You do not need years of experience or any competitive experience to book a padel holiday.
The right beginner trip should introduce the rules, strokes and movement gradually, place you with players of a similar standard and leave enough time to recover and enjoy the destination. A complete beginner can have a rewarding first holiday, but a poorly matched trip dominated by advanced players may feel intimidating rather than enjoyable.
LTA Padel describes the sport as accessible to people of different ages and abilities, including those who have never played tennis or another racket sport. It is usually played in doubles, starts with an underarm serve and uses the surrounding walls after the ball has bounced. The organisation also notes that beginners can learn the core skills relatively quickly.
The most important question is therefore not:
“Am I good enough for a padel holiday?”
It is:
“Does this particular holiday provide the coaching, level matching and pace I need?”
Quick Answer: Are Padel Holidays Suitable for Beginners?
Yes. Beginner-friendly padel holidays worldwide should offer appropriate coaching, clear level assessment, equipment hire and manageable playing schedules.
| Question | Beginner answer |
| Do I need competitive experience? | No |
| Do I need to have played tennis? | No |
| Should coaching match my level? | Yes |
| Can I hire a racket? | Often, but confirm before travelling |
| Is a short break suitable? | Yes, especially for a first trip |
| Should beginners play with advanced groups? | Only where coaching and match formats are carefully levelled |
| How much should I play? | Enough to practise, but not so much that fatigue affects every session |
| What matters most? | Coaching quality, level matching, court time and recovery |
Current Padel Breaks guidance says many Spain and Portugal holidays cater for beginners and provide coaching for different standards. Its UK and Ireland range also includes coaching-focused breaks aimed at beginners and improving players.
How Much Padel Experience Do You Need?
“Beginner” can describe several different types of player. Identifying which one you are will help a coach place you in the right session.
Complete Beginner
You have never played padel or have tried it once without formal coaching.
Your first sessions should cover:
- Court layout
- Basic rules and scoring
- Underarm serve
- Forehand and backhand contact
- Safe movement
- Where to stand
- How to work with a partner
You do not need to learn advanced smashes or complicated tactics immediately. The priority is keeping the ball in play, understanding the court and enjoying simple rallies.
New Recreational Player
You have played a few social games but still feel unsure about positioning, serving or using the walls.
A beginner holiday can help turn disconnected experience into a clearer foundation. Coaching should focus on consistency, movement as a pair and understanding when to stay back or move towards the net.
Tennis or Squash Player New to Padel
Previous racket-sport experience can help with timing, hand-eye coordination and basic ball control. It does not automatically make someone an experienced padel player.
Tennis players may use longer swings or too much power. Squash players may adapt quickly to walls but still need to learn padel positioning and net play. A good coach will recognise transferable skills without assuming you already understand the game.
Improving Beginner
You know the basic rules and can sustain a rally, but your positioning and decision-making remain inconsistent.
You may be ready to work on:
- Volleys
- Lobs
- Basic glass defence
- Moving with your partner
- Returning serve
- Choosing control over power
- Recovering court position
Social Intermediate
You play regularly and understand the walls, net positions and doubles patterns, but you do not compete seriously.
Some holiday providers may label this level “improver,” “intermediate” or “social intermediate.” Ask what those labels mean rather than assuming every company uses the same grading system.
How Should Beginner Levels Be Assessed?
A booking form that asks only “beginner, intermediate or advanced?” may not provide enough information.
A better assessment can combine several methods.
Self-Rating Questionnaire
Useful questions include:
- How many times have you played?
- Do you understand scoring?
- Can you serve consistently?
- Can you sustain a controlled rally?
- Do you use the back glass?
- Have you had coaching?
- Do you play tennis, squash or another racket sport?
- Do you compete regularly?
Coach Assessment
A short assessment at the beginning of the trip allows the coach to watch movement, technique and decision-making rather than relying entirely on a self-rating.
This is especially useful because players often understate or overstate their level.
Previous Racket-Sport Experience
Previous experience should inform the assessment, but it should not replace it. A strong tennis player may still be a padel beginner.
First-Session Assessment
A practical introductory session can be used to divide a group into suitable courts for later coaching and match play.
Separate Beginner Courts
Where several standards are travelling together, dedicated beginner courts usually create a better experience than placing everyone into one mixed session.
Mixed-level social play can still be enjoyable later, once new players understand the rules and positioning.
What Should Beginner Padel Coaching Cover?
LTA beginner guidance emphasises warming up properly, learning basic shots and positioning, using the glass, prioritising control over power and improving footwork. Its structured Padel Xpress programme is designed to help new adults learn the core strokes, use the glass and understand basic tactics.
A useful beginner programme should cover the following areas.
