a one-hour-per-day tennis or padel court offer for the guests, and they are big, very modern, and very well equipped. I had opted for the double room, and I enjoyed the view to the tennis courts (center court and others ) and the big swimming pool, the daily bottle of water, the coffee and tea and the little water boiler to prepare hot drinks. A mini bar, a plush bath robe, spa shoes and several useful things you might need in your bathroom, if you forget to bring them – toothpaste + brush, comb, amenity set… – give you a feeling of luxury. As does the nicely designed, modern and light-colored furniture.
All the time we felt welcome, pampered even, and well-fed – with lots of healthy options, fruit, salads, nuts and much more at all times: We were too lazy to go out (i.e. explore the region) for dinner in the evening and simply enjoyed the buffet or à la carte menu on offer at the Roland Garros restaurant. (The Wimbledon and the US Open Restaurants were closed, when we stayed at the Academy; off-season would be the reason, we assumed). However, our main reason to travel to Mallorca wasn’t food, but sports.
Our days began with 2 hours of tennis on two courts, in an international group of 4+2 players with 3 (three) coaches. Two of them – Victor and Alberto – usually stayed with their students, the third one – Sergio or others – spent his time alternating between the courts and offering help and/or very useful advice at the baselines for the individual players. Tracy and Anna had booked the full day camp, which included two more hours of tennis in the afternoon. Each daily tennis on court was dedicated to one topic in particular, whereas the sixth and last day was spent on the shots or drills we wanted to do, and hadn’t done so far, plus a few matches / match games at the end. Maybe it is more difficult to offer so much attention – 2 coaches per court – to the players in summer, when there are more tennis playing guests for the camps, but the overall approach would be the same.
In addition to our group tennis coaching, I had booked one or two hour(s) of private coaching every day. I played with two different coaches, Nelson and Tama, also on clay, and they always asked me, what I wanted to do, instead of imposing their own ideas on me, which I liked a lot. A “goodie” we all enjoyed was a Wingfield session every afternoon, which was fun and extremely helpful, I considered. See yourself play – that’s an excellent chance. Tama was our Wingfield “master”, and we enjoyed it very much.
At the premises they have 45 tennis courts, clay and hard court, all very well kept. Most of them are outdoors, some are under a roof, which protects the players from rain and on hot sommer days from the sun. There is also a “real” indoor facility for the pros and the pros-to-be, who study at the Rafa Nadal Academy. Plus 19 padle courts indoors and outdoors, and I saw a pickle ball field, too. Guests at the residence can rent a tennis court free of charge for one hour per day. But my friend K and me spent our “leisure time” exploring the island, enjoying the spa and the hammam or working out at the gym. We also watched some interesting matches, since an ITF Youth Tournament took place during the week we spent at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
All in all, I’d clearly recommend the Academy to all tennis enthusiasts. I enjoyed the international vibe –players and coaches from all over the world, the latter young, dynamic and very competent. We had fun, we learned a lot, we laughed and played, we enjoyed the always good mood all over the place, the helpfulness and efficiency of the teams – on the courts, at the Sport Desk, in the shop(s), in the museum – a mini-exhibition version currently, because of renovation works, but impressive, nevertheless – in the club house and restaurants, at the reception, in the spa… Literally everywhere. For those of you, who come by car: There are lots of parking spaces (including a garage), all free of charge. Otherwise, you can rent a shuttle to get you from Palma de Mallorca airport in cozy 45 minutes to Manacor. This is a facility to be enjoyed the whole year. So, why not plan a sporty retreat there one of these days?
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1 Reviews on “Rafa Nadal Academy”
The sceptics were a majority, when my friend K and I told them that we planned to spend the Berlin winter vacation at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor/Spain: The training is not as good as it used to be, they said, the coaches are inexperienced, the groups are too big, Manacor is an ugly town, Mallorca in early February will be cold… But we went, nevertheless. We booked a one week tennis training camp, including 2 hours of tennis + 45 minutes cool down each day from Monday through Saturday plus 4 off-court sessions at 60 minutes lecture (and Q&A) concerning relevant topics, i.e. strategy, tactics, psychology, numbers and more. It proved to be an excellent decision: We enjoyed the advantages of the beautiful Mediterranean island in the calm and relaxing off-season, with mild 17 degrees Celsius during the day, trees full of oranges, lemons and tangerines, flowers and the scents of nature everywhere, the Mont Puig mountains in a (near) distance, and the (still empty) beaches of Porto Cristo and other places a mere ten kilometers away. Indeed, Manacor as such is not a place you’d normally visit when going to Balears, but the excellent quality of the Nadal residence, the academy, the fitness and cross training centers, the indoor pool (in summer they open the outdoor pools, too), the spa and several nice restaurants/cafés and a club house definitely makes up for it.
