Forget languid beach days where the only sound is of waves lapping against the shore and the clink of mojito glasses by 11am. This summer, the holiday soundtrack is the rhythmic “pok, pok, pok” of padel play – broken only by the occasional whoop of victory.
A mash-up of tennis and squash, played with chunky, foam-filled racquets (or paddles, if you want to be technical about it), padel is the sexy-yet-accessible sport winning over everyone from Stormzy to Rafael Nadal. Just don’t mistake it for anything similar to the Wimbledon sport. You won’t find any tricky overhead serves here, or stiff courtside etiquette. As one friend puts it: “It’s the sort of game you can play after a drink or two and have a laugh with your mates.”
In London, tech bros, students, entrepreneurs and sporty mums are snapping up court slots as soon as they go live, with nearly half a million Brits picking up a bat in 2024 alone. And the hype is only growing.
“‘Addictive’ is a word we hear all the time when it comes to padel,” says Sébastien Loeb, owner of Le Club des Douars, one of Morocco’s most coveted new padel destinations. “The game is fast-paced but not overly intense, and the rules are easy to pick up.” A far cry from the hushed tennis court, you’ll often find house music blasting out of speakers during a padel match and, as day turns to evening, magnums of rosé arrive on the sidelines, with rallies stretching into the golden hour.
So, it tracks that when the padel faithful head abroad, courts are as coveted as beach loungers. Here are four sun-soaked destinations where padel is the main event.
A mash-up of tennis and squash, played with chunky, foam-filled racquets (or paddles, if you want to be technical about it), padel is the sexy-yet-accessible sport winning over everyone from Stormzy to Rafael Nadal. Just don’t mistake it for anything similar to the Wimbledon sport. You won’t find any tricky overhead serves here, or stiff courtside etiquette. As one friend puts it: “It’s the sort of game you can play after a drink or two and have a laugh with your mates.”
In London, tech bros, students, entrepreneurs and sporty mums are snapping up court slots as soon as they go live, with nearly half a million Brits picking up a bat in 2024 alone. And the hype is only growing.
“‘Addictive’ is a word we hear all the time when it comes to padel,” says Sébastien Loeb, owner of Le Club des Douars, one of Morocco’s most coveted new padel destinations. “The game is fast-paced but not overly intense, and the rules are easy to pick up.” A far cry from the hushed tennis court, you’ll often find house music blasting out of speakers during a padel match and, as day turns to evening, magnums of rosé arrive on the sidelines, with rallies stretching into the golden hour.
So, it tracks that when the padel faithful head abroad, courts are as coveted as beach loungers. Here are four sun-soaked destinations where padel is the main event.
Padel courts at Le Club des Douars, Le Jardin des Douars
Morocco’s Atlantic coast, with its year-round sunshine and international crowd, is an obvious choice for padel enthusiasts, but Le Club des Douars is the first of its kind here. “Hospitality is evolving. It’s no longer just about selling a bed; it’s about offering a complete experience,” explains hotel director Grégoire Aubron, of the decision to invest in padel. “Le Club des Douars is a natural extension of that vision, aligned with our surroundings and our guests’ expectations.”
Owner Sébastien Loeb had already witnessed the padel boom in the UK and France, and wanted to bring a slice of it home. “Padel is still emerging in Morocco, but new clubs are opening all over the country. There’s a real sense of momentum.”
Loeb’s instincts were spot on: the club’s courts are busy with players fitted out in crisp tennis whites and designer sunglasses. Guests can book lessons, rent kit and join relaxed tournaments – with more courtside social events in the pipeline.
“Ultimately, we imagine it as the kind of place where you might spend an entire day,” explains Aubron. “A morning padel session, a Pilates class, a quick, tasty lunch, a few laps in the pool, a moment on a sun lounger, and a final drink in the golden light of late afternoon.”
clubdesdouars.com
This may be padel – the laid-back cousin of tennis – but this is still St Tropez, so expect tennis whites and discreetly glamorous duos. The courts are part of a wider wellness playground at the hotel, which includes sun-lit yoga studios, tennis courts, multiple pools and a sleek gym.
Before games, head to the wooden clubhouse for a light snack and to pick up free-to-use racquets and balls. The clubhouse manager recommends booking a 90-minute slot in order that you might “enjoy the full padel experience”. And if you overdo it, don’t stress; there’s an electric buggy on hand to whisk you straight to the pool for a well-earned cool-down.
airelles.com
Le Club des Douars
Essaouira, Morocco
Just outside the windswept port city of Essaouira, “Le Club” is now open at the laid-back palace-turned-boutique hotel and country club Le Jardin des Douars. Four padel courts, two tennis courts, a clubhouse and a cocktail bar set the tone for sun-soaked days that blur sport and leisure.Morocco’s Atlantic coast, with its year-round sunshine and international crowd, is an obvious choice for padel enthusiasts, but Le Club des Douars is the first of its kind here. “Hospitality is evolving. It’s no longer just about selling a bed; it’s about offering a complete experience,” explains hotel director Grégoire Aubron, of the decision to invest in padel. “Le Club des Douars is a natural extension of that vision, aligned with our surroundings and our guests’ expectations.”