Rules and Scoring
You should understand:
- How a point starts
- Where to serve
- When the walls can be used
- What counts as in or out
- Basic tennis-style scoring
- How games and sets work
You do not need to memorise every unusual rule before playing.
The Underarm Serve
Beginners should learn a controlled serve that starts the point reliably. Power is less important than placement and consistency.
Forehand and Backhand
Coaching should encourage:
- Compact preparation
- Controlled contact
- Balanced movement
- Recovering after the shot
- Placement rather than excessive speed
LTA guidance recommends short backswings and control, particularly because padel requires quick reactions in a compact court.
Volleys
Padel is often won from the net, so beginners need to understand how to move forwards and handle simple forehand and backhand volleys.
Basic Positioning
Players should learn to move together rather than leaving one partner at the net and the other at the back.
The first tactical lesson is often less about where to hit and more about where to stand after hitting.
Playing with the Glass
The walls are one of padel’s defining features, but they can initially feel unnatural.
A beginner session should introduce:
- Letting the ball bounce before it reaches the glass
- Creating enough space
- Preparing the racket early
- Reading the rebound
- Returning with control
The LTA identifies playing off the glass as one of the more challenging beginner skills and recommends creating space, preparing early and reducing power.
Communication in Doubles
Players should practise calling the ball, warning a partner about opponents’ positions and deciding who takes shots through the middle.
Safe Movement
Padel involves short, reactive movements rather than continuous long-distance running. Beginners should warm up, use controlled side steps and avoid making desperate reaches when balance has already been lost.
Group Coaching vs Private Lessons
Different coaching formats solve different problems.
| Coaching format | Best for | Main consideration |
| Group clinic | Social learning and lower cost | Individual feedback may be limited |
| Private lesson | Personal technical correction | Higher cost |
| Semi-private lesson | Couples or two friends | Works best when standards are reasonably close |
| Coached match play | Applying positioning and tactics | Players need enough basic control to sustain points |
| Open social games | Confidence, enjoyment and meeting players | Level matching still matters |
| Beginner course format | Building skills progressively | Requires more than one session |
A complete beginner may benefit most from a group fundamentals session followed by coached match play. A private lesson can be useful when one specific issue—such as serving, movement or contact—is preventing progress.
How Much Padel Should a Beginner Play?
The temptation on a sports holiday is to book as much court time as possible. That does not always produce the best experience.
Beginners often use unfamiliar muscles, grip the racket too tightly and expend unnecessary energy chasing difficult balls. Several long sessions in rapid succession can lead to fatigue, soreness and declining technique.
The following schedules are practical planning frameworks rather than formal rules.
Three-Night Beginner Break
A balanced programme might include:
- Two coaching sessions
- One supervised or social game
- One free afternoon
- Optional light play on the departure day
This is a good first commitment if you are unsure whether you want padel to dominate the trip.
Five-Night Beginner Holiday
A useful schedule might include:
- Three coaching sessions
- Two social or coached games
- One recovery day
- Free time between court blocks
Seven-Night Beginner Holiday
A longer stay may include:
- Progressive coaching across several days
- Two or three match-play sessions
- One social tournament
- At least one complete rest day
- Optional private lesson
- Several non-padel activities
Padel Breaks currently presents trip lengths ranging from weekend breaks to five- or seven-night holidays in Spain and Portugal, giving beginners different levels of commitment.
The best schedule is one that leaves you looking forward to the next session rather than recovering from the previous one.
What Equipment Do Beginners Need?
You do not need to buy an expensive racket before your first holiday.
Rental Racket
LTA Padel says most venues provide rackets and balls for hire. It recommends a round racket for beginners because the shape generally offers greater control.
Before travelling, confirm:
- Whether rental must be booked
- Whether it is included
- What types of rackets are available
- Whether junior rackets are offered
- Whether the same racket can be kept throughout the stay
Court Shoes
Comfortable sports trainers may be acceptable for an introductory session, but proper court or padel shoes offer more suitable grip and lateral support.
Do not take brand-new shoes as your only pair. Wear them before the trip to identify any rubbing or fit problems.
Sports Clothing
Choose breathable clothing that allows overhead movement, lunging and rotation.
Useful items include:
- Sports tops
- Shorts, skort or leggings
- Sports socks
- Supportive sports bra where needed
- Light warm-up layer
- Cap or visor for outdoor sessions
Balls
Ask whether balls are included with coaching and court hire. There is little reason for a beginner to pack several tubes when the venue supplies them.
Water Bottle
Bring a refillable bottle and confirm whether the club has drinking-water facilities.
