Six Practical Ways to Add Pickleball to Your Next Vacation

Pickleball is no longer an accidental find on vacation courts; players can now build entire trips around the sport. This primer outlines six approaches you can use to center travel on pickleball, explains what each option delivers, and highlights the kinds of trade-offs to consider for cost, coaching, and convenience.

First, sign up for a dedicated pickleball retreat or camp. These coaching-focused weeklong or weekend retreats concentrate on instruction, drilling, and match play. Retreats are a good fit when improvement is the primary goal, offering structured clinics and opportunities to play in a concentrated block of time.

Second, plan travel around a major pickleball tournament. Attending or participating in tournaments can combine high-level competition and spectator energy with travel, though timing and local lodging demand mean you should book early. Tournaments also create chances to meet players and find informal pick-up games nearby.

Third, consider a pickleball-focused cruise. Cruises that include courts and on-board instruction package lodging, travel, and scheduled play into a single purchase. Cruises remove the need to arrange local courts and often include social programming that connects players of similar levels.

Fourth, rent a vacation home that includes a private pickleball court. Private-court rentals give groups exclusive access for practice and casual play, ideal for families or friend groups who want flexible schedules without court-share constraints.

Fifth, choose a hotel or resort that offers courts and instruction. Many resorts now provide on-site courts, lessons, and clinics, which simplifies logistics and is useful for mixed-ability travel parties where non-players want resort amenities while players get regular courts.

Sixth, go DIY: bring a portable net or play at makeshift or converted courts. The do-it-yourself option is the most flexible and often the most economical, allowing play in unfamiliar locations where established courts are scarce.

Across these options, price and convenience vary widely. Coaching-focused retreats and cruises tend to bundle services and programming, while private rentals and DIY approaches trade organized instruction for privacy or lower cost. Tournament travel can be rewarding but requires advance planning. Assess what matters most: instruction, competition, social play, or convenience.

For local communities and small business operators, these trends translate into new opportunities: courts, coaching, and short-term rentals can attract travelers and support year-round play. For players, the takeaway is simple: pick the approach that matches your goals, verify court conditions and coaching credentials before booking, and book early when travel aligns with tournaments or retreats.