Owner Sébastien Loeb had already witnessed the padel boom in the UK and France, and wanted to bring a slice of it home. “Padel is still emerging in Morocco, but new clubs are opening all over the country. There’s a real sense of momentum.”
Loeb’s instincts were spot on: the club’s courts are busy with players fitted out in crisp tennis whites and designer sunglasses. Guests can book lessons, rent kit and join relaxed tournaments – with more courtside social events in the pipeline.
“Ultimately, we imagine it as the kind of place where you might spend an entire day,” explains Aubron. “A morning padel session, a Pilates class, a quick, tasty lunch, a few laps in the pool, a moment on a sun lounger, and a final drink in the golden light of late afternoon.”
clubdesdouars.com
Château de la Messardière
St Tropez, France
It’s hard to imagine a more picturesque setting for a pre-breakfast game than the two new padel courts at La Messardière. Encased in glass and overlooking manicured gardens and rolling vineyards, they sit within the grounds of this 18th-century château, now one of Airelles’ most coveted addresses. The French luxury hotel group, which also has properties in Versailles and Gordes, is betting big on padel – and not without good reason. Since 2020, the number of courts across France has more than doubled, with stars like Zinedine Zidane among converts.This may be padel – the laid-back cousin of tennis – but this is still St Tropez, so expect tennis whites and discreetly glamorous duos. The courts are part of a wider wellness playground at the hotel, which includes sun-lit yoga studios, tennis courts, multiple pools and a sleek gym.
Before games, head to the wooden clubhouse for a light snack and to pick up free-to-use racquets and balls. The clubhouse manager recommends booking a 90-minute slot in order that you might “enjoy the full padel experience”. And if you overdo it, don’t stress; there’s an electric buggy on hand to whisk you straight to the pool for a well-earned cool-down.
airelles.com
Padel courts at Bahía del Duque
thetaishotels.com
Bahía del Duque
Tenerife
“Padel isn’t just a passing trend here – it’s a staple in our guests’ lives,” says Cristina de Juan, general manager of Bahía del Duque. Sun-worshippers and outdoor enthusiasts have long flocked to Tenerife for its year-round sunshine, making the most of its volcanic hiking trails and Atlantic swells. But lately, this Canary isle’s soundtrack is less crashing waves, more “pok-pok-pok”. “We’ve definitely seen a significant rise in popularity for bookings of our padel courts and requests for lessons among our guests over the last few years,” says de Juan. Guests can arrange matches with friends or use the court as a way to mingle with fellow travellers – and any post-match aches and pains will be easily cured at the hotel’s cavernous spa.thetaishotels.com
The padel court at Sardinia's Forte Village
There’s no strict timetable, but most padel addicts opt for two daily training sessions, each a mix of focused coaching and friendly games. “These sessions combine focused coaching with more relaxed social moments, including friendly games and mini-tournaments with other guests,” explains Forte Village Tennis club director Alessandro Porcu.
While some guests dip in and out, many devote their entire stay to padel. And no wonder. Open from May till November, the academy regularly hosts legends of the sport, including Pablo Lima, Danny Cattaneo, Seba Nerone and Rodrigo Ovide, who offer one-to-one lessons and elite-level coaching. Whether you’re a competitive player or a keen amateur, this is padel holidaying at its most polished.
fortevillageresort.com
Forte Village
Sardinia
If a casual knockabout isn’t cutting it, it’s time to train like the pros. At Forte Village Resort in southern Sardinia, the newly launched Padel Star Academy promises an immersive padel experience.There’s no strict timetable, but most padel addicts opt for two daily training sessions, each a mix of focused coaching and friendly games. “These sessions combine focused coaching with more relaxed social moments, including friendly games and mini-tournaments with other guests,” explains Forte Village Tennis club director Alessandro Porcu.
While some guests dip in and out, many devote their entire stay to padel. And no wonder. Open from May till November, the academy regularly hosts legends of the sport, including Pablo Lima, Danny Cattaneo, Seba Nerone and Rodrigo Ovide, who offer one-to-one lessons and elite-level coaching. Whether you’re a competitive player or a keen amateur, this is padel holidaying at its most polished.
fortevillageresort.com