Sun Protection
For outdoor play, pack:
- High-factor sun cream
- Cap or visor
- Sunglasses for off-court use
- Lightweight cover-up
- Lip balm with sun protection
Spare Overgrips
One or two spare overgrips can improve comfort in warm weather, particularly if your hands become sweaty.
How Fit Do You Need to Be?
You do not need elite fitness for a beginner padel holiday.
However, padel still involves repeated side steps, lunges, changes of direction and overhead movement. LTA guidance describes the sport as requiring sharp, reactive footwork and recommends warming up the arms, shoulders, thighs and calves before playing.
Before travelling, it may help to:
- Walk regularly
- Practise gentle side steps
- Complete basic leg-strength exercises
- Improve shoulder mobility
- Play one or two short local sessions
- Wear in your court shoes
Tell the coach about injuries, medical conditions or movement limitations. A beginner programme should be adapted where necessary rather than assuming every participant has the same fitness.
Best Destinations for a First Padel Holiday
The best beginner destination is not necessarily the place with the most courts. It is the place that combines suitable coaching, convenient accommodation, manageable transfers and enough non-padel activity to make the trip enjoyable.
Spain: Best for Choice and Established Padel Culture
Padel Breaks currently highlights Marbella, the Costa del Sol, Mallorca, Barcelona and Madrid among its popular Spanish destinations. Its Spain guidance says many holidays are designed for beginners and include coaching for different standards.
Spain may suit you when you want:
- A wide choice of clubs and resorts
- Experienced coaching
- City, coastal or island options
- A weekend or five-to-seven-night stay
- A strong local playing culture
- Plenty to do away from the court
For a first holiday, avoid selecting a package simply because it advertises the greatest number of games. Confirm how much of that time is coached and how beginners are grouped.
Portugal: Best for Resorts and a Relaxed Coastal Trip
Padel Breaks identifies the Algarve, Lisbon and Porto as leading Portuguese options. Its Portugal guidance says many holidays cater specifically for beginners and that packages may include accommodation, court time, organised matches and coaching.
Portugal may suit you when you want:
- A resort-based stay
- Beaches and pool time
- A city-and-padel combination
- Coaching within a broader holiday
- Weekend, five-night or seven-night options
- A less intensive pace
The Algarve is particularly attractive when you want padel to sit alongside beaches, restaurants, pools or golf. Lisbon is better for travellers wanting culture and city time around their sessions.
UK or Ireland: Best for a Low-Commitment First Break
A domestic or short-haul break reduces travel time, luggage decisions and the pressure to fill an entire week.
Padel Breaks describes UK and Ireland coaching breaks as suitable for beginners and improving players who want structured tuition, technical advice and organised match play. Packages may include accommodation, court bookings, coaching, equipment hire and social activities, depending on the destination.
This can be the best option when:
- You want to try a padel break before going abroad
- You have limited annual leave
- You prefer one or two nights
- You want to travel by car or train
- You are nervous about committing to an intensive programme
All-Inclusive or Full-Service Resort: Best for Simple Logistics
A full-service resort can make the first trip easier when accommodation, meals, courts and leisure facilities are close together.
Check whether the resort actually includes coaching and organised beginner play. A hotel having courts is not the same as offering a structured beginner holiday.
Marbella or the Algarve: Best for Padel Plus a Conventional Holiday
Both destinations can work well when you want morning coaching followed by beaches, restaurants, pool time or excursions.
The deciding factor should be the individual hotel, club and coaching programme—not the destination name alone.
Sample Three-Night Beginner Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and Orientation
- Travel to the destination
- Check into the hotel
- Meet the organiser or coach
- Collect or test rental equipment
- Review the weekend schedule
- Optional gentle hit rather than a full match
Day 2: Fundamentals
Morning
- Warm-up
- Rules and scoring
- Serve
- Forehand and backhand
- Basic positioning
Afternoon
- Lunch
- Pool, beach or sightseeing
- Recovery time
Early evening
- Short coached doubles session
- Focus on communication and positioning
Day 3: Glass, Volleys and Social Play
Morning
- Volleys and net movement
- Introduction to the back glass
- Controlled lobs
- Partner movement
Afternoon
- Free time
- Light stretching or rest
Evening
- Beginner-level social game
- Coach feedback or informal review
Day 4: Departure
- Optional short court booking
- Breakfast and checkout
- Note two or three areas to practise at home
- Return journey
This structure gives you enough repetition to make progress without turning the weekend into a demanding training camp.
What Should You Expect on the First Day?
A good first day should reduce uncertainty.
