Pickleball at Your Vacation Rental: Why It's the Hottest Trend in Family Travel

Pickleball has exploded from a niche sport to a nationwide phenomenon, and it's become one of the most requested amenities at vacation rentals. This paddleball sport combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping pong into a game that's easy to learn, endlessly fun, and perfect for players of all ages and ability levels — making it the ideal family vacation activity.

Why Pickleball Is Perfect for Family Vacations

Unlike tennis, pickleball uses a smaller court, lighter paddles, and a plastic ball with holes that moves more slowly. This means grandparents can compete with grandchildren, beginners can rally with experienced players, and everyone gets a good workout without the intimidation factor of other racquet sports. Games are typically short — playing to 11 points — so players can rotate in and out easily.

Pickleball at Our Properties

Several of our LoveYourVacationRental.com properties feature pickleball courts or are located near excellent public courts. Properties like The Max Resort and Epic Resort offer on-site recreation that includes this popular sport. For properties without courts, the East Valley has numerous public pickleball facilities — the Gilbert Regional Park and Freestone Recreation Center in Gilbert both offer excellent courts available to the public.

Getting Started

If your family is new to pickleball, start with a quick tutorial online or watch a few YouTube videos before your trip. The basic rules are simple: serve underhand diagonally, let the ball bounce once on each side before volleying, and stay out of the kitchen (the seven-foot zone at the net). Within 15 minutes, most beginners are having competitive rallies and having a blast.

Organizing a Family Tournament

Take the fun to the next level with a vacation pickleball tournament. Create a bracket, mix teams randomly to ensure balance, and play round-robin style. Award fun prizes for the winners and creative superlatives for all participants — best celebration dance, most dramatic shot, best sportsmanship. It becomes a vacation highlight that everyone talks about.

Whether you're a pickleball pro or picking up a paddle for the first time, adding this sport to your vacation agenda is a recipe for family fun.