Pickleball enthusiasts will often look for opportunities to play during their vacation.
Combining a badminton court, table tennis paddles and a wiffle ball, pickleball was created in 1965 at the summer home of former Washington congressman and lieutenant governor, Joel Pritchard. The name for the newly invented game came from Pritchard's wife, who said it reminded her of the "pickle boat" in rowing, where leftover crew members from other boats are put together.
According to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, 24.3 million Americans played pickleball in 2025 — so, it’s not surprising that enthusiasts look for resorts, cruise ships and tours that provide opportunities to play.
“Travel advisors can help clients identify experiences that match their goals, whether that’s looking to improve competitively, enjoy a social getaway or combine pickleball with a luxury vacation,” said Jemuel Morris, founder of The Pickleball Experience, which offers all-inclusive pickleball retreats.
Play Pickleball on Vacation
Pickleball is unlikely to surpass golf in terms of players traveling to specific destinations to play. Still, Valerie Silas, owner of Go Travel Advisors (and an avid pickleball player), notes that clients who play pickleball do want resorts that offer it.
Beci Mahnken of MEI Travel agrees.
"Pickleball is still not something clients regularly ask us to seek out when planning a vacation, but for avid players, finding out a resort or ship has courts can absolutely add value, and they'll happily carve out time to play," she said.
Luckily, no matter where clients vacation, there’s likely a resort with pickleball courts, often as distinctive as the destinations themselves.
Pickleball has become a booking driver, not an amenity.
"Pickleball has become a booking driver, not an amenity,” said Dani Stern, president of hospitality and operations at Black Desert Resort in Utah’s Zion area. “What we offer that others can't is the setting: black lava, red rock and Snow Canyon on every horizon. The facilities bring people out. The views keep them out there."
Perhaps one of the most unique pickleball courts is at family-owned Whitehall Lane Winery in Napa Valley, California, where clients can “sip, serve and smash” in the middle of a vineyard.
“Pickleball and wine are both part of a balanced lifestyle, and this felt like a natural way to bring that philosophy into the guest experience,” said Katie Leonardini, second-generation proprietor of Whitehall Lane (and a competitive pickleball player herself). “It’s not just a tasting, but a reason to move, laugh, serve and smash, before you sit down with a glass in hand. The goal was never just to put in a court, but to keep building experiences that give people another reason to spend real time in the valley, not just pass through it.”
The two-hour Sip, Serve, Smash experience includes an hour of play followed by an exclusive wine flight and seasonal cheese pairing in the winery’s Garden Pavilion.
Pickleball courts can often be as distinctive as the destinations themselves.
Credit: 2026 Whitehall Lane WineryHowever, Gary Zins, owner of Pickleball Travel, a travel agency specializing in pickleball trips, notes that the flip side of clients intentionally choosing resorts with courts is that they may skip places without them.
“People ask if a place has pickleball courts and if the answer is no, it's a definite [strike] against that place,” he said.
For players who want to make the sport the focus of their trip, Sandals Resorts offers all-inclusive pickleball vacations at 14 of its Caribbean resorts, including 12 dedicated courts at Sandals South Coast in Jamaica and 10 dedicated courts at Sandals Regency La Toc in St. Lucia. Beaches resorts in Turks and Caicos and Negril also have pickleball courts.
"Planning a pickleball-focused vacation starts with understanding how your clients want to play," said Melody Cargill, senior manager of fitness at Sandals Resorts International. "Advisors can match clients with a resort where pickleball can be as much a part of the itinerary as they want, while the beach, dining, entertainment and downtime are all right there when they step off the court."
Fourteen Sandals resorts offer all-inclusive pickleball vacations, including Sandals Saint Vincent.
Credit: 2026 Pickleball TravelEven clients who have never picked up a paddle may get the pickleball bug if they're staying at a hotel that provides opportunities to learn.
“Everyone has a personal goal,” said Roberta Russo, the pickleball instructor at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina. “Some want to continue their instruction from home, some are in it for fitness and others want to socialize. We make it rewarding wherever people are in their game.”
Villas With Pickleball Perks
While vacation rentals are perennially popular, properties with pickleball courts are on the rise.
"Most people don't think of a pickleball court when they think of a vacation rental, but we’re seeing more of them every year,” said Josh DeMartino, travel advisor success manager at Signature Stay Collection. “An amenity like that is often buried in the listing description instead of in a search filter, but that’s where we can help advisors find homes with specific things clients want."
Clients can play pickleball on a private beach in the Florida Keys.
Credit: 2026 Signature Stay CollectionThe Signature Stay Collection’s portfolio includes a cabin in Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains, which features an indoor court, and an oceanfront villa in the Florida Keys featuring a court on a postcard-worthy private beach.
Pickleball at Sea
Several cruise lines offer pickleball, including Holland America Line, which features top-deck pickleball courts on all its ships along with four new courts at RelaxAway in Half Moon Cay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas.
“Pickleball has become one of our most popular activities, and guests love playing on deck with sweeping ocean views or at our private island,” said Joe Chantry, vice president of entertainment and enrichment for Holland America Line. “Through our exclusive partnerships with the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball, we're bringing one of the world's fastest-growing sports to life at sea and on shore.”
Pickleball at Sea is available on several major cruise lines.
Credit: 2026 Royal CaribbeanPickleball at Sea is also available on 10 Celebrity ships, as well as more than 20 ships in the Carnival and Royal Caribbean fleets. Royal Caribbean's Quantum Class ships feature indoor courts, which Zins notes have the benefit of eliminating the wind.
Pickleball Tours
According to Morris, travelers are increasingly seeking active vacations that combine learning, fitness and authentic travel experiences.
“The Pickleball Experience was created around the idea that a vacation should be more than just playing pickleball — it should be an unforgettable experience,” Morris said. “Our retreats combine world-class coaching, beautiful destinations, local culture, wellness and community.”
During the company’s curated retreats, clients can improve their game through clinics and match play and also make connections with their fellow players.
“I don’t think we’re quite at the level of golf, where travelers build an entire trip around courses and tee times,” Mahnken said. “But pickleball players are a very passionate bunch so I can see it heading that direction — and the beauty of pickleball is you don’t have to plan your vacation around it to make it part of your vacation.”