You may:
- Meet the coach and other players
- Discuss previous experience
- Test a rental racket
- Review basic rules
- Complete a warm-up
- Rally gently
- Practise serving
- Play short points
- Be moved into a more suitable level group
Do not judge the trip by the first ten minutes. New courts, different balls, outdoor conditions and unfamiliar players can make everyone feel less comfortable initially.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Booking an Advanced Group
Do not assume you will “catch up” once the trip begins. Advanced sessions may use terminology and patterns that a complete beginner has not yet learned.
Playing Twice a Day Without Preparation
Two sessions can work, but not every day. Keep at least one block light and preserve recovery time.
Taking Unsuitable Shoes
Running shoes or fashion trainers may not provide suitable lateral stability. Ask the venue what court surface it uses.
Assuming Every Listed “Game” Is Coached
A package may include court bookings or self-managed matches rather than formal instruction.
Ask for:
- Total coached hours
- Total court hours
- Session duration
- Number of players per court
Failing to Reserve Rental Equipment
A club may offer rental without having enough rackets for a large group unless they are reserved.
Trying to Learn Everything at Once
Beginners often improve faster when they focus on a few priorities:
- Controlled contact
- Basic positioning
- Moving with a partner
- Consistent serve
- Using the glass without panic
Hitting Too Hard
Padel rewards placement, patience and control. The LTA repeatedly advises beginners to prioritise control over power.
Ignoring Recovery
A holiday is not improved by being too sore to enjoy the last two days.
Questions to Ask Before Booking
Ask the provider:
- Is the coach experienced with complete beginners?
- How are playing levels assessed?
- Will beginners have separate courts?
- How many people share each court?
- How long is each session?
- How many hours are coached?
- Are social games supervised?
- Are rackets and balls included?
- What court shoes are recommended?
- How far are the courts from the hotel?
- Are hotel-to-club transfers included?
- Is there a rest day?
- What happens if weather cancels a session?
- Can couples or friends at different levels be separated for coaching?
- What non-padel facilities are available?
Also check that your travel insurance covers padel and any other planned activities. GOV.UK advises travellers to review activity exclusions, medical cover, cancellation terms and repatriation rather than assuming a standard policy covers every sport.
How to Choose Your First Padel Holiday
Choose a short beginner break when:
- You want to test the experience
- You have limited annual leave
- Total cost matters
- You prefer two or three court sessions
- The destination is easy to reach
Choose a five- or seven-night holiday when:
- You want progressive coaching
- You need recovery between sessions
- You want a beach or resort holiday too
- A partner or family member is joining you
- You are travelling further
- You want time to practise new skills in matches
Whatever length you choose, prioritise:
- Beginner-specific coaching
- Honest level matching
- Clear court hours
- Equipment availability
- Convenient transfers
- Recovery time
- A destination you would enjoy even without padel
Plan Your First Padel Holiday
Your first padel holiday should build confidence, not test how much court time you can survive.
A well-designed beginner trip will teach you the rules, establish a few reliable strokes, introduce doubles positioning and give you the chance to play without feeling judged. It should also leave enough time for a proper holiday.
You are good enough to go.
The real task is finding a trip designed well enough for you to learn, enjoy the game and return home wanting to play again.
FAQs
Can complete beginners take a padel holiday?
Yes. LTA Padel says no previous tennis or racket-sport experience is required to begin playing, while current Padel Breaks guidance says many holidays offer beginner-appropriate coaching.
Should I have lessons before travelling?
You do not have to, but one introductory lesson can make the first holiday session feel less unfamiliar. It can help you understand the rules, underarm serve and basic court positions before travelling.
Can I hire a racket?
Usually. LTA Padel says most venues have rackets and balls available for hire. Confirm availability and reserve equipment before travelling, especially with a group.
How fit do I need to be?
You do not need advanced fitness, but padel involves side steps, lunges, rotation and quick reactive movement. Choose a manageable schedule, warm up and tell the coach about injuries or physical limitations.
Is Spain or Portugal better for beginners?
Both can work. Spain offers a wide choice of established destinations and clubs; Portugal is particularly attractive for relaxed resort and coastal trips. Coaching quality, level matching and hotel-to-court logistics matter more than the country alone.
Can couples with different standards travel together?
Yes. Ask whether coaching groups can be separated by level and whether you can still share selected social sessions or non-padel plans. Padel Breaks says packages can be tailored around group and playing level, although arrangements vary by trip.
How long should a first padel holiday be?
A three-night break is a useful low-commitment introduction. Five or seven nights provide more space for progressive coaching, recovery and destination time. Current Spain and Portugal package ranges include both weekend breaks and five- to seven-night holidays.
What should I pack?
Bring court shoes, breathable sports clothing, sun protection, a water bottle and any personal supports or medication. You may be able to hire a racket and balls. A dedicated padel holiday packing list can help you decide what belongs in hand luggage.
