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Travel Tips for Your Summer Racquets Vacation

By: Luana Stanciu

If you are an avid traveler, then you know that packing is key to ensure a smooth and stress-free trip. When you are preparing to take your summer tennis, pickleball or padel trip, packing is even more important so you have all the supplies you need to make the most of your stay on and off the court! If you are not sure where to start, check out these tips from our seasoned travel team:


Check the Weather

Before your vacay, check the forecast! It’s a simple step that’s easy to overlook, but can make all the difference in your tennis, pickleball or padel trip. Katie Steck, Director of Experiences, shared, “I always check the weather before I travel with our team to make sure I’m prepared for any surprise heat waves or cold fronts, and to make sure I have the right outfits for our off-court activities, like going out to dinner or taking a tour at one of our resort’s wineries. Especially at some of our California venues, the evenings can get chilly and it’s nice to be prepared for the duration of my stay!”


Pack the Right Bag

Next up on our travel tip list comes choosing the right bag, especially if you are looking to pack lightly and efficiently. Jay Smith, Experience Travel Team Professional, said, “I try to fit all of my belongings in a carry-on, especially if it is only a weekend trip! It saves time at the airport and I don’t have to worry about losing my bag, which is even more important if I’m teaching an event. Luckily, our partners at HEAD have a lot of options to choose from so I can always find one that fits my needs. Plus, their bags have different compartments which helps me keep things separate and organized.”


Bring Backups

As we touched on earlier, be sure to plan your outfits in advance depending on what activities you have planned for your trip. On top of the outfits planned, we recommend adding one or two more extra on-court outfits just in case. Since tennis racquets can succumb to broken strings, you will want to restring your racquet right before your tennis camp, or bring two racquets so you have a backup. Galina Bykova, Director of Tennis at The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara, said, “To cover all your bases, we suggest packing some spare grips and dampeners for your racquets or paddles, your favorite sports shoes for extra comfort on court, along with some extra socks, a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Now, you are now ready for an unforgettable vacation!”


Level Up Your Tech

Whether you are traveling with a laptop to get some extra work done on the plane, or an iPad to stay up to date on your favorite shows while you’re away, technology is usually a piece of the travel puzzle. Megan O’Leary, Sales and Marketing Manager, noted, “First and foremost, double check that you have all your chargers! For longer trips, you may want to consider a portable charger or power pack so you never have to worry about elbowing your way to the seat with a working plug at the airport. Aside from that, I enjoy a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones to tune out the noise of the plane or the airport, and if they’re wireless, I can use them at the gym once I get to my destination. I also recommend investing in a good case or sleeve for your laptop. I have to take my work on the road from time to time, and I don’t want to have to worry about my work computer getting dinged or scratched in my bag.”


Save Cash and Time

Traveling, even for leisure, can be an expensive and lengthy process, so we also wanted to include a few tried-and-true tips to save where you can. First off, when you are traveling with us, don’t forget to ask about our Experience Member benefits to ensure you are getting the best deal on your custom camp or signature event. You may even be able to save on our partner brands like Enterprise and National. For frequent travelers, finding a credit card brand that rewards purchases on airlines, hotels and car rentals may make sense for your household. Scott McCulloch, Cliff Drysdale Tennis Chief Operating Officer and a frequent flyer between our properties and events, adds, “TSA PreCheck was one of the best investments I ever made. Now, I only get to the airport 30 minutes before my flight and never worry about running late or wasting time in security. My other recommendation is to join the rewards programs of any airlines you fly on regularly. They are typically free to start, and between work and personal travel, I have logged tons of savings - and free flights at times.”


Looking for more? Check out our recent blog Top 3 Summer Racquets Destinations for inspiration on where to travel next!

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