A New Sport for All Generations
“Our philosophy is friendship,” declares leading coach Labisa Palmera as he hands me a unique-looking solid racket with perforated holes, marking my first experience with padel. This sport, reportedly the fastest-growing racket sport in the UK and expanding rapidly in key holiday destinations, has captured the attention of both young and old.
While many young people are picking up tennis rackets to play on public courts after Wimbledon, savvy sports enthusiasts are choosing to spend their summer breaks on padel courts in their chosen holiday spots. The goal isn’t just to play but also to make new friends along the way.
Spain leads the pack in this rising game, which blends elements of tennis and squash and was invented in Mexico. Portugal is also recognizing its growing popularity, and I’ve come to Pine Cliffs Luxury Collection Resort, a sprawling 72-hectare cliffside family-friendly retreat in the Algarve. This resort features Moorish touches, Portuguese tiles, and an architectural gem of an inner courtyard in the main hotel.
The resort offers a wide range of activities, from the prestigious Annabel Croft Tennis & Padel Academy, to a nine-hole golf course, state-of-the-art gym, award-winning spa, yoga, Pilates, and, most importantly, a recently expanded padel facility. This year, due to increased demand, one of the tennis courts has been converted into three padel courts, bringing the total to four. These courts are equipped with glass back walls and metal fencing enclosures, making them ideal for trying out the sport with my Gen-Z daughter, Grace, to see how intergenerational it truly is.
Palmera, co-founder of the first padel club in Albufeira, recalls: “It’s been a huge phenomenon in Spain, and 12 years ago it went crazy in Lisbon. Now, so many people, aged eight to 80, are playing padel and you don’t need many lessons.”
Why Padel Is Gaining Popularity
Not only is padel great exercise, but it’s also known for its sociability, as people of all generations can play together. It’s perfect for a family holiday. According to reports, padel is the fastest-growing racket sport in the world, with over 25 million active players in 110 countries. The Lawn Tennis Association recently revealed that participation in the UK more than tripled last year, with over 400,000 players in Great Britain alone.
Even high-profile figures like former Wimbledon champion Andre Agassi, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and singer Shakira have been seen playing padel. The premise is simple: you only play doubles, it’s scored like tennis, you serve underarm, and receivers can return the ball either as they would in tennis or off the wall after it has bounced.
A Family-Friendly Game
“The thing about padel is that it’s great for the whole family,” says Palmera. “People need fewer lessons than tennis to know how to play. At the end of an hour, they have learned how to play doubles. We have found that 40-55-year-olds who have done no sport in life found that they could do padel. The difference is that it’s a really sociable game, not too competitive, easy to learn, and the whole family can do it.”
While it may not be competitive for everyone, there are certainly experienced players who take the game seriously. Weekly tournaments are held, and the academy can pair solo players with others of similar abilities, organizing fun clinics for all skill levels.
Padel requires less court coverage than tennis, being a third of the size of a tennis court, and beginners can quickly pick up the techniques—such as the all-important lob, the volley, the ‘chiquita’ (placing the ball at the opponent’s feet), and the position and timing needed to hit a ball off the glass wall.
A Unique Holiday Experience
I hadn’t played tennis or squash for years and, by a certain age, felt I was done with these high-intensity sports. So I took up pickleball, an easier relative of padel, with a group of like-minded mid-lifers. But I was keen to try a new multi-generational pastime that might engage my grown-up children.
On a holiday where I didn’t want to spend time pounding the treadmill in a sweaty gym alongside my much fitter daughter, padel seemed like a good choice. Playing as partners, Grace was told she had a great volley. I, as the more experienced racket-sport enthusiast, was informed my backhand was a killer. So far, so good.
On the second session, Palmera teamed us up with Irish sisters Isabella, 14, and Molly, 12, who he said were good at tennis and would make suitable opponents. Despite our age difference, the games went to deuce, and we had a fun-filled match, as lobs were practised and volleys smashed.
Finding a sport you love doesn’t make exercise a chore on holiday, and the same goes for healthy eating, as we discovered in many of Pine Cliff’s 15 restaurants. Each restaurant has a unique setting, making you feel like you’re in a different resort. We dined under the trees in a beautiful lemon grove, enjoyed freshly-caught sea bream, and feasted on sushi at Yakuza, a restaurant in partnership with Olivier da Costa, one of Portugal’s most recognized chefs.
More Than Just Sports
Tangy ginger breakfast shots devoid of alcohol, acai bowls, and other delicious, nutritious fare with nuts, organic honey, and fresh fruit will set you up for a day of sport or leisure. Even if you just want to lounge in the grassy area under the shade of the pine trees—there are between 4,000 and 5,000 around the resort—you’ll find a more natural and cooler alternative to huddling around the multiple swimming pools.
We’re here in peak season, but the park-like green space makes the whole development seem roomier and less busy. I prefer to swim in the sea, and a lift takes us down to a wooden walkway between the cliffs, leading to Falesia Beach, known for its long stretch of golden sand and distinctive burnt orange cliffs. This beach was named “the world’s best beach” by Tripadvisor users in the 2024 Travellers’ Choice Awards.
Here, thrill-seekers can pound the waves on jet skis or try their hand at paddleboarding, while families have fun with bodyboards riding the surf of the refreshing Atlantic. We tried other sports during the week—tennis with head coach Brunno Cappelletti Rocha, whose patience with us is admirable; golf, where we hit (and missed) a few balls on the driving range; and yoga of the gentler kind, thanks to our teacher, stretching my many unused muscles. It can be done in a studio or on the beach.
A sports massage at the sumptuous Serenity – The Art of Well Being spa, housing 13 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy pool, various sauna and steam rooms, and other wellbeing delights, irons out my aching limbs and prepares me for the next sporting challenge.
But for me, padel is the star. Back in the UK, we’re looking for a court nearby where we can practise our volleys, perfect our timing when the ball bounces off the glass wall, and nail that chiquita.
Travel Facts
Two adults can stay in Pine Cliffs Hotel Deluxe Room with Resort View from £326 per night (based on September 2025 stay). Adult tennis or padel weekly coaching courses at Pine Cliffs start from £300 in off-peak season (Nov-March) and £326 in peak season (April-Oct). Junior tennis and padel camps start from £265 off-peak season and £291 peak season. For more information and to book, visit pinecliffs.com or call +351 289 500 100. Serenity – The Art of Wellbeing spa also offers a range of treatments and wellness offerings.
