Partial to Padel: My Guide to Padel‑Inspired Breaks in Europe

What is padel and why is everyone talking about it?

Padel is a racket sport played on a smaller court, usually surrounded by glass and mesh walls. It is normally doubles only, and you serve underarm, so it is much easier to get started than tennis. Because the ball can bounce off the walls, rallies last longer and everyone feels involved.

A few reasons people fall in love with it:

• It is incredibly social: you always play with three other people.
• It is easy to learn, but there is endless room to improve your shots (hello, bandeja and, once you are feeling brave, the víbora).
• It works across ages and abilities, so couples, families and groups of friends can all play together.

From a travel point of view, padel sits in that sweet spot of being active but not punishing. You can play for an hour or two, then head to the beach, spa, vineyard or old town and feel like you have earned your tapas.

Europe: the home of the padel holiday

Spain and Italy are leading the charge, with Portugal close behind. Courts are appearing everywhere: city clubs, beach resorts, golf hotels and stylish country properties. On top of that, the calendar is filling with international events, which means you can now build a holiday around both playing and watching top‑class padel.

Here are a couple of my current favourites:

La Palma & the Cupra FIP Tour: spring padel with Hotel Las Olas

First up is a gorgeous Canary Island that is quietly becoming a padel stop: La Palma. The International Padel Federation’s Cupra FIP Tour includes a FIP Bronze tournament around 20 April, which is a fantastic excuse for a spring escape with your racket in the suitcase.

April is a lovely time to go to La Palma if you want to play plenty of padel:

• It is warm but not too hot, so you can happily play in the morning or late afternoon without melting on court.
• The island is lush and green, great for combining matches with walks and exploring.
• It is outside the peak summer crowds, so things feel calmer and more relaxed.

Your base: Hotel Las Olas, Los Cancajos

Hotel Las Olas is a superb choice if you want to play where you stay:

• Located in Los Cancajos, close to the airport and a short hop into Santa Cruz de La Palma.
• Apartment‑style rooms with kitchenettes, perfect for couples, families or friends travelling together.
• Pools, sun terraces, a small gym and wellness area.
• Crucially: its own on‑site padel court, recently updated and ready for action.

This is an easy one to picture:

• Morning: gentle match on the hotel padel court. Practise your bandeja and, if you are braver than me, a víbora or two.
• Daytime: head out to watch the Cupra FIP Tour FIP Bronze matches and see how the pros do it.
• Evening: swim, sunset drink, dinner overlooking the Atlantic.

La Palma itself brings hiking, volcanic scenery and a calmer feel than some of the bigger islands, so it is perfect if you like the idea of padel plus nature, especially in that sweet spot of April weather.

Treviso & Prosecco country: FIP Silver and sport‑hotel living

If you prefer Italian cities and wine country, look towards Treviso in the Veneto region. The Cupra FIP Tour also stages a FIP Silver event here (Mediolanum Padel Cup), which pulls in a very high standard of player.

A brilliant style of base for this is a sport hotel with on‑site courts, such as Ancora Sport Hotel in Meolo, just outside Treviso:

• A dedicated sports environment with two brand‑new padel courts on site.
• Pools and gardens for relaxing between sessions.
• Easy access into Treviso to watch the FIP Silver matches and soak up the atmosphere.

A Treviso padel break might look like:

• Morning: training session on one of the new courts at the hotel.
• Afternoon: in the stands for the FIP Silver Mediolanum Padel Cup
• Free day: Prosecco tasting in the nearby hills or a day trip to Venice.

It is the perfect blend of sport, city break and la dolce vita.

Málaga & the first FISU World University Championship Padel

On 6 July, Málaga hosts the 1st FISU World University Championship Padel, bringing talented student players from around the world to the Costa del Sol. Even if you are long past your university days, it is a brilliant excuse for a padel‑themed sunshine break.

Two hotels stand out here for their courts:

La Cala Resort

• Set in the hills above the coast, with a country‑club feel.
• Three new on‑site padel courts, ideal for coaching, social tournaments or a daily hit.
• Superb golf and a lovely spa, so non‑players have plenty to do.

Higuerón Hotel Málaga, Curio Collection by Hilton

• Very contemporary and vibrant, with a strong padel identity.
• Nine glass padel courts in a purpose‑built club environment.
• Infinity pools, sky bar and beach access for stylish downtime.

This is a great set‑up for groups of friends or clubs:

Stay at a resort with serious padel facilities, play in the morning, then head into Málaga to watch the FISU World University Championship in the afternoon, finishing with tapas in the old town.

Taranto & the Mediterranean Games: panoramic courts in a protected reserve

Finally, a slightly different angle: padel as part of a multi‑sport festival. The Mediterranean Games, overseen by the International Padel Federation for padel, include the sport on the programme, with competition scheduled around 21 August in Taranto, Italy.

Nearby, within the Ethra Reserve, sits a very special place to stay:

Kalidria Hotel

• A refined, nature‑immersed resort in a protected coastal reserve.
• Four brand‑new panoramic padel courts, including a certified “GZ19” court, available to guests for an additional fee.
• Thalasso spa, pine forests and long sandy beaches for proper relaxation.

For anyone who likes the idea of a luxury wellness break with a serious padel upgrade, this is perfect. Mornings on those glassy panoramic courts, afternoons in Taranto watching Mediterranean Games padel, evenings with good Puglian food and wine. Not a bad way to spend August.

How I can help you plan your own padel escape

Whether you are brand new to padel or already organising your week around court time like I am, it is a fantastic theme for a holiday:

• Short breaks built around one event, like La Palma’s FIP Bronze or Málaga’s university championship.
• Longer trips that combine several places, for example Treviso plus Venice, or Taranto plus a wider Puglia tour.
• Relaxed beach or spa weeks where padel is simply one of the activities on offer.

My role is to:

• Help you choose the right destination and tournament or event (if you want one).
• Find a hotel with padel courts on site, or excellent access to local clubs, that fits your style and budget.
• Put everything together into a smooth itinerary: flights, transfers, hotel and (where possible) pre‑booked court time.

If you are curious about padel holidays, or already hooked and ready to plan your next bandeja‑filled escape, get in touch and I will design a trip around the sport you love.