We had booked rooms at the residence, including an excellent breakfast buffet, and never regretted it. The rooms come with a one-hour-per-day tennis or padel court offer for the guests, and they are big, very modern, and very well equipped. I had opted for the double room, and I enjoyed the view to the tennis courts (center court and others ) and the big swimming pool, the daily bottle of water, the coffee and tea and the little water boiler to prepare hot drinks. A mini bar, a plush bath robe, spa shoes and several useful things you might need in your bathroom, if you forget to bring them – toothpaste + brush, comb, amenity set… – give you a feeling of luxury. As does the nicely designed, modern and light-colored furniture.
All the time we felt welcome, pampered even, and well-fed – with lots of healthy options, fruit, salads, nuts and much more at all times: We were too lazy to go out (i.e. explore the region) for dinner in the evening and simply enjoyed the buffet or à la carte menu on offer at the Roland Garros restaurant. (The Wimbledon and the US Open Restaurants were closed, when we stayed at the Academy; off-season would be the reason, we assumed). However, our main reason to travel to Mallorca wasn’t food, but sports.
Our days began with 2 hours of tennis on two courts, in an international group of 4+2 players with 3 (three) coaches. Two of them – Victor and Alberto – usually stayed with their students, the third one – Sergio or others – spent his time alternating between the courts and offering help and/or very useful advice at the baselines for the individual players. Tracy and Anna had booked the full day camp, which included two more hours of tennis in the afternoon. Each daily tennis on court was dedicated to one topic in particular, whereas the sixth and last day was spent on the shots or drills we wanted to do, and hadn’t done so far, plus a few matches / match games at the end. Maybe it is more difficult to offer so much attention – 2 coaches per court – to the players in summer, when there are more tennis playing guests for the camps, but the overall approach would be the same.
In addition to our group tennis coaching, I had booked one or two hour(s) of private coaching every day. I played with two different coaches, Nelson and Tama, also on clay, and they always asked me, what I wanted to do, instead of imposing their own ideas on me, which I liked a lot. A “goodie” we all enjoyed was a Wingfield session every afternoon, which was fun and extremely helpful, I considered. See yourself play – that’s an excellent chance. Tama was our Wingfield “master”, and we enjoyed it very much.
At the premises they have 45 tennis courts, clay and hard court, all very well kept. Most of them are outdoors, some are under a roof, which protects the players from rain and on hot sommer days from the sun. There is also a “real” indoor facility for the pros and the pros-to-be, who study at the Rafa Nadal Academy. Plus 19 padle courts indoors and outdoors, and I saw a pickle ball field, too. Guests at the residence can rent a tennis court free of charge for one hour per day. But my friend K and me spent our “leisure time” exploring the island, enjoying the spa and the hammam or working out at the gym. We also watched some interesting matches, since an ITF Youth Tournament took place during the week we spent at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
All in all, I’d clearly recommend the Academy to all tennis enthusiasts. I enjoyed the international vibe –players and coaches from all over the world, the latter young, dynamic and very competent. We had fun, we learned a lot, we laughed and played, we enjoyed the always good mood all over the place, the helpfulness and efficiency of the teams – on the courts, at the Sport Desk, in the shop(s), in the museum – a mini-exhibition version currently, because of renovation works, but impressive, nevertheless – in the club house and restaurants, at the reception, in the spa… Literally everywhere. For those of you, who come by car: There are lots of parking spaces (including a garage), all free of charge. Otherwise, you can rent a shuttle to get you from Palma de Mallorca airport in cozy 45 minutes to Manacor. This is a facility to be enjoyed the whole year. So, why not plan a sporty retreat there one of these days?